Setting Sail

"Aaaaaah!"

The pirates were screaming in terror.

Beneath them, a dark shadow slowly rose, engulfing their bodies. Their faces began to Distortion, becoming contorted with pain and madness. Gradually, the pirates ceased to resemble humans, merging with the darkness and falling into shadow.

"The shadows are a reflection of your inner selves. If your hearts are filled with sin and you remain unrepentant, they will be reflected in them," Luther whispered amidst countless piercing screams. "With just a slight push from me, they will drag you into the Abyss."

"I will keep my promise and let you join my Fleet— albeit in other ways."

He also planned to take the other pirate ships with him. The pirates would act as his Flesh Puppet, controlling these vessels.

"Thump thump!"

Walter the Sea Serpent's eyes widened, and almost Consciousness he took a few steps back, moving away from the dark shadows. He saw that most of the pirates had been swallowed up and assimilated by their own shadows, no longer resembling human form. Only a few, like himself, had not been swallowed by the shadows.

"Heh, you're Luck, kid."

Anderson, with his hands resting on the gunwale, looked down at Walter and laughed, "I heard that you followed the commandments of the 'King of the Five Seas' during your raids, refraining from killing or abusing women?"

As the first mate, he was beginning to get used to his captain's crazy style.

"Because I see this as a business."

Sweat beaded on Walter's forehead Consciousness replied, "Reducing the killing will make the victims more cooperative and less likely to be hunted down by the official navy..."

His voice trembled slightly as he watched as most of his crew members perished. Because of himself, he could only maintain a facade of civility; he had no way to completely control the private behavior of his crew members.

"Good, very wise. I'm starting to have high hopes for you."

Anderson nodded approvingly and then called out to Luther, "Captain, let him on board?"

2

"Can."

Luther's voice came steadily. Most of the pirates in the port had been swallowed by darkness and slowly gathered under him, merging with his heavy shadow.

The port was instantly half empty, leaving only a dozen or so pirates standing there, their faces deathly pale.

On the other side, the locals recruited by Anderson were terrified and scattered in all directions, with only a few remaining.

"Kalvetua, the Sea God..."

Philia's legs were trembling, and her back was soaked with cold sweat.

To be honest, he wanted to run too. The scene just now was too terrifying. One second the red-robed Blood Bishop was talking normally, and the next second he easily killed a large number of pirates. However, he was too scared, and his legs wouldn't obey him, so he froze on the spot.

He looked around and saw that the surging crowd had receded. Only a few people remained. Their eyes were filled with hatred, and each of them was a man who harbored a deep grudge against Loen —they no longer cared about life or death.

Philia suddenly noticed that, besides the locals, there was also a disheveled old man named Loen.

"Sigh, it's a pity I went through so much trouble to recruit so many people..."

Anderson sighed and jumped off the boat. "Alright, everyone else, come over here."

Lia missed her best chance to escape. Her mind was buzzing, and she Consciousness followed the crowd to the Northern Continent man who was throwing money around. The remaining pirates and the locals who hadn't fled gathered together, making up only a small group.

"Captain, there are only about twenty."

Anderson counted and said, "Should I go and recruit another batch?"

"No need, I'll use my Puppet to make up for the missing ones."

Luther replied, turning to look at the "Sea Serpent" who had come to surrender.

What position do you want?

He asked the "Sea Serpent" in what he thought was a kind voice.

"... Please let me be the Sailor; I'm confident I can do a good job."

Walter's tone was incredibly soft. Initially, he had considered at least becoming a second mate. But after seeing how ruthless Luther was, he felt it was better to tone it down.

"Can."

Luther didn't bother to guess what he was thinking and walked up to these people.

Anderson is observing these people.

"Has anyone ever been Sailor?"

He asked.

All the pirates, and a local man, raised their hands.

"Is there anyone who can cook or do carpentry?"

He asked again.

A fat man shakily raised his hand and whispered, "I can cook."

"Then you'll be the ship's cook from now on. If you don't cook well, the captain might eat you."

Anderson joked with him.

After successfully startling the fat man, he continued to ask:

"Is there anyone who can sail a boat?"

After a moment of silence, a hand was raised. It was an old arm with a blue anchor tattoo on it.

"I used to be a cockpit operator."

"That's what the middle-aged man, who looked like Loen, said, reeking of alcohol."

Luther Zedo glanced at him.

The other person was the drunkard he had seen at the Inn that morning; he was at least Sequence 8 Beyonder.

"Hmm? That tattoo of yours... you used to serve in the Loen Army?"

Anderson raised an eyebrow.

"Yes."

The man looked dejected, but showed no panic at being exposed, calmly replying, "I used to be in the navy."

Anderson glanced back at Luther.

"It's alright, let him come up first."

Luther said softly.

He seemed to be hiding something, and since he was only a Sequence 8 anyway, he could be checked again after boarding the ship.

"Okay, let's leave it at that for now."

Anderson asked, "Captain, we're all ready, shouldn't we be going?"

"Board the ship, hoist the sails, and set sail."

Luther said briefly.

"Yes!"

Anderson, the Strongest Hunter of the Fog Sea —no, the former Strongest Hunter, now a professional pirate—shouted excitedly. He then called to his crew and boarded the Doe." The ship had changed hands at this moment, becoming the Flagship of the Luther's Pirate Crew.

"Splash!"

Under Anderson's command, a few experienced Sailor worked diligently to maneuver the three masts and sails, preparing for departure.

"Just as they had furled the anchor, hoisted the sails, and were about to adjust the sails' direction, they felt a strong gust of wind blow over them, instantly causing the sails to unfurl and propelling them out of the harbor."

Philia was so busy he was completely disoriented. He had no idea what he was supposed to do; he was just being bossed around and doing all sorts of odd jobs. It wasn't until this gust of wind blew in that he truly Consciousness he was leaving.

Turning his head, he saw the port rapidly shrinking behind him. Toscarter Island that had given him birth, was as small as a reef compared to the Sea.

I've really left Toscarter Island!

After a brief period of fear and unease, Philia gradually felt excited and thrilled.

My legend is about to begin!

Bathed in the sea breeze and feeling the lively atmosphere on the ship, he thought to himself sincerely.

Behind their ship, several other pirate ships followed. Numerous pirates also operated the sailboats on board, their movements stiff and lifeless.