The Rich Cultivator
Chapter 151 - 150. Temporary Alliance

Chapter 151: 150. Temporary Alliance

In the midst of the vast, open sea, a small boat drifted aimlessly under the pale light of dawn. Within it, a figure began to stir. The maiden, dressed in a provocative outfit that accentuated her dangerous beauty, slowly opened her eyes, disoriented but aware enough to grasp her surroundings.

*Cough* "A sneak attack? How cheap," muttered Isadora Nightkiss, the infamous Manhunter, her voice dripping with disdain. As she fully regained consciousness, she pushed herself upright, she touched her back where she got pierced. The pain was a stark reminder of her carelessness, something she rarely experienced.

Glancing around, Isadora quickly realized she was no longer on the pirate ship. Instead, she was in a small, simple boat, floating in the middle of the ocean. The gentle rocking of the waves did little to soothe the confusion and irritation brewing within her. She began to analyze her situation, her sharp mind piecing together the fragments of memory.

Her attention snapped forward as she noticed two figures standing at the boat’s bow, both wearing Phantom Masks that concealed their identities. Their presence was imposing, yet familiar.

"Phantom Blackwood? Temptress?" Isadora murmured, recognition dawning on her. The names slipped from her lips with a mixture of curiosity and caution.

The taller of the two figures, Phantom Blackwood, nodded in acknowledgment. "You’re correct," he said in a deep, measured tone. "We found you floating unconscious in the sea. It was purely by accident that we crossed paths."

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**A Few Hours Earlier...**

Tyler’s ship sailed swiftly through the calm waters, heading towards the Rosefall Sea. Their destination was the Rosefall Kingdom, where they hoped to save Astrid from the danger that seemed to loom ever closer. The urgency of their mission was palpable, yet a troubling mystery weighed heavily on Tyler’s mind.

"How did the Silver Eye Pirates find Astrid?" Tyler muttered, his brow furrowed in confusion. The ship that had initially boarded Astrid was supposed to be a secret, known only to a select few. His thoughts churned with possibilities, each more unsettling than the last.

Beside him, Lily was equally lost in thought, her sharp mind working through the puzzle. The situation was far more complicated than either of them had anticipated.

As they navigated the open sea, something unusual caught Tyler’s eye. In the distance, a small boat drifted aimlessly, and on it, a figure lay motionless.

"Someone’s floating out there," Tyler said, pointing toward the boat. Without hesitation, he and Lily directed their ship toward the mysterious vessel.

When they landed on the boat, Tyler’s eyes widened in recognition. "It’s Isadora," he said, astonishment clear in his voice.

Lily quickly moved to examine the unconscious woman. "What is she doing here?" she murmured. "She’s unconscious, and there’s a wound on her back. But there’s no sign of a significant battle. It must have been a sneak attack."

Tyler nodded, the situation becoming clearer. "She’s after Astrid too, isn’t she? We should wake her up and find out what she knows."

But before he could act, Lily placed a hand on his arm, stopping him. "Let’s do it under our other identities," she suggested, a sly smile playing on her lips.

Agreeing with her plan, Tyler and Lily donned their Phantom Masks, transforming into the infamous Phantom Pirates. They made sure to move Isadora’s boat far from their ship to keep their identities hidden. Once they were satisfied with the distance, they prepared to wake her up, ready to confront her as Phantom Blackwood and Temptress.

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"So, how did the infamous ’Manhunter’ end up in such a pathetic state?" Temptress teased, her voice laced with mockery. The whip in her hand trailed lightly across Isadora’s body, a silent threat that lingered in the air.

Isadora, ever the actress, pouted and adopted a pitiful expression. "Is that any way to treat a maiden?" she asked, her voice soft and alluring. Her eyes flickered to Phantom Blackwood, who sat calmly at the edge of the boat, his presence imposing yet unmoved. She subtly shifted her body, her movements deliberate, drawing attention to her exposed cleavage in a bid to provoke a reaction.

But Tyler, beneath the mask of Phantom Blackwood, didn’t so much as flinch. His gaze remained distant, as if her attempts at seduction were no more than a passing breeze.

"Tsk... boring," Isadora muttered, dropping the act when it became clear that her charm had no effect. She returned to her usual demeanor, the playful edge gone. Inside, Tyler felt a wave of relief. Isadora truly lived up to her title of ’Manhunter’—her tactics were relentless, and it took all his willpower to remain unaffected.

"Alright... what do you want?" Isadora asked, her tone now serious, recognizing that her usual tricks wouldn’t work on these two.

"How did you end up like that?" Temptress, or rather Lily, demanded, her voice sharp with curiosity.

Isadora’s eyes narrowed as she recalled the events. "Hmph. That half-angel... I almost had her. But just when I was about to escape, someone launched a sneak attack on me. I had no choice but to use the hypnotized pirate as a distraction and escape."

Her mind flashed back to the moment. She had been so close to securing Astrid when, out of nowhere, a figure had appeared behind her. Before she could react, something sharp had pierced her back. Desperate, she’d thrown Astrid down and used the hypnotized pirate as a shield, leaping off the ship into the sea below. The attackers hadn’t pursued her, but the poison from the blade had done its work, sapping her strength until she lost consciousness.

Isadora’s expression hardened as she finished recounting her story. "I didn’t even sense the person’s presence until it was too late." she admitted, a rare trace of unease in her voice.

Tyler, still masked as Phantom Blackwood, leaned forward slightly. "What is his strength?" he asked, his tone measured and probing.

"Probably Master Level," Isadora replied, her voice steady. "If it wasn’t Captain Silver Eye or Vice Captain Giant Burgess, then the Silver Eye Pirates have three Master Level Immortal Practitioners on board."

Tyler and Lily exchanged a quick glance, each processing the gravity of her words. If the Silver Eye Pirates were as formidable as she claimed, then this mission had just become far more perilous.

"You’re after the Labyrinth too, aren’t you?" Isadora continued, her voice edged with frustration. "Only that Half-Angel can lead us to it."

Tyler and Lily kept their expressions neutral, but internally, they were thrown. *Labyrinth?* They had no idea what she was talking about, but decided it was best to play along, for now.

"You also know about the Labyrinth?" Lily asked in ’surprise’.

Isadora’s lips curved into a knowing smile. "More than you do, I’m sure," she replied, her tone dripping with smug satisfaction. "But I’m not here to give away secrets for free. Let’s just say it’s a place of immense power, and only someone with Angelic blood can unlock its mysteries." She leaned in slightly, her eyes narrowing as if she had uncovered some grand revelation. "You’re after her because of this too, aren’t you?"

Tyler and Lily exchanged a quick glance, silently communicating what the other was thinking. This girl was easier to fool.

"Enough with the small talk," Tyler said, redirecting the conversation. "Where are the Silver Eye Pirates?"

"They’re just drifting around the Rosefall Sea," Isadora answered, a hint of annoyance creeping into her voice. "It looks like they’re waiting for someone before delivering her."

Tyler sighed of relief. If Isadora was telling the truth about the Silver Eye Pirates waiting in the Rosefall Sea, it meant they still had time to reposition themselves and prepare for a confrontation.

A calculating gleam entered her eyes as she shifted her gaze between them. "Hey, how about we work together? If the three of us join forces, we can definitely take down the Silver Eye Pirates, capture the Half-Angel, and explore the Labyrinth together."

Lily’s lips curled into a mocking smile behind her mask. "Why do we even need you?" she asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Isadora’s expression tightened, but she quickly masked her irritation. "Because I know things about the Labyrinth that you don’t," she said, her voice smooth and persuasive. "We can explore it together."

Inwardly, Isadora was scheming. She needed them distracted with the Silver Eye Pirates so she could make her move, planning to escape with the Half-Angel at the opportune moment.

But Lily wasn’t easily fooled. She saw through Isadora’s act and, using Sound Transmission, communicated her suspicions to Tyler. *She’s lying. She has other motives... probably planning to betray us later.*

Tyler gave a slight nod in response. "Alright, let’s do it," he agreed aloud, his voice betraying nothing of his inner thoughts.

His plan was simple: keep a close eye on Isadora, use her to deal with the Silver Eye Pirates, and ensure she didn’t slip away with Astrid. Just like that, a temporary and uneasy alliance was formed, each party with their own hidden agenda.