"Gerald," the burly man spoke before Kede could introduce him, seizing the opportunity to introduce himself. "I hear you are teaming up to take on that fat pig? Quite brave of you."
Charles didn't answer, instead casting his gaze on Kede.
"Heh, just the two of us against 'King' are indeed a bit weak," Kede admitted. "That's why I brought Captain Gerald. He's very powerful and can help us."
"He's swallowed my cargo! And he's swallowed my ship! I will never forget that bastard's deed in this lifetime!" Gerald's face, which was covered with tough flesh, showed a hint of anger.
A trace of understanding appeared on Charles's face; it seemed Kede had brought 'King's' nemesis to their aid. The more the merrier.
"We won't waste time on small talk," Gerald stated assertively, taking command of the conversation. "I'm more familiar with this place than you two, so I'll decide the plan."
"In five days, Sodoma will approach a new island," Gerald continued. "Most of that pig's ships will head out to plunder the docks. It's an opportunity. My men will draw that pig out, Kede's followers will intercept his subordinates, and as for you..."
"I'll go to 'King's' residence, distract some of his men for you, and by the way, look for the items Kede and I need."
"But I do have my doubts about your strength. Is it really useful for you to go there? You don't even have the scent of blood on you; I bet you've killed very few."
Charles looked at him calmly. "Even if I am going on a suicide mission, that too serves our common purpose."
Gerald shrugged. "You're right. Doesn't matter. You're just an extra anyway. It's Kede's men I truly need. That pig has been sitting on his throne for far too long."
Kede stood up like a benevolent old man, letting out a chuckle. "Excellent. Everyone gets what they need. Couldn't be better."
No sooner had Gerald left than Kede's demeanor shifted, his expression serious as he spoke to Charles, "That guy is no match for 'King.' You'd better find the sea chart before he dies."
Charles sneered inwardly; even if you were brain-damaged, this old fox wasn't easy to fool. Others risk their lives while he reaps the benefits.
"Do you have any help for infiltration? Like a map of 'King's' residence or the location of important relics?"
"Sorry, I'm afraid I can't be much help there. No one truly understands 'King,' and no one who's sneaked into his quarters has ever come out alive. All I can tell you is that it's very dangerous."
"Hmm..." Charles's brow furrowed. Charging in blindly was akin to searching for a needle in the ocean.
"You have a few days to prepare and gather information. I hope you succeed. And genuinely, I hope what you said is true. For this operation, Sodoma's devotees will pay dearly."
Three days later, a fully equipped Charles stood on the deck, saying to the first mate in front of him, "I should be back in two hours at most. If I don't return, then—"
"Then... we will... come find you..." the first mate handed over a backpack.
Charles smiled, avoiding further conversation. After taking the backpack, he patted the first mate's shoulder and walked down from the Unicorne. At the same moment, a bat soared into the sky from the Unicorne.
Sodoma was lively that day. Walking among the crowd, Charles overheard pirates discussing how much loot 'King's' ship would bring back. They were like jackals beside a lion, feasting on the lion's leftover carrion.
Charles walked leisurely. As he approached the hundreds of meters long colossal ship, he just so happened to see 'King' being wheeled out from inside.
He pulled out his pocket watch and glanced at the time. Charles waited, repeatedly checking the relics on his person—now the only things he could rely on.
"Boom!!" As the light from the explosion in the distance flared, Charles closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, the clown mask had already covered his face.
Charles passed through the crowd drawn by the explosion and arrived at the back of the enormous ship. He quickly pulled a grappling hook with rope from his bag and threw it upward.
The moment he climbed onto the deck, Charles was stunned by the opulent decorations. The deck had been transformed into a small garden, where delicate flowers stood in stark contrast to the chaos around them.
After carefully ensuring that there was no one in the garden, Charles quickly made his way towards a cabin door.
The decor inside the cabin was even more refined. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, illuminating everything; the interior was dominated by gold and crimson, with a few silver and jade ornaments as corner decorations. Both the corridors and the rooms showcased a sort of understated opulence.
"Well, well, a pirate leader living more lavishly than a noble. Does that fat man have such high taste?"
After his remark, Charles followed the staircase down to the lower levels of the ship. He did not venture into the obvious areas like the kitchen or living room. If anything was likely to hide a sea chart, it would be in the Captain's Room or similar cabins.
At first, he was cautious, fearing discovery, but after picking several locks and finding no one, Charles let his guard down and began to search frantically.
Compared to the quiet room, Charles's keen hearing allowed him to detect the mounting chaos outside. He knew it was a critical moment; chaos had already begun outside, and he had to find the sea chart before "King" returned.
Just as Charles pulled open a drawer, he felt a warmth on his neck, as if someone was behind him blowing air.
"Swish!" With a reverse grip on his knife, he did a backflip and landed on the table.
The room he had flipped into disarray was empty.
Puzzled, Charles slowly turned back around to continue searching the drawers.
"Sizzle~" A wooden chair nearby moved by itself.
This time, Charles acted as if he hadn't heard and carried on with his business.
Without warning, the door slammed shut, and the sound of the lock clicking into place followed. Char was trapped in the room.
"Well, isn't this something? Haunted, huh? This place is so dangerous, and yet you ghosts dare to join in on the fun??"
Holding a drawer, Charles turned around to see the tightly closed door. He took explosives out of his bag, lit the fuse, and threw it at the door.
The explosive flew halfway before it inexplicably curved and flew back toward him.
Charles's hand moved quickly, slicing the bomb in half. In that instant, everything sharp in the room lifted into the air and sped toward him.
"Thud, thud, thud!" The items were blocked by an upright wooden table. Charles pushed aside the table, lunged towards the door, and with Black Blade in hand, he swiftly turned the lock and burst through the door into the opulent hallway.
In that instant, the gorgeous ceramics in the hallway exploded, and sharp ceramic shards once again levitated.