Chapter 703: Pirates and Ronin

Chapter 703: Pirates and Ronin

Phoenixin Ren turned away with a shadowed glare after failing to sway the Tianlong Pirate Crew.

But just as he stepped out of the cave, a strange and eerie gaze followed him from the crowd behind.

The Sea Dragon King's voice echoed through the cavern.

“Foolish ronin! He has no idea how terrifying the foundations of such transcendent powers truly are.”

“In this apocalypse, ignorant men—even with great strength—will only waste their lives in vain.”

His gaze swept over those below him.

He noticed—some of his subordinates were tempted.

After all, their mortal enemy was the navy of the major nations.

Those advanced warships, equipped with the most cutting-edge weaponry, could annihilate their massive, mixed fleets with just a single vessel.

On land, armor and artillery had limitations, but out on the deep sea, naval power was as deadly as ever.

That was why, despite dominating the Star Cluster Sea, the Tianlong Pirate Crew never ventured beyond the coastal waters.

They dared not even approach the sharply defined deep-sea territories.

“You all listen carefully!”

The Sea Dragon King roared, “Without my permission, no one is to have any contact with those ronin! Otherwise, don’t say I didn’t warn you!”

The crowd below hurriedly bowed their heads in submission.

“Yes, my King!”

But among them, one skeletal, sharp-toothed man with a face like a demon had a strange gleam in his eye.

...

After leaving the cave, Phoenixin Ren didn’t rush to leave Tianlong Island.

As the Pirate Crew’s main base, the island wasn’t just home to pirates—it housed their families and laborers too.

Thousands of ships were moored around the island, though most were small boats and fishing vessels.

They’d only seized seven military ships from southern micronations, and even those were outdated models.

That was another reason the Sea Dragon King refused to take a risk with Phoenixin Ren.

Even if all thousand-plus ships attacked at once, they’d still be no match for a single modern battleship.

Phoenixin Ren thought for a moment, then traded a piece of bread to a roadside child for directions to the nearest bar.

The child cheerfully pointed him there, and Phoenixin Ren went. Amid everyone’s surprised glances, he bought a few drinks.

As for payment—he used his gun and bullets.

Tianlong Island was a chaotic place, full of strangers. Even though Phoenixin Ren looked unfamiliar, no one suspected him of being an outsider.

Plus, members of the Pirate Crew came from different nations and regions, including some from Neon Nation.

Relying on his charisma and wit, Phoenixin Ren quickly blended in and started drinking happily with a group.

But the moment a few people wearing luxury-brand parkas and felt hats walked in, the bar’s atmosphere fell silent.

A pirate next to Phoenixin Ren whispered that these men were under Kanute, captain of the Western Squadron.

In the strictly hierarchical Tianlong Pirate Crew, they ranked far above regular pirates or laborers—true military elite.

Among them was a short, squat man who looked almost comically stubby.

As the three entered, the short man greeted everyone around with a friendly grin.

Phoenixin Ren, holding a drink, smiled and sipped as he watched them.

The three of them slowly made their way to Phoenixin Ren’s table.

The others immediately stood up and made room for them.

But Phoenixin Ren remained still, quietly observing.

The trio, acting as if he weren’t even there, ordered drinks.

The short, round one was especially chatty. After a drink or two, he launched into stories of his past.

From what he said, he used to be a criminal and gang member in the Puron Archipelago.

He had the flair of a born comedian—whenever he got excited, he’d jump up, though even standing, he wasn’t tall.

Holding a bottle in one hand, he told tales of gang life with exaggerated flair.

People around laughed heartily, and Phoenixin Ren, sipping his drink and lighting a cigar, chuckled along.

“Seven years ago—yeah, exactly seven years. We took out a traitor in Manhattan. I lost it at the time and strung that b*stard up on a power pole.”

“Predictably,” he shrugged, pulling a helpless expression, “the cops nabbed me.”

The bar burst out laughing.

“Hahahaha! You’re a f***ing genius!”

“You should’ve hung him outside the police station instead!”

The short man shook his head in mock frustration and continued, “Then those pigs—especially this 200-pound porker—tied me up.”

“They asked, ‘Who sent you to kill that guy?’ Wanna know what I told them?”

He scanned the room with playful anticipation.

Everyone stayed silent, waiting for the punchline.

The little man put on a straight face. “I told him, ‘Eat sh*t.’”

His vivid delivery made the bar erupt with laughter again.

After the laughs, he kept going. “Okay, so the fat guy punches me out cold right then and there.”

“Then they splash cold water on me to wake me up. He looks all smug and goes, ‘Remember anything now?’”

“So I go, ‘Didn’t I tell you to eat sh*t? What are you still doing here?’”

This time, the laughter was thunderous.

For these pirates, past crimes—especially jail time—weren’t stains. They were like medals of honor.

Even Phoenixin Ren couldn’t help but laugh.

“You’re one hell of a character.”

The moment he said that, the previously joking short man went dead serious.

The clownish grin vanished from his face.

He stared coldly at Phoenixin Ren, and his gaze sent a chill down everyone’s spine.

“What did you just say? What do you mean by calling me a ‘character’?”

Phoenixin Ren narrowed his eyes slightly.

He had already guessed—these guys were either sent by the Sea Dragon King or were his men.

“I just meant your story was entertaining.”

The short man stared daggers at him. “Entertaining? So you’re saying I was telling jokes for your amusement? Like a clown, just to make you laugh?”

The bar went silent.

The clown had changed faces in an instant—no one doubted it now.

When he was smiling, he seemed harmless and funny.

But now that he’d turned, people remembered—this man was an important officer in the pirate crew.

A killer without hesitation—for him, taking lives was as easy as eating a meal.

Author's Note