The Warden of The Wi Chapter 270:

Chapter 270:

Chapter 270: The Female Pirate Captain

The deck quickly emptied as the crew mbers scrambled into the cabins. The other two blood-kin Princes erged from inside and stood alongside Kyle.

"Is it really necessary for all of us to go?" the female blood-kin Princess asked, glancing between her two companions. She retained a asure of aristocratic pride; three Prince-level blood-kin, equivalent to three S-class fugitives by Inquisition standards, facing a single pirate ship—the combat power seed excessively overkill.

"Don't be too careless. I've heard so pirates know a trick or two of black magic, or possess strange artifacts," Kyle waved his hand dismissively. "Since three of us were sent, we must ensure complete success."

"Fine. A chance for a 'light al' anyway," the other Prince remarked.

"What a pity, Kyle. A perfect opportunity to indulge, yet you're wearing a 'collar'," the female Prince glanced at Kyle. Among the three present, only Kyle possessed legal demi-human status; in other words, only he bore the restrictions of the Heresy Inquisition.

"I have my principles... Alright, the ship's coming. Prepare for work!" Kyle signaled for the two to turn their attention back to the pirate vessel.

Since the rchant ship had surrendered early, the pirate ship approached unhurriedly and dropped anchor alongside it. The pirate ship was clearly more than a size larger than the rchant vessel. To facilitate boarding, the pirate ship lowered a boarding ramp.

Five pirates assigned to scout descended the ramp first onto the cargo ship, only to find the deck empty except for three strange figures cloaked in hoods.

"What's going on here?" Suspicion imdiately arose among the pirates. Five gun barrels simultaneously pointed at the trio. Revolvers, shotguns, even a flintlock pistol, rarely seen nowadays—pirate weaponry mostly ca from port city black markets or plunder, resulting in mismatched equipnt.

Kyle spoke first: "I'm not very familiar with news from these waters. May I ask if this ship is the Hippogriff, captained by Anne Drake?" Anne Drake of the Hippogriff—this was the primary target of their mission. Due to the limited ti, aside from her main area of operation, they hadn't gathered much more intelligence, ultimately resorting to chartering a rchant ship to lure her out nearby.

"Cut the crap! You've got five minutes! Haul out anything valuable from the cabin yourself if you don't want to be thrown overboard as fish bait!" one pirate threatened viciously, stepping forward to kick.

With agility unimaginable to the pirate, Kyle raised his hand, caught the pirate's ankle, and flipped him onto his back. "Looks like we'll have to try a different thod of questioning," Kyle smirked.

Simultaneously, the two blood-kin Princes flanking him took action. With a flick of their wrists, they slit their own wrists; crimson blood spurted out, solidifying into weapons.

The pirates were startled, almost reflexively pulling their triggers. All three were shot but rely staggered slightly. Kyle didn't even move; the bullet passed harmlessly through his chest. For Prince-level blood-kin capable of turning their entire bodies into mist, most physical damage could be negated simply by dematerializing and reforming. If they dematerialized beforehand, injury could be avoided entirely.

The two blood-kin Princes on either side each ford two short daggers from their blood, flicking their wrists to send the daggers flying, piercing through the pirates' arms. While the pirates howled in pain, the Princes had already closed the distance, downed two more, and then each seized a victim, biting their necks and drinking their blood.

A sharp horn blast echoed from the pirate ship. The flag on the mast was replaced with a red one. Witnessing the trio efficiently dispatching the initial boarding party, the pirate ship imdiately entered combat mode.

Kyle leisurely walked forward, preparing to board the pirate ship via the ramp they had lowered. Imdiately, two pirates rushed over, intending to cut off the boarding route. Seeing them about to push the ramp away, Kyle slit his wrist again and flung his arm violently; the gushing blood transford into a flexible whip. The whip, seemingly alive, quickly wrapped around the deck railing. A quick-reacting pirate grabbed a boarding axe and swung down at the crimson whip coiling upwards, but the axe blade couldn't even penetrate it.

Pulled by the blood whip, Kyle successfully boarded the pirate ship. The pirates, having witnessed their opponent withstand gunfire and wield bizarre blood magic, were utterly terrified. Though surrounding the enemy with swords, axes, and knives, none dared to step forward and engage.

"Damn it! What are you good-for-nothings standing around for? Kill him while he's alone!" an authoritative shout ca from the center of the deck. A young female pirate wearing a captain's hat brandished a cutlass, urging her crew into battle. "Keep standing there like posts, and see if I don't hang you all from the mast!"

Under their leader's threat, the first group of pirates mustered so courage, advancing with weapons raised, attempting to overwhelm him with sheer numbers. Kyle shook his head. Ordinary swords, axes, and guns were useless against high-ranking blood-kin. The Heresy Inquisitors always loaded themselves with concentrated holy water and blessed anti-magic bullets when fighting blood-kin.

He swung the blood whip in a wide arc, effortlessly slicing open the pirates' chests. Unlucky ones even had their weapon-wielding hands severed. Geysers of blood erupted. The severely wounded pirates collapsed in heaps, moaning on the deck.

Ignoring these small fry, Kyle smiled towards the female captain in the center of the deck and addressed her: "This beautiful lady—"

The response was a gunshot and a curse: "Go feed the sharks, monster!!"

The bullet hit his shoulder. Kyle attempted to turn that part into mist to deal with the wound, but suddenly felt a searing pain spreading from his left shoulder. This strange pain wasn't comparable to the Heresy Inquisition's specialized anti-magic bullets for undead, but it was clearly not caused by an ordinary bullet.

"Silver bullet?" he quickly realized. This female captain wasn't entirely foolish. Recognizing him as blood-kin, she had her crew stall for ti while she used the opportunity to switch to equipnt effective against blood-kin.

Just then, the other two blood-kin Princes boarded the ship using the sa thod.

"Female pirate captains are rare," the female Prince comnted. "This should be our target."

"Doesn't matter. I can't be bothered to ask anymore," Kyle, having taken a hit, said resignedly. "The orders are to capture her alive. So, let's try to be... gentlen about it."