At the Sea King’s castle.
“A-and, that’s it!” The assassin, who was spared by Ambrose, finished delivering the message to the Sea King.
His face was clearly pale as he waited anxiously for the Sea King’s verdict, fearing the consequences of his failed mission.
“Hah.” Tyrannus, the Sea King, let out a shallow laugh. “Just because he spared a useless assassin who failed in his only purpose in life, he thinks he can tell me what to do…”
“I—” Before the assassin could say anything, Tyrannus growled loudly.
“Quiet down!” Tyrannus picked up his battleaxe and swung it with furious force. The assassin’s screams were cut off as the battleaxe connected with his skull, silencing him forever.
The room fell silent; the only sound remaining was the thud of the assassin’s lifeless body hitting the ground.
Creak—the door opened, and a tanned man, over three meters tall, wearing black leather jacket with spikes all over and black combat boots stepped into the room.
Seeing the dead assassin on the ground, he asked. “Not good news, aye?”
“Adam…” Tyrannus sat back down on his throne and put the battleaxe across his lap. “What do you want?”
“I heard about the Black Heart Pirates.” Adam chuckled and walked towards a shelf filled with alcohol bottles, picking up a bottle of Pirate Rum.
He then popped off the cork and took a long swig straight from the bottle, savoring the fiery taste as it burned down his throat.
“Why do you care?” Tyrannus asked with a frown. “If you are interested in what the assassin had to say, they failed.”
“I assumed so.” Adam said as the liquid ran down his chin. “Anything else?”
“A message from the person who stopped the assassination attempt.” Tyrannus laughed angrily. “Apparently, Mars has my mace and killed Bonney. For that information, he wishes for me to spare his and the rest of the crew’s lives.”
“Oh, a bold one.” Adam laughed and put the bottle of rum back on the shelf. “Does that person have a name?”
“Ambrose…” Tyrannus whispered. “It doesn’t ring a bell. He must be a new person in the crew.”
“Ambrose…” Adam laughed and turned to the Sea King. “What is your plan?”
“Mars clearly doesn’t care that this is my territory.” Tyrannus growled, his eyes narrowing with anger. “However, if it is true that he indeed has my mace, I’ll have to kill him for it.”
“It could also be a trick.” Adam cautioned, keeping his gaze fixed on the King. “We shouldn’t underestimate his cunningness.”
“Whose?” Tyrannus frowned. “Ambrose’s? Are you aware of who he is?”
“I have heard rumors.” Adam seriously browsed the alcohol on the shelves. “Apparently, he is the disciple of Reinhardt.”
“What?” Tyrannus was taken aback. “Why is someone like him in Mars’ crew, then? Is Reinhardt voyaging with them as well?”
“That would indeed be very exciting.” Adam laughed, but then shook his head. “However, I do not think so.”
“Why so?” Tyrannus raised his eyebrow. “Because if Ambrose wanted Mars dead, he would ask his master to do so?”
“Exactly,” Adam said. “Reinhardt is vastly more powerful than any pirate. No offense, boss.”
“Non taken.” Tyrannus growled nonchalantly. “The World’s Strongest Swordsman is a rare title; only one man can have it.
“It had been over a thousand years since the title had changed hands. Reinhardt might very well be the strongest swordsman that has ever existed.”
“That might not be so.” Adam replied with a grin. “I heard that back in ancient times, when the Ancient Grounded Gods still roamed the land, there was a person called Sword of the Pale God.”
“Sword of the Pale God…” Tyrannus whispered. “I’ve heard the tales. He was apparently among the heroes that defeated the Ancient Grounded Gods and transformed the world into what it is now.”
“What if you send me to visit Mars?” Adam said with a grin. “I’ll find out whether he really has the mace.”
“You desire to fight him?” Tyrannus narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “You only want to leave your bed and whores when there is someone to fight.”
“Hahaha.” Adam touched his groin and grabbed it tightly. “I already satisfied myself, haha.”
“You don’t have to go.” Tyrannus shook his head. “I’ll just send Arkham.”
“Arkham?” Adam approached the throne and playfully smiled. “Come on, I ain’t planning to fight Mars.”
“I don’t believe you.” Tyrannus said coldly. “You plan to simply have an audience with him? I have heard that Mars is even more unreasonable than me.”
Adam chuckled. “I am not interested in Mars; he is dull. I am interested in something far more intriguing.”
Tyrannus groaned and pinched his forehead. “Fine, but bring your crew with you.”
“Aye, aye.” Adam laughed as he walked away.
As soon as he left the throne room, his grin grew from ear to ear.
“Ambrose, let’s see how sharp your blade is!”
…
At the Black Heart’s crow’s nest, Ambrose looked at the vast seas with a spyglass.
He was currently the person responsible for looking out for the enemy’s ships.
It was nearing night, so most of the crew had already retreated to their cabins to have some rest.
Ambrose then heard that someone was climbing up the ladders and saw Damian emerge onto the crew’s nest, two hot coffees in hand.
“Here.” Damian handed the other one to Ambrose.
“Thanks.” Ambrose accepted the coffee gratefully and took a sip. He then turned back to the dark sea and watched as the waves crashed against the ship’s hull.
“Uhm, here, I found this.” Damian took something from his back.
It was scabbard with a sword sheathed inside.
“Oh…” Ambrose looked down at his wide belt and sighed as he forgot completely about his sword after it was tossed away by one of the assassins.
His thoughts about Bonney and the Sea King kept him too busy.
He was thinking of hundreds of different things, including plans for Mars and how to kill him in the future. Therefore, he completely forgot his sword, which was basically another limb of his.
‘My mind is too full; I can’t remember even the most essential things.’
“Is everything alright?” Damian asked and took a sip of his coffee. “I didn’t take you for a guy who forgets his things so easily.”
“Ah, just a temporary lapse.” Ambrose replied with a sigh.
“Remember next time; if Mars had found it, he would’ve taken it for himself.” Damian warned.
“Thanks; I’ll keep that in mind.” Ambrose replied and focused on slurping up his coffee.
“Strange that the Sea King’s forces haven’t tried something.” Damian said as he looked across the horizon. “Tomorrow might be a very busy day. I wonder what Mars’ plan is: search every island till he finds the heart?”
“He doesn’t have a plan.” Ambrose said. “He is desperate. He’ll drag us down with him if we’re not careful.”
“Sea King has some legendary subordinates.” Damian sighed and laughed. “When comparing his crew with ours, we are quite bit outmatched.”
“You think?” Ambrose looked at the red-eyed half-vampire.
“Haha, yeah.” Damian wryly smiled. “Sea King’s crew has multiple red-ranked pirates with formidable skills.
“Such as Adam Slasher, Arkham, and Dreadnought.” Damian listed off, his voice filled with a mix of admiration and caution. “In my opinion, Mars could be one of the Kings as well, but our crew is not strong enough.”
“I don’t think he cares about his crew’s strength.” Ambrose sighed. “He just wants us to drain our fates and then throw us off the ship.”
“Yeah…” Damian sighed and looked at the starry sky. “I wonder what our fates would’ve been. I think all of us have great futures ahead of us, filled with great things.
“Loki must’ve gotten the heart and finished the spell that increased his talent. He might’ve become the greatest sorcerer in Dark Waters.
“I wonder what my fate would’ve been. I am a failure and a worthless half-vampire. I wish I could know what my future would’ve been.”
“…” Ambrose looked silently at him and then thought. ‘I wonder what my future is as well. I wonder if the future has already been torn apart because of the stolen fate, or was my fate destined to end up in this pirate crew?’