Chapter 21: Hidden Mission
Crows blotted out the sky as they circled above Shipwreck Island. This island was Baron Byrne's territory in name, but Duke actually controlled it. The relationship between Baron Byrne and Duke wasn't one of superior and subordinate; it was more like a partnership. Baron Byrne managed Shipwreck Island, commanding a few hundred guards.
Regarding the profits from Shipwreck Island, Baron Byrne took 55%, while Duke received 45%. All matters here were handled by Baron Byrne. Duke only sent some pirates and claimed the island as part of his territory without participating in management, yet he took over forty percent of the profits.
This seemed like exploitation, but it was actually recognition from the Great Pirate Duke. By Duke's usual methods, he would have long since eliminated Baron Byrne, taken Shipwreck Island for himself, and installed a trusted subordinate to manage it. That way, all profits from Shipwreck Island would belong to Duke's pirate crew.
Duke could have done this, but the cost would have outweighed the benefits.
Black Curse Crows circled overhead as dark clouds gathered. The temperature on Shipwreck Island began to drop, and an invisible energy mixed into the air.
Chaos erupted on the docks. Pirates who had come to sell stolen goods or resupply knew something was about to happen. The sheer number of circling crows, combined with the ominous feeling permeating the air, reminded these pirates of a rumor—wherever large flocks of crows gathered, the Doom Number was nearby.
Pirates all knew of the Doom Number's existence, but few knew the specifics. Most who had seen the Doom Number were already dead.
"Captain, there are too many crows. At least tens of thousands."
"Tell the men to board the ship. Raise the sails."
"Load the fresh water first. Abandon the cargo. Kill this batch of goods."
The docks grew even more chaotic. Even if the connection between the Doom Number and the crows was just a rumor, it was enough to put the pirates on high alert.
Bang!
A dull, ear-shattering gunshot silenced the chaotic port for a moment. Everyone's gaze turned to a man with a small goatee holding a flintlock pistol in one hand—Baron Byrne.
"Everyone, is anyone willing to stay and help my Byrne Family fight the Royal Navy? Twenty gold coins per person as thanks afterward."
Baron Byrne announced loudly. The pirates exchanged glances, momentarily confused.
"Pfft—"
A pirate couldn't help but snicker. The next instant, a dark gun barrel aimed at him.
Bang!
Another ear-splitting gunshot rang out. The laughing pirate stood frozen in place. His entire head and upper torso had vanished, blasted into chunks of flesh. The gap in his chest formed a rough semicircle, and something seemed to writhe on the exposed flesh.
With a thud, the pirate, now only two-thirds of his original body, collapsed. The docks fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
"Baron Byrne, if you can explain what's happening with those crows above, we're willing to help you face the enemy."
A pirate captain with a grim expression spoke. This was a complete disaster; they couldn't leave.
"It's a witch. The Royal Navy forced a witch to summon these crows."
Leaving these words, Baron Byrne hurried toward the castle at the rear of the town, escorted by several guards. His steps were rushed. He had achieved his goal, and the protection he'd gained through sacrifice was about to dissipate. Staying any longer might expose him to the Black Curse Crows above.
Baron Byrne's meaning was clear. The pirates on the docks had two choices: help the Byrne Family fight the "Royal Navy" or immediately set sail and leave Shipwreck Island. Otherwise, they would be enemies of the Byrne Family and enemies of Duke.
This tactic was extremely ruthless. Staying meant becoming cannon fodder. As for leaving, with the sky full of crows, no one could leave anymore. No one could guarantee that among the pirates on the docks, there weren't people from the Byrne Family or Duke's pirate crew.
Places like Shipwreck Island had no civilians. Everyone was either a pirate or connected to pirates—slave traders, merchants buying stolen goods, and so on.
"Hard to starboard! Set sail!"
A pirate with a black headband shouted from the bow. Their captain had been killed by Baron Byrne, and the pirates on this ship weren't seeking revenge.
The sails tilted as a pirate ship was the first to set out. After it sailed half a nautical mile away, the pirates watching from their own ships breathed sighs of relief and prepared to set sail as well.
Suddenly, agonized screams came from the pirate ship half a nautical mile away. Black mist surrounded the vessel, making it difficult to see what was happening on deck. Only the screams could be heard.
Within a minute, the pirate ship fell silent. The surrounding black mist dispersed. Pirates near the docks saw the ship floating motionless on the sea. A dozen large tears had been slashed into the mainsail. The deck was terrifyingly quiet.
Crack, crack...
Crisp sounds came from the pirate ship as various parts of the hull began to break apart, as if an invisible giant hand was dragging it into the sea. Not even a single plank of wood remained on the surface. It simply vanished from the pirates' sight.
Witnessing this, the pirates near the docks were filled with fear. Their first thought was to flee to Shipwreck Island for shelter.
A whooshing sound came as a black energy sphere, about a meter in diameter, slammed into a pirate ship at the dock.
Boom!
Deep-colored flames erupted, engulfing the already shattered hull. Pirates who survived the explosion screamed in agony, turning into human torches as they plunged into the sea.
Large burning planks scattered like flowers scattered by a goddess. The pirates soon discovered that even when these burning planks fell into the seawater, the flames showed no sign of extinguishing.
Meanwhile, a four-masted ship sailed in from the distance. Its dark red mainsail looked as if it had been soaked in blood. The black hull released black mist that enveloped the surrounding sea.
"The Doom Number."
An old pirate turned and charged toward the docks, abandoning his ship to seek refuge with Baron Byrne.
Caw, caw, caw.
Crows swooped down, engulfing the old pirate. Amidst the flock, a sailor's knife swung wildly, killing a few Black Curse Crows before the old pirate died horribly.
With the Doom Number ahead and the crow swarm behind, the pirates could only retreat to the docks. In their terrified eyes, a desperate viciousness occasionally flickered.
"We've been used by Baron Byrne. The Doom Number came for him. He wanted us to die here buying him time to escape."
"What's the point of saying that now?"
A one-eyed pirate spoke coldly. Anyone who provoked him now would find his knife at their throat.
"We could surrender to the Doom Number first, then surrender to Baron Byrne, and seize him in the chaos. The Doom Number's target must be him. His ancestors signed a Blood Pact with the Doom Number."
"Who said that? Step forward!"
The pirates spread out slightly, trying to find the speaker.
"Your daddy."
The same voice spoke again.
"Show yourself!"
The one-eyed pirate, who had just gained an unexpected father figure, was furious. His fierce single eye swept across the faces of the other pirates, trying to find the speaker.
"I surrender to the Doom Number! Don't kill me! I'll capture Baron Byrne right now!"
A pirate shouted. After waiting a moment, he cautiously walked toward the town behind the docks. He disappeared from everyone's sight without being attacked by the Black Curse Crows.
"I surrender too."
"Count me in."
The pirates voiced their agreement one after another, looking as if they were about to kiss the ground to show sincerity.
Over a hundred pirates advanced toward the castle on the island. They first passed through the gate, entered the castle courtyard, and finally stopped before the castle doors.
The castle doors stood open, revealing pitch darkness inside. With the dim sky, the castle looked like a giant beast. The dark doorway resembled the beast's bloody maw, ready to devour anyone who entered.
The pirates couldn't help but feel apprehensive, but the circling crows above seemed to urge them on, pushing them to enter the castle quickly.
With no other choice, the pirates filed into the castle one by one. They weren't really planning to capture Baron Byrne alive; they were more inclined to take shelter here.
The dark castle fell silent again, as if no one had entered at all. Suddenly, a blood-covered hand reached out from the darkness, grabbing the edge of the doorway. This hand was covered in dense bite marks, with bone exposed in some places.
Due to excessive force and the owner being dragged from within the darkness, the fingernails gradually curled back, leaving bloody scratches on the wall before being pulled back into the darkness. Throughout it all, there were no screams or cries for help.
In the black mist several hundred meters in front of the castle, Su Xiao watched this scene unfold. He had deliberately let those pirates enter the castle. Just now, he had triggered a hidden mission. The mission reward was a [Soul-Filled Chest]. Opening this item would grant 100 Soul Crystals (Complete).