Chapter 70: Calm at Sea

“There is no more disturbing silence than that of a calm ocean.
Because even stillness, when too perfect, warns that something is about to break.”

There are moments when the world seems to stop. The wind falls still, the water becomes glass, and even the loudest thought dissolves like mist at dawn.
In those instants, when everything appears paused, the traveler’s heart beats louder. Not from the beauty of the view, nor from a well-earned rest, but from an ancestral instinct that whispers: something is coming.
The wisest fear the calm before the storm—not because they’ve fought many battles, but because they survived them.
And in the midst of that vast sea, wrapped beneath a formless sky, the silence was not relief. It was a message.
And each of them, without saying a word, understood it.

———————————————————————————————————————————

“Are you sure about this?” Ares asked, arms crossed as he watched the sea’s slow sway from the ship’s deck.
Shun didn’t even turn his head. His gaze remained fixed on the horizon where a hazy line divided water from sky.
“What do you mean?” he answered evenly.
“You know exactly what I mean. The kid… I don’t think he’s fit for this mission.”

A tense silence slipped between them, broken only by the creak of wood beneath their feet.
“Maybe…” Shun admitted indifferently.
“Then why the hell did you bring him?” Ares snapped, frustrated. “Can’t you see how dangerous this is? Blackbeard is a monster. If the kid tries to fight him… he’ll die.”
“He chose this path,” Shun replied without flinching. “I can’t stop him. If he’s meant to die by Blackbeard’s hands… he will.”
“Are you an idiot?” Ares stepped forward, outraged. “They’re the future—we can’t let them die.”
“Don’t give me moral lectures, Ares,” Shun growled, finally turning toward him with a shadow of a bitter smile. “Do you really think it’s fair to leave him behind just like that? That bastard hurt his loved ones… do you think he can just stand by while we fix things?”

Ares looked down for a few seconds, sighing resignedly.
“I know… but he’s risking a life someone else protected. If he dies… don’t you think Iseli’s sacrifice will have been in vain?”
Shun raised an eyebrow and nodded toward Edén, standing at the far end of the ship, leaning on the rail and staring silently at the sea.
“I think that idiot thinks the same. That’s why he’s here. Whatever he said to the little vampire pushed him to stay standing. Both know what’s at stake…and yet they decided to come.”
“All right,” Ares conceded after a moment’s silence. “But put me in charge of those two. I can’t let anything happen to them.”
“Why?” Shun asked, amused and curious.
“Let’s say… it makes me feel better about myself.”
“Fine,” Shun agreed with a faint smile. “Just be careful.”
“Why?”
“These two have a very serious disease…”
“Really?”
“Yes… third-degree idiocy. Very severe in both worlds.”

A solid punch interrupted the line. Ares slammed Shun’s face into the deck with surgical force.
“Damned idiot,” Ares muttered with a grin.
“Relax,” he added as he walked away. “I’ve been with you for years…and I’m still not infected.”

“Land ho!” Joan of Arc shouted from the mast.
Edén narrowed his eyes as the silhouette of a port rose on the horizon.
“Is that Death Island? It doesn’t look as terrifying as its name.”
“No, not yet,” Shun corrected. “We’re approaching Port Royal… the pirates’ city.”

“What are we doing wasting time here?” Alexbold interjected, visibly irritated. “The longer we take, the more distance Blackbeard will put between us.”
“Calm down, little vampire,” Shun said with his usual disdain. “Blackbeard will take time to reach Death Island. But if we go without someone experienced… we’ll die before we set foot there.”

The ship docked, and tension surfaced quickly. Several pirates watched them from the wharf with hostile looks and lewd whistles.
“Hey, little miss… don’t you think you should be with a real man?” one slurred.
“Baby, want some fun on our ship?” another added. “We’ll teach you what sailors do.”
“Damned pigs…” Joan growled.
“Seems like young people today don’t know how to treat a lady,” Tiresias remarked wryly.

A drop of blood welled at Alexbold’s finger. He was tense.
“Don’t even think about it,” Edén warned, spotting the look in his eyes. “You’ll only cause more trouble.”

A drunken pirate staggered up to Shun.
“Hey… young… how… much for the ga—girl?” he slurred.
Shun looked at him with contempt.
“What are you talking about?”
“You know… to teach her who’s in charge,” the pirate said with a leering smile.
Shun answered with another smile—more dangerous.
“Oh, yes… I know exactly what you mean…”
“Then, yo—”

Clash!
A spray of blood stained the deck. The pirate’s arms hit the floor before he could finish his sentence.
“You filthy bastard!” he howled in pain.

Two pirates raised their weapons, aiming at Shun’s head.
“Who the hell do you think you are, bastard?”
“I don’t have time for you scum,” Shun replied.
“Shut up!”
Bang! Bang!
Both bodies dropped before they could pull the trigger.
“Too slow…” Shun murmured.

Then another pirate appeared, holding Joan of Arc with a knife to her throat.
“Surrender or I kill her!” he roared.
Shun turned slowly, sighing.
“Hey, hey… you don’t know what you’re doing.”
“Drop your weapons or I’ll kill her!”
“Friend… I suggest you let her go. You don’t know what you’re doing.”

“Shut up! I’ll kill her before you can touch me,” the pirate shouted, pressing the knife harder against Joan’s throat.
“Sigh… Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you,” Shun replied, tilting his head with indifference.

Before the pirate could react, Joan delivered a precise kick between his legs. The man let out a ripping howl, doubled over in pain. She finished him with a flurry of punches, leaving him unconscious on the deck.
“Don’t you ever lay a hand on me again, scum,” Joan spat coldly.

A familiar voice sounded from behind the group.
“Well, well… seems you like drawing attention wherever you go, Shun.”

The swordsman turned slowly, recognizing the dark-haired man with the shrewd gaze approaching through the dock’s shadows.
“Not my fault,” Shun answered calmly. “These idiots came looking for trouble.”
“Still odd to see you around here. What are you after this time?”
“You know me too well, Drake,” Shun said, curling a faint smile.
“I’m a pirate,” the man called Drake shrugged. “I know liars pretty well.”
“Let’s talk somewhere else. It’s important.”
“Understood.”

“Hey! Wait!” the pirate Joan had downed cried, trying to get up. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Drake leveled him with a look.
“Listen, scum… you’d better get out of here with your men. Unless you want me to tell Mary everything…”

The pirate’s face went pale instantly.
“No… No, please. We’ll leave. But don’t tell Captain Read anything…”

The group left the scene beneath the astonished stares of the others on the pier.

Inside a secluded tavern, a heavy oak table gathered four figures. Shun sat across from three of the most feared pirates of the seven seas: Olivier Levasseur, Mary Read, and Francis Drake.
“So… what do you need from us?” Olivier asked, narrowing his eyes in distrust.
“I’m surprised to see the three of you together,” Shun said, folding his arms. “What happened over the years?”
“I suppose the same reason you’re here,” Drake replied.
“Seems this thing is more dangerous than I thought,” Shun murmured.
“Do you know what its objective is?” Mary interjected bluntly.
“No,” Shun admitted, producing a somewhat tattered scroll. “All I have is this.”

He spread the map across the table. Silence fell like a curtain.
“This is…” Mary whispered.
“The Island of Death,” Olivier finished in a grave tone.
“I guessed you’d know what’s there…and how to get there,” Shun continued.
“You’d better abandon the idea of reaching it,” Olivier declared firmly.
“What did you say!?” Alexbold snapped, stepping forward.
“Seems you know what’s there,” Shun commented, unsurprised.
“The island is full of monsters and horrors no one can hold back… Beings that do not belong to this world. Once you enter, nothing remains the same.”
“Don’t dress up your fear as wisdom,” Alexbold spat. “You’re just a coward… ‘king of the pirates.’”

Several weapons rose at once, aimed at his head. The air grew thick.
Shun let out an unexpected chuckle.
“What’s so funny, Shun?” Olivier growled.
“Looks like those words hurt your pride. The boy’s right. I’m wasting my time here. None of you can give me what I need.”

Shun rose calmly. One of Olivier’s subordinates tried to block his path.
“Where do you think you’re going? The captain hasn’t—”
Shun’s look silenced him. Rous stepped back, trembling.

Then Drake stood.
“If what you need is to get there… I’ll take you.”
“Drake? What the hell are you doing?” Mary protested, alarmed.
“I’m not going to rot sitting here. If I have to choose a place to die, let it be the sea… not this chair.”
“I’ll wait at the harbor, Sir Francis Drake,” Shun said with a satisfied smile.

In a side corridor, Mary intercepted Drake before he left.
“Are you crazy? You know if you go to that island you’ll probably die.”
“When did we start fearing danger?”
“Are you completely sure?”
Drake extended his arm. Purple energy ran beneath his skin like living veins, marking a power he hadn’t mastered.
“I need to know the truth behind this,” he said, looking at his own curse.
“Be careful,” Mary murmured, sadness in her voice.
“I will be.”
“Drake…”
“Olivier,” he replied without turning. “Say what you will. I’m not staying.”
“Take care… friend.”
Drake clenched his fist, took a final breath, and turned toward the door.
“Idiot…”

Back on the ship, the group prepared to set sail toward the unknown.
“Why did the others refuse the offer?” Edén asked, intrigued. “In our world, pirates lived for treasure and adventure.”
“You’re not far off,” Shun said. “Their life is their adventures.”
“Then… why did they refuse?”
Shun was silent for a few seconds before answering.
“They… are cursed.”

Edén and Alexbold stiffened.
“It’s hard to sense… but they are. I don’t know the details… but that changes everything. Now we have one more concern on that island.”

The wind blew stronger. Far off, through fog and thunder, a dark silhouette rose from the sea: an island shrouded in storm, where the mist seemed to groan and shadows danced as if alive.
“This… will be interesting.”