Kran Island was a paradise for pirates. It was a gathering place for the vast majority of pirates from various factions. They came here to exchange supplies, seek pleasure, or recruit new members. Their strength was often measured by the size of their bounties.
The taverns here were dilapidated, yet they possessed vast and wealthy wine cellars that no other seaport could match. They stocked most of the world's finest wines, a result of the supply lines provided by the great pirates behind them and the immense wealth accumulated through years of operation.
In fact, another reason for this prosperity was that the island served as a central hub for distributing and collecting pirate bounties. For such staggering sums, it was common for pirates to turn on their own kind.
As for whether there was government backing behind it all, that remained a mystery.
“Yo! Brother Blan, haven't seen you in a while!” A scruffy pirate walked into the tavern. He had thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a very muscular build, his skin tanned a dark brown from long days at sea. “How did your bounty jump to 1,800 gold coins? What did you do?”
“Plundered a merchant ship belonging to the Bryans Empire, the one across the mountain from the Royal Court.” The man called Blan raised an eyebrow, looking quite proud of himself.
“Holy crap, that’s impressive. And you actually got away?”
“Of course. It was all thanks to our captain’s magic and superb navigation skills.” Blan played with a table knife, his face beaming with excitement.
“What did you get?”
“Gold, silver, treasures—the usual.” Blan gave a dismissive laugh. “Oh, and also... never mind, it’s nothing worth mentioning.”
In a corner of the tavern, Li Yue, draped in a black robe, took a small sip of her light beer. The faint aroma of wheat blended with the sweetness of the alcohol, paired with a rich and intensely flavored smoked sausage—it was a perfect match.
“Gold? Not entirely. Those ships were full of illegally trafficked slaves.” Li Yue swallowed her food. Although she didn't particularly enjoy cured foods, she wasn't a picky eater.
As for why she ate, perhaps it was because the flavors in her mouth and the feeling of food in her stomach gave her a beautiful sense of being alive.
She let out a small burp and waited quietly for the crewman named Blan to finish speaking.
“Speaking of which, have you heard? Two massive bounties appeared on the sea recently.”
“I’ve heard plenty! They destroyed a small archipelago. Apparently, one was heavily injured, and the other has vanished without a trace.” Blan shrugged.
“You didn't see the scene on that island. It was a literal purgatory—countless mummified corpses twisted together...”
“Shut the hell up! I’m trying to eat, damn it!” Blan stood up irritably and headed toward the exit.
“The bounties on those two are ridiculously high; they’ve shocked the four seas. One is 10,000 gold coins, which is enough to join the lower ranks of the Overlords of the Four Seas. The other is even more absurd—20,000 gold coins. Both were issued by the Academy.”
“20,000... that would put them at second in the four seas. With that many gold coins, you’d be considered a top-tier tycoon even in a metropolis like Parvati...” Blan’s mouth hung open.
“The balance of power at sea is going to change again. That woman with the 20,000 bounty must be a truly ruthless character.”
“Who knows? Not everyone is as gentle as our captain.”
Li Yue wiped her hands, preparing to stand. This place's smoked sausage had a spicy aroma, and even the dipping sauce was pungent. She wiped her hands carefully; she had heard their conversation.
I don't know about being ruthless, but my hands are certainly spicy right now.
In an instant, she was outside. Blan, who was walking along, had just bought a small piece of pudding cake. Compared to heavy flavors, he preferred sweets and light food.
In the next moment, he felt an extreme sense of dread. The cake in his hand slipped from his grasp, but a pair of fair, small hands caught it for him. She gently handed the cake back to him and pulled back her hood.
“Death...” Blan swallowed hard. He felt a strange sensation for reasons he couldn't explain. He had wanted to say something, but after seeing Li Yue's attire, he chose to keep his mouth shut.
“Are you from the Royal Court? A Royal Court bounty hunter? We haven't touched Royal Court cargo, and there's no official bounty from them on us.” Blan became instantly alert. His past experiences told him that this was an extremely dangerous individual from the Royal Court.
“Our fleet is nearby. I advise you not to make a move here.”
“I am not from there. The reason I look like this is because I was tainted by death.” Li Yue smoothed her snow-white hair, her blood-red eyes staring straight at him.
If I had known, I wouldn't have used this appearance. Why is everyone so wary of the Royal Court? Whatever, I’m probably used to it by now. It doesn't matter if I keep this form in the future.
“I want to be a pirate... I am... well, a runaway eldest miss of a certain family. Can you take me to the south?” Li Yue changed her expression, trying her best to look pitiful.
“Are you serious... Miss... We are notorious pirates.”
“I’ve looked at your ship's logs. Most of your actions were driven by justice and righteousness. I believe you are trustworthy.” Li Yue “smiled.” She had been on this island for a few days, and through her correspondence with Clo, she knew that some fleets actually belonged to the Academy.
As for how to tell them apart—it was simply those who didn't do evil. For most pirates, that was an extremely difficult standard to meet.
Li Yue wore a kind smile and quietly showed Blan her ring. Although he didn't fully recognize the item, the style was definitely an Academy product. His expression became more serious, and his previous forced air of frivolity vanished.
He led Li Yue toward his ship. Li Yue pulled her hood back up. This hooded cloak was covered in fine patterns, resembling the scales of some creature.
This was actually a manifestation of the Death Abyss. Li Yue had fashioned it into a cloak to hide her presence, but for those who were even slightly sensitive, it inspired an inexplicable dread.
It was the primal fear of humanity, a dread of death rooted deep within the soul. And now, that feeling was as if death itself had passed by for a fleeting moment—as if death had taken physical form before them.
A true God of Death.
Yet beneath that hood was merely an exceptionally beautiful young lady who looked somewhat frail, like a runaway noble lady from the Royal Court. It was just that no one dared to approach her.
Rate on N.U.
