Dong, dong, dong—
Someone knocked on the captain's cabin door of the Blue Avenger
"Come in," Alger said in a deep voice. He had just secretly finished practicing his "singing" ability.
A sailor pushed open the door, glanced back nervously, and—under the urging of several companions—stepped inside with hesitation. He pressed his right fist to his left chest and saluted:
"Storm above!"
After Alger responded, the sailor forced a smile onto his face and said:
"Captain, the brothers have all been hearing terrifying howls at night lately.
We suspect a sea monster is following us… or something unclean has latched onto the ship…
"So could we return to a busy port first and have a professional check things?"
Alger used every ounce of willpower to keep his expression from collapsing.
He inhaled deeply several times before saying after a moment's thought:
"I understand how you feel.
How about this—we'll head toward Lindor Harbor, resupply there, and stay for one day."
"Alright, Captain."
The sailor pressed his right fist to his left chest again, excited.
"Storm be with you."
"Storm be with you." Alger watched the sailor leave and closed the door.
His expression immediately darkened.
Is my singing really that terrible?
I always go very far away to practice… how can they still hear it?
No… this shouldn't be my problem—
It must be caused by the abilities of a Sea Singer!
It was said different Sea Singers produced different effects with their songs.
Some used beautiful melodies to disturb the enemy's spiritual body, making them dazed or unfocused, or enhancing their own explosive strength.
Some simulated thunder to intimidate foes.
Some used chaotic, grating sounds to irritate the enemy and make them lose rationality…
And he might have gone a step further than the third type—
His voice had greater penetration and power, not only distressing but even capable of directly causing harm.
As Alger struggled to analyze the situation, his spirituality was suddenly stirred.
Someone seemed to be observing him.
He grabbed his extraordinary weapon and swung toward the source of the gaze.
He froze.
Two uninvited guests had appeared silently inside the captain's cabin.
One was "Doctor Strange," whom he had met once before.
The other was a strikingly beautiful lady—someone he was very familiar with from bounty posters:
The Vice Admiral of Ailment, Tracy.
"Doctor Strange" was one of Mr. Tower's identities…
But Alger remembered him abandoning that disguise…
While he remained wary, Doctor Strange's face began shifting—
In the blink of an eye, he became a young, handsome gentleman.
Naturally, this was Ebner.
He smiled at Alger, who was maintaining a defensive stance.
"I showed that face earlier so you'd recognize me.
If you're unsure, you can pray to Mr. Fool to confirm."
Hearing this, Alger frowned and glanced at Tracy, displeasure hidden in his eyes.
He had now confirmed the visitor was indeed the Tower, but the Tower shouldn't expose Alger's identity in front of a pirate admiral!
He was already planning how he would complain to Mr. Fool about this matter.
"Relax. No matter what she sees or hears now, she won't remember it afterward," Ebner explained with a glance at the Tracy he had "charmed."
The Charm Human ability was far stronger than he had anticipated—
It was as if he had added a new personality into her spirit.
Thankfully, he hadn't used high-level contamination or hypnotic suggestion; otherwise, she might never recover even after the ability faded.
Roselle might very well have been PUA'd like this by the Fallen Mother Goddess on the Moon…
Though of course, the being on the Moon was far more domineering than him.
Alger scrutinized the Vice Admiral of Ailment—
Her eyes were locked on Ebner's face with an expression like a pet gazing at its master…
This was absolutely not how a pirate admiral should act.
She's been controlled… by the Tower?
He instantly prayed to Mr. Fool without hesitation.
Even if the chance was small, if Tower used this ability on him, he probably couldn't resist at all—
His only hope would be the Fool.
Ebner allowed him to finish chanting the honorific, then smiled:
"Now you can relax."
Alger steadied himself, looked between Tower and Tracy again, and asked heavily:
"Sir, what have you come to me for?"
Ebner broke the seal on a card and drew out a sack.
"These are the heads of all pirates on the Black Death with bounties over 1,000 pounds.
I hope you can redeem them for bounty rewards—
Same split as always: thirty–seventy."
Heads of all pirates worth over 1,000 pounds…
Alger was stunned for a moment.
Then, when he realized the implications, joy flickered in his eyes.
Though exchanging bounty was risky, the profit was enormous.
And he still owed the World a considerable sum…
He forced himself to remain calm and said after thinking a moment:
"It will take some time to exchange all of these…
You understand that I can't bring all the heads out at once—that would attract unnecessary trouble."
"No problem," Ebner replied, "and I can make it easier for you."
He pointed at Tracy.
"I remember you once said you received missions to join the fleet of the Vice Admiral of Ailment, the Pale Admiral, or the Admiral of Stars…
"Well, now's the perfect chance.
Tracy won't refuse.
"Afterward, how you use her original subordinates' heads to redeem bounties—I don't need to teach you that, right?
"Of course, you'd best leave her fleet before the end of the year.
My punishment for her lasts only until then.
"And during this period, the Vice Admiral of Ailment will be the most aggressive pirate in the seas when it comes to destroying the slave trade."
Alger narrowed his eyes, weighed the situation, then nodded:
"Alright. I'll accept your suggestion."
"Good. I have other matters to handle.
The Black Death is only a few hundred nautical miles away.
Just speak with the 'normal' Tracy when the time comes."
With that, Ebner removed his hat, pressed it to his chest, saluted Alger—
Then vanished with Tracy.
Alger stood there stunned for a long moment.
Finally, he looked toward the undulating sea outside the window and whispered a single word:
"Demigod…"
…
In Backlund, inside a private room at Serenzo Restaurant—
Dorian paced anxiously across the room, waiting for his student Fors and the Viscount Bryan to arrive.
Even though he had prepared himself, now that the moment of truth approached, his heart was inevitably nervous and uneasy.
He didn't know how much time had passed before a knock knock knock sounded on the door.
His student's lazy voice followed.
Dorian listened for a few seconds, took a deep breath, walked to the door, turned the handle, and pulled it open.
Outside stood Fors—brown hair slightly curled, wearing a dark long dress.
At her side was a young, handsome gentleman carrying hints of the sea on him.
"Hello, Mr. Dorian Gray Abraham."
(End of Chapter)