[Guardian of the Fortress]: Four-Star Monster Card. A wyvern that guards mountain fortresses, skilled at high-speed dives from the air to tear enemies apart.
Though not a powerful card, and nicknamed "cannon fodder dragon" in early Yu-Gi-Oh!, Chase was still satisfied to add it to his collection.
Expanding the deck amplified his magical power!
Chase withdrew from his consciousness, signaled Elusive Elf Swordsman to watch Cluny, then turned and walked back to retrieve his discarded sleeveless cloak.
Curse of Dragon, which had been watching the whole time, proactively descended and carried Chase back to the merchant ship.
As soon as he landed, Ina, her companions, Lambert, and the crew surrounded him.
The survivors' faces were filled with excitement as they generously praised Chase and thanked him for saving their lives.
"Please, everyone—defeating the pirates was thanks to this whole ship working together." Chase smiled.
"Not at all! It was mostly you, Mr. Chase! We were just going through the motions."
Ina and the others scratched their heads somewhat ashamedly, now addressing Chase with respect.
Lambert and the crew pointed at themselves blankly: Wait, we had a part too?
"You helped put out the fire, didn't you? Otherwise, I couldn't have fought with complete freedom." Chase said seriously.
These gentle, humble words moved Ina deeply. She was overcome with shame: "I'm sorry, Mr. Chase! Earlier I suspected you did it on purpose! I'm so sorry!"
"So, friends from Black Pheasant Foot, you'll help with the compensation too, right? Can't let me bear it alone."
Ina: ⑅•ᴗ•⑅
Damn it! Give back the touch you made me feel! Give it back!!!
In one brief sentence, he shattered the image of the powerful, handsome, date-worthy S-Class mage she'd built in her mind.
Just as Ina's mouth twitched and she couldn't help twitching—
Chase's relaxed expression suddenly turned serious.
"I have important matters to handle. You all stay on the ship and protect the others. Quietly wait for the Coast Guard's rescue."
Seeing he wasn't joking, Ina and the others immediately suppressed their internal murmurs, standing straight and tall.
"Yes, Senior!" they said in unison.
That thrilling battle had already completely conquered them with his strength.
Chase nodded and turned to bring Cluny back for a face-to-face confrontation with Marshall.
Just as he was about to leave the ship, he suddenly turned back, his gaze deep on Ina and the others.
"Wh-what else, Mr. Chase?" Bukolevin asked weakly.
"To be honest..."
Chase smiled calmly. "I preferred you guys before—all arrogant and untamed."
With that, not giving them time to react, he rode Curse of Dragon back to the wrecked pirate ship.
"Hey, if you're not dead, make a sound." He kicked Cluny, whose eyes were tightly shut.
Knowing Chase wouldn't kill him, Cluny remained silent—a dead pig fearing no scalding water.
"If I'm not mistaken, the space magic you used earlier is a type of ancient lost magic—Eighteen Demon Gods Magic, right?"
Cluny's eyes flew open. He looked at Chase in surprise. "You recognize it?!"
"I hadn't heard the Deep Swamp Abyss master knew this magic. Did you get it from Marshall?" Chase continued.
From the battle earlier, he could tell Cluny wasn't skilled with the Eighteen Demon Gods Magic—couldn't unleash its full power.
At least, not yet at Minerva's arbitrary level.
Hearing the name Marshall, Cluny's pupils abruptly contracted, then quickly returned to normal.
"I don't know any Marshall. Even if I did, no comment."
"I didn't expect you to admit it. The answer to that question will reveal itself soon enough." Chase shrugged.
All he wanted to know was whether Marshall was the true user of the Eighteen Demon Gods Magic.
And Cluny's expression said it all.
This was useful information.
Cluny suddenly realized he'd exposed himself. Since he was already compromised, he stopped pretending. A sinister smile curled on his lips.
"That lord's origins far exceed your imagination. You'll die horribly..."
"Heh, heheh... Can't stop it... you can't stop it..."
"The old order will crumble... a new age of magic..."
"A world ruled by gods... will eventually come!"
A world ruled by gods?
Chase frowned deeply, staring at the pious-faced Cluny as he fell into deep thought.
The enormous reward, the missing mages, the formerly hunted dark guild, the inexplicably appearing Eighteen Demon Gods Magic...
Connecting this entire S-Class request, the breath of some huge conspiracy was unmistakable.
'Interesting. Who knew casually picking an S-Class request would lead to something like this.'
Chase grew increasingly curious what Marshall was really up to.
But curiosity aside, first things first—collect his hard-earned money.
That was, after all, the request.
With that thought, Chase knocked Cluny out with an elbow, found a thick rope, and hung him from Curse of Dragon's claws.
Under Ina, Lambert, and the others' envious gazes, the Curse of Dragon became a blur and vanished over the horizon.
Aslova City, Abandoned Lighthouse.
Chase kicked open the rusted iron door.
"Request complete. Pay up, Mr. Marshall."
Marshall sat dumbly on his wooden stool, staring at Cluny, thrown on the ground like a dead dog. His pupils trembled slightly—clearly not expecting this outcome.
His dark expression flickered briefly. Then he stood, walking lightly over.
"Mr. Chase! Y-you actually did it?! Wonderful! This is truly wonderful!"
Marshall glanced down at Cluny, his small body trembling as tears fell from his eyes. "Finally... finally..."
"This villainous pirate, who's done every evil—finally in my hands!!"
His tearful performance was so convincing Chase couldn't help marveling: No wonder he could offer such a huge sum—with acting like this, making money was easy!
After his performance, Marshall wiped his tears and looked around.
"The other pirates?" he asked.
"Sorry—all dead. Only the pirate captain survived."
Chase watched Marshall vigilantly. "He's the one who murdered your wife and daughter. You're not planning to welch, are you, Mr. Marshall?"
"No, no! You misunderstand!"
Hearing no survivors, Marshall subconsciously relaxed. "Good riddance! These damn bastards dying is wonderful!"
"Mr. Chase, thank you so much for your help. I'm relieved you didn't meet the same fate as the other mages."
Chase couldn't be bothered with his rambling. He held out his hand. "No objections? Pay up now. I'm a busy man!"