The Rich Cultivator
Chapter 417. Arrival

Chapter 417: 417. Arrival

Dark, bat-like creatures with oversized glowing eyes squirmed restlessly inside a reinforced iron cage. Their wings twitched, their skin glossy and obsidian, and their shrill, echoing screeches made the bystanders flinch. A bulky man grunted as he pushed the cart down the busy market street, trying to keep the creatures from tipping over.

"They’re even selling Abyss Creatures now," Mathilda muttered, narrowing her eyes as one of the creatures hissed in her direction. "Should I buy some...?"

She turned her attention back to the street, where strange items from the seas and even from continent were being traded openly. Enchanted bones, whispering herbs, beast horns still dripping with blood—it was a chaotic mess of ancient mysticism and raw savagery.

Just then, Lily emerged from a tall building made of jade stones and inscribed with blue glowing runes. She held a parchment in one hand and wore a slightly annoyed expression.

"The NN network isn’t connected to the main continent," Lily explained as she walked over. "And the Continent Network isn’t synced to the North’s channels. Sending messages to the academy quickly is basically impossible."

Mathilda raised a brow. "Tyler mentioned he wanted to divine something— something about the mysterious aura that has been sealed in his Glabella. If not for that ’mysterious friend’ of his, he might’ve never noticed it. Even though there are no hidden dangers, he wanted to know who did that to him."

Lily nodded. "I already paid them to forward our message to the academy. Told them to send the reply from the academy to our NN ID. Might take a few months before we hear anything, though."

Mathilda sighed, brushing her hair back. "So where is our boss?"

"He said—" Lily replied with a pause , because she also noticed Abyss Creatures being sold, "He said he’s changing identities and visiting every place for fun."

Mathilda was about to say something, but Lily continued, "Just like someone who dresses as Man and visiting all Brothels."

Mathilda froze, then scratched her cheek with a mischievous smirk.

The two women burst into laughter, drawing glances from nearby vendors. Even though they are in disguise, they still attracted some attention because of their beautiful voices. A peddler trying to sell a floating potion bottle paused mid-shout to look at them, only to hastily turn away when one of the Abyss Creatures growled.

"Alright," Lily said, her expression turning serious. "Let’s go prepare to confront the Phantom Pirates of the North."

Mathilda’s grin faded, replaced with a determined look. "After this there will be only One Phantom Pirates."

Without another word, the two women vanished from the bustling street in a flicker of shadow and mist, leaving only the faint scent of lavender.

┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉

"No news about them?" asked a soft, clear voice belonging to a delicate-looking girl with a slender frame. Her calm, almost detached expression didn’t quite match the irritation lacing her tone.

"They’re like real phantoms on the sea," replied the man sitting opposite her, a scout wrapped in traveler’s robes. "They vanished as soon as they stepped foot on the island. Though they haven’t stirred up anything for the past few months, everyone assumes they’re just biding their time—waiting for the real Phantom Pirates to show up."

"Is that even considered information?" the girl sighed, brushing a finger around the rim of her glass. "Everybody knows that already. I was hoping to find them quickly and get this over with, but it seems that’s not going to happen."

"My apologies for the inconvenience," the man said, bowing politely before leaving her alone.

The girl picked up her chilled fruit juice and took a sip, her eyes scanning the lively street through the open-air café. Just as she set the glass back down, another figure slid into the seat across from her.

"Huh... Masha, right?" the newcomer said with a grin.

Masha blinked and tilted her head. "Do I know you?"

"We’ve met before," the man said, leaning back with an air of familiarity. "I’m in disguise right now, but you once mentioned you wanted to marry me, remember?"

Masha stared, then her eyes widened slightly. "Tyler White?"

"Yub," he said with a wink. "So, what brings the member of Justice Bandits to Veins Peak? Is this your clone?"

"I came here for business," Masha replied with a soft chuckle. "And yes, this is a clone. My real body looks different from this one—well, maybe our faces are still similar. This clone’s just... easier to send on errands."

The two slipped into an easy rhythm of conversation, speaking as if they were old friends reunited by chance. The street noise around them faded into the background.

"So," Tyler said, leaning forward a little, "anything I can help with?"

Masha smiled faintly, eyes half-lidded in thought. "Nothing for now. I’m just here to watch the show... The Phantoms."

"Ah, right," Tyler nodded. "I heard the Phantom Pirates of the North are arriving today. The buzz around them is insane. I just hope they don’t end up being a letdown. It’s been too quiet lately since the arrival of another Phantom group."

Masha glanced at him with a playful look. "And where’s that fox girl who was always with you? She was powerful... and hard to ignore."

"She’s here on the island, shopping," Tyler said, shrugging. "We’re pretty much on vacation. Can’t stay serious all the time."

After chatting for a while longer, Tyler gave her a grin. "Are you free after this? I mean, we’ve met twice already in the Northern Seas... Maybe it’s fate."

Masha raised a brow, amused. "Are you flirting with me, Tyler White?"

"Probably. So, is that a yes?"

Masha laughed softly. "Alright. If we meet a third time, I’ll give you an answer. Or, if you ask my original body instead of my clone..." She winked. "Then I’ll say yes to that date."

She stood, her glass now empty, and left with a graceful turn.

Tyler watched her go, then muttered to himself, "Tsk... Bad habit... I even told her my identity."

He leaned back and sighed, a crooked smile tugging at his lips. Some habits were hard to break — especially around pretty girls with secrets.

┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉

A ship loomed at the distant horizon, steadily cutting through the sea like a ghostly predator from the depths. It was an ancient, towering vessel that resembled the haunted "Dead Man’s Ships" from legendary seafaring tales—its dark wood creaked with every wave it rode, and its torn black sails fluttered like tattered wings.

At the ship’s bow, a grotesque figurehead shaped like a screaming skull wept red-painted tears. The Jolly Roger hoisted high bore the same skull motif—blood streaming from hollow eyes—signifying death, vengeance, and nightmares long whispered about in taverns.

This was no ordinary pirate ship. It was the ship of the ’Real’ Phantom Pirates.

On the deck stood a crew that seemed more myth than man. Each figure was tall and lean, with obsidian skin and piercing crimson eyes. They were Dark Elves, and their presence was otherworldly—each movement precise, each breath full of silent menace. Cloaked in black garments that absorbed the sunlight, they appeared as moving shadows with eyes of fire.

At the helm, the Captain stepped forward. His crimson gaze scanned the fog-shrouded peaks ahead. His voice, hoarse and graveled, broke the silence.

"We’ve arrived... Veins Peak," Captain Hody said, his tone filled with grim anticipation.

Beside him stood his Vice Captain—a young Dark Elf woman with silver hair cascading down her back. Her cloak barely covered her body, and beneath it, she wore little.

In her left hand, she held a leash. At the end of that leash knelt a middle-aged human woman, entirely naked, her body trembling and her eyes vacant with terror.

"What shall we do about the fakes?" the Vice Captain asked with a twisted smile, yanking on the leash. "Those pathetic frauds using our name like it’s theirs."

Captain Hody chuckled darkly. "The client who invited us asked for a proper challenge, pirate to pirate. According to the old pirate codes, we must challenge them formally—defeat them.... humiliate them... and then take what is ours."

The crew let out a chilling cheer, fangs and red eyes gleaming beneath the shadows of their hoods.

"After we win," the captain continued, "we’ll take them as our slaves— strip them of everything they have. Name, pride, freedom."

The Vice Captain’s eyes lit up at that. "I heard there are beautiful women among them... especially one called Temptress." She licked her lips, her gaze distant with anticipation. "I want her. I want to trample her... break her... enjoy her."

She tossed off her cloak entirely, revealing her scant, exotic armor—little more than dark silk and leather straps designed more for seduction than battle. Her body shimmered with magical tattoos that pulsed faintly.

To emphasize her words, she leaned down and caressed the trembling human woman at her feet. A sinister glow passed from her fingers into the woman’s skin. Instantly, the woman aged—wrinkles spread, her back bent, her life essence visibly drained. The Vice Captain let out a breathy moan, eyes closing in pleasure.

"Delicious," she whispered.

The crew remained silent, but their bloodlust was rising. Their time had come.

The ship pushed forward, waves parting as if in fear.

The ’Real’ Phantom Pirates had arrived.

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