Chapter 129 - End of the Collaboration (1/2)
”Master Hei, are you sure it was a good thing to speak like that to the spirit soldier Sok Yeong-Gi?” Asked Old Tohyon in a worried voice.
More than worried about himself, the old navigator was worried about Hei. Even though they were connected through a blood and economic pact, during this period, he had become attached to that strange young man with such a curious behavior.
”It's fine like that. It's not that I owe him or something. I just told the truth. Besides, there is no longer even a need to pretend giving him courtesy.”
”What do you mean?” Old Tohyon tilted his head, unable to understand what Hei meant.
”Don't worry about that at the moment. Just focus on steering the ship and always be on the lookout.” Hei cut short, not wanting to explain further.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Old Tohyon, considering there was also a blood pact between the two of them. But he preferred not to mention his plans as it was not the time yet. Old Tohyon didn't investigate further and resumed his concentration on governing the artifact ship.
Before long, they reached the war galleon on which Lian and Ho Yeon-Hong had been left. With the arrival of the two young women, the situation had reversed entirely, leading to the victory of Ho Ri-Na's crew. However, there were still multiple conflicts going on in the other ships. Therefore they couldn't indulge in the euphoria of victory.
”Lian, Ho Yeon-Hong. Get on board. Quick.” Hei loudly ordered, over any other noise in the war galleon. The two young women recognized his voice and quickly jumped down, landing on the deck of the artifact ship.
”How did it go? Were you able to kill another spirit soldier?” Ho Yeon-Hong asked anxiously. The success of Hei's task coincided with her older sister's chances of victory and survival.
”Yes. I killed a spirit soldier named Kim Seon, who was facing Sok Yeong-Gi. Sok Yeong-Gi is now going to support the others.”
”Really? It's great! The big sister can soon be helped.” Ho Yeon-Hong let out a deep sigh, pleased with the news that Hei had brought.
”Sok Yeong-Gi, however, is seriously injured and has little energy. So I don't know how much he can actually help. For this reason, how about we go to your sister and tell her the news? Even if we can't face Hong Shin directly, just hearing that two of his spirit soldiers are dead can put him under pressure and lead him to defeat.”
Listening to Hei's proposal, Ho Yeon-Hong had her eyes wet. She didn't believe Hei would go so far for her. Her sister was the most important person for Ho Yeon-Hong, but the fact that she was only a sixth stage spirit apprentice prevented her from being able to help Ho Ri-Na as she wanted. Yet now, Hei was ready to take her to Ho Ri-Na so that she could help her sister for the first time, even at the cost of endangering himself, as two fifth-stage spirit soldiers were fighting there.
Quickly, the artifact ship arrived in the ocean section, where the two spirit soldiers were fighting mid-air. From where they were, Hei and the others could hear the clash between the two Pirate Generals' spirit powers. They were relentlessly exchanging attacks, without sparing themselves in the least and trying to take out their enemy.
”PIRATE GENERAL HO RI-NA!”
From the deck of the artifact ship, Hei took a deep breath before screaming at the top of his lungs. The pirate woman was fighting in the sky at a distance beyond the reach of his spirit message. So, Hei had to resort to this method to get her attention.
Absorbed as she was in the fight, Ho Ri-Na didn't hear Hei's voice at first. However, as the screams continued, the woman noticed this detail as well as her enemy Hong Shin. Both stopped in surprise because they couldn't understand what such a small number of people were doing there, considering that they weren't even spirit soldiers.
”BIG SISTER!” Ho Yeon-Hong shouted, in turn, to get noticed by Ho Ri-Na.
”Yeon? What are you doing here? Why-” Ho Ri-Na wondered. But before she could finish asking herself, Hei's answer came.
”Spirit Soldiers Pang Ja-Kyung and Kim Seon are dead. Sok Yeong-Gi has gone to help the other spirit soldiers at your command, and they will soon be here.”
Thud!
As if a boulder had come up against them, the two Pirate Generals were shaken by the news. Both looked in disbelief as they moved their gaze to the other battlefields. Although they couldn't see clearly or stretch their spirit sense, there were only a few spirit soldiers fighting, and they could verify the truthfulness of this news. And indeed, excluding the two of them, only five people were flying - the three spirit soldiers of Ho Ri-Na and the last two remaining spirit soldiers of Hong Shin.
”What?! How? How is that possible?” The Son of Wind, Hong Shin, clenched his fists while he was in complete chaos.
He had a distinct advantage over Ho Ri-Na, which is the presence of an additional spirit soldier. Furthermore, Pang Ja-Kyung wasn't merely a spirit soldier, but a beast tamer. Although he had lost his second-level whale, he had managed to recover his losses by acquiring a second-level spirit beast gull alongside the whole flock of seagulls spirit beasts. Therefore, he wasn't worried at all that someone from Ho Ri-Na's crew would interfere with their fight.
Yet now, things were different. Pang Ja-Kyung was dead and most likely that also applied to the spirit beasts he led. But, in addition to him, Kim Seon had also been killed, and a Ho Ri-Na's spirit soldier was helping his companions. How could Hong Shin not panic in such a situation?
Quickly, the Pirate General, Son of Wind, looked around in all directions. His defeat was now absolute, and it was only a matter before the two spirit soldiers in his service were taken out. At that time, he would have to face four spirit soldiers, including Ho Ri-Na, who had the same cultivation stage and had a similar battle power.
'Shit! Fuck! There is no way I can get rid of that Ho Ri-Na bitch in a short time. Besides, if I had to run away, she wouldn't leave me alone, and I don't think I can outrun her even if I use all my strength.'
Hong Shin analyzed the situation he was in and thought about the only solution that could allow him to save his life. ”Ho Ri-Na! Let's make a deal. I have a Fragment of the Pirate King Hae Seong's Treasure Map. I know for sure that you have at least one, and you know what I'm talking about. I am willing to give it to you, but in return, you must promise to let me go.”
Hong Shin's voice was powerful and resounded in that corner of the ocean. As a result, even those who were on the artifact ship's deck heard the sound of his words.
”Treasure Map? Am I wrong, or did he just mention the famous Pirate King, Hae Seong?” Ho Yeon-Hong asked Hei while she couldn't understand what Hong Shin meant.
Hei instead understood correctly and turned his full attention to the exchange between the two Pirate Generals. What they said would determine his future actions.
”What makes you think I can't take it from your corpse? I don't need you at all. And then, do you think I am stupid? I know all about your secret agreements with the Red Devil Jin-Sang. I feel sorry for you. You call yourself one of the Four Pirate Generals, but you lower yourself to lick that crazy murderer's ass and be one of his minions.”
”How? No, I see — one of your whores for sure. Apparently, I haven't taught my men to hold their tongues. And what are you going to do? Jin-Sang's strength is superior to ours as well as his crew. Even if you, me, and Kan Ki-Nam had united against Jin-Sang and defeated him, what would have happened next? We would have torn ourselves apart to decide who the supreme winner is.
Rather than risk for such an uncertain eventuality, I prefer to put myself at the service of Jin-Sang, who is the one with the most chance of winning. That madman of Kan Ki-Nam. At this hour, he must be a corpse sinking into the abyss of the ocean. Think about it. You cannot fight Jin-Sang alone. You'd better join him as I did, or you'll end up murdered along with all your men.”
The dialogue between the two Pirate Generals revealed an unexpected background. Hong Shin had bowed his head to Jin-Sang, giving up his pride in order to survive. He didn't care if he ended up becoming one of the Red Devil's minions. And Ho Ri-Na was aware of this.
'The drug marketing isn't the only cause of this conflict. To avoid finding herself in an impossible situation and creating a light of hope, she acted in advance to eliminate Jin-Sang's ally.' Hei thought to himself as he made his decision.