The Captain's Cabin was dim, with most of the space hidden in shadow, except for the crimson moonlight streaming through the bay window on the right.
Lex lay on the floor, holding his revolver, its muzzle pointed directly at the Captain's Cabin door.
He glanced at Doug, who was hiding behind a chair nearby, and his mouth, hidden by the mask, twisted in a sneer, but he didn't voice his displeasure.
The leader of the Black Bowties had followed him in and hidden with him. If he could, Lex would have driven him away, but there was no time now.
He hadn't run into the Captain's Cabin aimlessly; this place, this space, was a temporary trap for Lex.
Just now on the deck, Lex had confirmed with his own eyes that the tattooed man, suspected to be a Beyonder, was mad and deranged, possessing immense strength and keen senses.
In a wide-open space, it would be difficult to hit him with a pistol, and the Black Bowties members had already proven this. So Lex had ducked into the Captain's Cabin. He believed that the madman's lack of reason would make him break through the door rather than consider breaking the window.
The door would restrict the madman's dodging space and increase Lex's hit rate. Even with the madman's keen senses, it would be difficult for him to avoid all attacks!
Additionally, there was a second 'trap' in this room, a natural one.
Doug, hiding behind the chair, whispered, "Shouldn't we light a lamp? It's too dark in here."
"Shut up if you don't want to die." Lex didn't even look at him, his attention completely focused on the door.
Doug's face fell, and dissatisfaction surged in his eyes, but at this moment, he still needed to rely on Lex, so he could only obey and close his mouth.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside, and the wooden door of the Captain's Cabin splintered into pieces. Lex hadn't even clearly seen his opponent when he sent the bullets from his gun in the direction of the doorway.
Almost simultaneously, a harpoon shot in, flying over Lex's head and embedding itself in the wall behind.
If Lex hadn't been lying on the floor, that harpoon would probably be embedded in his chest right now!
A scream sounded from outside the door. Lex saw the splashing blood, knowing he had hit the target, but it seemed he hadn't hit a vital spot. Thus, the madman was knocked back repeatedly, and as soon as Lex's pistol ran empty, he instantly disappeared from the doorway.
Immediately after, the moonlight from the right window vanished, a dark shadow appeared in the window, and then the glass shattered. The madman broke through the window and lunged directly at Lex.
Hearing the sound of the shattering window, Lex had already rolled away from his original position. He casually threw the empty golden revolver, using it to slightly delay the madman's steps, while he himself quickly retreated into the shadows where the moonlight couldn't reach.
As he passed Doug, Lex threw a chair, exposing the leader of the Black Bowties.
Doug was stunned, then wanted to curse, but he felt a terrifying gaze. The madman, who had avoided the chair by the window, looked over with his irrational eyes. Unable to see Lex at this moment, Doug became his next target.
He roared and pounced. Doug scrambled, rolling and crawling, crying out as he rushed towards the door. Suddenly, he felt a kick to his backside, and the doorframe rapidly expanded in his vision.
The leader of the Black Bowties collided heavily with the doorframe, splitting his forehead and knocking him unconscious.
The madman was already standing in the shadows, about to step forward and wring Doug's neck, when he suddenly retracted his abdomen and pulled back, avoiding a sweeping hook from the darkness.
Lex's figure emerged from the shadows. He had used Doug to divert his opponent's attention, then seized the opportunity to approach and attack.
This attack missed, but Lex showed no emotional fluctuation, as this was within his expectations.
He hadn't forgotten that his opponent possessed keen senses, so avoiding this punch was not difficult, especially since he had used his left hand for this punch.
The real attack was delivered by his right hand.
Lex's right hand was wearing Shadow Gauntlets!
At this moment.
He was in a dim environment, an environment that allowed the gauntlets to exert their maximum power!
Raising his right arm and throwing a punch, Lex's sleeve seemed to cling to the air, emitting a series of crackling sounds as it struck the madman's abdomen.
Bang!
The Shadow Gauntlets didn't summon a Shadow Fist, but they amplified Lex's strength, striking the madman so hard that his feet left the ground, about to fly away.
Lex's left hand reached out, grabbing the madman's hair, and pulling him back into the shadows.
His right fist, like a machine gun, continuously threw punches, striking his opponent.
With his opponent controlled, no matter how keen his senses were, it was difficult for him to avoid the attacks.
Finally, after the fifth punch, the symbol on the Shadow Gauntlets, imbued with a fallen aura, glowed with a deep light. The surrounding shadows and darkness 'boiled,' and beneath the madman's feet, the shadows bulged, stretching out a black, patterned, demon-like arm.
This arm clenched into a fist and struck the madman's chin from below.
The madman's head snapped back, and he saw stars.
Next, more and more demon fists appeared out of thin air, intertwining and combining, continuously barraging the madman.
The dense and continuous punching even prevented the madman from evading or moving, his body stiffening, constantly retreating.
Lex looked at the dazzling array of fist shadows, at this gorgeous attack that was like a splendid fireworks display, and couldn't help but swallow.
This was a Beyonder weapon enhanced by an Artisan of Mysteries!
This was 'Shadow Combo,' evolved from Shadow Fist!
It was simply breathtaking!
If it weren't to maintain the 'Duke's' more composed persona, Lex would have whistled.
After the last demon arm disappeared, Lex spun forward, delivering a roundhouse kick that sent the madman, who had retreated near the window, flying through the window and onto the deck.
Lex took the opportunity to pick up the golden revolver from the ground, swing out the cylinder, and load a few bullets into it.
Just as he was about to rush out of the Captain's Cabin, he heard a splash outside. Lex looked out the window, and the madman was already gone.
Soon, thick smoke billowed from the door below the Captain's Cabin, which led directly to the ship's hold. The fire below had already spread upwards.
When he returned to the beach, Lex was completely soaked. He had thrown his long trench coat on the ship because it was getting in the way.
Looking at the sailboat on the distant sea, its hold was on fire, the flames spreading to the deck. The firelight illuminated the night sky, and it wouldn't be long before the police arrived.
Lex glanced at Doug, who had just come ashore. He was being supported by his Bearded Man bodyguards as he walked onto the beach, and four or five other Gang members were swimming over.
Tonight, the Black Bowties suffered heavy losses, but that was none of Lex's business. Anyway, these were not good people, and it would be better if they all died.
However, tonight Lex was a Bounty Hunter, and he remembered his identity and tried to play the role. Therefore, he stepped forward and said to Doug:
"Remember to send my bounty to the tavern. If I'm not there, give it to Sanchi."
"I don't accept credit. It's best not to make me come looking for you myself. Trust me, you won't want to see me."
Doug struggled to get up and reluctantly said, "But all my goods are gone, and I lost many subordinates!"
Lex said indifferently, "But at least you're still alive."