The White Brothers and Sisters and "Blood Axe" Aurum, standing at the very front, bore the brunt of the force.

Their faces instantly turned ashen.

Caught between these two Catastrophic Level auras, Hank and Freya struggled even to breathe.

They could only desperately unleash their Domain Level Power, forming a wavering, fragile Domain Shield around their bodies to barely protect themselves.

"Blood Axe" Aurum, also a Domain Level Peak expert, fared slightly better.

He let out a furious roar as the murderous aura around him, like a sea of blood, suddenly erupted. He forcibly carved out a small pocket of space for himself within the gap between the two oppressive forces.

But fine beads of sweat dotted his forehead, a clear sign of the immense pressure he was under.

Raylo’s pupils contracted sharply.

’Catastrophe Level!’

’The mysterious Necromancer with Aurum is actually a Catastrophe Level expert!’

The confrontation between the two Catastrophe Level experts lasted only for a fleeting moment.

As if by some tacit agreement, the two terrifying auras receded like the tide, vanishing without a trace.

The sky cleared.

The sea breeze began to blow once more.

But the world-shattering scene from moments ago was now deeply seared into the very soul of everyone present.

"Heh heh heh..."

A raspy laugh, like two pieces of sandpaper grinding against each other, emanated from beneath the black cloak.

"I never thought I would encounter the Guardian of the Thunder Dragon Duchy, Lord Astra, here."

The mysterious, black-robed figure slowly raised his head.

A pale, corpse-like face emerged from the shadows of his hood.

His eye sockets were deeply sunken. Two orbs of eerie blue Soul Fire, like will-o’-the-wisps, burned quietly within them.

"And I certainly didn’t expect the Crown Prince of the Thunder Dragon Duchy, Count Raylo, to be visiting in person."

His gaze fell upon Raylo.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Modi Caesar, a man who is already dead."

Raylo’s heart jolted. It was a name that would send a chill down the spine of anyone who heard it.

’The Necromancer, Modi Caesar.’

A legendary Necromancer, famous for centuries, who had destroyed an entire Kingdom with his power alone.

The Abandoned Ruins he now occupied were once the capital of the very Kingdom he had destroyed.

’Why is he here?’

’And why is he mixed up with a Pirate Leader like "Blood Axe" Aurum?’

Raylo’s mind reeled.

"Heh, it seems my name has not yet been forgotten by the world."

Seeing Raylo’s surprised expression, Modi Caesar let out another raspy laugh.

"I’m truly honored."

Raylo knew that with Modi Caesar revealing his identity, today’s situation had become far more complicated than he had imagined.

With a Catastrophe Level Necromancer like Modi Caesar on their side, it was no wonder "Blood Axe" Aurum’s *Deep Sea Throat* had managed to break through the blockade of the Catastrophe Level Deep Sea Giant Whale and arrive safely at this completely sealed-off port.

At that moment, Hank, standing to the side, finally recovered from the terrifying aura.

He glanced at Aurum and Modi Caesar beside him, then at Raylo and the Thunder Dragon Astra casting its massive shadow in the distance. He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and spoke in a tone that was neither obsequious nor arrogant.

"Lord Modi Caesar, Chairman Aurum."

"As I just said, a short while ago, we at Seagull Port signed an agreement with Count Raylo."

"Therefore, regarding your previous proposal for Seagull Port to join the Black Sails guild, I must... refuse."

Hank said.

So, Aurum and Modi Caesar’s purpose was to take advantage of Seagull Port’s moment of greatest weakness, besieged as it was by the Deep Sea Giant Whale, to persuade—or rather, coerce—it into joining their Black Sails guild.

Unfortunately for them, they had arrived one step too late.

Now, under the intimidating presence of Astra, the Catastrophe Level Thunder Dragon, Hank had the confidence to refuse them directly.

The atmosphere instantly grew awkward and tense.

A muscle in "Blood Axe" Aurum’s scarred face twitched.

A vicious glint flashed in his eyes.

In the end, however, he forced himself to suppress his anger.

He glanced at the unfathomable Modi Caesar beside him, then at the equally terrifying Thunder Dragon Astra in the distance.

He knew full well that starting a fight with a Catastrophe Level Giant Dragon here was not a wise choice.

Besides, his relationship with the Necromancer Modi Caesar was merely a partnership. He knew the Necromancer wouldn’t truly fight a Catastrophe Level Giant Dragon to the death for his sake.

"Hahaha, so that’s how it is."

With this thought, Aurum let out a hearty laugh, as if the awkward scene from moments before had never happened at all.

"Since the Master of White Port has already made his choice, our Black Sails guild will certainly not force the issue."

He said, smoothing things over, then changed the subject.

"However, besides discussing a partnership, we have another small matter we’d like to ask the Master of White Port to accommodate."

"What is it?"

Hank asked warily.

"We wish to take the body of the Legendary Pirate King Barbossa, who was executed in Seagull Port a few months ago."

The request stunned everyone present.

’What could they possibly want with a corpse that was executed months ago?’

A thought flashed through Raylo’s mind. With a Necromancer present, and a corpse in question, Aurum’s intentions were all too clear.

However, Hank’s reply once again took everyone by surprise.

"I’m sorry, but I cannot agree to that request either."

His expression was resolute.

"Why?"

Aurum’s face fell completely.

"Because I am human."

Hank’s voice rang with conviction.

"I cannot bring myself to hand over the body of a powerful human to a Necromancer for desecration."

"Even if he was a pirate who had already been executed."

This was his bottom line as a human.

Hank White’s voice echoed across the silent beach.

The last trace of a feigned smile vanished completely from "Blood Axe" Aurum’s single eye, replaced by an icy killing intent like a deep-sea current.

Veins bulged on the back of his hand like writhing serpents as a violent Domain Power brewed within him, threatening to erupt at any moment.

"He’s just a dead man."

Aurum’s voice was squeezed through his teeth.

"Master of White Port, it seems you’d rather do this the hard way."

Yet, Hank did not back down.

He straightened his spine and met Aurum’s all-consuming gaze without fear.

Just as the tension reached a breaking point, ready to snap at any moment.

"Heh heh..."

A raspy laugh broke the suffocating silence.

It was Modi Caesar.

The Necromancer took a slow step forward, his eyes burning with Soul Fire looking past Hank to land directly on Raylo.

"Count Raylo, it seems our trip today has been for nothing."

His tone was emotionless, yet it carried an unnerving power.

"However, since Baisha Port has already joined Black Stone Territory, I am very curious, Lord Earl, what is your opinion on this matter?"

All eyes focused on Raylo.

Raylo’s expression remained placid.

He looked at Modi Caesar and spoke slowly.

"Lord Modi Caesar, I believe you’ve misunderstood something."

"Oh?"

"The White Family has pledged its allegiance to me. His decision is my decision."

Raylo’s words were firm and resolute.

"I respect his choice, and I support his principles."

At his words, a flicker of gratitude and deep emotion passed through Hank’s and Freya’s eyes.

Meanwhile, Aurum’s expression grew even darker.

No expression could be seen on Modi Caesar’s skeletal face; only the two clusters of Soul Fire in his eye sockets flickered gently.

"What a... pity."

He let out an ambiguous sigh.