Everyone in the shelter cabin—anyone on other ships who saw—stared unbelievably at that slender figure. A Level 40 Sorceress—killing a Level 55 elite sea dragon in a crushing victory?!
"Ah… is she really Level 40?"
Krystin—the girl always called genius—now stopped breathing.
For the first time—she felt inferior about her strength.
Black wanted to comfort her: "That's not talent—that's pure cheat player."
Jiaye was the true protagonist—in stats—maxed out.
After Augupugu's fall—the transport ship's situation didn't improve much.
Surrounding sea dragons drooled for humans—rushing onto the ship en masse.
Luckily—these dragons were much lower level—easy to handle.
Jiaye—just one person—one staff—guarded the shelter cabin entrance. One man holds the pass.
Expression calm—facing dozens of sea dragons—unmoved—beautiful face filled with killing intent.
Numerous spells cast simultaneously—forcibly holding back dozens of sea dragons.
To those behind—this girl was like a deity.
Elsewhere—the battlefield remained as before.
Humans, with superior combat power, large weapons, and crucially—organization—
Remained dominant—slaughtering countless sea dragons.
Sea dragon numbers sharply decreased—this tide clearly nearing end.
Whoosh!
Distant deafening wave sounds came.
All looked up—finding Pascal and Duke Gran's battle also ended.
Aurex, this elite dragon—unable to fight two Dragon-Rank experts—wisely dove into seawater and fled.
If it truly wanted to escape—they couldn't stop it.
The sea was their home ground.
With Aurex's retreat—other sea dragons also fled in disarray.
Leaving countless same-species corpses.
This Sea Dragon Tide ended in human victory.
Total deaths—over twenty.
"We won! Finally won!"
"This time—not celebrating too early?"
"Shouldn't be—even if it is—with Empress here—we fear no sea worms!"
Cheers erupted—Dragoncleavers, nobles—all could celebrate freely.
"At least we can rest now."
Black shook his spear—sat by deck edge.
His guard uniform was basically ruined.
Gurgle gurgle.
Even the once-vigorous Goldie panted heavily.
Nearly twenty sea dragons died by its hand.
"Good job today—I'll treat you to good food tonight."
Black patted Emperor Winged Dragon's head—rewarding it.
Hearing "food"—Goldie excited—kept licking Black's face.
"Hey hey—too itchy—you're dog-like!"
While man and dragon played—Alice silently stood beside them.
Red dress stained with dragon blood—even more vivid.
Clearly—she'd fought fiercely too.
But—her beautiful face faintly displeased—seeming in bad mood.
Playing—Black suddenly felt an icy, bone-piercing aura envelop him.
Shivered involuntarily.
Looked up—was Alice.
Now—this princess wore a cold smile—clearly ill-intentioned.
Black sensed disaster—this villainess was angry.
But couldn't think what he did wrong.
"Your Highness—hope you're well—uninjured?"
Alice's cherry lips slowly bloomed a smile—stunning beauty—but laced with mockery.
"Heh… thanks to you—I'm still breathing."
"Black—I want to ask—are you my guard?"
She stepped forward—almost touching him.
Strong sea wind—and a hint of danger—rushed at him.
"Or are you the precious Saintess Lady's personal guard?"
"Is the Saintess Lady so wonderful? Worth your personal protection?"
Alice hated iron turning to steel—red eyes swirling with complex emotions.
During battle—she actually worried—if Black's strength—would a sea dragon swallow him whole.
Eyes constantly watching—ready to rescue anytime.
But this guy was fine.
Man and dragon moved freely in Sea Dragon Tide—easier than other elites.
Even had time to support Church Saintess.
Only mistake? Left her, his direct superior, completely ignored.
"Ahahaha…"
Ah.
Black's expression awkward.
Did he sense jealousy in the princess's words?
Even some grievance and sourness?
Was he imagining it?
Black never expected Alice to be angry over this.
Then again—he was with Krystin all along.
Focused on killing dragons—never checked Alice's status.
Believed with her strength—handling these sea dragons would be effortless.
Seems that's why Alice was unhappy.
"Your Highness—you jest."
Black started sweating cold—quickly making excuses.
"I'm just a Level 10 tiny Knight—blessed if I don't hinder Saintess Lady—how could I protect her?"
"You know my level… ah!"
Before finishing—Alice stepped on his foot—Black cried in pain.
"Oh? Really? I saw you cooperating well with Saintess Lady—still chatting!"
"When I was surrounded by sea dragons—your eyes never once—not even once—looked my way."
"Must be Saintess Lady's heavenly beauty—hard to look away?"
Alice's chest rose slightly—truly angry.
But she knew—her questioning seemed childish—like a child competing for attention—different from usual reactions.
This contradiction made her more frustrated—sourness and anger intertwining—first time expressing inner thoughts so directly.
The girl who never coquettish—had changed.
"Uh…"
Black speechless—Alice's angle of accusation left him no rebuttal.
"Whatever—why should I bother with such a tiny guard?"
"If you got eaten by sea dragons earlier—it'd serve you right!"
She glared fiercely at Black—then sharply flipped hair—turned and walked.
Left without looking back—each step cracking the deck.
Only leaving Black a cold back.
Black stood stunned—long—finally realizing something wrong.
Has Princess Alice's villainess persona completely collapsed?
Where was the villainess now? These words sounded like a tsundere girl's.
Amazed—Black also felt slightly relieved.
With this Alice—she probably wouldn't follow the game's ending anymore.
Thinking—he casually activated Omniscient Lens—viewing Alice.
[Name: Alice]
[Identity: First Princess of Dragonheart Empire]
[Class Level: Lv.43 Mid-Tier, Diamond Swordsmanship]
[Favorite Foods: All sweets—e.g., strawberry cake]
[Hobbies: Sword practice, combat, painting]
[Key Info: Never insult the Empire in front of her]
[Predicted Ending: Death within two days]
However.
To Black's utter surprise
Alice's predicted ending was still death!
And she had only two days left!
"How could this be…?"
For the first time, Black's expression slipped out of control, his heart filled with panic.
He had clearly altered the plot point where Alice and Jianye originally clashed.
Why was her fate still death?!
Where exactly had things gone wrong?
He strained his memory, desperately recalling every detail from the game's prologue, but after racking his brain for ages, he still couldn't pinpoint the issue.
It couldn't possibly be Jianye's doing again, could it?
The moment that thought crossed his mind, he dismissed it himself.
Jianye wasn't the kind of protagonist who carelessly took lives.
Her actions just now—saving someone without hesitation—proved that clearly enough.
In the original story, Jianye only acted against Alice after repeated provocations following their initial conflict, indirectly causing Alice's death.
But now, the confrontation between them at Su Lan's Three Fights no longer existed—the plot point had been changed.
Alice's character had also shifted; she was no longer the arrogant villainess from the original.
Under Black's influence, she'd even begun treating servants with equality and respect.
The incident during their last meal was proof of that.
The two of them shouldn't cross paths again—like parallel lines that never meet.
Yet the truth remained right before Black's eyes.
He almost wanted to question whether his All-Knowing Glasses were broken.
But reason told him that was impossible.
After long contemplation, Black still couldn't make sense of it all.
With the storyline altered, all he could do now was adapt as events unfolded.
Technically, even if Alice died, it wouldn't affect the prologue's ending—in fact, it would align even more closely with the original outcome.
But Black couldn't accept her death.
In his eyes, Alice was no longer a villainess.
At her core, she was just a stubborn girl.
And she'd already begun to change—no longer haughty, aloof, or aggressive.
A bright and sunny future should await this imperial princess.
To let her die like this… Black simply couldn't accept it.
Couldn't accept it at all.
"It seems I'll have to stick close to Alice these next few days."
Black couldn't guarantee he'd be able to save her from her destined death.
But at the very least, he could give it his all—without regrets.
What Black didn't realize was that a faint tenderness had already taken root in his heart.
That clumsy yet earnest figure—now tinged with tsundere pride—had already left a vivid mark within him.
****
Night.
The bright moon hung high in the sky.
It was a night worthy of moon appreciation.
Unfortunately, no one was in the mood for it tonight.
The scent of blood still clung to the Hodyr.
Even though the deck had been scrubbed multiple times, the vivid red stains refused to fade.
Black walked back to his room from the mess hall.
Along the way, he noticed the entire fleet had escalated to maximum combat readiness.
Dragon-Slaying Guards patrolled everywhere on the ship.
Alchemists continuously fine-tuned ballistae and other siege weapons to ensure the heavy artillery remained operational.
Logistics personnel hurried in and out, stockpiling medical supplies and ammunition.
The whole fleet was immersed in a state of urgent activity.
To Black, this was perfectly normal.
They were now approaching the Caribbean Sea, and the dangers they faced were growing by the hour.
Just like today, no one could predict when the next Dragon Tide would strike the fleet.
They'd barely repelled one wave—another attack in the dead of night wouldn't be surprising at all.
Humans could never fathom the thoughts of dragons.
Thus, Pascal's special warning had put everyone on high alert,
requiring them to stay battle-ready at all times.
Back in his room, Black wearily took a shower.
He also washed the clothes stained crimson with dragon blood.
Little Jinzi was already fast asleep—tiny in size, yet snoring loudly.
Today's intense battle had finally exhausted even this hyperactive young dragon.
Lying in bed, Black tossed and turned, unable to sleep, until he finally gave up and stared blankly at the ceiling.
His mind was heavy with worry and unease.
Today's first wave of the Dragon Tide had already exceeded his expectations in scale.
Even elite dragons like Orex had appeared far earlier than anticipated.
The royal fleet had been caught completely off guard.
How terrifying would the next waves be?
Setting that aside, there was another matter troubling him—
the assassination plot by the Draconic Parliament.
He had no clue which young nobles the Parliament intended to target.
Even if they hadn't struck yet, given their ruthlessness,they'd likely make their move within a day or two.
These assassins were hidden among the fleet—impossible to guard against.
Wait!
Within a day or two?
Black suddenly connected this to another thought.
[Predicted Outcome: Death within two days]
According to his All-Knowing Glasses, Alice was fated to die within two days.
Could it be possible—just possible—that Alice was the very target of the Draconic Parliament's assassination?
Although Alice wasn't exceptionally gifted, she was still the Second Imperial Princess!
Given her status, she'd absolutely be on their kill list.
The more Black thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
No matter how slim the chance, he couldn't take any risks.
For the next two days, he absolutely had to stay close to Alice.
Now that he had the Imperial Wyvern and the Flow State enhancement,even if he couldn't defeat the assassins, he could at least buy a few crucial moments.
Those moments would be enough for the Dragon-Slaying Guards to react—abnormal spiritual fluctuations were extremely noticeable.
Of course, he could try convincing Alice to stay in her room and avoid going out.
But knowing her personality, without solid evidence, how could he possibly persuade her?
With so many worries crowding his mind, sleep became impossible.
Black finally gave up on sleeping altogether, got up, and walked to the window to clear his head with the sea breeze.
As he gazed outside, a massive, mobile steel fortress on the water caught his eye.
That was… the Welton.
Seeing that floating prison sent a chill down his spine.
At that moment, Black suddenly remembered something important.
He'd promised the crew of the White Pearl Pirates that he'd reveal their escape route.
Judging by the timeline, it was about time.
Two days from now, they'd enter the Caribbean Sea.
He'd use the Golden Fishing Rod to lure out Jörmungandr as soon as possible.
The farther the final battle took place from the Abyssal Chasm, the better.
While the royal fleet was occupied with the showdown, the pirates could slip away unnoticed.
Actually, Black's main reason for helping them escape was that he needed to flee with them.
After all, he had no idea how to pilot the White Pearl himself.
His escape plan had three critical steps.
First, severely weaken the Draconic Parliament's strength to ensure their assassination failed.
For the most part, he'd already accomplished this.
Without the Dragonfang Blade and with one Yellow Dragon already dead, most of the Parliament's scheme had collapsed.
Only one part remained—their plot to sabotage the Hodyr's ammunition depot.
Second, use the Golden Fishing Rod to provoke Jörmungandr early, avoiding a battle near the Abyssal Chasm.
He'd already secured the Golden Fishing Rod, so once they entered the Caribbean Sea, he could execute this step.
Once the first two steps were complete, the outcome of the final battle would be all but decided—neither Jörmungandr nor the Dragon Tide would stand a chance against the royal fleet.
That would bring him to the third and final step:escape.
He'd already planned to inform the White Pearl Pirates of the escape route and the ship's location in advance.
Then, once the final battle was in full swing, he'd sneak away and rendezvous with them.
Together, they'd commandeer the White Pearl and vanish into the horizon.
Afterward, they'd drop him off back at the fishing village.
A flawless plan.
Therefore, Black decided to deliver the escape route and the ship's location to them tonight.
That way, they could prepare over the next two days and seize the perfect moment to break out.
Without further delay, Black quickly sat at his desk, picked up pen and paper,and began sketching out the escape route from memory, circling and annotating as he went.
It took less than half an hour,and it was done.
Rolling up the blueprint and hiding it securely,
Black left the room and headed up to the deck.
Small boats regularly shuttled between the Hodyr and the Welton,transporting personnel and supplies.
All Black needed to do was board one of those boatsto reach the Welton.
On his way to the docking point,Black casually glanced upward—
and spotted several figures on the top deck of the Hodyr.
These were all prominent, well-known figures:
Duke Gran, Pascal, Lucy, several elder nobles…
and Empress Elizabeth herself.
From their posture, they seemed to be discussing battle strategies.
Today's Dragon Tide must have caught them off guard too,necessitating an urgent reassessment of their defenses.
Black's gaze lingered on Empress Elizabeth.
He thought to himself: counting the moment she intervened during the Dragon Tide,
Her Majesty had already made two appearances today.
If that was the case, even if she wasn't fully recovered,her injuries must have healed significantly by now.
With her strength restored, they should be able to defeat Jörmungandr.
And if that happened, the prologue's ending was practically secured.
Relief washed over Black at the thought,and his pace quickened instinctively.
None of the dignitaries noticed him.
Upon reaching the transfer point,
Black happened to catch a supply run heading to the Welton.
Seizing the opportunity, he stepped forward and addressed the crewmen:
"I'm Black, personal guard of Her Highness Princess Alice.
I've been ordered by the princess to make a trip to the Welton."
The sailors had initially been ready to refuse—unauthorized personnel weren't allowed to switch ships freely—but upon hearing his name and recognizing his uniform, they hesitated.
After all, following the Su Lan Three Fights,
Black's name had become somewhat famous among the crew.
And yes, this man was indeed the Second Princess's personal guard.
"Alright then, come aboard," the lead sailor said.
Black hopped onto the small boat and arrived at the Welton without incident.
Using his status as the princess's guard as cover,
he smoothly made his way to the cellblock where the pirates were imprisoned.
Black had expected them to greet him with overwhelming joy.
Instead, from a distance, he already heard them collectively cursing him—their language so vulgar it made even seasoned sailors blush.
"Damn you, Black! We've been played for fools!"
His "good roommate" Uriel slammed his fist hard against the cold floor,his knuckles turning white.
"What escape route? It's been ages—we haven't even seen his shadow!"
"This was a setup from the start!
He's probably selling us out for his own glory,leaving us here to rot or get shipped off to imperial labor camps!"
Another pirate rasped bitterly.
A young pirate, tears welling in his eyes, whimpered:
"Even Captain Loyel hasn't come back…
Have they both abandoned us?"
Hearing this, another young pirate slapped him hard across the face.
"Don't talk nonsense! Sister Loyel would never leave us behind!"
At that, First Mate Hans let out a weary sigh.
He leaned silently against the corner of the cell,the brief spark of hope Black's earlier promise had ignited now reduced to cold, lifeless ash.
He knew well—the pirates weren't afraid of death.
Dying in battle against the imperial royal family would be honorable.
What they couldn't bear was dying in a cage,unavenged, forgotten—a fate too humiliating to accept.
That was why, when Black first told them a viable escape route existed, they'd rejoiced.
It meant they still had a chance to break free.
Once out, they could lie low, rebuild,and someday exact their revenge on the imperial house—just as Black had said: "As long as the green hills remain, there'll always be firewood to burn."
Yet so much time had passed—not only had Black not returned,but even Captain Loyel had vanished without a trace.
Now, with the Dragon Tide already upon them,neither of them had shown up.
Hans couldn't understand—why give them hope, only to abandon them?
And Loyel… knowing her as he did,she absolutely wasn't the type to desert her crew.
She must have run into trouble outside.
But trapped in this cell, they could do nothing to help.
Clang… clang…
Like countless nights before,the sound of footsteps and clinking metal echoed down the corridor—signaling the approach of dinner time.
The pirates lifted their heads listlessly,too numb to even open their eyes fully.
The guard pushed the food cart to the bars,silently sliding in the usual fare:hard black breadand a bowl of watery, flavorless soup through the slot at the bottom of the gate.
Ever since Black left, their rations had only gotten worse.
Hans took a bite, felt no appetite at all,and was about to toss it aside—when a light, almost cheerful set of footsteps mixed into the usual rhythm.
At the same time, a familiar voice rang out:
"Yo! Dinner time?
Guess it's better to arrive late than never!"
That voice—so smug, so infuriatingly familiar—pierced through the cell like a spark to dry tinder.
In an instant, the lifeless prison cell eruptedas if a red-hot bomb had been tossed inside.
Every pirate snapped their heads around.
Their eyes locked, unblinking,on the figure standing beyond the iron bars.
Black!
There he stood, very much alive,wearing that signature, infuriatingly lazy grin.
He even leaned forward through the bars,peering inside as if he were just a casual visitor checking in on old friends.
Time seemed to freeze for a heartbeat.
Then—
"Waaaah! Black, you damn traitor!
How dare you show your face again?!"
Uriel, so furious he lost his appetite, lunged at the bars.
"You've got the nerve to come back?!
You've got the nerve?!"
The younger pirates surged forward too,all glaring at him with burning eyes.
Even Hans shot to his feet,his usually composed, wrinkled face now stripped of all calm.
But unlike the others, he didn't rage.
He just stared at Black with deep suspicion.
Why had he returned?
Surely not just to mock them?
"Huh? You guys don't want me here?
Guess I'll just leave then~"
Black feigned a hurt expression and turned as if to walk away.
But before he'd taken a single step,he suddenly stopped.
"I was actually planning to give you the escape route…
but I guess… never mind."
As he spoke, he deliberately waved the blueprint—the one clearly marked with the escape route—right in front of their eyes.
At the sound of his words and the sight of that paper,the furious shouting in the cellwas instantly strangled mid-roar,as if gripped by an invisible hand.
One moment they were screaming;the next, they stood frozen like statues under a binding spell.
Only the sound of ragged breathing remained.
Seeing their reaction, Black smiled.
He deliberately unrolled the map and held it directly in front of Uriel—the one who'd cursed him the loudest.
Uriel's mouth hung open, the unfinished curse—"Traitor!"—choked back down his throat,replaced by a meaningless, dry "Kah!" sound.
His eyes locked onto the map, then snapped back to Black's face—which wore a smug, exaggerated expression of "injury."
What the document in front of him was had become painfully obvious.
A wave of overwhelming embarrassment—so intense he wished he could burrow into the ground and vanish—engulfed Uriel.
His cheeks visibly flushed, shifting in an instant from furious crimson to the deep red of a boiled shrimp.
"Uh… ahem."
Uriel struggled out of near-silence, forcing out an awkward, strained cough.
"Bro, that was all a misunderstanding! We're practically the same person—ironclad buddies, best roommates ever!"
"Don't you remember back in the ship's public bath,when we scrubbed each other's backs? You even complimented how firm my glutes were!"
The moment those words left his mouth, everyone—including Black—was utterly dumbfounded.
Black's eye twitched.
He hadn't expected his "good roommate" to switch faces this fast.
"Pfft, pfft, pfft! When the hell did I ever say that?!
That was you! You were the one who said my glutes were tight— and now you're flipping the blame on me?!"
The two grown men kept volleying back and forth about bathhouses and glutes in Chinese,making the other pirates shudder in disgust,eyeing them with visible revulsion.
Even Hans, the first mate, looked stiff and uncomfortable.
"Oh come on, brother—when hearts are united, even metal can be severed!
What I say is what you say!"
"Screw off! Who's your brother?
I'm the traitor, the spy, the biggest scumbag there is~"
After a few more rounds of playful bickering, Black turned serious.
Seizing the moment when no guards were patrolling nearby,he waved the blueprint in front of the group, then handed it to Hans,his tone turning grave.
"This map shows the escape route from the Welton."
Hearing Black confirm it himself,the pirates finally let out a collective sigh of relief—their faces lighting up with unrestrained joy.
Some even looked ready to tackle-hug Black and smother him with kisses.
Their attitude had done a complete 180-degree flip.
Hans' hands trembled as he accepted the precious document.
With this map, the White Pearl Pirates still had a fighting chance.
Someday, they'd get their revenge on the imperial royal family!
"Black… why are you alone? Where's Captain Loyel?"
After tucking the map away, Hans glanced behind Black,
not seeing the familiar figure, and asked with concern.
"Well…"
Black hesitated.
He couldn't exactly tell them Loyel had tried—and failed—to assassinate the Empress.
That would only cause unnecessary panic.
Besides, he knew from the game's storyline that Loyel would be fine until the final ending.
"She's carrying out a secret operation. She's safe for now."
Black answered vaguely.
"If you say so, then I believe you."
Hans exhaled in relief—he trusted Black had no reason to lie to them.
"Now, about the timing of the breakout—
I need to go over it with you."
"In about two days…during the battle with the Sea Dragon King…that's when you make your move."
"Follow the route to the White Pearl and wait for me there.
If I don't show up after a while, just leave without me."
"Don't wait for Loyel or me—that's what we both agreed on."
To ease their worries about their captain, Black deliberately added that last line.
Twice.
Hans nodded firmly—he fully agreed with the plan.
While the royal fleet was locked in combat with the Sea Dragon King,the Dragon-Slaying Guards wouldn't have a spare moment to chase after them.
It truly was the perfect opportunity.
"Then it's settled!
I'll be waiting for you two on the White Pearl!
You'd better make it back!"
The rest of the crew echoed the same sentiment.
"Of course," Black replied.
After all, this was his ticket back to the fishing village.
"Oh, and First Mate Hans—there's one more important thing I need to ask you."
"In general, for a military-grade behemoth like the Hodyr,how would someone sneak into its heavily guarded ammunition depot?"
This was the second major reason Black had come to the Welton tonight.
He hoped Hans—being a seasoned sailor familiar with ship layouts—
could offer insights on infiltrating the Hodyr's ammo storage.
As for why he needed this information, his motive was simple.
In the game's prologue, the Draconic Parliament's conspiracy
had three key factors that influenced the ending.
He'd already sabotaged the first two.
But one remained:
the Purple Dragon infiltrating the ammo depot and triggering a massive explosion.
This event was critical—it significantly altered the story's trajectory.
Black could've chosen to ignore it,but the plot had already shifted dramatically—
like Orex appearing early in today's Dragon Tide.
All he could do now was minimize further risks.
The Hodyr's ammunition depot was arguably the most vital location on the entire ship.
It stored munitions for ballistae, cannons, arcane artillery—and countless high-yield spell scrolls.
Against tens of thousands of sea dragons,these supplies were indispensable.
Thus, the depot's importance was self-evident.
Its defenses were said to be flawless—sealed by multiple layers of complex high-tier protective spells.
Only authorized personnel could enter freely.
No one else—regardless of rank, not even imperial princes or princesses—was permitted inside without explicit clearance.
Of course, one could attempt a brute-force breach.
But the moment those defensive spells were attacked,
the Dragon-Slaying Guard command would detect it instantly.
So a direct assault was out of the question.
In the original game, the Purple Dragon hadn't used force.
He'd slipped inside through some mysterious method—
the cutscene glossed over the details entirely.
What Black did know was how the Purple Dragon sabotaged the depot.
Instead of casting a destructive spell on the spot—which would've killed him in the resulting blast—he used a high-tier spell called "Doomsday Countdown."
This spell functioned like a timed explosive.
Once cast, it would detonate automatically after a set duration,triggering a chain reaction that would obliterate the entire depot.
By then, the Purple Dragon would have long escaped.
Therefore, if Black could disrupt the "Doomsday Countdown" spell,he could prevent the explosion altogether.
And fortunately, he knew exactly how to dismantle that spell.
The only problem?
He had no idea how to bypass the depot's magical defenses and get inside.
Without access, everything else was meaningless.
Such classified information—if he'd asked anyone on the Hodyr,he'd have been arrested on the spot.
So the only person Black could turn to was Hans, the first mate, who knew ships inside and out.
Maybe he knew a way to bypass those defensive spells.
"The Hodyr's ammunition depot?
What—you're not actually planning to target that, are you?"
Hans looked genuinely shocked. He hadn't expected Black to be this bold.
"Not at all. I don't have that kind of death wish,"
Black shook his head.
"Well… I've heard that depot is layered with countless defensive spells.
Only authorized personnel can enter or exit."
"They even transport munitions via spatial magic—no manual handling required at all."
"I'm afraid I can't help you with this one."
Hans sighed. He knew ships well enough,but arcane magic? That was beyond him.
"I see…"
Black's brow furrowed tightly.
If even Hans didn't know, then there was no one else to ask.
Was he really going to give up?
Just stand by and watch the depot get blown up?
As Black wrestled with this dilemma,an elderly pirate huddled in the corner of a neighboring cellsuddenly raised a trembling hand.
"I… I know how to get in!"
!!!
Black's gaze snapped toward the withered old man in the shadows.
The pirate was filthy, his hair streaked white,but his cloudy eyes now burned with a deep, seething hatred.
"Old McGee… what did you say?"
Hans asked in disbelief.
He'd known this pirate for years—knew he had a tragic past—but never once heard he understood anything about ship defenses or magic.
Uriel and the others were equally baffled.
All eyes now fixed on this normally silent, almost invisible old man.
Ignoring their skeptical stares,
Old McGee slowly pulled a black cloth from his tattered coat.
Unwrapping it revealed several yellowed arcane scrolls.
He fumbled through them for a while,then pulled out one in particular.
Though its edges were frayed,the runes inscribed upon it remained sharp and legible,faintly glowing with an eerie blue light.
"What is this?"
Black narrowed his eyes, cautious.
"Heh… with this scroll, anyone can slip into the Hodyr's ammunition depot."
At that, Black and Hans exchanged glances—both stunned by the claim.
"Old McGee, this isn't the time for jokes!"
"How could you possibly have something like that?"
Hans' expression turned stern.
This old man had always been destitute—was he just toying with them?
The old pirate grinned, revealing broken yellow teeth,his smile tinged with madness.
"Of course I have it!"
"Because my grandfather was one of the shipwrights who built the Hodyr!"
The words struck the room like thunder.
Old McGee wasted no more words.
He unfurled the scroll, revealing dense, intricate runes.
Black instantly recognized its quality—this was no ordinary artifact.
"Back then, my grandfather helped design the entire Hodyr—even the defensive spells around the ammo depot!"
"But despite his brilliance,he was hanged by the Empire on trumped-up charges!"
"And our whole family was torn apart—killed, scattered, ruined!"
His finger traced a specific rune on the scroll,his eyes blazing with renewed fury.
"He died so full of regret! So full of rage!"
"Before his execution,he carved the weaknesses of every spell on the Hodyr—in blood and tears!"
The weaknesses of every spell on the Hodyr!
"He turned them into these arcane scrolls!"
His voice cracked, trembling with decades of suppressed vengeance.
"He gave them to me.
I've lived in hiding for decades,fled across the seas,even joined a pirate crew—all for one day: to destroy this cursed ship with my own hands!"
"But this White Pearl crew…they're useless!
We ended up as prisoners anyway!
It makes my blood boil!"
His tone dripped with bitterness and despair—the voice of a man burdened by generational blood debt.
Then, he fixed his gaze on Black,his eyes suddenly alight with rare intensity.
"But you're different.
You know about Jörmungandr.
You know the escape route.
You're no ordinary man!"
The old pirate grew more frenzied with every word,
making it hard for Black to judge how much was truth and how much delusion.
"You're sure this scroll can bypass the defensive spells?"
Black asked gravely.
The old man gave a chilling smile.
"Of course! Activate it,and it'll tear a ten-second gap in the defenses—plenty of time for you to slip inside!"
"Even if the Empire's dogs have reinforced the spells since then,this scroll will still work!"
"And besides… you don't really have a choice, do you?"
Black was already inclined to believe him.
In this world, such spell-breaking scrolls did exist—and their effects matched the old man's description almost exactly.
But would he actually hand it over?
"I'll take the scroll. What's your price?"
"Heh… I want you to promise me one thing!"
"Not now—but after we escape.
I need you to do something for me in the Empire!"
Old McGee spoke slowly.
Strangely, the hatred on his face had faded,replaced by a calculating, almost cunning smile.
Truth was, he'd almost asked Black to blow up the depot right then.
But at the last moment, he remembered something far more valuable.
Destroying the depot would feel good—but it wouldn't truly threaten the Dragonheart Empire's rule.
Back in the Empire's heartland,his family had discovered several ancient ruins—places hiding artifacts powerful enough to topple the entire regime.
But he was too old now to pursue them.
This mysterious young man before him, however…he saw hope.
And this youth clearly harbored his own grudge against the Empire—otherwise, why help pirates escape?
"…"
"Alright."
After a long silence, Black agreed.
He didn't know what the old man's condition would be.
But future problems could wait.
Right now, stopping the depot explosion was urgent.
If the ending collapsed,there'd be no "future" to speak of at all.
Seeing Black's agreement,
Old McGee shakily handed him the scroll.
The moment it left his hands,the old pirate shrank back into the cold, dark corner—as if the entire exchange had never happened.
Was this character even in the game?
Could he be part of some hidden side quest?
Black pocketed the scroll, puzzled but pressed for time.
He couldn't dwell on it now.
"Everyone, I'll take my leave. Take care!"
Noticing how late it was, Black knew he couldn't stay any longer.
"Understood. You take care too.
We'll be waiting for you on the White Pearl."
Hans nodded firmly, watching Black walk away.
"My dear brother! Don't you dare die!
We're waiting for you to come home!"
Uriel called out, his voice thick with reluctant affection.
Back on the Hodyr without incident.
It wasn't too late yet—most cabins aboard the ship still glowed with lamplight.
Just as Black was about to return to his room,he happened to run into Irena in the corridor.
Judging by the direction she was walking,the only destination down that hall was his own room.
Black crept up quietly from behind,planning to tease her a little.
"You looking for me?"
He spoke suddenly, even reaching out to ruffle the little bunny's head.
"Ah!"
Irena jumped in fright,
instinctively grabbing Black's hand and biting down hard.
"Yowch! Are you a rabbit or a dog?!"
Black yelped in pain.
Once she realized it was him,
Irena finally relaxed—but the moment she noticed he'd been petting her head,her cheeks flushed crimson.
"Don't touch my head! If you keep doing that, I'll never grow taller!"
She huffed, flustered.
Even though being pet by Black felt nice,she absolutely hated anyone touching her head—it was a matter of dignity… and height!
"Alright, alright," Black chuckled, reluctantly pulling his hand back.
"What do you need, then?"
Irena bit her lip, then carefully pulled a small cloth pouch from her chestand held it out to him.
"For… for you."
Her voice was soft, but her eyes were unusually earnest.
Black took the pouch,tore open a corner, and peeked inside—several faintly glowing arcane scrolls nestled within.
Their tier wasn't high, but the quantity was impressive:Frostbolt, Fireball, Wind Shield, Vine Bind…mostly elemental spells—her specialty.
There were even a few Ice Prison scrolls—a mid-tier spell she'd used against the summoner last time.
The effort required to inscribe so many scrolls was staggering.
"This is…"
He looked up, astonished.
"I made them myself,"
Irena mumbled shyly, fiddling with her fingers.
"They're not as good as what high-tier mages produce,but they're useful in a pinch."
"Your level's a bit low… these should help you out."
Ah.
Black's heart warmed.
She must have been worried about him getting into trouble during the Dragon Tide.
That's why she went through all this trouble.
These scrolls could fetch a fair amount of gold on the market.
"Is this a thank-you gift? For saving you last time?"
He smiled.
But Irena shook her head.
Her violet eyes shimmered brightly in the dim corridor light.
"It's not a thank-you."
She spoke with quiet conviction.
"Mom says… real friends give each other gifts."
"You gave me Obsidian Nectar,so I have to give you something too."
Her tone carried a stubborn certainty—as if her mother's words were divine law.
Black paused, touched.
So in her mind, friendship was this pure.
No wonder readers called the novel's heroine "sweet and naive."
"Well then," he grinned, tucking the scrolls away carefully,
"since it's a gift from my little bunny, I won't refuse!"
"But next time, don't push yourself so hard.
Inscribing scrolls drains a lot of mental energy, right?"
Irena's ears turned pink.
"It's… it's not hard at all!"
In truth, she'd stayed up for three straight nights after the Su Lan Three Fights,her fingertips burned raw from handling volatile spell components.
But she'd never admit it.
After a few more lighthearted exchanges,just before parting, Black suddenly placed a hand on Irena's shoulder—his expression uncharacteristically serious.
"Listen," he said quietly,"the final battle with Jörmungandr is probably happening in a few days.
If you run into danger, don't be reckless."
"Don't be reckless," he repeated.
"The Dragon Tide isn't a joke.
Hide if you have to. If you can't win, run—fast."
"And if you absolutely must fight… be careful.
Worst case… just wait for me… or someone else to help you."
Irena blinked, then suddenly giggled, her face adorably bright.
"But you're lower level than me—how can you say that?"
Black's eye twitched.
Alice had said the same thing. Now Irena too?
What's wrong with being low-level? Did I eat your rice or something?
"Hey! I'm serious!"
"I know, I know~"
She waved him off, skipping a few steps away—then turned back and stuck out her tongue playfully.
"I'll remember what my friend said!"
Her figure vanished down the corridor.
Black stood in place, fingers gently tracing the pouch of scrolls,a soft smile tugging at his lips.
This kid… was actually pretty cute.
Not long after saying goodbye to Irena,
Black had barely taken a few steps toward his roomwhen he stopped short.
Huh?
Was he seeing things?
That slender, elegant figure standing right outside his door—was that Alice?
Why was she waiting outside his room so late?
Was she looking for him too?
What was with today? Everyone showing up one after another?
He walked closer, and under the corridor's lamplight,he confirmed it was indeed her.
Arms crossed, leaning casually against his door—
Alice stood tall and poised.
Tonight, unusually, she wasn't wearing her signature red dress.
Instead, she wore sleek black light armor.
Her sword hung at her waist, its blade glinting coldly in the moonlight—and she'd even brought Crimson Soul, her prized weapon.
Her usually loose hair was tied into a high ponytail,giving her a strikingly gallant air.
Hearing his footsteps, she turned her head slightly,crimson eyes sweeping over him.
"Y-Your Highness?"
Black blinked.
"What's this about?"
"Just passing by."
Alice's voice was cool, her fingers tapping impatiently against her sword hilt.
"You're lying."
Black was speechless.
Since when did "passing by" mean loitering outside someone's door like a stalker?
And that tone—colder than usual—she was probably still mad at him.
Just then, a patrol of Dragon-Slaying Guards passed by.
Spotting the two of them, they bowed respectfully to Alice—though their eyes sparkled with unmistakable gossip-hungry curiosity.
Alice gave them a slight nod in return.
Black glanced between Alice and the guards,then pieced it together after a moment of thought.
Ah.
Now he understood why this tsundere princess was standing guard outside his room at midnight.
For the past few days, Dragon-Slaying Guards had been stationed near his door—on Alice's orders—to protect him from Seth's retaliation.
But after today's Dragon Tide,the fleet's alert level had been raised,and all available guards were reassigned to patrol duty.
No one was left to watch over him.
So… she came herself.
Black was genuinely flattered—and stunned.
And he was absolutely right.
Alice had indeed come because she knew the guards were too busy.
During the battle with the Dragon Tide,she'd kept glancing over at Black between clashes, checking on his condition.
She'd noticed how, while Black was rampaging with the Overlord Spear,
Seth on the other side radiated murderous intent—his face blacker than soot.
If given the choice, Alice was certain
Seth would rather kill Black than slay sea dragons.
Even in these extraordinary times,
Seth was still a battle-crazed lunatic.
Who knew if he'd storm over in the dead of night,
fueled by rage, to settle the score with Black?
It was precisely because of this concern that she'd come to protect Black herself.
Of course, with her personality,she'd never actually say those words out loud.
At most, she'd just huff and mutter,
"I was just taking a walk,"the very picture of tsundere pride.
"Since Your Highness happened to be passing by…"
"How about coming in for a bit?
I've got plenty of sweets in my room."
Black feigned sudden realization, pulling out his key to unlock the door.
He knew very well that this imperial princess adored desserts.
"Not interested."
Alice turned her face away quietly.
"Only children are obsessed with sweets."
"Is that so?"
Black smiled inwardly.
He pushed the door open, reached into his bedside cabinet,and pulled out a box of honey soufflé pancakes—deliberately waving it in the air.
"But last time I helped tidy your study,
I saw over a dozen empty Moon Mousse boxes."
"And that's ranked number one on the Dragonheart Empire's 'Children's Favorite Desserts' list, by the way."
"You—!"
Alice's face flushed scarlet in an instant,her hand instinctively gripping her sword hilt.
"You were supposed to organize—who gave you permission to snoop through my things?!"
"Innocent! I swear!"
Black raised both hands in surrender.
"You told me to move the Dragon Compendium.
The moment I lifted it, the dessert boxes behind it were right there in plain sight!"
Alice froze, then ground her teeth after a long pause.
"Shut up."
"As you command."
Black obediently closed his mouth—but his hands kept moving.
He tore open the packaging of the honey soufflé,and the sweet, buttery aroma began to fill the room.
These pancakes had been personally given to him by Kristine—she'd said she made them herself,as a treat for him and Little Jinzi.
To be fair, Kristine's culinary talent was every bit as impressive as her calligraphy.
Just the scent alone—before even taking a bite—was enough to make one's mouth water.
"Your Highness, would you like to try some?"
"No."
The expected reply.
But Black wasn't discouraged in the slightest.
He didn't believe for a second that this princess could resist such exquisite confectionery.
He deliberately poked the pancake with a fork,letting the molten honey syrup inside slowly ooze out—glistening in the candlelight with an amber sheen.
"Mmm~"
He took an exaggerated deep breath.
"This soft, pillowy texture~
this fragrant honey sweetness~
such delicacy should only exist in heaven—
how often does one taste it in this mortal world~"
Alice's eyes flickered involuntarily toward the treat—then snapped away just as quickly.
"Oh, and the best part?
The caramelized hazelnut crunch inside."
He bit down with an audible crunch.
"So crisp, so sweet—
perfectly paired with the honey…"
A barely perceptible swallow passed through Alice's throat.
"And this rich, creamy milk from the Northern Steppes~"
"That's enough."
Alice slapped the table in irritation, her red hair flaring like autumn maple.
"Stop talking already, I…"
"…would rather starve to death."
"…jump off this ship."
"…than eat your stupid dessert!"
Three minutes later.
"Hmph. Not bad. Barely passable."
Alice nibbled the pancake in small bites,a dab of cream clinging to the corner of her mouth—yet she still kept her expression stern as she critiqued it.
"Still far worse than the imperial chefs."
"Then why did you just eat three in a row?"
Black suppressed a laugh and poured her a cup of black tea.
The two of them finished the entire box—even Little Jinzi's portion was gone.
Black felt a twinge of guilt at first,but then reasoned: what does an Imperial Wyvern need with desserts anyway?
Dragons should act like dragons—go eat meat!
As they sipped tea in comfortable silence,
Alice suddenly tossed something at him.
Black fumbled to catch it—and found a crimson-gold token in his palm.
On the front was an engraved dragon motif; on the back, the imperial crest.
"What's this?"
"A protective charm gifted by Her Majesty."
She casually wiped her blade as she spoke.
"It can block one high-tier spell."
"I already have plenty.
Would be a waste to let it sit unused."
Black ran his thumb over the token, then chuckled softly.
"You could just say you're giving it to me—why add that bit about 'waste'?
Your Highness, you're being way too tsundere."
"…Are you really worried about me?"
"Don't flatter yourself."
Alice shot to her feet, her crimson hair swirling like falling maple leaves.
She swept out of the room—but paused at the doorway.
"Dragon Tides could strike at any moment now."
Her whisper, carried on the night breeze, was almost inaudible.
"Don't die, idiot."
The door slammed shut behind her.
Black stared at the golden token in his hand, and suddenly realized—this tsundere princess might actually be even easier to read than Irena, that little bunny.
After seeing Alice off,
Black took a light rest during the first half of the night.
In the second half, he grabbed a pot of bitter tea and headed straight to the training grounds.
[Player used Penetrating Thrust ×1]
[Knight class unlock progress: 301/10,000]
There he stood, facing the wooden dummies,wielding a practice wooden lance,repeating Penetrating Thrust over and over.
Whenever fatigue crept in,he'd take a gulp of bitter tea to stay alert—then keep training.
With the Dragon Tide looming and the Draconic Parliament scheming,
Black was desperate to boost his combat power—and unlocking the Knight class had become urgent.
True, he already had three classes: Swordsman, Pirate, and Summoner.
But none of them had a suitable weapon.
The Knight class was different—he already possessed the six-star weapon: Overlord Spear.
This knight-exclusive weapon,paired with the Knight class's unique skill set,would drastically amplify his strength.
So he gave up sleep entirely—determined to unlock the class no matter what.
Before, completing 10,000 Penetrating Thrusts would've taken him two or three days.
But now, with his higher level and deeper understanding of spiritual energy manipulation,
he unlocked the Knight class in under five hours.
[Summoner class unlock progress:]
[Progress complete. Summoner class officially unlocked.]
As the class unlocked, a cascade of Knight skills unfolded before him:
[Charge Thrust] [Javelin Toss] [Retreating Lance]
[Stalwart Body] [Oath of Valor]…
These included offensive, defensive, evasive,and even self-cleansing abilities.
Unlike Warriors (defense-focused), Swordsmen (attack-focused),
Assassins (agility-focused), or Archers (accuracy-focused),the Knight was a truly balanced class—covering all combat aspects with no glaring weaknesses.
A Grandmaster Knight would never be outclassed,even against higher-level opponents.
Arguably the most cost-efficient class in existence.
"Let's test how strong it really is."
Black tossed aside the wooden lance and switched to the Overlord Spear.
The Overlord Spear was far heavier than a standard lance—but its power was incomparably greater.
"Charge Thrust!"
He activated the skill instantly.
The Overlord Spear seemed to awaken in his hands,letting out a resonant hum.
Vwoom!
The spear shot forward like a dragon in flight!
It pierced straight through the first dummy—
thwack!—then, without losing momentum,sliced through two more before finally stopping.
"No wonder it's legendary—this spear is terrifying!"
Black sucked in a sharp breath, staring at the gaping holes in the dummies' chests.
For hours, he'd been thrusting with the wooden lance and couldn't even pierce one dummy.
Now, with the Overlord Spear and the skill combined,he'd skewered three in one go.
Truly, overwhelmingly dominant.
Holding the spear in his hand felt like gripping a furious, malevolent dragon.
The moment he struck, that dragon would tear apart anything that dared stand in its path.
Due to his current level,he hadn't even unlocked one-tenth of the spear's true power.
If one day he could awaken its full potential,the sheer might would be unimaginable.
After stowing the spear away,dawn had already broken outside.
Black wiped the sweat from his brow and flashed a bright, sunlit smile.
With the Knight class now unlocked,his confidence had grown significantly.
Bring on the sea dragons, the Draconic Parliament—he'd face them all head-on.
Even if he couldn't win,he'd still tear chunks out of them before going down.
After breakfast, Black happened to run into Alice as she set out on her morning patrol.
She was dressed just as she had been the night before—sharp, gallant, and battle-ready.
"Come with me to inspect the vanguard ship."
After their brief exchange last night,
Alice no longer seemed angry with him.
"As you command, Your Highness."
Black readily complied.
He'd already decided to stay close to Alice these next two days, keeping constant watch for any assassination attempt by the Draconic Parliament.
Such an attack might never come—but if it did, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Under the escort of several high-ranking Dragon-Slaying Guards,the two of them made their way to one of the fleet's outermost vanguard ships.
These outer vessels served two critical roles: scouting for threats and serving as the first line of defense against Dragon Tides.
Their combat readiness was formidable—bristling with every type of large-scale war machinery imaginable.
So despite their position on the fleet's periphery,their strategic importance was immense.
In such critical times,both the Dragon-Slaying Guard command and the imperial family personally oversaw frontline operations—never neglecting even routine inspections to ensure no detail was overlooked.
"Your Highness, please follow me."
The ship's captain bowed deeply upon recognizing the Second Princess.
Alice's eyes lingered briefly on the detailed structural schematics the captain offered,then she turned to Black and said softly,
"I'll inspect some classified ship components. Wait here for me."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Black nodded.
As a mere guard, he had no clearance to access such sensitive information.
In truth, someone of Alice's status didn't need to personally examine every bolt and beam.
Most royals would've just glanced at the blueprints for show—their mere presence was enough to demonstrate concern.
The actual work would be left to specialists.
But Alice was different.
Where other princes and princesses would skim over ship schematics with indifference,she'd study them intently for hours,ensuring she understood enough technical terms, to hold meaningful conversations with the crew.
This same meticulousness defined her swordsmanship—and it was part of what made her so compelling.
After watching her disappear down the corridor with the captain,
Black returned to the deck to stretch his legs.
The morning sea breeze swept across the vanguard ship's deck, carrying a damp, salty tang.
Having stayed up most of the night, he leaned against the railing, arms crossed,half-dozing with one eye barely open.
As he idly strolled along the deck,his gaze drifted unconsciously over the passing sailors and guards.
The deck around him was lined with rows of cannons—their metal casings polished to a mirror shine,barrels gleaming with cold, lethal precision.
Clearly, even the maintenance crews took their duties seriously.
A few technicians passed by,noticing Black's drowsy state,and one whispered to another as they inspected the artillery mechanisms.
Black was about to look away—when his eyes caught something odd near the stern.
A figure in black sailor's garb was crouched by the anchor chains, fiddling with the mooring lines.
Something about him felt… off.
Black's eyes narrowed slightly.
On the surface, the man's actions seemed normal—but closer observation revealed inconsistencies.
His movements were stiff,fumbling with the anchor chain far longer than any seasoned sailor would.
Black's suspicion deepened.
For this expedition against Jörmungandr,the imperial court had meticulously vetted every crew member.
Every sailor aboard was a veteran of the high seas—efficient, practiced, and swift in their duties.
No one would dawdle over something as basic as securing an anchor.
Even more alarming,the man kept glancing around nervously,clearly distracted.
Definitely suspicious.
Black's brow furrowed.
He slowed his pace, feigning interest in the ocean view,while subtly closing the distance—his eyes locked onto the figure.
But the man was clearly alert.
Despite Black's caution,
the stranger sensed something—and abruptly stood up,quickly striding toward the lower-deck corridor.
That sealed it.
Black's suspicion flared into certainty.
He followed immediately,light on his feet, keeping a careful distance.
The corridor was dimly lit,cabin doors shut tight on both sides,only a few rooms leaking faint lamplight.
Fortunately, Dragon-Slaying Guards patrolled frequently—so Black wasn't worried about being ambushed.
The black-clad man moved swiftly,taking sharp turns at junctions.
But Black's sharp instincts kept him from being shaken off.
Then, without warning, the man suddenly accelerated—vanishing down a dead-end corridor.
Black's heart leapt.
He sprinted after him—but when he rounded the corner,the hallway was empty.
Gone.
"Damn it—lost him!"
Black clenched his jaw, scanning the area.
How could someone disappear so completely in such a short corridor?
That speed alone confirmed his guilt.
After a tense moment,he noticed a square ventilation grate on the wall—its metal bars still swaying faintly.
Could he have escaped through there?
Black reached out to touch the grate,unsure, about to investigate further—when a deafening explosion erupted from a nearby cabin!
Metal screeched, followed by panicked shouts!
The blast came from the exact direction where Alice and the captain had gone—the classified inspection zone.
"No!"
Black's heart clenched like a fist.
The suspicious figure, the explosion—the word "assassination" flashed through his mind.
He didn't hesitate.
He bolted toward the sound,ignoring startled crew members who scattered in his wake.
Within minutes, he skidded to a halt outside the ruined cabin—and charged straight in, protocol be damned.
"Your Highness!"
Inside, chaos reigned.
The air reeked of gunpowder and scorched metal.
After frantic searching,
Black found the scene:several crewmen huddled around a strange, obsidian-black cannon,its barrel still steaming hot,surrounded by jagged shards of exploded machinery.
And there, not far away, stood Alice—graceful and composed, her clothes perfectly undisturbed.
Her brow was slightly furrowed as she listened to the captain,who was bowing deeply while reporting something.
Not a single scratch marred her person.
Did I overreact?
Black thought to himself.
Alice didn't look like she'd been attacked at all.
"Your Highness, are you alright?"
Black approached her, eyes scanning her up and down,his voice still edged with lingering anxiety.
Alice lifted her gaze to him.
Seeing his flustered expression,the tension at the corner of her mouth softened just a fraction.
Her tone remained cool, though.
"It was just a malfunction during the test-firing of a new cannon—the propellant ignited prematurely, causing a minor explosion."
"The rounds were only for testing; the blast was weak.
I wasn't injured."
"But you… why are you so frantic?"
At that, Black finally exhaled in relief—though his back was already soaked in cold sweat.
On his way here, he'd already imagined the worst:
Alice's lifeless body lying cold on the floor.
Thankfully, nothing had happened.
"I saw a suspicious figure on deck.
I followed him, but lost track—then the explosion went off, and I thought…"
"You thought there was an assassin on board?"
Alice arched an eyebrow, her eyes flickering over him—a small, hidden warmth blooming in her chest.
She was glad that, in a crisis,
Black's first worry had been for her.
"Protecting those you're sworn to guard—that's what a proper guard should do."
"You may return to the deck. We'll handle this."
Since Alice was unharmed, Black nodded and made his way back to the deck.
Leaning against the railing,he stared out at the distant sea,the image of the black-clad man refusing to leave his mind.
Could it really have just been his imagination?
Imagination?
No—that didn't make sense.
If the man had nothing to hide,why flee so quickly?
Why act as if he feared being caught?
In truth, Black had considered telling Alice about the Draconic Parliament's infiltrators.
But this was no small matter—especially during such a volatile time.
Without concrete proof,accusations like that could be labeled "spreading panic"—a crime punishable by confinement.
Even though Alice now treated him with more trust,she might still doubt him on something this grave.
After all, he'd already drawn suspicionby revealing intelligence about Jörmungandr.
If he dropped another bombshell like this,they might just lock him up "for his own safety."
As he sank deeper into thought,a sudden commotion erupted on deck.
"What in the world is that?!"
A Dragon-Slaying Guard pointed toward the distant horizon,his voice trembling with disbelief.
Black followed his gesture—and saw that the far-off sea had turned an unnatural black.
A massive wave churned violently,rushing toward them at terrifying speed.
From afar, it looked as if countless colossal creatureswere thrashing beneath the surface.
At first, he thought it might be a migrating whale pod.
But as the distance closed,
Black clearly saw the monstrous heads breaking the surface:the hammer-like skull of the Hammerhead Sea Dragon,the thick, muscular arms of the Sea Lion Dragon,and the jagged dorsal spines of the Spineback Sea Dragon!
"Another Dragon Tide?!"
Black's pupils contracted sharply,his throat bobbing hard.
They'd just survived one tide yesterday—how could another strike so soon?
And this one was just as massive!
"Alert! Full alert! Dragon Tide incoming!"
The deck commander reacted instantly,his voice cutting through the air.
Shrill alarm bells blared across the vanguard ship—then rippled outward through the entire royal fleet.
In an instant, every Dragon-Slaying Guard snapped into position!
Ballistae, cannons, arcane artillery—all loaded and primed.
The entire ship surged into battle readiness.
"Another Dragon Tide?!"
Alice and the captain rushed back onto the deck,both stunned by the sudden turn of events.
"Your Highness, you must return to the Hodyr immediately!
It's far safer there!"
The captain's face was ashen as he barked orders to his crew,urgently urging Alice to leave.
He wasn't wrong.
The Hodyr had Pascal—a Dragon-tier expert—on board.
If Alice faced danger, they could protect her.
But this vanguard ship had limited combat strength.
They couldn't guarantee her safety.
If anything happened to such a high-ranking princess,how could they possibly explain it to Empress Elizabeth?
At his words, Alice's expression hardened.
She immediately drew her longsword,her crimson eyes locked onto the approaching tide.
"There's no time. The Hodyr is too far.
If we try to retreat now, the sea dragons will intercept us—that would be even more dangerous."
"And if I abandon you all just to save my own life…then I don't deserve to be a princess of this empire!"
Her voice rang out—firm, resolute—echoing across the deck.
The crew and guards fell silent for a beat—then their faces lit with fierce emotion.
"For Princess Alice! For the Empire!"
"For Princess Alice! For our homeland!"
Morale surged instantly—the entire ship now burning with unified resolve.
Wise choice. No wonder she's the princess.
Black watched Alice—radiant in this moment of crisis—and felt an urge to applaud.
This princess was growing faster than he could have imagined.
Everyone now stood ready, weapons drawn,prepared to fight the sea dragons to the death.
What they didn't notice, however—was a cluster of malicious gazeslurking in the shadows of a rear cabin.
Eyes fixed especially on Alice… and Black.
There, huddled together,were several figures in identical black garb—and among them was the very man Black had chased earlier.
"Heh… what luck.
Not only did we catch the princess off the Hodyr,but a Dragon Tide shows up too."
The leader of the group stroked a black dagger in his hand,chuckling softly.
"If we'd only planned to kill Alice,now we can wipe out everyone on this shipand blame it all on the sea dragons.
No one will ever trace it back to us."
If Black had seen that dagger,he would've recognized it instantly—this was Black Dragon,the leader of the Draconic Parliament's current operation.
Black Dragon hadn't anticipated the Dragon Tide.
His original plan had always been to assassinate Alice.
The reasons were simple:
First, she was a high-value imperial target.
Second, compared to other nobles,she ventured outside the Hodyr far more often—making her easier to isolate and eliminate.
But the Hodyr was crawling with high-tier experts.
Any move there would've been suicide—the Dragon-Slaying Guards would've crushed them instantly.
So they'd waited…and today, when Alice came to inspect the vanguard ship,they seized the opportunity, slipping aboard unnoticed.
Away from the Hodyr's defenses,their chances of success had skyrocketed.
Moreover, after that mysterious intruderhad breached their ranks twice before,they were now paranoid—on high alert.
Hence, six elite assassins had been deployed just to kill one princess.