Jiang Chuan decided to set out that very night and turn Bloodfang Island upside down. Since Titan might have already lost his human consciousness, Jiang Chuan decided he would summon him directly to the island. Titan would attack without needing any orders, and Jiang Chuan could make a grand entrance to terrify the people there—for example, by standing on Titan's shoulder...
Jiang Chuan had chosen the Bloodfang Gang because they trafficked in people. Another reason was the children they kept. Jiang Chuan had his eye on their potential, and he could train them to become his trusted subordinates.
From Roland's memories, Old Jack had actually treated him pretty well. Sure, he'd talked about money with Roland, but he'd taken next to nothing from him. Since I'm Roland now, I need to handle things properly with Old Jack, too. I remember he has a daughter in Demacia. Once things are settled here, I'll send him to Demacia. He's spent long enough scraping by in Bilgewater, and with his medical skills, he won't have any trouble making a living in Demacia.
Bloodfang Island...
You little brats, get back to training! No slacking off! Want a taste of the whip?!
"Big brother, when can we go home? I'm scared."
Kelly hugged his little sister and comforted her. "It's okay. We'll be home soon. I just took a loaf of bread from the mess hall. If you get hungry later, tell me."
The little girl giggled in a soft, childish voice. "Okay! You're the best, big brother. You'll keep telling me the story you told me last time tonight, right?"
Kelly affectionately ruffled his little sister's hair. "Of course, of course."
This place was deep beneath Bloodfang Island, and security was extremely tight. Even though the Bloodfang Gang had become the ruling power in Bilgewater, they wouldn't dare carry out such a large-scale operation in the open. They didn't just train assassins; they also sold little girls to the nobility. No matter how wicked Bilgewater's people were, they were still human, and this had crossed the bounds of decency.
The sun sank slowly beneath the horizon, dyeing the entire sea orange. It was a mesmerizing sight, one of Bilgewater's most distinctive views.
Jiang Chuan gazed out at the sea, unable to calm his thoughts. Roland's hands might have been stained with plenty of blood, but Jiang Chuan was Jiang Chuan, not Roland. Over the past few days, he had killed many people. He hadn't killed them with his own hands, but he had given the orders. He couldn't help feeling some guilt over it.
Staring at the sea, Jiang Chuan sighed and steeled himself. "I, Jiang Chuan, am not heartless. But I'm going home, and I won't spare anyone who stands in my way!"
Once he'd made up his mind, the light in Jiang Chuan's eyes grew sharper. The sun had completely set by then. He rented a small boat and prepared to row to Bloodfang Island. Getting onto the island was difficult: they checked your clothes, and if you had a boat, they checked that, too. Bringing along a boatman would be too risky. If his abilities were exposed, he'd be alone and would have to run for it. And if Old Jack got dragged into this, Jiang Chuan would feel terrible.
Before long, Jiang Chuan had reached the waters controlled by Bloodfang Island. A patrol boat approached, and its captain shouted, "What are you doing here?"
Jiang Chuan recited the story he'd prepared. "I've come to join the Bloodfang Gang. I'm a damn good harpooner. Take me in!"
The captain laughed. "So you're a down-and-out loser. Lost everything gambling, did you? Hahahaha!"
Jiang Chuan's face reddened. "I'll win it back! They cheated!"
The captain laughed. "Stay close. If you get shot full of holes, that's your problem."
Jiang Chuan put on a frightened expression and followed closely behind the captain. Before long, they reached shore. Once they'd landed, the captain laughed. "Go to the building on the west side to sign up."
Jiang Chuan pulled out a silver coin and discreetly slipped it into the captain's hand. "Captain, just a little something from me."
The captain grinned. "You're a clever one. You know how to look after yourself. Go to the second building on the west side."
Jiang Chuan smiled and saw the captain off, then began searching for the place where the children were being held. His main goal was to rescue them; taking over the Bloodfang Gang came second. He couldn't let the children get hurt in the destruction.
Jiang Chuan wandered around. Two days earlier, he'd taken out the Bloodfang Gang's leader and a squad of elite riflemen, and now the gang was on edge. Their security wasn't very tight, which gave him a great opportunity. After making a round of the area, he spotted a small building to the north with an unusually large number of guards. That had to be where the children were being held.
Jiang Chuan planned to summon Titan in front of the grand hall to the east. With Titan's size, the people inside the hall would get to die a quick death.
As Jiang Chuan approached the hall, a guard pointed his gun at him and yelled, "This is a restricted area! No unauthorized entry! Get lost!"
Jiang Chuan smiled and snapped his fingers. "All I have to do is snap, and half of you will die."
The guards burst out laughing. "Looks like we've got a madman! Get lost! Or my gun's going to do the talking!"
Jiang Chuan shook his head and struck an unbearably theatrical pose. "You're the one I choose, Nautilus! Come forth!"
With a snap of his fingers, Jiang Chuan summoned Titan. Titan appeared and looked around in confusion. He had no face, but Jiang Chuan felt that he could still communicate with him. He ordered Titan to destroy whatever he wanted. Titan swung his anchor into the crowd, smashing everything in its path into a bloody mess as screams rang out.
Jiang Chuan returned to the small building to the east. By then, all the guards had gone to deal with Titan in front of the hall. They had no time to worry about this place. Jiang Chuan went straight inside. When he saw the frightened little faces in the basement, the last trace of pity in his heart vanished.
Most of the children were only seven or eight, or a little older, and they were all locked in cages. From their appearances, the Bloodfang Gang probably hadn't been giving them much food.
Jiang Chuan found the keys and let all the children out.
Jiang Chuan gathered the children in the main hall and smiled. "Children, you're free as of today. You can tell me your family's name, or your parents' names, and I'll help you find them. You must all be hungry, right? Let's go to the mess hall and eat all the bad guys' food, okay?"
The children couldn't immediately process Jiang Chuan's sudden arrival. His solution was simple: once they had full stomachs, everything would be fine.
Jiang Chuan took the children to the mess hall. They happily devoured all kinds of meat, bread, and other food while he watched them with a smile. One little girl walked up to him with a piece of bread and said in a soft, childish voice, "Big brother, you should have some, too."
A little boy rushed over and stood in front of his sister, panicking. "Sir, my sister didn't know any better. She didn't mean to offend you. Please be the bigger person and forgive her."
Jiang Chuan's heart ached at the boy's familiar gesture. He picked up the little girl and smiled. "What are your names? Do you have any family who know you were brought here?"
The little boy said, "My name is Kelly, and my sister's name is Kaili. We've lived on the streets of Bilgewater ever since we were little. We don't have any family. We're all we have."
Jiang Chuan smiled. "Would you two be willing to help me? I've dealt with all the bad people in the Bloodfang Gang, but I need you to become my strongest allies. Are you willing?"
Kaili looked up at Jiang Chuan with big, watery eyes. "Will we get to eat bread every day?"
Jiang Chuan rubbed her little head. "Not just bread. We'll have things even tastier than bread. One day, I'll take you out of Bilgewater, too—to beautiful Ionia and Demacia. I'll take you all over the continent!"
Kaili cheered. "I'm in! Big brother, let's go with this big brother, okay?"
Kelly replied helplessly, "Then, sir, what should we call you?"
Jiang Chuan smiled. "You can call me President. My name is Roland."
Kelly looked at the many children in the hall. "President, will you take them in, too?"
Jiang Chuan watched the children wolfing down their food. "I'll send them home. And for those who have no home, wherever I go will be their home!"
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