Chapter 43: You’re Playing Me
Su Xiao gazed at the duke ahead. Although he had previously clashed with the duke, this was their first meeting in person.
The duke had far too many elite pirates under his command—nearly 2,000. If this truly represented the duke’s full strength, he wouldn’t be on equal footing with the other three great pirates.
Reasoning this way, the duke must have relied on external forces. The most likely scenario was that he had allied with either Twin Towers: Empress or Black Witch Sa. Since Black Witch Sa had largely abstained from the Sea King’s Horn conflict, that left only Twin Towers: Empress.
If so, everything made sense. The duke hadn’t come for a decisive battle but for negotiations. Bringing so many men was to seize the initiative; otherwise, he would have joined the fray when the cursed men and the remnants of the West Sea King were locked in combat.
The atmosphere was nearly frozen. Even the elite pirates behind the duke couldn’t help but feel tense in such a grand spectacle.
Su Xiao raised his hand and glanced at Commodore Murray to his right. Half a kilometer away, Commodore Murray stepped forward.
“Commodore!”
Murray’s adjutant was frantic with worry. Approaching the two opposing forces in this situation was extremely dangerous.
Commodore Murray ignored his adjutant. He advanced at a measured pace, finally stopping about a dozen meters from Su Xiao. “Bai Ye, I have matters to attend to. I’ll take my leave.”
“Mm.”
Su Xiao was satisfied with Commodore Murray’s decision. Murray was a good collaborator, not blinded by immediate gains.
Before the battle, Su Xiao and Commodore Murray had already reached an agreement: Murray would guard against any third-party intervention, and in return, he would take over the West Sea King’s territory.
Now, Commodore Murray’s withdrawal wasn’t desertion but a temporary abandonment of the West Sea King’s domain—exactly what Su Xiao wanted.
The duke had allied with Twin Towers: Empress, which was why he had brought so many elite pirates, many of whom were under the Empress’s command. This was the worst-case scenario for Su Xiao.
When the duke arrived, he didn’t immediately attack. This meant he wanted to talk, not fight a chaotic battle here. The reason was that some of the pirates he brought were only there for show; if a real fight broke out, they would quickly retreat.
Su Xiao couldn’t allow the duke and Twin Towers: Empress to continue their alliance. The threat was too great. He had to admit that the current Doom Number couldn’t simultaneously oppose two major pirate forces.
The way to break their alliance was simple: throw out a big cake. Give it to only one of them. Wouldn’t the other get jealous?
The West Sea King’s territory was a cake neither could refuse. As for them splitting it equally? Don’t joke. The duke’s domain bordered the West Sea King’s territory, and on the other side of the duke’s land lay Twin Towers: Empress’s domain.
If the Empress got half of this territory, her domain would sandwich the duke’s lands. Could the duke tolerate that? Letting another great pirate’s ships sail freely through his waters? Unless the duke was an idiot, he wouldn’t allow it.
The Demon Sea was vast enough to accommodate four overlords and the “giant” to the south, but the West Sea King’s “West Ge Sea” couldn’t hold two overlords.
Commodore Murray saw this too, which was why he chose to withdraw. He had suffered no losses this time, and fighting the duke now would cost too much.
“The West Sea King was always so brainless.”
The duke shook his head, pulled a horn segment from his chest, and tossed it to Su Xiao.
[Prompt: You have obtained the Sea King’s Horn (1/3).]
Including the two segments Su Xiao already had, he could now assemble the complete Sea King’s Horn.
“The West Sea King’s territory is yours.”
Su Xiao put away the Sea King’s Horn. Things were going smoother than expected—or rather, the duke had thoroughly outmaneuvered Twin Towers: Empress, and he knew it.
Su Xiao looked at the remnants of the West Sea King’s forces. The fight couldn’t continue now. With the duke and Twin Towers: Empress both present, continuing would risk being pinned down here—a loss outweighing any gain.
The conversation between Su Xiao and the duke was brief, but it sent chills down the spines of two pirate leaders behind the duke: Silver Snake: Xiu Lu and Heart Ripper: Leticia. These two were trusted subordinates of Twin Towers: Empress, sent to bolster the duke’s presence.
Heart Ripper: Leticia lowered her head. The black twin-tower tattoo on the back of her hand glowed faintly, and her aura began to shift—Twin Towers: Empress had temporarily taken over this body.
Twin Towers: Empress looked around. She had been summoned by her subordinates and was still unaware of the situation.
“You’re here? If there’s nothing else, take your people and leave my territory.”
The duke spoke without turning around. Hearing this, Twin Towers: Empress’s eyes turned cold.
“Ma’am, we should withdraw.”
Silver Snake: Xiu Lu spoke beside her.
“Why?”
Twin Towers: Empress felt stifled. Her plan hadn’t even unfolded yet, and she was supposed to retreat like this?
“Ma’am, we can’t simultaneously face the Doom Number and the Duke’s Raiding Party.”
“Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Twin Towers: Empress wasn’t stupid. With minimal information, she could piece together what had happened. But one thing baffled her: was the duke truly satisfied with what he had gained?
Thinking this, her blood pressure spiked. Not only had the “friendship boat” between her and the duke capsized, but when she was kicked off, the duke had stabbed her.
“Duke, you tampered with my segment of the Sea King’s Horn, didn’t you? Did you send someone to steal it? Not those water ghosts from the Doom Number?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Very good.”
Leaving these words, Twin Towers: Empress led her people toward the island’s edge. She didn’t leave but planned to watch, waiting for Su Xiao and the duke to fight over the spoils.
“Bai Ye, now that you’ve seized the Sea King’s Horn, what do you plan to do next?”
The duke spoke casually. Regardless of their past conflicts, their interests now aligned, so they could cooperate. That was the pirate way.
“Use it as a collection.”
Su Xiao stood and walked toward the island’s edge. With all three segments of the Sea King’s Horn in hand, he planned to find a suitable place to lure the strongest sea beast, then take its essence. The beast was a treasure trove.
But before that, Su Xiao had to deal with another major threat. The West Sea King was dealt with; now it was time to handle the other ticking time bomb.
The Doom Number set sail, heading straight for a certain sea area.
After sailing for about three hours, the sea wind howled. A storm was coming.
“Baha.”
Su Xiao took a lantern from beside the captain’s cabin door. Baha grabbed it, flew up, and hung it on the bow.
After repeatedly confirming no one was following, the Doom Number entered the black mist vortex. On the way back to Dim Light Island, they had to guard against ambushes. The Doom Number was vulnerable at this time.
The half-shattered blood moon hung high in the sky. The Doom Number docked at the pier. The cursed men emerged from the ship’s hull, eager to rest after the fierce battle.
Su Xiao jumped off the ship and walked toward a wooden hut. Pushing open the door, he saw the face of the Sea Devotee on the wall.
“Sea Devotee.”
“More cursed men died in battle?”
“Yes.”
“For them, this is liberation.”
As the Sea Devotee spoke, its tree-like mouth split open to an exaggerated degree.
Su Xiao took out 14,100 gold coins. 282 cursed men had died. Returning to Dim Light Island was to replenish their numbers.
After paying the Demon Sea gold coins, Su Xiao returned to the Doom Number’s deck. Half an hour later, over two hundred cursed men of various forms stood on the pier.
The Doom Number’s crew grew stronger with each battle. When these cursed men broke free from the black mist, they had to compete for the limited spots. In fights against strong enemies, the weak died, and only the capable survived.
“Board the ship.”
Su Xiao stamped his foot on the deck. All the cursed men turned into shadows and merged into the ship’s hull.
The Doom Number entered the black mist vortex. When it reappeared on the Demon Sea, a torrential downpour was underway.
Raindrops struck Su Xiao, bringing a chill. He commanded the cursed men to furl the sails.
The sky in the storm was pitch-black. Raindrops the size of beans poured down. Furious waves surged, as if the Demon Sea itself was enraged, intent on swallowing everything on its surface.
A purple-tinged lightning bolt silently streaked down. After a moment, a deafening crack echoed.
On the raging sea, a dark shadow passed through the water. Several nautical miles behind, a figure riding a wooden plank with an oar in hand was in pursuit—it was Gluttony, still not giving up.
Gluttony’s mental connection linked to a blood bead beside him. He could sense that the enemy ahead was slowing down.
“Finally can’t hold on? Not so tough after all.”
Gluttony crouched on the plank, his hands plunging into the sea. After a moment of preparation, he swung his arms, and he and the plank shot forward.
Gluttony paddled on the plank. In the pouring rain, he vaguely saw something ahead—very large, shaped like a massive ship.
Ahead, beside the Doom Number, a cursed man pressed its hand against the ship’s hull. It had made it home, but the enemy was still chasing.
Around the Doom Number, dark shadows appeared in the water, rushing toward Gluttony’s direction.
Gluttony, still paddling, lowered his body and looked around. He sensed something was wrong.
“Seems like… I chased the wrong person. Firefly, what exactly did you see before you died?”
The plank beneath Gluttony gradually stopped. He felt that his teammate Firefly had played him with his dying breath.