Bloodhound’s Regression Instinct

Chapter 164

The Pirate Empress queried with a hint of intrigue, “Revenge?”

“Indeed. Would you simply stand by after being struck?” Yan’s provocative question unveiled her fangs.

It was merely a fierce smile, but it carried an undeniable force.

“Do I seem like one to idle by?” she retorted.

Yan shook his head emphatically, “Certainly not.”

“Then why must I join the revolutionaries to seek vengeance?” she pressed.

“Without being part of the revolutionaries, revenge would be unattainable,” he explained.

“And why is that?”

“Information on the revolutionaries is tightly controlled. Do you possess any knowledge of their hierarchy, stronghold, or the extent of their power?”

The Pirate Empress shook her head. It was expected; she hadn’t even known of such a force until the chief revolutionary had reached out.

“If I may add, the revolutionaries are an organization with power surpassing that of any pirate fleet. And if you consider their intelligence and hidden assets…”

“They are stronger than us, is that what you’re saying?”

“Exactly.”

“Then it seems there will be a certain thrill in seeking them out and crushing them,” she said, her lips curling into a smile.

Yan swallowed hard. He couldn’t let the Pirate Empress solidify her thoughts. A confrontation with the revolutionaries without proper intel, even with the formidable strength of the pirate fleet, was perilous.

Moreover, Yan needed to draw her in at all costs. She was the trump card he needed to save his father.

“I shall set the stage. Don’t view joining the revolutionaries as bowing down, but rather as taking a seat in the VIP box.”

“The VIP box?”

“You won’t regret it, I assure you.”

Her interest piqued, she asked in a subtle tone, “I’m not one for spectating. I’d rather take the chief’s head myself.”

“An opportunity for direct action will also be arranged.”

Clap!

Pleased, the Pirate Empress clapped her hands, a laugh hidden in her expression.

“So, I merely need to watch over the revolutionaries from within with my crew?”

Yan scratched his cheek. The words were harsh, but…

“Yes, precisely.”

“If you’re willing to take on the hardship, I see no reason to refuse. Very well, we’ll do as you say.”

“Thank you. And please, leave Drakan to me.”

“Drakan?” Her expression soured.

She wanted to finish him herself, having targeted her life.

But Yan had other plans for Drakan.

“Consider him a necessary sacrifice for the stage.”

“I don’t know what grand stage you’re planning, but make sure his life ends. I detest being stabbed in the back over trivial matters.”

“You needn’t worry. I plan to deal with him before I return to the revolutionary base.”

As Yan spoke, he tilted his head, struck by a sudden thought.

“But didn’t you spare the navy? Drakan is but a minion; why treat him differently?”

The Pirate Empress snorted, “While I don’t favor the navy, most uphold justice. But Drakan? He doesn’t seem to fit that mold.”

“Ah… now I understand.”

Drakan, despite his stoic appearance, was cunning. He had betrayed Mei, aiming to usurp her position and skills by allying with the chief.

Growing weary, the Pirate Empress waved her hand dismissively.

“If you’ve said your piece, then leave.”

“Ah, there’s one last thing.”

Her face twisted with annoyance.

“What now?”

“Would you consider a trade with my territory?”

“A trade? What kind?”

“It’s primarily related to transportation. I’ll tailor a proposal that could greatly benefit you and your fleet.”

“Fine. One of my captains is knowledgeable in such matters. Send your proposal, and I’ll have it reviewed.”

“Very well, I shall take my leave.”

Yan bowed politely and exited the captain’s quarters.

Outside, Cruel, burdened with a load, approached grumbling.

“You had me running errands while you lazed about?”

“Why don’t you try ‘lazing about’ in there?”

Yan chuckled at Cruel’s glance toward the captain’s quarters, who then turned away, oblivious to the ordeal of conversing with the Pirate Empress.

Cruel dropped the load, “Anyway, this is the task you assigned me. Does this conclude my duties?”

“Did you reveal yourself to the other candidates?”

“Do I look like an amateur? I stealthily retrieved it, of course.”

Yan praised him and shouldered the load.

“Where to now?”

“Time to inspect the goods.”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

Ivan had mentioned leaving the island in two hours, so there was ample time.

With that, Yan harnessed his mana, masking his presence as he disembarked.

Cruel watched Yan’s departure and clicked his tongue.

“That guy keeps growing stronger.”

Shaking his head, Cruel returned to the ship.

“I should get back to training too.”

Being with Yan was motivation enough.

* * *

Yan, burdened with a load larger than himself, began to traverse the island. His mastery of stealth rendered him invisible to the pirates, who passed by none the wiser.

Amidst his search, a cave caught Yan’s eye—a hidden sanctuary, concealed by dense trees and underbrush, unnoticed by others.

This was the very place Yan had been seeking.

He entered, dropping his load to the ground and stretching his weary limbs.

Crack, pop!

“Shall we begin?” Yan mused with a sly grin, unpacking his burden.

What emerged was none other than the corpse of a naval officer.

“Got it right,” he muttered.

This was the officer whom Don and Mel had slain amidst the pirates.

Yan laid the body out neatly and began his inspection.

Noticing the scars on the chest and abdomen, his eyes gleamed with recognition.

‘I’ve found it.’

The scars were semicircular, varying in depth across the wounds.

Where the scars began shallowly, they ended deep.

‘This isn’t…’

Not the work of a sword.

For such curved, varying-depth scars…

‘A whip?’

Yan shook his head. A whip would have torn the flesh entirely.

Pondering deeply, Yan’s eyes widened.

The thing that Mel and Don had wrapped tightly around their bodies.

“…Bandages?”

If bandages were imbued with mana and sharpened, they could indeed inflict such wounds.

Yan smirked and tore the hem of his trousers.

Riiip!

The fabric tore, transforming into a strip as long as his forearm.

He charged it with mana and lashed it at another part of the corpse.

At first, his unpracticed hand created scars unlike those left by Mel and Don.

Swish! Slash!

After dozens, hundreds of attempts, he achieved a satisfactory result.

‘This will suffice.’

Noting the setting sun outside the cave, Yan rose to his feet.

Whoosh.

He incinerated the body with magic and exited the cave to board his ship.

The time had come to make use of Henry and Loen.

* * *

The pirate fleet, having rescued the Pirate Empress, set sail straight for the Caribbean Isles.

Ivan excluded Yan and Cruel from the disembarking tasks, likely a nod to their pivotal role in the rescue.

In contrast, the other contenders sweated profusely as they hauled cargo.

Karam, in particular, volunteered for even more work, eager to prove himself.

“Move it, move it! Do you want to swim all the way to the Empire?!”

“…No, I don’t.”

The scorching glares he received were partly due to Darkin’s misdeeds, who had accompanied him.

‘I’d lose my mind if I didn’t keep busy.’

Dakin’s betrayal, his companion since childhood, had hit him hard.

To think he even plotted against Lady Valentine, who had been so kind to them…

“Let’s just get this over with,” he sighed.

As he carried a box loaded with cannonballs, Henry and Loen approached him.

“What’s going on here?”

They had been lounging on the island, not boarding the pirate ship.

Karam didn’t respond, just continued his work in silence.

Seeing no answer forthcoming, Henry shrugged.

‘He must’ve faced some embarrassing defeat.’

Giving up on Karam, they sought out Don and Mel.

“It’s… over.”

“We don’t know the details… but the Pirate Empress and… that guy Yan… seem to have teamed up.”

They hadn’t been aboard the fifth fleet’s pirate ship where the captains had convened, so they were clueless about the recent events.

All they knew was a sudden detour during a kraken hunt to an island.

There, they had assisted in rescuing the Pirate Empress from a trap.

That was the extent of their knowledge.

Henry snorted at their explanation.

“Is that so? Quite the unfortunate turn of events.”

“More composed than expected… Are you thinking something else?”

“What else would I be thinking?”

After getting the gist of the situation, Henry quickly called Loen over.

“Why?”

“Seems they’ve managed to charm the Pirate Empress.”

Loen’s eyes widened.

“Her? How on earth?”

He had thought it would take months of heroic deeds to sway the Pirate Empress, even if they were stuck here.

And they changed her mind in just one day?

Henry smirked at Loen’s astonished expression.

“Why such a shocked face? He’s a dead man walking anyway.”

Loen’s face darkened.

“If we harm him here and the Pirate Empress intervenes… What then?”

“We do it where she’s not around. We’ll have to hide our involvement anyway, so no issues there.”

“…Got it. Have you decided where?”

“We’ll take him out at the last stop before the revolutionary base. Be ready.”

“…Okay.”

With their plan set, the two boarded a ship bound for the Empire.

Unbeknownst to them, someone had overheard their conversation.

“Hmm, the last stop before the revolutionary base, huh…”

It was Yan, who had planted mana within Henry to eavesdrop.

Hearing the elves’ quaint plan, he couldn’t help but smirk.

He had briefly worried they might get cold feet and abandon their attack.

“Looks like they’ll make their move on their own.”

Fortunately, it seemed his concerns were unfounded.