CHAPTER 196

The pirates would've never known that Jin and his crew were pursuing them as they ran.

They stopped at a well. Like most of the island, it looked old and dried out. It seemed to be connected to some kind of secret tunnel.

The pirates threw themselves down the well.

"Hm."

The crew exchanged looks.

"You think they have a hiding place and they're waiting this out?"

"They said it as if they'd outrun the Imperial Navy, so I don't think so."

"But they didn't seem to be too bright. They might really just be hiding and still don't know why the island is surrounded."

"Good point."

Kashimir and Alisa exchanged some words, and everyone else nodded.

"We can try following them and then decide whether to swim or not. Let's hope they have something up their sleeves."

Jin and his crew approached the well. There wasn't a single trace of the pirates at the bottom. They probably advanced to another area beneath.

They each took turns jumping down the well. After reaching the bottom, they were faced with an iron trapdoor. There was no handle, and it looked hard to open without unlocking it from the inside. 

Of course, that only applied to normal people.

Creeeaaak!

Jin used one hand to crumple up the iron door as if it were paper.

"Damn, you've gotten stronger. You ripped that like paper."

Murakan spoke nonchalantly, but Syris eyed the deformed metal with fear. All of them then stared down the hole.

Shiiieeek!

A dagger flew by. The aura surrounding it was roughly 3-star, but Jin just swatted it out of the air. Before anyone could speak a word, Jin dashed towards the direction the weapon came from and instantly arrived in front of the pirate.

Before the pirate could even react, Jin held him by the throat. It was one of the pirates that he chased.

"I'm sorry for startling you, but I won't kill you. Take us with you. I think you have something that we don't know abou—"

Fwoosh!

A sudden bright light interrupted him, lighting up the entire tunnel.

Some other pirates, who opened the iron trapdoor previously, lit up the lamps. They emerged from the shadows, as surprised as ever.

'How many are there?'

It wasn't just one or two goons; there seemed to be a dozen or even a hundred more. Jin found it fascinating that there were so many people gathered in such a small space.

Well, whether it was a hundred or a thousand, they wouldn't be a threat to Jin.

The pirates began to draw their weapons while glaring at Jin and his crew.

"Shit, who came in last? He left his tail dragging."

"Chikol and Velv. Those good-for-nothings."

"Thankfully, there aren't many of them. Captain, what should we do? I think we should kill them off."

While the pirates discussed their plans, Jin smirked.

"Quiet!"

One of the pirates in the crowd stepped forward. Someone Jin knew well, and the leader of the entire pirate colony. Pirate King Cosmos. The man who created the secret tunnel.

"So you're the captain."

The moment Jin opened his own mouth, Cosmos's eyes widened.

"Jin Grey?!"

"What?"

"You're Jin Grey, right?!"

"Who is that? What do you mean, you pirate scum?"

Jin tried to deny it, but Cosmos shouted with certainty.

"You think I'd forget that voice? Thanks to you, I'm still in crippling debt! It's payback time, bitch!"

"What? What do you mean, Captain? That's Jin Grey?"

"Jin Grey? Last year's champion? The one who made us go broke?"

Jin just shrugged. Despite looking completely different with his blonde wig and thick makeup, someone who knew his face would definitely see through it.

"Well, whatever. Since you know who I am, I guess we don't need introductions. Cosmos, do you know the situation outside? The Bellard Empire's navy is stretched around the island. How will you escape? I'm sure you all aren't here to hide."

Jin just asked, and Cosmos shivered.

"Whatever it is, you think I'll help you?"

"I don't think you should particularly hold a grudge against me. Why are you such a prick?"

"Shut up! Thanks to you, we're still paying money to that well-off friend of yours…!"

"My friend?"

"Beradin Zipfel, that devilish human!"

"Ah."

He remembered.

—Jin Grey! Let's gooo!!

Screaming those words, Beradin had bet a hundred thousand gold on Jin. At the time, the betting odds were threefold. And ever since Jin's victory, Cosmos had been constantly paying Beradin over the months.

Although his personality was like a bubble, Beradin was sharp with his money. Cosmos already paid back all he owed, but the late fees and interest had accumulated.

Scamming Beradin Zipfel was something that everyone had to avoid.

"…I'm sorry for that. No, I'm not sorry. Aren't you supposed to expect that kind of risk when running an underground fighting competition with gambling? If Paul Mick won, then you'd be sitting on a gold stack."

"Listen to this guy!"

"Captain! What're you waiting for? Just kill him! There's no time, so let's deal with 'em and dip."

The pirates glared and screamed at Cosmos.

'That guy must be some clan's prince or something, like Paul Mick, Jin Runcandel, or Beradin Zipfel. Also, his crew doesn't look normal.'

Cosmos still believed Paul Mick was Jin Runcandel.

Murakan and Quikantel couldn't understand what was going on at all.

"Man, I thought shit was going down. Let's just beat up some guys and take the captain hostage. Why're you just standing around and talking?"

"Agreed. Since we don't have time, we should just beat the words out of them. Just see if they have a way out of here."

Murakan trotted forward, and the pirates looked ready to attack him.

"Hey, Cosmos. If that kid starts throwing hands, you'll all die. So lemme make a deal."

"Bullshit!"

"Just hear me out. Just like you guys, we came here to escape this massacre. I don't know what you've prepared, but if you let us out, we'll relieve you from all of the liabilities."

"What?"

"You heard me. I'll relieve all liabilities and even offer you some relief money as well."

Shing!

The moment Cosmos drew his sword, Jin unleashed his energy. The pirates flinched and stepped backwards. 

Murakan bolted towards Cosmos and snapped his blade in half.

Jin looked down at him and whispered, just enough so that the others wouldn't hear.

'I'm telling you this in case you refuse. I'm not Jin Grey. I am Jin Runcandel, and Paul Mick is Dante Hairan.'

Just like when Beradin saved Dante at the championship, Cosmos chose the best decision.

'…Damn, you were Jin Runcandel? Not Paul Mick?'

'Damn right. It wasn't a coincidence that Dante Hairan and I met at your arena. Neither was Beradin's presence in the audience.'

Cosmos could finally read between the lines; why Beradin helped Paul Mick, who was rumored to be Jin Runcandel. He now understood that it was all a premeditated scheme.

The other pirates saw Cosmos on the ground and panicked.

'Now that I think about it, it's probably your fault that their navy is here. I have one more request, Jin Runcandel.'

'Go on.'

'After escaping, ensure our safety.'

'You want us to cut you off from the Bellard Empire?'

'No! Make sure that you, your crew, and the Runcandel guardian knights have no business with us. Bellard ain't shit.'

Cosmos didn't know, but the Bellard Empire wouldn't be the only ones after them. The Vermont Empire, Zipfel Clan, and Kinzelo Group would search for them as well. Jin thought for a second whether he should tell him. However, he decided that he should think only after their escape.

'I swear to you with my honor and clan.'

Either way, Cosmos had no other choice. Swearing himself into this deal was pointless, since their destiny was chosen the moment Jin found out about this well.

"Tch, I accept the terms. Follow me!"

Cosmos stood and shouted, and his underlings tilted their heads.

"Cap'n! I think there was some threat or something, but don't get hooked! How can you just please them like that? I don't think they can handle all of us."

"I knew Jin Grey was something special like Paul Mick or Beradin Zipfel. Well, we got enough space."

"Will they really relieve any and all liabilities?"

Just a moment ago, they were furious and energetic. But with their captain in shambles, they had to follow.

"Anyway, Cosmos, what's the method of transport? Will it work?"

Jin asked while following the pirates, and Cosmos smiled. 

'Even a Runcandel like you will be surprised when you see it.'

Moments later, at the end of the tunnel, there was a cliff. A carved stairway led to the bottom, and in the middle was a massive ship. Essentially, a ship had been stationed at the bottom of the cliff, but not off the side of the island; it was in a cave system within the isle. There were even more pirates busily moving supplies.

"The Seventh Order. We'll escape with this."

"Funny name, but how?"

"Get on and you'll see."

There wasn't a single drop of water that kept the boat afloat in the cave. With the surroundings also sealed in, how could the boat get out?

While Jin failed to understand, the pirates began to board the ship on Cosmos's command. Jin and his crew followed.

"Blow 'em up!"

The moment Cosmos shouted, the stairway exploded. They detonated the explosives they had planted ahead of time.

Splash!

Simultaneously, a massive wave of water surged into the cave.

The moment the cave walls exploded, they could see the ocean.

"Fly, my child!"

Now surrounded with water, the Seventh Order flew towards the ocean.