"Miss Fortune?!"
Duke stared at the stunning figure until the Siren disappeared from view, then finally pulled his gaze back.
What kind of insane luck was this?!
He had directly or indirectly crossed paths with four champions!
First was the deep-sea titan, Nautilus, who enforced the Tithe of the Deep. Then, there was Pyke, mentioned during the ravenous Jaull-fish incident, whose resurrection was tied to those creatures. That was at least an indirect connection.
Then came the Spider Queen, Elise, delivering tribute to her pet, Vilemaw, on the Shadow Isles.
And finally, the bounty hunter Miss Fortune, Sarah, who had just sailed past aboard the Siren.
"She's even more gorgeous than in the splash art!" Duke murmured, rubbing his chin with the butt of his White Ivory pistol as he watched the Siren vanish into the distance.
Like a seasoned predator, the Siren prowled the sea, hunting its bloodied prey with expert precision. It tormented them with relentless pursuit, then struck the fatal blow at their moment of despair.
"Truly a magnificent woman."
Elise's voice, as sweet as honey, rang in Duke's ears. She leaned on the railing again as the Noxian ship pulled closer, her gaze flicking between the disappearing Siren and Duke.
"Don't you think so, sugar?"
"I don't think we're on that level of familiarity, esteemed lady."
Duke's smile was thin and sharp. "We're just ships passing in the night. Some pleasantries are fine, but let's not get too deep, shall we?"
"Tsk, what an unromantic little brat."
Elise leaned forward, propping her elbows on the railing and cupping her face in her hands. "How old are you? Seventeen? Eighteen?"
"Something like that," Duke shrugged. "Does age really matter for some things?"
Lyst and the other crew members had all deliberately moved to the opposite side of the ship, avoiding Elise's gaze to prevent being charmed again. Only Jayce remained, squatting by the cabin wall.
With no one else around and Elise unable to influence the crew through the ship's hull, Duke's demeanor shifted. He had more room to maneuver now.
"Seventeen or eighteen... such a tender age," Elise mused, licking her lips with interest. "The age right before a man's coming of age ceremony. So innocent... it's understandable you don't know much."
She glanced at Jayce, who had just managed to stand up using the wall. At her glance, his legs gave out again and he slumped back down.
"Heh."
Duke chuckled but didn't respond. Noxus was notorious for women like Elise, ruthless and cunning.
She wasn't the only one either.
Like Cassiopeia, the serpent who stabbed Sivir in the back.
"Such a dull little thing. Still, I don't dislike you."
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM...
Thunderous cannon fire rolled across the ocean. Elise gave Duke a long look.
"Let's hope we meet again in Bilgewater. It's everyone's destination, after all."
She straightened and smiled meaningfully, slowly stepping away while her fingers traced a long gouge into the wooden railing, her way of warning Duke: Don't test me, boy.
Duke scratched his head with the barrel of his Ebony pistol and scoffed.
"A woman like a spider, beautiful, but deadly."
"But running into Miss Fortune? That's not a good omen. She may seem easygoing, but that's only with people she trusts. I better keep my distance for now."
He hadn't planned to interact with her yet anyway. But this encounter had laid the groundwork for future dealings. Once he reached Bilgewater, he'd properly seek out this rising star of a bounty hunter.
For now, the priority was to raise sails and make all haste toward Bilgewater. The sea was no place for someone without naval combat experience.
Despite his respirator, which allowed him to breathe underwater, or even in space, he hated the feeling of being soaked. Worse, saltwater could damage his gear.
"Captain Lyst, full speed ahead! If we don't hurry, we might get a taste of sixteen cannonballs to the face!"
"Aye, sir!"
Lyst bellowed orders at the crew, who scrambled to action. Whatever nonsense they'd been thinking about earlier could wait until they made land.
As the Swordfish surged forward again, Duke holstered his pistols and approached Jayce, who was still recovering.
"You look a little rough."
"First time dealing with this kind of situation... kinda overwhelmed."
Jayce awkwardly shook Duke's hand and pulled himself up.
Duke glanced toward the distant cargo ship, now far ahead.
"If you ever see that woman again, stay away from her."
"Why?"
"She uses magic."
Duke flashed a grin. "Specifically, charm magic. You don't want a repeat of what just happened, right?"
"Wait, how do you know she uses magic?"
"Only those with innate magical talent can detect mana. How do you think I noticed the Jaull-fish ambush earlier?"
Duke rolled his eyes and stretched.
"We'll be in Bilgewater soon. It's not like Piltover. Hope you're ready for that."
Jayce snorted. "I've traveled far and wide for my Hextech research."
"But never to Bilgewater, right?"
Duke knew exactly what he meant. Jayce's obsession with magic, fueled by the shards of a natural crystal and his collection of minerals, was well known.
Too bad it was useless without magical aptitude.
No matter how many tools he had, without a core understanding of magic, it was all blind fumbling.
"I'm gonna get some rest," Duke yawned. "Too much happened in just half a day. I need to decompress."
"Same."
Both returned to their cabins. The Swordfish cut through the sea, white foam trailing behind.
Onboard the Siren.
Sarah Fortune, having just gunned down a notorious pirate captain, was in excellent spirits. The cutlass she took from him would make a fine display in her cabin, or a last resort when her pistols jammed.
After strapping it to her hip, she adjusted her tricorn hat, running a hand through her windblown chestnut hair.
"Captain, the two ships are falling out of view."
Her first mate, Raiven, stepped beside her. Sarah smiled.
"Doesn't matter. We'll catch up."
Raiven didn't dare question her. He saluted respectfully.
"Of course, ma'am."
Turning, he shouted, "Get the sails down, fire up the engine, we're catching them!"
"Aye!!"
As the crew sprang into action, Sarah stood at the prow, hand resting on her flintlock, a confident smile tugging at her lips.
"Time to moonlight a little..."
Half an hour later, Swordfish.
Inside his cabin, Duke was scribbling out new concepts inspired by the latest prize from his system.
"A combination of Zerg fragments, symbiotes... and my newly acquired tech!"
He stared at the formulas with mounting excitement.
Suddenly, a thunderous explosion rocked the ship.
BOOM!
Waves crashed violently against the hull. Duke bolted out of the room and onto the deck just in time to see a cannonball splash nearby. Though it didn't strike directly, the explosion sent shockwaves that made the whole vessel pitch.
"Are you kidding me?!"
Duke turned toward the Siren.
"That doesn't seem like something Miss Fortune would do..."
"Who are you talking about?"
Jayce emerged behind him.
"Stay off the deck, Jayce."
"I'm not a coward!"
"Then watch your back."
Duke took a rifle from a nearby sailor and handed it to him.
"Act like a man."
"You got it."
Jayce nodded, fumbling with the weapon.
"Sir, what should we do?"
Duke pulled out a melon-sized device from his inventory and toyed with it.
"Slow down. Let's see what they're after."
Back on the Siren.
"Captain, they're reducing speed."
"Excellent," Sarah murmured, adjusting her hat with her flintlock. "Let's get to work."
Her crew smiled knowingly.
Soon, the ships were side by side. A gangplank was lowered. Sarah and Raiven crossed over to the Swordfish.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen."
Smiling radiantly, Sarah stepped onto the deck. Behind Duke, he signaled Lyst and the others to stay calm.
"To what do we owe the pleasure, beautiful lady?"
"The sea is full of danger. I saw you sailing alone and became... concerned."
Sarah glanced around, her smile never fading.
"So I came to offer a product."
"And what might that be?"
"Security."
Jayce blinked, confused.
"She's selling... what?"
Duke clenched his jaw.
"She's charging us protection money."
End of chapter...
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