In the end, Aurum and Modi Caesar said nothing more.

They gave Raylo a deep look, then another at the Thunder Dragon standing silent as a mountain behind him. Then, they turned and left.

The two figures soon vanished at the far end of the ruins.

Watching their retreating figures, Raylo felt no sense of relief.

He knew this was far from over.

A Catastrophe Level Undead Monarch and a Domain Level Peak Pirate King had gone to great lengths to break through the blockade of a Catastrophe Level Deep Sea Giant Whale and reach these ruins.

’They wouldn’t abandon their objective so easily just because of a few words from him.’

They had only retreated temporarily.

"Count Raylo..."

Hank’s voice was tinged with apology.

"Did I... cause trouble for you?"

Raylo turned to him, a slight smile appearing on his face.

"You did very well, Hank."

He clapped Hank on the shoulder.

"You stood by your principles and defended the honor of Seagull Port. A Knight who has principles is one I can trust."

His words dispelled the last trace of unease in Hank’s heart.

...

Night fell like a great swath of black velvet, slowly blanketing the devastated coast.

In the Survivor Camp, a few bonfires were lit.

Raylo declined the White Siblings’ invitation to stay in their best tent.

He simply found a secluded spot at the edge of the camp and built a bonfire of his own.

Astra’s massive form was coiled behind him, an indestructible mountain range shielding him from the cold ocean wind.

The three little ones chased each other playfully around the bonfire, their cheerful yelps occasionally bringing a rare spark of life to the deathly silent ruins.

Raylo sat quietly before the bonfire, a branch in hand, unconsciously prodding the dancing Flame.

’Aurum and Modi Caesar... they would never let this rest.’

’How would they try to take Barbossa’s corpse?’

’A sneak attack?’

’Assassination?’

’Or... something more direct? More violent?’

「The next morning.」

The sky was just beginning to brighten. The Sun was halfway above the horizon, its dawn light casting a golden shimmer on the sea.

A new piece of system intelligence caught Raylo’s attention.

[10. Blood Axe Aurum and the Necromancer Modi Caesar have reached an agreement to jointly seize the treasure of Pirate King Barbossa. According to their deal, Modi Caesar will receive the "Heart of the Deep Sea" as his reward, while Aurum will acquire the other worldly treasures. Their purpose in coming to Seagull Port is to use Modi Caesar’s Undead Magic to transform Barbossa’s corpse into an Undead, then have the Pirate King personally lead them to his legendary treasure.]

The Pirate King’s treasure!

Raylo’s pupils contracted sharply.

’So that’s their true objective.’

’Should I get involved in the fight for this treasure?’

The thought flashed through his mind for but an instant before he dismissed it.

Right now, he had neither the time nor the energy to get involved in some illusory treasure hunt.

The construction of Black Stone City, the reorganization of his army, the threat from the Jade Swamp, and the war that was about to sweep across the entire Continent...

These were the matters that currently demanded his attention.

But leaving Barbossa’s corpse in Seagull Port would be an endless source of trouble.

As long as it remained here, Aurum and Modi Caesar would circle this place like sharks that had smelled blood, never leaving.

And then Seagull Port, which had only just begun to see a glimmer of hope for rebuilding, would once again be dragged into endless chaos and conflict.

Raylo’s gaze lingered on the dancing Flame for a moment.

He quickly made his decision.

’The Pirate King Barbossa’s corpse couldn’t be handed to Modi Caesar, but it couldn’t remain in Seagull Port either.’

’It needed to return to its rightful place.’

He went to Hank’s tent.

After speaking with White for a while, Raylo announced his decision.

Hank thought for a moment before nodding in agreement, saying it was the best solution.

「Half an hour later.」

A heavy and Solid wooden coffin, crafted from the finest ironwood, was carried before Raylo by several of Seagull Port’s Knights.

Raylo did not open the coffin.

He simply reached out and gently ran his hand across the ice-cold lid.

Then, he turned and walked over to Astra.

Using his Spiritual Power, he relayed his entire plan to the Catastrophe Level Thunder Dragon.

Astra listened quietly, and after hearing Raylo’s entire plan, it gave a slight nod.

Then...

"ROOOAR!"

A majestic dragon’s roar echoed between heaven and earth.

Raylo turned, and taking the wooden coffin, he leaped onto Astra’s broad back.

"Astra, let’s go!"

"BOOM!"

Lightning flashed.

The Catastrophe Level Thunder Dragon, carrying the young Count and the mysterious wooden coffin, soared into the sky. It transformed into a streak of Lightning that tore through the air, hurtling straight toward the deep, perilous, and endless Outer Sea.

High in the sky, the winds cut like knives.

Astra became a silver-white flash of lightning, weaving through the clouds at a speed that bordered on teleportation.

Below them, the azure surface of the sea rapidly receded, blurring into a flowing vision of light and shadow.

Raylo stood upon the dragon’s back, his robes unmoving, protected by an invisible Shield.