Soon, three sailing warships drew up close to the Aarunheim.
Led by the "Madman" Reem, the pirates let out a wild assortment of shouts and jumped onto the Aarunheim's deck, facing off with Miss Gwyn and her sailors.
Notably, the entire "Great Shark" pirate crew included only two Beyonders—Reem himself and a Sequence 9 Sailor. The rest were ordinary people. Despite this, they had earned quite a reputation, mostly thanks to their sturdy ships and formidable firepower, which even put some Beyonder-heavy pirate crews to shame.
But now, under the influence of Ebner's "mental suggestion," the "Great Shark" crew had willingly abandoned their advantage, stepping right onto the path Ebner had planned for them. The outcome was obvious...
As soon as Reem laid eyes on the gallant Miss Gwyn, brandishing her golden sword, he couldn't tear his gaze away. Only when she coldly demanded his business did he grin and say:
"Beautiful lady, I'd hate for us to clash. It would be a shame if your delicate face were injured.
"So, let's make a bet... If I win, you and that little lady over there become mine. If I lose, my entire crew will follow your orders... How about it?"
Even with Detective Bryan's warning, Gwyn's face flushed red at his arrogant and shameless words, her slender brows rising sharply.
Even Lydia, normally indifferent to most things, let out a displeased hum. She glanced at Terrance, noticing his indignant expression. If he were stronger, he'd probably already be rushing to teach the boastful "Madman" a lesson.
Seeing this, Lydia's spirits brightened, and she broke into a sweet smile once again.
At this point, guessing that Reem had fallen into Detective Bryan's trap, Gwyn managed to calm down. Narrowing her eyes, she asked icily, "What do you want to bet?"
"A one-on-one duel. The winner claims everything the loser has!" Reem smirked lecherously, his gaze openly lewd as he looked between Gwyn and Lydia.
Gwyn turned her head away in disgust, glancing at Lydia. Seeing her give a slight nod, she replied, "Fine... But you'd better keep your word!"
"Hahaha, of course, I always keep my word!" I can't lose! Reem laughed loudly and eagerly stepped forward, ready to take down this beauty within a few moves and savor her.
Gwyn paused just before advancing, as if listening to something, then nodded a few times. Finally, at Reem's urging, she stepped forward to face him, raising the Golden Serpent Sword in a steady stance.
Reem scoffed, drawing his own sword and activating a mysterious item that formed a misty, armor-like black haze around him. He prepared to attack first.
Though cocky, Reem still had basic combat instincts.
However, before he could make a move, a strange sensation surged through his mind—a whip of pure electric current, raised and poised to strike his soul.
The feeling was so intense it transported him back to the docks of Twin Island, his whole body trembling as his knees turned weak.
But just then, a sharp pain shot through his heart, snapping him back to reality. His eyes widened in disbelief as he realized that his "Death Armor," purchased at the pirate convention, had been easily pierced.
Even more astonishing was that he'd chosen to duel a woman he knew nothing about for the sake of a pretty face... And not one of his men had bothered to warn him...
He had so many questions, so many things he couldn't believe... but he would never have a chance to find answers.
Despite being a Sequence 8 Beyonder, a fatal heart wound allowed him to survive only half a minute longer than an ordinary person. Then, this notorious pirate captain fell dead.
---
"Name: Golden Serpent Sword
"Appearance: Normally a silk belt, once unsealed, it transforms into a golden sword with a black serpent coiled around its blade. The sword's irregular, wave-like shape hints at hidden secrets, possibly even a 'key' to some 'secret.'
"Abilities: Grants its wielder enhanced courage, strength, and agility. It deals fire and holy damage, making it especially effective against evil spirits and undead.
"Once per day, it can activate 'Serpent's Kiss of Repose.' Effect: The black serpent on the blade turns into a shadow that attacks the enemy. Regardless of their nature, beings struck by it lose all desires and emotions, freezing in place until the effect ends.
"Negative Effects: Prolonged use of its sword form affects the wielder's personality, sometimes causing them to make impulsive decisions. Additionally, each activation of 'Serpent's Kiss of Repose' causes the wielder to lose a random 'desire' or 'emotion' for one day.
"Sealing Method: Recite a chant to revert it to belt form."
---
The above is the Pure White Eye's analysis report.
Miss Gwyn stared blankly at the "Madman" Reem, dead beneath her blade.
Though she'd been fortunate enough at the pirate convention to acquire the Weapon Master trait and advance to Sequence 7 the previous night;
Though Detective Bryan had briefed her before the fight, telling her that Reem would lose focus for a second or two;
Though Lydia's "investment" in the Golden Serpent Sword was particularly effective against Reem's item;
She still couldn't believe she had managed to kill a renowned pirate in a single strike...
Have I become this strong? Gwyn asked herself, but she quickly shook her head, thinking: It's not my strength... It's Detective Bryan! He orchestrated everything!
At that moment, Piza, the other Beyonder of the "Great Shark" crew, and a Sequence 9 Sailor, was the first to snap out of his daze. Glancing around at the equally bewildered pirates and sailors, he readied himself to rally his men and launch an attack on the Aarunheim.
But just as he opened his mouth, a loud bang echoed—a bullet from who knows where pierced his throat.
The gunshot snapped Miss Gwyn out of her trance, and she seemed to hear a voice.
After listening carefully, she kicked Reem's corpse aside, lifted her sword, and fearlessly confronted the pirates on the three ships. In a clear, authoritative voice, she demanded:
"Your captain made a deal with me! Now that he's lost, you should follow my command!
"Or... are you planning to go back on your word?"
As she spoke, she extended her arm and swept the sword in a wide arc, as though addressing each pirate who faced her.
Standing over 1.8 meters tall, her stance in this moment radiated an imposing presence.
Meanwhile, Ebner, "hidden" in the shadows, enhanced her display with his "Dragon's Might" ability.
In response, the pirates pointed at by her sword dropped their weapons one after another, trembling as they knelt on the deck, seemingly subdued by Miss Gwyn's aura.
The crew of the Aarunheim cheered excitedly at the sight, chanting their captain's name:
"Gwyn!"
"Gwyn!"
"Gwyn!"
…
Swept up by the atmosphere, even Lydia and Terrance couldn't help joining in, despite knowing the full story. Lydia, seizing the moment, came up with a new nickname for her captain:
"Gwyn!
"Lady Dragon's Might!"
The other crew members quickly picked up the chant, and before long, "Lady Dragon's Might" was being shouted by many sailors.
Only Miss Gwyn, aware of Lydia's poor naming sense after the Golden Serpent Sword incident, was left speechless:
Don't be so confident in your naming skills, girl!
---
Seeing that almost everyone believed Miss Gwyn had single-handedly subdued the pirates, Ebner quietly slipped back into his cabin, having achieved his goal of keeping a low profile.
Mr. Gaston greeted him with a teasing smile, "Looks like I'll have to give you that other extraordinary item I promised, the 'Azure Brooch.'"
With his experience, Gaston could easily tell that Ebner had been orchestrating events behind the scenes from start to finish, especially the "Dragon's Might" at the end. As an "Artisan" with a similar ability, it couldn't have been more obvious to him; they were merely taking advantage of the pirates' lack of insight.
Mr. Gaston had promised to provide an extra extraordinary item if any battles occurred during the journey.
"It's really not necessary... Technically, this didn't happen during the pirate convention," Ebner replied politely, as the Azure Brooch was of little use to him.
"Haha, I'm not one to go back on my promises," Mr. Gaston said, shaking his head with a smile. "Besides, I'd like to build a good relationship with you, so don't refuse."
Build a relationship? Ebner wondered, then asked cautiously, "Are you hoping I can help you pass the sixth level?"
Since they were onboard, he intentionally avoided mentioning the "Dream Labyrinth Tower."
Mr. Gaston wasn't surprised that Ebner guessed his intent. Nodding, he replied solemnly, "That's precisely my hope... Though I can't afford your fee at the moment, so I'll wait until I've 'digested' my gains from this pirate convention."
---
Back in Backlund, at the row house on Minsk Street, Klein finally gathered all the ingredients for the Magician potion after receiving the true roots and sap of the Mist Tree from "The Sun" as a tribute.
The special liquid in the clear glass bottle sparkled with colors—red, orange, yellow, green—constantly blooming, fading, and reappearing like tiny fireworks. Klein took a 1-pound coin, held it between his left thumb and forefinger, and flicked it up, catching it in his open palm.
Smack!
The coin landed heads up, affirming his decision.
Without further hesitation, Klein tilted his head back and drank the Magician potion.
(End of Chapter)