Witch, I'm really not the Deep Sea Ancient God!

Roar—

The sea breeze, carrying the scent of blood, blew from afar, lightly piercing the skin of the two men.

Chen Qi and Levin simultaneously looked up, their gazes landing on the golden horizon line at dusk.

A huge flag, soaked in blood, slowly rose from the sea's surface.

The entire ship was covered with rust-streaked steel, with scalding steam constantly billowing from both sides of the vessel. On either side of the ship hung two rust-covered great battle-axes.

It surged across the ocean like a massive, ferocious bear, stirring up waves upon waves, rushing towards them with great force!

"The Blood Blade Pirate Group, the warship 'Blood Axe'!"

Levin's mouth twitched, and he immediately kicked the freshly unearthed safe back with his foot.

This was the Blood Blade Pirate Group's first-class warship, equipped with a defense system, steam cannons, and radar surveillance systems, designed specifically for naval combat!

"Captain, they couldn't possibly be coming for us, could they?"

Levin couldn't help but step backward.

Without doubt, they were the target of this military vessel.

This class of naval vessel was capable of contending with the regional sea tyrants, even clashing briefly with the Abyssal Pillars.

It wouldn't matter if they were two second-tier Transcendents; even if a hundred Levins were cloned right then, they would stand no chance against a military vessel!

"Run!"

Levin kept retreating.

Then, almost at the exact moment he turned his head, a small red dot targeted Levin's neck.

Boom!

Accompanied by a heavy boom, a flaming cannonball, like a fierce meteor, streaked across the sky, hurtling towards the two of them!

A wave of intense heat passed over the men in an instant…

The entire desolate island was torn apart by this cannonball, which ripped a scorching gash through it.

This ship was indeed ferocious... Chen Qi shielded his face from the sparks that were flying towards him.

In the distance, thick smoke billowed from the Blood Blade Pirate Group's heavy cannons, like the gaping maw of a gluttonous beast!

Done for... Levin watched the towering flames ignite before him.

The Blood Axe had appeared in recent news, defeating as many as ten ships through its formidable defenses and overwhelming firepower during a skirmish between the Blood Blade Pirate Group and the Black Whale Group.

This was a ship with a terrifying track record!

Levin's hands shook uncontrollably.

Even a powerful third-tier Transcendent would find it difficult to face a warship alone.

The Blood Blade Pirate Group had them in their sights!

Was there still time to run?

Moreover, what worried Levin the most was the captain standing beside him, dressed in strange garb.

The Blood Blade Pirate Group surely wouldn't spare any monster on the high seas.

Without doubt, the captain beside him would be treated as an evil spirit and dealt with, and being associated with this monster, he too would be deemed an accomplice and meet a shared demise.

Levin pleaded desperately:

"Captain, what should we do? It seems we've provoked the Blood Blade Pirate Group's wrath!"

Heavy cannons, Fire Dragon—Chen Qi also began to worry.

The current situation had exceeded his expectations.

Although his houseboat was incredibly fast, it lacked a defense system. If it faced the military vessel's cannons directly, they would have no choice but to flee in disarray.

Could run…

Of course, that was only if the other side had just one ship.

Hard to run, though... Chen Qi mused silently.

Clearly, the two of them were now within the Blood Blade Pirate Group's artillery firing range.

The previous cannon blast was a warning; if they showed any intention of fleeing, the heavy cannons would surely crush the boat and them into dust.

However, this might also be an opportunity... Chen Qi looked at the naval base research documents in his hand.

There could be no more suitable buyer for these research documents than the Blood Blade Pirate Group.

Of course, all this assumed that both parties were willing to communicate normally.

"Captain, Captain, aren't we going to run..."

Levin said urgently. At this moment, as a young man who had just graduated and set out to seek adventure, he was completely terrified by the situation at hand.

"Calm down, Levin, let's talk to them first,"

Chen Qi advised, all the while preparing to activate Yu Huo's bloom at any moment.

Talk to them... Levin swallowed hard. As an average adventurer, he seemed to have no choice but to rely on this oddly dressed captain.

Boom! Boom!

The Blood Blade Pirate Group's ship abruptly stopped in front of their small houseboat, its size easily four times larger than that of the houseboat.

At the bow, a one-eyed gun master stood, aiming a two-meter-long sniper rifle at Chen Qi with a ferocious look, saying:n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"You two, what business do you have on this long-abandoned island? Looking for death, perhaps?"

Not only that, but other heavily armored pirates also gathered at the bow, looking at the two of them as if they were prey.

The Blood Blade Pirate Group sure is intimidating... Chen Qi was about to speak.

But who knew that the next second, Levin stepped up in front of Chen Qi and pointed at the one-eyed gun master above, saying:

"Do you know who you're talking to? Keep your mouth clean!"

The one-eyed gun master immediately got angry:

"You motherfuckers, I gave you a chance to talk, and now you're pushing your luck!"

"???"

Chen Qi glanced at Levin.

Levin had already taken out his steam chainsaw knife, boldly standing in front of him!

Then, he secretly winked at Chen Qi.

Leave the rest to me, Captain... Levin hinted, confidently moving forward.

This kid's got guts, Chen Qi observed Levin's performance quietly.

Talking to these pirates with too much politeness would not be a good choice.

Showing a certain degree of danger was necessary to keep the conversation going.

Levin mustered his courage, realizing that to survive, he needed to bare his fangs.

"I'll have you know, I'm from the Bonfire..."

"Bonfire what?"

The one-eyed gun master demanded.

...Energy Company, Levin's words reached his lips, but he couldn't bring himself to say them.

On the one hand, it was his pride at stake; as someone who had fled his family because of a broken-off arranged marriage, he didn't want to rely on Bonfire Energy's influence.

On the other hand, standing before him was none other than one of the four emperors, the Blood Blade Pirate Group.

Was the backing of Bonfire Energy Company really going to be of any use?

As collaborators with the navy, was it likely they'd be captured the next second and have their heads chopped off by an axe on the pirate ship?

Levin was about to speak with newfound courage.

However, the next second, the one-eyed gun master cursed:

"You two, if you were from the Black Whale Group or the navy, you'd be dead by now. But if you're from Bonfire Energy Company, I might let you live a little longer!"

"Remember, this sea area! It belongs to the Blood Blade Pirate Group, and no one can disrespect us here!"

The one-eyed gun master pulled the trigger and furiously fired a shot at Levin's shoulder.

Bang!

"?"

The one-eyed gun master's hand trembled slightly as he fired.

Levin was slow, but the captain beside him, without even moving, blocked the bullet for him.

At this moment, he noticed a small, ethereal tentacle extend from the dim clothing, like a thin snake, gently biting off the bullet.

Chen Qi raised his head and said coldly:

"Does the Blood Blade Pirate Group, which prides itself on being the former navy admiral's troops, have no manners at all?"

"Black Hunter..."

On the chair at the center of the Blood Blade Pirate Group's deck, a middle-aged and brawny man clad in a wolf's pelt and covered in blood lightly moved his finger and opened his eyes.