As other crew members split up and went to do their own business in New North, Ambrose and Damian trotted inside a small cafe to grab a quick bite to eat.
It had a cozy atmosphere with dim lighting and soft music playing in the background.
They ordered their food with a cup of steaming coffee and found a quiet table in the corner to enjoy their meal.
The cafe was bustling with activity as people chatted and laughed at nearby tables.
However, Ambrose and Damian felt their gazes often lingering in their way—they must’ve realized their identity as pirates.
After a while, they received their ordered meals.
Damian had ordered a latte with extra foam and a slice of chocolate cake, while Ambrose opted for a black coffee and a breakfast burrito.
“What are you guys often doing?” Ambrose asked after taking a short sip of the coffee. “When Mars came to Borneo Island, you guys didn’t leave the ship. Is that often the case?”
“It depends,” Damian said while cutting the chocolate cake into small slices. “That time, he didn’t want us to come with him. Sometimes, like with Zero’s case, we joined him in breaking into the science laboratory.”
“I see.” Ambrose nodded.
“He’ll tell us what to do, and we will do it. We don’t really have any free will in this situation.” Damian said and then gazed out of the window. “Sometimes, like now, we are allowed to spend time in the town.
“He is often in a good mood when he visits New North. It is because of the Heartstopper. It is surprising that in front of her, he is like a completely new person.”
“Have you ever seen her?”
“No. My body wants to, but my mind screams that it would be a grave mistake.” Damian then stabbed the slice of chocolate cake with his fork and took a bite, savoring the rich, decadent flavor.
Ambrose nodded curiously and feasted on the breakfast burito. 𝑜𝗏xt.𝒸𝗈𝑚
“I’ve always been a fan of chocolate cake; it is one rare indulgence that I allow myself.” Damian said and looked at the cake with twinkle in his eyes. “I am all about the healthy lifestyle, but chocolate cake always manages to tempt me.”
After they both had finished drinking the coffee and eating, a figure appeared beyond the window, his face glued to the glass as he watched the last remnants of chocolate cake on the plate with a drooling expression.
Damian sighed and knocked on the window. “Don’t dirty the glass, Henri.”
“Heh.” Henri chuckled beyond the window, then entered the cafe and sat at the same table as them. “Sup, you guys done?”
“Mm.” Damian nodded while elegantly wiping his lips with the napkin.
Several female customers felt their cheeks heat up with blushes as they admired Damian’s unusual beauty.
The vampires were famously known as the equivalent of Heartstoppers with their unusual beauty and captivating aura.
Whether it was female or male vampire, their presence always left people in awe and longing for more.
“Shall we go?” Ambrose asked as he stood up with his black suede coat on his arm.
Henri and Damian stood up and then departed the cafe.
As the trio walked on the sidewalk, they noticed the unusuality of one of the stores—the store had the door wide open, and inside, the shopkeeper was cuffed with heavy chains, and surrounding him were three navy officers.
“Navy, in here?” Henri chuckled. “Are they seeking death?”
“Let’s go see it closer.” Damian said and slipped his hands inside his pockets as he approached the store.
They soon heard the voices clearly.
“You sold a stolen navy uniform to a pirate, who used it to sneak inside a navy base. You are responsible!” The navy officer shouted.
He wore a dark navy blue suit coat, trousers that were nearly black in color, a white shirt, and a black four-in-hand necktie with a small anchor pattern.
On his shoulder, he had a gold badge with the rank insignia of a captain.
“I didn’t know he was a pirate!” The shopkeeper argued back with teary eyes. “He just looked like a well-dressed sailor to me, so I thought he simply had a hobby of cosplaying or something!”
“Your fool’s act can’t fool me.” The navy captain said and waved his hand to his two subordinates. “Take him to the ship. We’ll interrogate him further back in base!”
After barking the order, they noticed that there were three young men standing on the doorway, their arms crossed and looks of amusement in their faces.
“Get out of the way; this is navy business!” One of the navy soldiers said with a stern tone.
However, beside him, the navy captain flinched, his face changing shades like he had witnessed a ghost.
“Come on, how can you blame the shopkeeper for what that pirate did?” Damian laughed. “You navy shitheads are always so full of yourselves.”
“How dare you?!” The navy soldier was about to draw his sword, but the navy captain quickly stopped him and slapped him in the cheek.
The navy soldier fell to the ground with his cheeks swollen and red—a stunned expression on his face.
The other navy soldier and the shopkeeper were equally shocked, wondering what the hell the navy captain was doing.
The navy captain turned to the three young men with a frightened expression.
“W-what may I-I do for you—Damian Black, Henri Ragnar?k, and… Ambrose, the Black Demon?”
“Black Demon?” Henri glanced at Ambrose and laughed. “You have a nickname given by the Inquisitors? How fancy.”
“Black Demon?”
This was also the first time Ambrose had heard that title associated with himself. He couldn’t get his hands on a newspaper during his voyage to Dark Waters, so he wasn’t aware of how infamous he was.
The navy soldier who got slapped felt like a jolt of electricity had surged through his body.
He was very much aware of those three names—everyone in the nearby navy bases knew them.
Damian Black—a member of the infamous Black Heart Pirates, who single-handedly defeated Brown Inquisitor in a fierce battle at sea.
Henri Ragnar?k—one of the youngest brown-ranked outlaws in Dark Waters, with a reputation for his flawless skills with daggers and his ability to outmaneuver opponents in combat.
Ambrose, the Black Demon—the mastermind behind the tragedy of Hightown. A person who quickly gained reputation among swordsmen around the world and was working together with the World’s Strongest Swordsman, Reinhardt!
He was even rumored to be Reinhardt’s secret disciple, which put his name at a higher standard among the swordsmen community. Now, many swordsmen were seeking after him to duel against him!
‘T-the Black Demon is now part of the Black Heart Pirates, or is this just a coincidence? S-since he is here, could it be that Reinhardt is here as well?’
The navy captain felt frightened, but one thing he was certain of.
‘If the Black Heart Pirates are here, it means Mars is also here. How come they are in here and not at the Pirate Battleground?
‘This is very fucking dangerous. All the nearby naval bases are in danger; we have to inform the Sacrarium of Inquisitorious!’
“Leave the shopkeeper alone; he is just doing his job.” Damian said and put his slender, pale hand on display. His nails slowly turned black and started to grow long and sharp like claws.
The navy captain shakily nodded and instructed his subordinates to remove the cuffs.
Once the cuffs were gone, Damian showed them the way out.
“Leave, and never return.” Damian said with a smile. “This is not a Navy island.”
‘Of course I didn’t want to come here, but orders are orders!’ The navy captain grudgingly nodded, left the store with his subordinates, and was quickly en route to the port.
If they were aware that the Black Heart Pirates were there, they wouldn’t have come, even if they were threatened with court martial!
“I didn’t see any navy ships when we docked.” Henri said.
“They must’ve docked near the port somewhere else.” Damian said, and then glanced at Ambrose. “Well, wanna say how you got the nickname “Black Demon”?”
“I honestly don’t know either.” Ambrose replied with a chuckle.