Chapter 306

Chapter 306: Bloodfire Outpost

Roy’s group didn’t use Midi’s engineering vessel, instead salvaging an intact lifeboat from the warship wreckage.

The six Blood Purification members flew ahead in the lifeboat with Midi’s party trailing behind.

After barely over a day’s travel, both medium-sized Vanguard ships reached an expansive floating island.

Though rich in resources, the island appeared bleak and scarcely inhabited. Only within the central canyon stood a handful of crude fortifications and buildings.

Clearly, this wasn’t Blood Purification’s headquarters.

Roy wouldn’t risk bringing unknown outsiders like Midi to their core base, even after they’d slain a Heart-Seizing Demon.

If this were an elaborate trap, it’d expose their location to the sect headquarters – dooming them all.

Yet if Midi’s claims held truth, this could spark revolution. Despite training Thought Capturers, Blood Purification remained hopelessly outmatched by the Heart-Seizing Demons’ mind-related abilities, barely clinging to survival.

An alliance with Sea of Clouds factions might inject vital new strength, potentially forging elite Thought Capturers to crush the demonic army.

These conflicting possibilities drove Roy to bring them here – Bloodfire Outpost, an organizational base serving both as resource hub and frontline against the sect.

Midi’s four-member team got lodged in one of the outpost’s better structures.

Roy, as patrol leader, lacked authority to decide outsiders’ fates. His duty ended at informing higher-ups.

Within two days, a People of the Heavens High Ranking Judge arrived – a wary middle-aged man in blood-red robes, bearing an ornate staff, flanked by two level 58 guards.

Midi spotted faint silvery rust flickering in the judge’s eyes – hallmark of a senior Thought Capturer.

The judge’s high status showed Blood Purification’s seriousness about these outsiders potentially reshaping strategic layouts. Their swift response satisfied Midi.

Thus he laid cards openly on the table.

“Wind King Cruiser?” Even this judge, raised among Star Ocean’s ancient ruins, gasped.

“Our cooperation could merge Wind King Cruiser designs with your techniques,” Midi pressed, “Combined with Star Ocean’s resources and skilled alchemists, we’ll build fleets surpassing Magic Griffin warships!”

The judge pondered, his Thought Capturer abilities confirming Midi’s truthfulness through mental defenses. Lies would’ve meant wasted effort anyway.

“We’ll build the alchemical factory,” the judge finally declared. “You supply crews and prototype warships. We’ll also protect your forward base.”

This alliance simplified Midi’s base construction – local resources, guided development, and military backup when needed.

Though inferior to Wind King or Magic Griffin warships, Blood Purification’s vessels could navigate the Stormy Region, enabling supply routes through the tempest.

The strategic picture brightened instantly. Avril and Reinhardt grinned while Wiseman shrugged at political dealings. Yet Midi himself remained sober-minded despite this triumph.

Blood Purification was already much weaker than the sect headquarters. As for Midi’s own factions in the Star Ocean, they amounted to little more than a speck in the vastness.

Could an alliance of the weak and weaker possibly defeat the massive sect headquarters?

Unlikely.

At least, not with such a loosely-knit alliance.

"There’s another matter where I hope the High Ranking Judge could assist," Midi spoke again.

"What is it?" The judge looked surprised.

"The four of us want to become Thought Capturers," Midi stated firmly, locking eyes with him.

These words shocked not just the High Ranking Judge, but even Midi’s three companions. Avril and the others had assumed becoming a Thought Capturer required rare talent. Yet Midi’s words suggested it could be achieved through training?

From his past life’s experience, Midi knew there existed different ranks – low-level Thought Capturers like his former self, mid-level ones like the bearded middle-aged man, senior ones like this judge, and even supreme-tier masters.

A Thought Capturer’s rank depended on the quality of heritage received. In his previous life, lacking connections with the struggling Hawk Brigade that spent years hunting cloud beasts for funding, Midi had only obtained Blood Purification’s most basic heritage.

But now he aimed for the highest tier. Only as a top Thought Capturer could he oppose the Heart-Seizing Demons and the Supreme Expert controlling them.

To the High Ranking Judge, this request seemed outrageous. Warships mattered little compared to Thought Capturers – Blood Purification’s core strength. That this outsider, barely trusted, would demand their greatest secret reeked of overreach.

Seeing the judge’s darkening expression, Midi smiled knowingly. "We won’t ask this without offering fair exchange." He produced a demon-sealing box from the engineering vessel’s hidden compartment.

Inside lay scrolls pulsing with magic aura. Each parchment bore detailed magical diagrams and texts. Ten scrolls in total.

"Heritage skills!" The judge’s eyes widened in shock.

"Correct. My homeland Arad has countless ruins overflowing with such skills. My allies from Sea of Clouds factions possess more. I offer these in exchange." Midi’s confidence never wavered. He’d planned this from the start.

Common resources like Crystal Coins held no value here. But heritage? In this closed space where Blood Purification and their enemies shared similar traditions, fresh skills were priceless. Even Thought Capturers needed leveling and new abilities – precisely what Blood Purification lacked after centuries of isolation.

Midi’s collection spanned from the Elves’ Palace heritage to the Delos Empire’s treasures, all stored in the Hawk Brigade’s contribution-point library. Now they’d serve their purpose.

The judge studied him intently. Magic waves hinted at silent consultations with distant Higher-ups via magical communications. Despite the offered treasures, sharing Thought Capturer secrets wasn’t a decision even he could make alone.

Finally, the judge looked up.

Midi read the answer in his softened expression. "Your consideration, Your Excellency?"

"Blood Purification Council approves this transaction," the judge declared. "Come to headquarters. But be warned – the Thought Capturer heritage may surprise you."