The Rich Cultivator
Chapter 148 - 147. Song of Ghost Princess

Chapter 148: 147. Song of Ghost Princess

"So, it’s just the typical young master drama?" Tyler asked, sensing that Mana might have exaggerated the situation.

"You were off enjoying time alone with an angel, so Mana decided to drag you into this," Mana replied with a mischievous grin.

Tyler chuckled and patted Silvia on the head as she enjoyed a pastry, her innocent expression making him smile.

"By the way... Who is this guy?" Lily asked, her gaze shifting to the unfamiliar figure standing before them.

"Hello, I am Lutz. Lutz Evergreen, Astrid’s childhood friend," Lutz introduced himself, bowing slightly. All eyes turned to the disguised Astrid, who gave a small nod to confirm his identity.

"Hello, Mr. Lutz," Lily said with a polite smile, though her tone carried a hint of suspicion. "I heard that the candied fruits at the stall on 3rd Street are quite delicious. Could you get us each one?"

"Huh... Yeah... Sure," Lutz replied, clearly taken aback by the sudden request. Though confused, he headed off to buy the treats. The rest of the group understood that Lily didn’t fully trust the newcomer. Lutz, too, realised this as he walked away.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Lily spoke up. "I met the ’Manhunter.’ She came to check if we really lost the angel to the Phantom Pirates."

"At the port, I noticed some pirate ships docked. These pirates are really out in the open," Tyler added, his voice thoughtful.

"Well, no one dares to make trouble here unless..." Lily trailed off, her tone ominous.

"Unless?" Tyler prompted.

"Unless there’s something worth causing trouble for," Lily finished, her eyes narrowing.

"What are you going to do about that Young Master Kong?" Mathilda asked, clearly irritated by the memory of the arrogant young master.

"We can’t just sit around waiting for them to retaliate," Tyler said, his expression shifting to one of determination. "If a bigger problem arises, they’ll be forced to forget about the smaller issues. And... we might be able to use this chance to secure her safety."

With a plan forming in his mind, Tyler made his way to the Kong Clan office to purchase a ticket for the Secret Realm. The entrance to this realm was a massive archway in the middle of the city, towering as high as a three-story building and radiating an imposing, majestic aura. The arch was adorned with intricate runes and arrays, and at its centre was a glowing barrier that blocked access to the portal leading into the Secret Realm.

The ticket he bought would allow him to break the barrier just enough for a single person to enter. The Kong Clan had strict regulations, ensuring that no more than ten people could enter at the same time. Anyone else would have to wait until the barrier closed again before the next person could enter.

After securing the ticket, Tyler regrouped with his crew, who were now munching on candied fruits.

"Taka, return to the ship with Darla and Silvia. Silvia, make sure to disguise yourself using the mask. Mana and Lily, you’re coming with me. Mathilda, I need you to handle something..." Tyler gave clear instructions, detailing the next steps of their plan.

---

Meanwhile, back at the Kong Clan’s estate, Young Master Kong Shen was pacing impatiently.

"Did you find out where that group is from?" he asked, his tone dripping with disdain.

"Yes, Young Master. They’re just traveling merchants from the south," his servant reported.

"Tsk... Just ordinary merchants daring to oppose me? How pathetic," Kong Shen sneered, his arrogance palpable. He had already decided to teach them a lesson in a few days.

"Young Master, something is happening at the Secret Realm entrance!" another servant rushed in, his voice urgent.

"Huh? What’s the commotion? Are some pirates causing trouble? My father and the elders can handle that," Kong Shen said dismissively, waving his hand as if it were a trivial matter.

"Not just some pirates... All the pirates," the servant clarified, his voice trembling slightly with the gravity of the situation.

Kong Shen’s expression shifted from arrogance to concern as he realized the scale of the threat.

"Who’s responsible for this?" Kong Shen demanded, his voice tinged with frustration.

The servant, visibly nervous, quickly answered, "It’s a new pirate group called the Phantom Pirates."

┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉

Near the entrance of the Secret Realm, a mysterious man clad in a red-black outfit and a Phantom mask strolled leisurely. In his hand, he held chains that connected to a beautiful girl, her hands bound by cuffs that glinted ominously in the light. Walking beside him was a seductive figure in a sleek black dress, her Phantom mask adding an air of danger to her already tempting presence. She held a whip in her hand, its mere sight enough to give her the appearance of a temptress.

On the other side of the man was another strikingly beautiful woman, also donning a Phantom mask. Her presence sent chills through anyone who glanced her way, her aura exuding an icy intimidation.

"That’s Phantom Blackwood, the other one is called Temptress, and that’s Ghost Princess!" someone in the crowd shouted, sparking a wave of whispers. No one noticed that it was Mana who had shouted from the crowd before stealthily flying back to the group.

Tyler and Lily had to stifle their laughter at the dramatic introduction.

"Isn’t that the Half-Angel everyone’s been searching for?" murmured the onlookers, eyes widening as they recognized the girl in chains. The tension grew as the pirates in the area began to surround them, closing in one by one.

The trio remained unfazed by the encroaching pirates, their steps measured and steady as they approached the entrance to the Secret Realm. Instead of immediately entering, Tyler, in his Phantom Blackwood persona, stood before the door, appearing to wait for something—or someone. He was waiting for all the pirates to gather.

"Huh... Do you want tickets to enter the Secret Realm, sir?" a man from the Kong Family asked, his voice laced with a mix of confusion and fear.

Tyler’s voice, deep and slightly robotic through the Phantom mask, responded calmly, "I already have my own tickets. Don’t worry. I’m just waiting for the right time to open it."

Among the crowd, Isadora Nightkiss, the infamous ’Manhunter,’ observed the scene with keen interest, her eyes flickering over the Phantom Pirates with curiosity and recognition.

As more and more pirates converged on the Kong Family’s Secret Realm entrance, the Kong Family began to panic. The numbers were becoming overwhelming, and the tension in the air was palpable.

"Now... almost everyone is here," Tyler said, his voice cutting through the murmurs of the crowd. "Let’s start the show."

"Princess," Tyler signalled, his voice a low command that carried an air of anticipation.

Ghost Princess stepped forward, her presence commanding the attention of everyone around. She began to sing, her voice weaving a hauntingly beautiful melody that resonated with the hearts of all who listened:

*Three moons above, they dance in the night,*

*Casting their glow, a soft silver light,*

*In the sky, they drift and sway,*

*Guiding lost souls far, far away.*

*Whispers of dreams, in shadows they play,*

*Reflecting the stars in a celestial ballet,*

*Three moons above, so serene, so high,*

*In their embrace, the night doth lie.*

As her voice echoed through the air, the surrounding pirates were utterly mesmerized, their senses consumed by the ethereal song. The melody painted vivid images in their minds, lulling them into a deep, enchanted trance.

For Isadora Nightkiss, the scene became all too real. She found herself standing as a child in the middle of the ocean at night, gazing up at the three moons that hung like guardians in the sky. The serenity of the moment was almost too perfect, but then, something inside her snapped. She broke free from the illusion, her body drenched in sweat, her breath coming in sharp gasps.

"What a powerful illusion. This must be a strong soul technique," Isadora muttered, her eyes wide as she glanced around, noticing that the others were still caught in the ghostly trance, their eyes glazed over.

Her astonishment deepened as she watched Tyler, now moving with calculated precision, take out hundreds upon hundreds of tickets to the Secret Realm. With a casual flick of his hand, he threw them all at the entrance door in one sweeping motion.

The barrier that protected the entrance to the Secret Realm began to crack under the immense pressure. Normally, if more than ten tickets were used at once, the barrier would weaken, leaving a hole that would take an hour to mend. But with hundreds of tickets being thrown at it simultaneously?

*Boom.*

The entire barrier shattered, splintering with a deafening sound that echoed through the air. The once-impenetrable shield was gone, revealing the entrance to the Secret Realm, now open for all to see.

The air buzzed with tension as the pirates and others snapped out of their daze. The haunting melody of the Ghost Princess still echoed faintly in their minds, but the scene before them had changed dramatically. The Phantom Pirates, along with the mysterious girl they had in chains, were nowhere to be seen.

"Where did they go?" someone in the crowd muttered, confusion and frustration thick in the air.

"After them!" another pirate shouted, his voice full of desperation. The crowd began to stir, searching frantically for any trace of the elusive Phantoms.

But before they could scatter, a whisper drifted through the air, reaching the ears of every pirate present. The voice was deep, slightly robotic, and unmistakably menacing.

"The barrier to the secret realm that contains treasures and wealth is open. Are you sure you want to chase after the Phantoms and miss out on the riches inside?"