"Miss Fortune?!"
Duke, his mouth slightly agape, watched the beautiful figure of Miss Fortune, who, accompanied by the Siren, disappeared from his sight before he finally looked away.
What luck!
He had directly or indirectly interacted with four champions!
First, of course, was the Deep Sea Titan, Nautilus, who paid The Tithe; next was Pyke, mentioned when they encountered the Jaull-fish school, who was reborn because of the Jaull-fish, so that also counted as an indirect connection.
Then, there was Elise, the Spider Queen, who went to the Shadow Isles to feed her large pet spider, She Who Hungers.
Finally, there was the bounty hunter, Miss Fortune—Sarah—who had just disappeared from Duke's sight on the Siren.
"She's much prettier than in the original artwork!" Duke rubbed his chin with the white ivory, gazing at the distant Siren.
The Siren was like an experienced hunter, chasing blood-stained prey across the vast ocean, occasionally Terrifying the prey, and then delivering the final blow in their fear and despair.
"What a valiant beauty!"
Elise's sweet, honeyed voice echoed in Duke's ears. Duke still held his ebony and ivory as the Noxus ship drew closer again. Elise leaned on the gunwale, glanced at the distant Siren, and then looked at Duke.
"What do you think, my sweet?"
"I don't think we're that familiar, esteemed lady!"
Duke said with a forced smile, "We're just strangers passing by. Sometimes, a few pleasantries are enough. There's no need for overly deep conversation, don't you agree?"
"Heh, what an unromantic little brat." Elise slowly lowered herself, resting her elbows on the gunwale and cupping her face with her hands. "How old are you?"
"Seventeen or eighteen?" Duke thought for a moment, then shrugged, "I don't remember. Anyway, some things can't be judged by age."
Lister and all the crew had already moved from this side of the gunwale to the other, just to avoid making eye contact with Elise and being controlled again.
Apart from Jayce, who was still squatting on the ground, leaning against the cabin wall, Duke was the only one left on this side of the gunwale.
With no one else to hinder him for the moment, and Elise unable to influence the crew through the cabin, Duke's attitude had changed drastically from before.
Without constraints, actions would naturally differ.
"Seventeen or eighteen, ah, a blossoming age!" Elise didn't mind the barb in Duke's words at all. Instead, she licked her lips with interest, "It's also the age when one is about to welcome their coming-of-age ceremony!"
"Such a tender age, not knowing much, is understandable!"
Elise glanced at Jayce. Jayce, who had just slowly stood up leaning against the wall, sagged at the knees when Elise looked at him, immediately squatting back down.
"Hey!"
Duke chuckled, not taking her bait. There were far more women with hearts like snakes and scorpions in Noxus than elsewhere, which wasn't to say other places didn't have them.
It was just that Noxus had too many such archetypes.
For example, Elise, the Spider Queen, right before his eyes, or Cassiopeia, the Serpent Woman, who had stabbed Sivir, the Battle Mistress, in the back.
These were all famous examples!
"What a boring little fellow, but elder sister doesn't dislike him!"
Boom...
The roar of cannons, like thunder, came from afar. Elise looked deeply at Duke, "I hope we can meet again in Bilgewater!"
"After all, that's our destination, isn't it?"
Straightening up, Elise revealed a meaningful smile and slowly walked away, her finger slowly tracing the ship's rail, leaving a deep scratch.
As if telling Duke, I'm not to be trifled with either, watch your killing intent.
Duke scratched his hair with his ebony wood and sneered, "A spider-like woman, beautiful yet deadly!"
"But running into Miss Fortune, that's not a good sign. Don't look at how amiable she usually is, that's only to her own people. Better make a quick escape!"
Duke didn't want to cross paths with Miss Fortune yet. Although one of his goals in coming here was to find her, it wasn't the right time. Their previous meeting had laid a good foundation for future encounters.
Once he reached Bilgewater, he would then seek out this bounty hunter who had risen so quickly in recent years!
What he needed to do now was set sail again and reach Bilgewater as quickly as possible. Although it wasn't his home turf, it was better than fighting on the open sea.
He had no experience with naval combat. Although he had a respirator and could breathe underwater or even in a vacuum, he hated the feeling of being completely wet.
Moreover, his weapons would get soaked by the seawater, be interfered with, or even be damaged.
Not good at all!
"Captain Lister, full speed ahead! If we don't hurry, we'll be greeting sixteen cannons personally!"
"Yes, sir!"
Captain Lister responded loudly, while also shouting at everyone to get to work. As for the dirty thoughts in their minds, once they reached Bilgewater and were ashore, they could find whatever they wanted behind any half-open door. They could do whatever they pleased!
Feeling the Swordfish restart, Duke put away his ebony wood and white ivory and approached Jayce, extending his hand with a smile.
"You look a bit disheveled!"
"It's my first time encountering a situation like this, so I'm a bit unaccustomed!"
Jayce awkwardly shook Duke's hand and used the leverage to stand up. Duke looked at the huge cargo ship that had left his Swordfish far behind and said flatly, "If you meet that woman again in the future, stay away from her!"
"Why do you say that?"
"That guy uses magic!"
Duke showed Jayce a row of pearly white teeth, "And it's charm magic. If you don't want to experience it again, listen to me!"
"How do you know she understands magic?"
Jayce quickly pressed. Duke shrugged, "Only those who have awakened their magic talent and can use it flexibly know how to discern the presence of magic!"
"Otherwise, how do you think I detected the bait fish attack?"
Duke rolled his eyes at Jayce and stretched vigorously, looking at the Syren slowly turning around in the distance, a faint smile on his face.
"We'll be in Bilgewater soon. It's quite different from Piltover. I hope you can accept it!"
Duke spoke with a hint of meaning. Jayce scoffed disdainfully, "I've traveled all over the place these past few years researching and developing Hextech Gems!"
"But you haven't been to Bilgewater, have you?"
Duke naturally knew what Jayce was referring to; after all, the reason he was able to research Hextech Gems was because he found fragments of natural original crystal, and the minerals displayed on the windowsills in his home were enough to prove how obsessed he was with magic.
Unfortunately, it was useless!
People without magic talent, even if they have means of control, will ultimately only use them blindly, without understanding the essence and mysteries of magic.
"I'm not talking to you anymore, I need to rest!"
Duke stretched, "So much has happened in just half a day, I need to take a good break!"
"I'm going to rest too!"
Jayce and Duke returned to their respective rooms, the Swordfish sailed at full speed, leaving everything behind, only the White waves slowly disappearing on the sea.
On the Syren.
Sarah, who had just killed a notorious pirate leader, was in a very good mood at the moment; the longsword she had confiscated from him would add another collectible to her Captain's cabin.
Or give her an extra means of self-defense when her own weapon jammed or misfired.
Miss Fortune Sarah, who happily wore the longsword at her waist, adjusted her tricorn hat and ran her fingers through her long, flowing reddish-brown hair.
"Captain, those two ships are about to disappear!"
Sarah's first mate, Rafen, leaned close to her, and Miss Fortune Sarah looked at the Syren, which had just turned around on the sea, a charming smile appearing on her face.
"But we can always catch up, can't we?"
Looking at Sarah's charming smile, Rafen dared not have any other thoughts in his heart, and respectfully said, "You are right!"
Rafen turned and left, shouting loudly, "You little pink-faced weaklings who haven't eaten enough, the dock rats have more strength than you. Lower the sails, start the engine below, and chase them down!"
"Oh!"
Amidst the booming shouts, Sarah stood at the bow, gazing at the ship that was now just a black speck, and touched the flintlock pistol at her waist, a determined smile on her lips.
"Perhaps this time I'll have to take on a side job!"
...
More than half an hour later.
On the Swordfish, in Duke's cabin.
Duke, sitting in his chair, was conceiving his new original sin; the prize he won from the last lottery gave him new inspiration.
"Insectoid fragments and symbiotes, plus this new technology I've acquired!"
Duke looked at the formulas on the paper, his eyes filled with intense anticipation.
But just then, a huge roar suddenly came from outside the window!
Boom!
The Swordfish's hull was violently shaken by the surging waves; Duke put away his blueprints and rushed out of the door, arriving on the deck, where he saw whistling cannonballs.
The cannonballs did not fly directly towards the Swordfish, but instead fell on the sea not far from the Swordfish's side; the waves stirred up by the cannonballs, which exploded upon impact with the Water, caused the Swordfish's hull to constantly sway, as if it could capsize at any moment.
"What a joke!"
Duke looked at the Siren behind the Swordfish. "Miss Fortune shouldn't be this kind of person!"
"Who are you talking about?"
Jayce spoke from behind Duke. Duke said without turning his head, "Jayce, don't come onto the deck recklessly!"
"I'm not a coward!"
"Then find a way to take care of yourself!"
Duke took a rifle from a crew member and handed it to Jayce.
"Be a man."
"No problem."
Jayce, fumbling with the rifle, nodded vigorously and stood behind Duke.
"Sir, what should we do?"
Duke took out a 5.0 cantaloupe-sized object from his inventory and toyed with it in his hand. "Lower the ship's speed. I want to see what they intend to do!"
"Captain, they're slowing down!"
Rafen noticed the Swordfish's speed decreasing and immediately reported to Sarah.
Sarah pushed back her hat brim with her flintlock pistol. "Excellent!"
"Today is a good day for a side job!"
Upon hearing this, everyone showed an expression of understanding.
Before long, the two ships drew closer. A gangplank was lowered from the Siren. As soon as the gangplank was set, Miss Fortune walked over, followed by her First Mate, Rafen.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen!"
Miss Fortune had a Fired Up! smile on her face. Duke, with his hands behind his back, gestured to Lister and the others not to act rashly.
"May I ask what brings you here, beautiful lady?"
"The vast sea is full of dangers. I saw you traveling alone and was quite worried!"
Miss Fortune Sarah jumped onto the deck, looked left and right, her charming smile never fading.
"So I plan to sell you a product!"
"Do tell!"
"Security!"
Sarah revealed a mysterious smile. Jayce, standing behind Duke, was utterly bewildered.
Security, can that even be sold?
"What does she mean by this?"
"The meaning is simple!" The veins on Duke's forehead throbbed as he gritted his teeth and said, "She wants to collect protection money from us!"
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