The threads tightened, like steel wires, deeply cutting into Alger's muscles.
"What do you want?!" Alger was both shocked and furious. He glared at Mithor, his voice sharp, "Is this how you conduct your transactions?!"
Mithor merely shrugged indifferently at his accusation, a look of mixed sympathy and mockery on his face: "Don't be nervous, friend. I'm just a messenger. Our Captain has some matters she wishes to discuss with you personally."
"Captain?"
Before Alger could finish, a faint sound of footsteps came from the shadows at the deepest part of the compartment.
Immediately after, a graceful figure, dressed in a man's overcoat, slowly emerged from the Darkness.
She had a head of dark, curly hair and a face so beautiful it was breathtaking, but her azure eyes held an icy coldness and madness, like an Arctic current.
The moment he saw her face clearly, Alger's pupils sharply contracted.
"'Vice Admiral of Disease'—Tracy!"
Tracy ignored his exclamation. She didn't even glance at him. All her attention was focused on the black briefcase placed silently in the center of the room.
Her steps were a little unsteady. Suppressing the rage and grief, she slowly walked to the briefcase.
Her hand trembled as she reached for the clasp of the box.
"Click."
The lid opened.
When she saw the curled-up corpse of Brando inside, its eyes wide open, its face still showing expressions of pain and terror, Tracy's body swayed violently.
It was as if all her support had been pulled away. She staggered back half a step, leaning against the wall to barely avoid falling.
No… it's not like this…
I just wanted you to come back… come back to me… I never thought… it would be like this… Immense pain and regret instantly consumed her. Her breathing became rapid, her eyes turned bloodshot in an instant, and she was on the verge of a breakdown.
"You—you killed him?"
She slowly turned around, fixing her bloodshot eyes, like those of a wounded beast, on the bound Alger.
Her voice was hoarse, dry, yet filled with a mad oppression,
"Tell me."
"Was it you who did it?!"
Watching Tracy's grief-stricken, near-breakdown state, Alger's heart instantly sank to the bottom.
Something big has happened!
He immediately realized that the situation was completely different from what he had imagined!
The 'Vice Admiral of Disease' and this fellow named Monqi Brando were not bitter enemies at all! Judging by her reaction, their relationship was probably—the most troublesome kind!
He'd been set up!
This thought, like a flash of lightning, streaked across his mind.
That damned 'Blazing'! He actually harmed me! Alger silently cursed Danitz a thousand times over.
He had no idea why Monchi Brando was wanted! He was simply after the bounty money, and he didn't dare face the 'Vice Admiral of Disease' himself, so he put on that act, trapping himself in this mess!
Alger was filled with regret. He regretted his carelessness, his greed, that he would be deceived by someone like Danitz!
Just as Tracy's cold, murderous questioning voice rang out, he suddenly snapped back to reality.
Now is not the time for regret! He had to find a way to survive!
Without the slightest hesitation, he decisively and thoroughly sold out Danitz.
"It wasn't me!" He shouted in a tone full of fear and grievance, "It was 'Blazing'! It was 'Blazing' Danitz who shot him dead! I—I was just a poor person who happened to pass by and was coerced by him!"
He struggled to portray himself as a victim who had been deceived and used, acting it out to perfection.
"The bounty was all his idea too! He told me that as long as I caught the person, he would share the money with me! I was just… I was just used by him!"
"'Blazing'?"
Tracy, whose mind was clouded by anger and grief, didn't immediately recall who this nickname belonged to.
"Captain," Mithor immediately stepped forward and whispered in her ear, "'Blazing' Danitz is Iceberg Admiral Edwina Edwards's Fourth Sailor."
"Edwina Edwards—"
Hearing that name was like throwing a bomb into an erupting volcano.
That bitch! Brando's capture back then must have had something to do with her.
Tracy's eyes instantly became bloodshot. New and old hatred, at this moment, completely ignited all her reason.
That bitch truly wasn't a good person!
What, knowledge, intellect, it was all fake!
She was just someone skilled at deceiving others!
Not only did she try to tempt her Brando, even with a ship full of men.
She also took away the title of Captain that rightfully belonged to her.
She still couldn't forget Luo En's expression when he addressed the other party as Captain.
It was a look of respect mixed with longing.
Brando's death must be inextricably linked to her.
She lunged forward, grabbing Alger by the collar and lifting him from the ground, her eyes practically tearing him apart as she roared her question:
"That bitch Edwina! Was she involved in this?!"
"I—I don't know!" Alger quickly shook his head, "I've never seen the Iceberg Admiral! From beginning to end, it was only Danitz!"
"Hmph!"
Tracy flung him away, letting him fall miserably to the ground.
She asked several more questions, such as Danitz's current location and where they were supposed to meet. Throughout this, Alger also continuously hinted that he was a member of the Storm Church, hoping to make the other party wary. However, Tracy was completely consumed by rage at this point and didn't care about any of that.
After a while, when Tracy wanted to ask more questions, she found that Alger on the ground had already turned pale, foaming at the mouth.
He had completely fainted due to the disease.
"Damn it!"
She looked at the unconscious Alger, letting out an irritated growl. Her control over the disease had diminished due to her anger, and she had momentarily forgotten her strength.
She turned to Mithor and ordered in an unquestionable tone: "Bring him, and Brando's body, back to the ship!"
"Yes, Captain!" The thought of finally returning to the ship made Mithor respond immediately without any hesitation.
Tracy didn't look at the heartbreaking 'body' again. She turned, her figure merging into the shadows, leaving only a chillingly cold remark.
"I'm going to find that damned Danitz right now."
Before leaving, she added:
"Also, Third Mate. Whether what this fellow said is true or false, he is an accomplice in Brando's death. Once we're back on the ship, hang him from the mast for me!"
"I'll question him slowly when I return."
"5,000 pounds, half of that is 2,500 pounds, plus that characteristic—over four thousand pounds, enough for me to buy a few more houses." Inside the civilian house, Danitz was happily calculating his earnings. He would occasionally take out the envelope containing 1,500 pounds and count it, seemingly full of confidence in this plan.
By your calculation, it feels like you could just retire, Luo En silently complained.
Alger had left with the body, and now it was the tense waiting period.
Luo En was a little restless. He stroked the cat while deep in thought.
"Brando, don't look so glum, they've already paid the deposit—"
"The property on Xiangshu Avenue can add another building, Mom and the old man's side—"
"Danitz, keep your voice down—" He was about to tell Danitz to be quiet when he suddenly reacted, standing up directly.
The Calamity Priest's passive ability to foresee Calamity had been triggered!
"Not good!" Luo En looked at Danitz,
"Something's happened, retreat quickly!"