Chapter 38: Admiral of Blood

Chapter 38: Admiral of Blood

“Hunt them?” Danitz instinctively repeated.

When he truly understood what Gehrman Sparrow meant, he instantly became excited. Changing his sitting posture, he lowered his voice and asked, “Is there anything you need me to cooperate with?”

As a qualified part-time pirate, he had nothing to do with beautiful words like tolerance, mercy, or benevolence. Since he had nearly died at Steel Maviti’s hands, and now had the chance to take revenge, he certainly was unwilling to miss it.

He believed that his survival in the profession of piracy depended on an accurate grasp of circumstances: knowing when to resist, when to fight with one’s life on the line, when to pretend not to see an enemy, and when to settle old accounts with pleasure.

And now was the opportunity!

Danitz still did not dare make an accurate judgment on just how powerful Gehrman Sparrow, this madman, truly was. But judging by the fact that the other man had dealt with the fallen Bishop Miller in ten seconds, handling Steel Maviti should not be too difficult. Even if they encountered Admiral of Blood Senor, there was not necessarily no hope of winning.

Of course, that referred to a one-on-one situation. Pirates never cared about knightly spirit… Danitz thought with deep feeling.

Klein leaned forward slightly, braced both elbows on his knees, and clasped his hands together.

“I already said it.”

Huh? What? Danitz often felt that he could not keep up with Gehrman Sparrow’s train of thought.

As for that, he could only comfort himself: normal people and madmen were different.

Seeing that the other man no longer spoke, he thought it over carefully and finally remembered what he ought to do.

Write down everything Admiral of Blood and his pirate crew have done!

Mm… Gehrman Sparrow must want to know how many things they have plundered… Danitz quickly settled on the line of thought, rummaged out paper and pen from the room, and scribbled down a large amount.

During this process, he was especially thankful that it was his left arm that had been injured.

When he finished writing, Klein reached out and took the papers, carefully reading them once. From the portions Danitz had not explained in detail, he confirmed that Admiral of Blood and his group were indeed the most typical and most vicious sort of pirates. They did not merely plunder wealth; they abducted people, slaughtered crews, and abused women.

This pirate Danitz actually knows how to write Ancient Feysac… He did receive an education… Klein muttered inwardly, took out a copper penny, and used divination to confirm the truthfulness of the material.

Then, in a tone no different from instructing what to eat for breakfast the next morning, he said, “Tell me about Admiral of Blood and his subordinates.”

He wants detailed information… He really is preparing to hunt them? Danitz felt joy rise in his heart and hated only that he did not know more.

“Admiral of Blood Senor is suspected to be an evil spirit. Anyone who faces him will die in strange ways: strangling themselves, swallowing a gun and shooting themselves, actively embracing bombs, or slaughtering their own companions. Our captain says this is spirit possession.”

Very similar to Miss Sharron’s Beyonder abilities… A Wraith? Klein said nothing, silently listening to Danitz continue.

“Senor can unleash a terrifying scream. When we fought them last time, I was nearly made dizzy by it and fell from the deck into the sea. Heh. I returned the favor and set one of their ships on fire.

“Senor knows quite a few necromancy spells. He is cruel, bloodthirsty, and driven by powerful desire. Whether the target is male, female, or even a humanoid creature makes no difference to him.”

That matches the indulgent traits of the Rose School of Thought. Mm, to be precise, it matches certain traits of the Prisoner pathway… Most likely a Wraith… Klein nodded thoughtfully.

Having received a response, Danitz became even more enthusiastic, his speaking speed increasing slightly.

“Our captain believes Senor possesses a very powerful mystical item. It makes him quite lucky, always receiving the gods’ favor. For example, at a critical moment, his opponent suddenly slips, or their ability fails. Or, in gambling, he can win twenty-one rounds in a row.”

A mystical item that makes someone lucky? That is very rare… Does it originate from the Monster pathway? Or is it connected to some evil spirit? Klein made guesses based on his knowledge of mysticism.

“I have never directly fought Senor, so that is all I know. He has roughly seven or eight ships. His flagship is the Flesh Tree. Heh. That is different from us. We mainly pursue treasure, and we do not recklessly recruit subordinates. We only have the Golden Dream.”

No wonder Admiral of Blood’s bounty is quite a bit higher than Vice Admiral Iceberg’s, reaching forty-two thousand pounds… His strength should also be somewhat greater… Klein suddenly understood.

He maintained his earlier posture, as if unaffected by the information about Admiral of Blood.

“What about his subordinates?”

Danitz had already prepared himself and immediately said, “The strongest under Senor number ten: the flagship’s first mate, second mate, third mate, and the captains of each ship…

“Steel Maviti is the flagship’s second mate. We suspect he is Sequence 6. His body is like steel. He can directly withstand bullets and cannonballs. He is not afraid of fire, drowning, or many kinds of magic. He is powerful, fast, and can tear opponents apart directly. He has also grasped certain necromancy spells and can awaken living corpses and cultivate marionettes…”

Living corpse? Klein immediately thought of Maric, who played cards with living corpses.

Combining this with Admiral of Blood Senor’s Wraith traits, could it be said that this pirate crew is actually an external organization of the Rose School of Thought, or perhaps an organization used to earn money? What a pity. I do not have a messenger, and I did not ask Miss Sharron whether she has one. Otherwise, I could contact her and confirm Admiral of Blood’s identity… Klein felt somewhat regretful as he speculated.

He did not give up because this might involve the Rose School of Thought. In any case, after the matter, he could change his face and switch to another identity. Besides, he had already provoked the Aurora Order, the Demoness Sect, Redemption Rose, and the Twilight Hermit Order. He was not afraid of offending one more.

Actually, it is not as though I have never confronted the Rose School of Thought. Before, I already killed a Wraith, a Living Corpse, and a Werewolf, and seized the Crimson Moon Coronet and the Biological Poison Bottle… Klein suddenly discovered that he really had caused quite a number of incidents.

“Maviti should not have any especially powerful mystical item. Otherwise, I probably would not have escaped earlier.” Danitz spoke with considerable relief. “He has a group of marionettes and living corpses beside him, as well as several Sequence 7 and Sequence 8 subordinates. Since he is the flagship’s second mate, and he is here, he should be the leader of the nearby personnel. We can consider hunting him first.”

Below the higher Sequences, when the number of Beyonders increases, there is a qualitative change. The cooperation between different abilities is enough to let them defeat Beyonders stronger than themselves, just as a Nighthawks team can definitely take down a Sequence 6, and even a Sequence 5… Klein did not look down on Steel Maviti and his subordinates merely because he had obtained Creeping Hunger and his strength had increased greatly. He remained as cautious as ever.

The operation must be properly planned, and all preparations made. Mm, the wavelength and code obtained from White Shark can come in handy. Once Miss Magician’s wireless telegraph receiver arrives, I will have Danitz monitor it daily and see whether he can obtain corresponding intelligence, giving me a chance to seize a rapid harvest… And while waiting, I can search for the possibility of genuine acting… Klein quickly formed a rough plan and continued listening to Danitz’s intelligence on Admiral of Blood’s other subordinates.

After quite a while, Danitz finally finished and summarized with great excitement, “If we can kill Steel Maviti and leave my name behind, this matter will definitely appear in the newspapers and spread everywhere. Then I will not have to worry about how to notify the captain!”

He feared that a traitor existed within their own ranks, and that all the contact points throughout the Rorsted Archipelago had already fallen under the enemy’s control. He did not dare make contact rashly, and was currently troubled over how to warn the captain.

He has ideas after all… Klein nodded.

“You will be responsible for gathering all kinds of intelligence on Steel.”

“Alright!” Danitz, thinking of the punch that had almost pierced his heart that evening, responded with a rather savage smile.

Klein slowly stood and walked to the window. Outside, the sky was black, the gale howled, and the rain poured fiercely, as though the end of the world had already arrived.

Thinking of what he was about to do next, he could not help feeling a different sort of acting. With a faint smile, he muttered in a low voice:

“Tonight, Gehrman joins the hunt.”

…

City of Generosity, Bayam. Inside the Church of Waves.

Alger Wilson, having obtained the Blood Clan anesthetic gas, had been about to set sail and acquire the other main ingredient of Wind-blessed when he was summoned by the local diocesan bishop.

“Recently, a rumor has been spreading that Vice Admiral Iceberg obtained Death’s Key. The pirates throughout the Sonia Sea are boiling over,” the diocesan bishop said in a deep voice. “Investigate this matter.”

He was an old man whose hair had already gone gray, yet his spirit remained vigorous and sharp. He spoke even faster than a young person, as though he might charge out at any time and personally resolve everything.

His body was sturdy, muscles stretching the bishop’s robes. With each breath, the wind around him seemed to surge and the air grew damp.

Every year, similar rumors circulate, and in the end, they are all false… The sea always loves spreading news like this… Besides, even if it is true, I am not qualified to get involved. There is no need to risk myself over it. Asking around from the outskirts should be enough… Alger muttered inwardly.

He solemnly clenched his fist and struck the left side of his chest.

“Yes, Your Excellency Chogo.

“The storm be with you!”

The diocesan bishop Chogo was very satisfied with Alger’s attitude and returned the same salute.

“The storm be with you!”

Having received encouragement, Alger Wilson quickly left the church and returned to the square outside.

The previous night’s storm had already subsided. Only scattered leaves and puddles of various sizes on the ground proved that it had ever come.

Alger breathed in the fresh air after the rain and decided to first visit several places where pirates might appear, asking around and showing that he was making an effort.

If he happened to encounter some fellow with a bounty of several hundred pounds, he would not mind carrying out an arrest. In his view, such people were mobile, reserve currency.