Chapter 579: Captain Hook

The exploding teacup.

The lengthening rapier.

A black palm suddenly appeared.

Everyone except Oliver widened their eyes in shock. Especially the pirates.

It was understandable since Captain Hook dropped to his knees.

He, who had sunk entire warships with a single spellcaster onboard.

This was a shocking event for everyone present.

They had heard that the fixer from Randa, Dave, wasn’t just your average person, but rumors tend to exaggerate.

So, they even dismissed the story of him fighting Puppet on equal grounds.

Puppet was a legendary being who had lived for centuries, but people also claimed to have killed or fought him on even terms every century.

Naturally, they thought Dave was just another one of those people.

Impressive, but just another strong individual you could find almost anywhere.

Yet, here Dave was, defying their expectations—effortlessly thwarting Hook’s ambush and even forcing him to kneel with some unknown dark magic.

This was both shocking and concerning.

With sea monsters already narrowing the pirates’ influence, a public defeat by an outsider like Hook could further erode their standing in Bean City.

Realizing this, the pirates who had long claimed dominance in these waters began giving Oliver hostile stares.

At this point, it seemed wiser to strike while they still had the upper hand.

An insane guy aiming for Neverland, who already made an enemy out of Hook.

As those thoughts took root in their hearts, Oliver’s shadow began to stir. From it, numerous Zombie Puppets crawled out.

Kehehehehehe!

Click! Click! Click!

Creak. Creak. Creak.

Click! Brrrrrat! Click! Brrrrrat!

***

The moment Hook knelt, Oliver noticed the pirates’ swelling emotions and immediately released twenty Zombie Puppets hidden in his shadow.

These were control-type dark magic that allowed objects to be stored within shadows. As soon as activated, twenty Zombie Puppets surged out like monsters emerging from a swamp.

For reference, the Zombie Puppets had been hurriedly prepared in Randa before coming to Bean City, using previously utilized types like—Sniper, Ragged, Swordsmen, Dark Magician, and Magician for quick production and usage.

All these Zombie Puppets had the creation magic ‘Memory of Blood’ embedded, allowing them to move on their own with minimal instructions.

As proof, the Zombie Puppets formed ranks on their own and faced the pirates.

The Sniper-type Zombie Puppets, with multiple arms and guns, aimed their barrels.

The Ragged types, with spikes, knives, razors, and poison hidden all over their bodies, snarled menacingly, clicking their jaws.

The Magician-type Zombie Puppets raised their swords, axes, and hammers, ready to strike.

The Dark Magician and Magician Zombie Puppets prepared to cast spells at any moment.

With that display of force, the pirates who had been preparing to attack Oliver froze in their tracks.

They realized that each one of these Zombie Puppets was not to be trifled with.

Using the moment of hesitation, Oliver took the opportunity to speak.

“I apologize for causing a disturbance, everyone.”

While pinning Hook down and blocking the pirates with twenty Zombie Puppets, Oliver spoke calmly.

Without any hostility or anger… which made it even more unnerving.

“However, it was Captain Hook who attacked first, and I used dark magic purely for self-defense. Please understand that I do not wish to fight any of you.”

A reasonable statement. Yet, sometimes you must not admit someone is right, even if they are.

This was one of those times. A pirate shouted.

“It was you who made unreasonable demands in the first place! Bargaining nonsense! If you had given a decent offer earlier, we wouldn’t have—”

“-Shh! …Click! Click!”

One of the Ragged Zombie Puppets, using one of its six arms, made a gesture to silence him.

The eerie appearance made even the pirate flinch.

“I apologize if my request seemed excessive… I’m in a bit of a hurry. But I don’t think it’s unreasonable.”

Oliver looked down at Hook.

“Because Captain Hook, you don’t really want to avoid going to Neverland, do you?”

Everyone tilted their heads in confusion. He didn’t actually want to avoid Neverland?

“Captain Hook… You’ve been searching for Neverland, right?”

Flinch.

Hook reacted to Oliver’s words. It hit the mark.

As everyone tried to understand what he meant, Hook let out a chuckle.

“Pfff… You have sharp eyes, huh?”

Trying to resist the pressure of the black palm, Hook barely managed to lift his head. Around his neck hung a dark magic artifact—the Liar’s Necklace.

It hides and disguises emotions.

“Yes… I’m pretty lucky to have good eyesight.”

“So, why not act as my guide?”

While Hook’s expression showed displeasure, anxiety, and unease, a hint of expectation glimmered within him.

Oliver wondered if he had hit a sensitive spot again.

Understanding emotions was easy, but guessing why they existed and figuring out a response was still challenging.

Therefore, Oliver decided to simply speak the truth, as it was the closest thing to a right answer.

“No, I’m just asking for some help so I can go and help a friend. Acting as a guide would be too much to ask.”

The mention of the word ‘friend’ made several people frown.

Aiming for the base of the Eternal Child, Fen, merely because of a friend? It sounded absurd—like something out of a fairy tale or a ridiculous joke.

Such a flimsy reason wouldn’t work in the real world. Yet, ironically, it made them think Oliver might genuinely mean it.

Hook seemed to share that sentiment as he questioned again.

“…A friend?”

“Yes. Fen kidnapped her. Her name’s Jane, my second friend. Someone said she might become the next Wendy in Neverland.”

At that moment, Oliver thought about the connection between Neverland’s Wendy and Captain Hook’s ship, the Wendy.

Hook escaped from Neverland, and there’s a person named Wendy… It was hard to consider it a coincidence.

As if to confirm it, Hook’s emotions briefly fluctuated at the mention of Wendy.

“…Could it be that Captain Hook also-”

” -Smee!”

Hook, pinned down by the black palm, suddenly shouted.

In an instant, an elderly man with a gentle appearance came crashing through the door, drawing a razor blade and closing the distance to Oliver faster than imaginable.

Tadadadak!

Only an arm swing away from slicing Oliver’s throat.

At that moment, a massive black wall—or rather, a massive mouth—formed between Oliver and Smee.

Oliver’s shadow opened its gaping maw wide enough to devour a creature.

Smee must have instinctively sensed the shadow’s nature, as he hesitated. Using that opening, Oliver’s shadow prepared to feast for the first time in a while.

Snap! Just as the shadow’s sharp teeth were about to chomp down on Smee, Oliver shouted.

“Shadow.”

It was just slightly louder than usual.

But that voice made the voracious shadow hesitate, allowing Oliver to revert it to its original form and merely blast Smee away with a shockwave.

The reason being that Smee was a creature Hook was fond of.

Whirr!!

While Oliver was momentarily distracted, something swiftly flew toward him.

It was a fairy with transparent insect wings who aimed to pierce Oliver’s eyes with a needle.

Snatch.

Though it failed, being caught by Oliver’s hand.

Buzzing–!!

The fairy angrily fluttered its wings.

Oliver stared directly at the fairy and reflexively spoke.

“…Madam, are you working for Fen—”

Swoosh!

Before Oliver could finish his sentence, Hook extended his rapier again, aiming to stab him.

Although he was still pressed down by the palm and his aim was unsteady, it wasn’t too threatening—but it forced Oliver to let go of the fairy.

The fairy, holding a needle tightly in its hand, puffed its cheeks and glared at Oliver before flying to Hook and sprinkling powder over him.

Surprisingly, when the powder fell on Hook, his body underwent a tremendous strengthening, and with a yell, he jumped to his feet.

“Rraaagh!!”

A cry that contrasted starkly with his previously calm demeanor.

With strength to match that cry, Hook forcefully broke free from the black palm that had been holding him down.

The force sent shockwaves in all directions.

Truly immense power. However, even so, Hook seemed to have used up a great deal of energy just to escape the palm, as he panted heavily.

Oliver looked at Hook and asked.

“Can you help me? If you help me, I will also help you, Captain Hook.”

It wasn’t entirely clear yet, but Oliver had begun to suspect that Hook had his own reasons for wanting to reach Neverland.

Hook’s goal wasn’t driven by mere greed or ambition, but an altruistic desire imposed by others. That made negotiations possible.

After considering Oliver’s offer and realizing that neither he, the Zombie Puppets, nor Smee had been killed, Hook spoke.

“…Lumberjack Dave. You’re certainly strong enough to be called a new ‘Finger’.”

“That’s an overstatement.”

“But even with that strength, you’re no match for Fen.”

“Are you talking about the sea monster?”

Oliver asked directly. Considering how terrifying that creature from Gallos was, Hook’s reaction was understandable.

“I’ve made some preparations for that, so there’s no need for too much concern.”

An unconvincing claim. Hook shook his head.

“The sea monster isn’t the only danger.”

Though Hook acknowledged the sea monster’s danger and power, he rejected Oliver’s statement.

This meant that something even more dangerous than the sea monster awaited them.

When Oliver asked what it was, Hook replied.

“See for yourself.”

“Excuse me?”

As soon as Oliver asked, Hook placed the fairy on his shoulder and pulled out a pocket watch.

It was a teleportation magic item made by the Ilmarinen workshop.

The item allowed users to instantly travel to pre-set coordinates.

After confidently speaking, Hook wasted no time pressing the pocket watch, disappearing in a flash.

It happened so suddenly that everyone was left puzzled—including Oliver.

Dong! Dong! Dong!

The sound of a bell signaling departure echoed. After using the teleportation item, Hook had returned to his ship and set sail.

“He’s trying to lure us.”

Jack, observing Hook and the Wendy from the window, advised Oliver.

“Hook is a pirate. Naturally, he’s more powerful at sea than on land. The reason for that is none other than—”

“That ship, I presume.”

Oliver said while gazing at the Wendy, enveloped in creation magic and dark magic.

He had recognized it from the start.

“…Yes, it might look like an ordinary galleon, but it’s absolutely not. It’s the top pirate ship of Bean City that Hook used to sink six warships with a military spellcaster aboard, all by himself.”

Judging by Jack’s and the pirates’ emotions as they spoke, it seemed to be true.

“As you can see, all the crew members are creatures, and the ship itself is a creature. That ship is the source of Hook’s power. The sea is Hook’s territory… On that ship—”

“—Wait!”

Someone cut Jack off mid-sentence.

A massive Druid, whose belly jutted out like a mountain, shouted, spitting as he spoke.

“Hey! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

“Excuse me? What do you mean?”

“Are you seriously trying to divulge Hook’s abilities to this outsider?! Are you out of your mind—gah?!”

As the agitated Druid grabbed Jack by his collar, Jack only needed to slightly grip the Druid’s wrist to emit a cracking sound as the Druid screamed in pain.

Though obese from a life of plundering and indulgence, the Druid was still a Druid. Yet Jack subdued him with minimal effort.

“Your understanding would be greatly appreciated. Dave is a distinguished guest who has provided considerable help to the City. Besides, the sea is Captain Hook’s backyard. Just how much could these bits of advice be of use?”

Arrogant as his claim was, no one dared challenge it.

It was clear that Jack wasn’t just the mayor based on his schemes; he also possessed formidable strength.

Jack added.

“More importantly, when addressing me, please speak with respect and call me ‘Mayor’. Citizens, take note.”

With his wrist about to break, the Druid eventually nodded, and Jack finally let him go.

Groaning in pain and rubbing his wrist desperately, the Druid was hardly focused as Jack adjusted his wrinkled clothes with a politician’s smile.

Jack then turned back to Oliver.

“The Wendy’s abilities—”

“—That’s fine, Jack. I appreciate your concern, but since Captain Hook has offered me this test, I’d like to try it on my own.”

While Jack and the Druid scuffled, Oliver observed Hook and the Wendy from afar, sensing Hook’s genuine desire.

He truly wanted to test Oliver’s worth—if he was someone valuable enough to guide to Neverland, someone who could really help him.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity, and I intend to answer it.”

“…You’re serious.”

Jack was both surprised and convinced. After a week, he had gained a rough understanding of the madman known as Oliver.

“Yes.”

“In that case… But how do you plan to reach that far alone?”

Jack pointed to the Wendy, which was already far off in the distance.

Covered in dark magic, the Wendy moved on its own like a legendary ghost ship, displaying remarkable agility.

No ordinary ship could keep up, and even if one tried, it would stand no chance. Moreover, Oliver had neither a ship nor a crew.

However, Oliver didn’t seem the least bit concerned as he pulled out two crude sheets of paper from his coat.

“What’s that?”

When Jack asked, Oliver infused one of the papers with magic and sent it flying out the window.

The paper fluttered away like a living bird, reaching the vicinity of the Wendy, upon which Oliver immediately triggered the spell on the remaining paper.

A purple portal appeared in mid-air. Oliver dove into it without hesitation.

Pop!

Suddenly, Oliver appeared high in the air near the Wendy, faster than anyone could comprehend.

Everyone gasped in astonishment.

Such a high-performance Scroll wasn’t something you saw every day.

Unfazed, Oliver emerged over the ocean and quickly extracted the accumulated emotions, activating Targeting to move toward the Wendy.

It was at that moment.

“Prepare the cannons!”

After drinking a potion to restore his strength, Hook waved his rapier like a conductor’s baton directing it at Oliver.

Surprisingly, the deck seemed to split in two, and a massive cannon, far too large to be stored traditionally, rose from within.

Clank. Clank. Whir!

A cannon created by dark magic.

The oversized cannon, something straight out of a child’s imagination, began collecting massive amounts of emotions packed within the ship, and it then fired them toward Oliver.

BOOOOM!!!

The ship itself shook, and the shockwave even spread across the ocean’s surface.

The enormous emotion-charged projectile sped toward Oliver, now floating awkwardly in mid-air. He immediately deployed the Black Shield to block the incoming shot at an angle.

“…!”

The cannon’s power far surpassed that of regular cannons, shattering Oliver’s Black Shield to pieces.

Luckily, Oliver avoided direct damage, but the aftershock disrupted his balance, causing him to plunge into the ocean rather than landing on the Wendy.

Though unexpected, considering the unfamiliar environment of air and sea, it wasn’t surprising.

The silence that followed hung thick as everyone gave a helpless chuckle—until suddenly, a massive water spout shot up, and something emerged.

It was none other than a giant fish-like humanoid.

The monstrously grotesque creature looked like a mix of a fish, a frog, and a human, as it clung to the Wendy with its sharp, webbed hands, letting out a bizarre cry.

Standing atop the head of the fish giant, Oliver faced Hook and said.

“That ship is truly impressive.”