Bloodhound’s Regression Instinct

Chapter 158

Yan stood before the Pirate Empress, a sense of déjà vu washing over him.

“…This feels strangely familiar.”

The Pirate Empress, a figure he had never crossed paths with before his regression.

Where could he have possibly seen her?

Shaking his head, Yan dismissed the odd sensation.

The Pirate Empress eyed him curiously.

“Do you have something to say to me?”

“No, my apologies. I was momentarily distracted…”

“Kekeke, I have no intention of keeping a young lover, you see.”

Her sinister laugh prompted a forced chuckle from Yan.

“I, too, find the age difference a bit too much to handle.”

“Ha ha ha! Is that so? What a pity.”

After a hearty laugh, the Pirate Empress’s amusement abruptly ceased.

She surveyed the candidates with a serious gaze and spoke.

“Enough small talk. Shall we discuss the matter brought by the Revolutionary Army?”

The candidates exchanged glances, unable to provide a proper response.

They were aware of some communication between the leader of the Revolutionary Army and the Pirate Empress.

Assuming their own recommendations were merely procedural…

“What matter from the Revolutionary Army are you referring to?”

Yan spoke on behalf of the candidates.

The Pirate Empress frowned.

“Didn’t you hear it from the Revolutionary Army?”

“We came solely to recruit you, Your Eminence. We’ve heard nothing else.”

“What?”

Anger tinged the Pirate Empress’s face, which had been jovial moments before.

“If you could enlighten us on the matter…”

“Enough.”

She cut him off, and an overwhelming aura began to emanate from her.

Thrum!

The ground trembled as if an earthquake had struck.

“It seems your leader does not understand the meaning of a promise.”

The candidates, exposed to her formidable presence, turned pale.

They hastily gathered mana, but it was insufficient against the pressure.

Thud!

Those of lesser skill fell to their knees, unmistakably subdued.

Soon after, all the candidates witnessed an anomaly.

Water rose from the floor, filling the room.

The phenomenon didn’t stop there.

The water swirled into a vicious whirlpool, transforming into fierce waves that crashed towards them.

“Aaaaah!”

“Ugh!”

Karam and Loen couldn’t help but scream.

Clang!

Henry and Cruel, at least, managed to draw their weapons as they faced the oncoming deluge.

But they dared not act, paralyzed by the torrent’s force, their backs drenched in cold sweat, eyes wide with terror.

Among them, only Yan maintained his composure.

He realized the waves, which seemed ready to devour him, were merely an illusion, thanks to his superhuman realm.

Shiver.

Yet, even so, his legs trembled under the immense mana and aura.

“Is this… the power of the Pirate Empress?”

Momon, observing quietly from his pocket, sent a brainwave message.

[Ho, that woman is impressive. Such vast power. She’s certainly not inferior to that Beowulf chap we saw before.]

Yan recalled the Duke of Beowulf revealing his strength in the North.

The pressure and power he felt now were no less intense.

Swallowing hard, Yan pondered.

If he could persuade the Pirate Empress, with her formidable strength, to join his side…

Just then, the Pirate Empress ground her teeth and spun around.

The oppressive forces that seemed ready to ravage the candidates vanished as if washed away.

The gathered individuals gasped for air and slumped, drained of strength.

Without looking at the candidates, the Pirate Empress coldly declared,

“Begone. I’ll spare your lives, but if you cross my sight again, even that will be forfeit.”

As her words ended, the firmly shut doors burst open.

Boom!

Ivan, who had been waiting outside, widened his eyes at the scene.

“Eh? Sister, are you done already?”

“Ivan, chase these fools out of the castle.”

“…?”

Ivan tilted his head, then sighed deeply upon seeing the Pirate Empress’s stern face.

“Tsk tsk, so it has come to this.”

He seemed to know the intricacies between the Pirate Empress and the Revolutionary Army’s leader, shaking his head in disapproval.

He led the dazed candidates out of the office.

“Did you really come here without hearing anything?”

Ivan asked in a low voice.

Yan and the candidates nodded.

Ivan let out a chuckle of disbelief.

“It seems your leader isn’t interested in joining hands but rather in mocking us.”

“…What do you mean?”

Loen asked, furrowing his brow, but Ivan did not respond.

And so, Yan and the candidates were unceremoniously expelled from the castle.

Ivan muttered as he saw Yan, who looked relatively composed among the bewildered candidates.

“I thought there was something unusual about you, but to withstand the Empress’s aura to this extent…”

With that, he turned and re-entered the castle.

* * *

Karam’s Frustration and the Plot Unfolds

With a scowl etched deep, Karam kicked a hapless rock aside.

Bang!

“How are we supposed to know what conversation took place between you and the chief!”

He stormed off, his strides taking him towards the market, frustration billowing with each step. It dawned on him that lingering here served no purpose.

Karam wasn’t alone in his irritation; Darkin shared the sentiment.

“Damn it, if they sent us, the least they could do is tell us what was discussed.”

“Exactly.”

Amidst their grumbling, Don and Mel headed towards the market.

Loen called out to them, “Where are you two off to?”

“We’re going back… to the strategist… to verify… this information…”

Karam snorted at their response.

“Ha, you’re going to trek that distance again?”

But Don and Mel were resolute.

“If we just… sit here… will some other method… magically appear?”

“Tch.”

He couldn’t argue with that.

Karam rose, his annoyance giving way to action.

Darkin turned to Henry and Loen, “What about you guys?”

“We’ll find our own way.”

With that, Henry and Loen set off towards the village first.

Karam considered asking Yan and Cruel as well but then thought better of it. The others might be competitors, but they had completed missions together.

Yan and Cruel, however, were different; they were outsiders.

‘No need to collaborate with stones that have just rolled in.’

With his mind made up, Karam headed towards the village, followed by Darkin, Mel, and Don.

Once everyone had left, Cruel’s face contorted with suspicion.

“It seems like they’re deliberately leaving us out, doesn’t it?”

“From their perspective, we’re nothing but outsiders. Would you have done any differently?”

“Hmph, I wouldn’t have acted like such a child.”

Yan started to respond but then shook his head.

“Regardless, we need to keep a close eye on them from now on. Something interesting is bound to happen.”

“Observation? Interesting events?”

“Among those six, there’s someone with a sinister plan.”

“A sinister plan?”

“It could be one person, or maybe two… but they’re plotting a trap for the Pirate Empress’s life.”

Cruel’s eyes widened in shock.

The aura of the Pirate Empress they had just encountered was formidable, comparable to that of a duke.

If Yan, who had faced Duke Beowulf himself, was certain, then it must be true.

“How could anyone dare target such a woman?”

Yan shrugged.

“I don’t know that.”

Cruel’s face twisted in frustration.

Not knowing the most crucial part.

His eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Yan.

‘Is he withholding information on purpose?’

The slight curl of Yan’s lips suggested he wasn’t as clueless as he appeared.

And so, the two began to stealthily trail the candidates.

* * *

The candidates, each with their own agenda, dispersed upon reaching the village.

Yan observed their actions with a keen eye.

‘There’s no doubt, one of the candidates is plotting against the Pirate Empress.’

Thanks to his memories from a past life, he was certain of this.

The Pirate Empress was destined to meet her demise around this time.

Her death was recorded as an accident, a trap set by ‘Admiral Leang’ of the Southern Duchy.

‘But something doesn’t add up.’

Admiral Leang, despite decades of corruption, maintained his title until death, all thanks to the Pirate Empress’s bounty.

If she was outwitted by such a man, her capabilities would be in question.

‘If she lacked ability, she wouldn’t have built such a formidable force.’

And another thing.

Whether by coincidence or fate, the Revolutionary Army’s officer selection exam was tied to the Pirate Empress.

Connecting the dots…

‘The Revolutionary Army orchestrates her death, and Admiral Leang reaps the benefits…’

The method remained a mystery.

But solving that wasn’t difficult.

‘Find the one who received the chief’s secret orders, and it’s over.’

Yan refocused, monitoring the candidates’ movements.

Mel and Don, as they had mentioned earlier, failed to find a route back to the empire.

It was to be expected.

This wasn’t just any island or coastal area; this was the Caribbean Island, the pirate stronghold.

Pirates weren’t like honest shipowners who’d sail for a few coins.

Realizing this, Mel and Don had no choice but to change their objective.

“Do you know if… the Pirate Empress… often comes down… to the village?”

They began inquiring among the Caribbean merchants about the Pirate Empress’s visits to the village and her reasons.

If they were strong enough, they’d storm the castle and demand answers from the Pirate Empress herself.

But the castle was filled with formidable individuals, not just the Pirate Empress.

Their plan was to approach her under the guise of coincidence when she came down to the village.

Cruel sneered from a distance at their efforts.

“Thought you were leaving, yet here you are, no different from the rest, despite your grand words.”

“Well… it’s not a bad decision. If we can’t leave, we might as well look for another way.”

Yan finished speaking and turned his gaze to the other candidates.

Karam and Darkin headed to a tavern frequented by pirates.

The place was bustling with pirates, both those who had just returned from voyages and those at rest.

“Brother, how about a drink?”

“Eh? You’re buying?”

“Ha! Of course. But may I ask you something in return?”

“Sure! I’ll answer anything for a drink.”

“How can one meet the Pirate Empress?”

Karam and Darkin gathered information over drinks with the inebriated pirates.

Their goal was to secure a surefire chance to meet the Pirate Empress.

Once the opportunity arose, they’d find a way to connect with her.

And finally.

“…Why are those two so carefree?”

Cruel chuckled incredulously at Henry and Loen’s behavior.

They seemed unconcerned about the Pirate Empress, dozing atop the largest tree on the Caribbean Island.

Yan smirked at their relaxed demeanor.

“Those two are more interested in my neck than the officer selection exam. It’s only natural, I suppose.”

“Are you going to just leave them be?”

Yan shook his head.

“They’ll be dealt with soon enough.”

He shifted his attention away from the elves and back to the others.

That’s when he saw it.

Karam and Darkin, conversing with an old pirate, suddenly broke into bright smiles.

Yan’s eyes sparkled, and he made his way towards them.

Upon his approach, Karam and Darkin briefly fell silent.

“Ah, you saw that, huh?”

Darkin sighed deeply.

Yan nodded, and Darkin explained with a smirk why they were smiling.

“We’ve found a way to approach the Pirate Empress, though it won’t be easy.”

At Darkin’s words, Karam’s eyes widened, and he jabbed Darkin’s arm.

“Hey, that’s…”

Despite Karam’s protest, Darkin shrugged and began to spill the beans.

Starting tomorrow, the annual ‘Kraken Hunt’ will commence.

The person with the highest merit in the hunt would receive a reward directly from the Pirate Empress.

Karam and Darkin planned to use this event to get close to her.

Yan tilted his head at Darkin’s candidness.

“You’re telling me this because?”

“I may not like you, but I owe you my life. Consider this as repaying a debt.”

Yan touched his lips thoughtfully.

‘I’m familiar with the Kraken.’

A colossal sea monster that required at least three or four superhumans to capture, known for preying on passing ships.

Its strength was formidable, but its massive size and tenacious vitality made it nearly impossible to kill.

If they were going after such a beast…

‘Most of the pirate fleet will be out at sea.’

As Yan pondered, Cruel let out a cry of admiration and patted Darkin on the back.

“Wow, that’s manly.”

He then snickered at Karam’s disgruntled expression.

“And this one’s just a brat.”

“What did you say?”

“Anyway!”

Darkin raised his hand to mediate the brewing conflict and fixed his gaze on Yan.

“We plan to share this information with Mel and Don as well. We owe them our lives from the past, right, Karam?”

Karam turned away, muttering.

“We could have survived that time without their meddling.”

“Karam.”

“Fine! I get it!”

Darkin turned back to Yan.

“So, you’ll be joining the hunt too?”

Yan stroked his chin.

After a moment, he replied.

“I’ll consider it.”

Darkin’s expression twisted.

“You’ll consider it?”

“Yeah.”

Yan grinned.

‘I might just find out who the chief has planted among us.’