Soon, on the main street of the docks, all the islanders witnessed an utterly shocking scene.
A giant nearly four meters tall paraded through the streets, dragging the corpse of a Vampire wrapped in a pink curtain. Dark red blood soaked the stone slabs beneath, leaving behind a gruesome "red carpet."
The islanders on the street quickly made way, standing off to the sides with panic-stricken faces.
Some in the crowd turned and left as soon as they saw the spectacle.
Seeing their reaction, Charles sneered coldly. Those people are probably the Vampire's spies.
This is exactly the kind of deterrent I wanted. So what if they're Vampires? Compared to the horrors of the Abyss-Sea, these guys are child's play.
The blood-red carpet stretched all the way from the brothel to the police kiosk at the docks.
"Hey, your management of this island is terrible," Charles berated them, his face hidden by his mask, his voice carrying the air of a commander. "So many of these things have infiltrated, yet you didn't notice? How do you even do your jobs?"
The two officers on duty stared at the mangled corpse on the ground, sweat pouring down their faces.
"Are you hot?" Charles, still masked, leaned his face in close.
"N-no… no!" a chubby cop instinctively shrank back.
"I've basically handled your problem for you. Don't you think you should show some appreciation? I bet there are still Vampires hiding around the docks. Get out there and find them. Some of my crew are still missing, too."
Seeing the pile of bodies by the door, the two didn't dare protest and hurriedly agreed to notify their superiors immediately.
As soon as Charles walked away, the portly cop breathlessly urged his colleague, "Go! Hurry, tell the chief—the newcomers killed Durand!"
"Captain, will those black-skinned dogs help us find the others?" Krona asked, clutching his wrist.
Charles replied, "If I were in charge of this island, I'd never allow an Alien Race to run wild sucking blood on my turf."
With his mask removed, Charles's expression was grim. "But that's not the point. Judging by how brazen those Vampires were, this island is anything but safe. We need to get out of here fast. Let's go, we'll check on the shipyard."
"Sir, what brings you here? Didn't I tell you it would take a month?" Amid the noisy shipyard, the foreman rushed over, blueprints in hand.
"Can you make it faster? Echo Coins are no issue."
Charles didn't want any more complications. He just needed the turbine fixed to get back to Coral Island. Once on his own ground, he could swap it for a new one at his leisure.
Hearing Charles's offer, the man looked troubled. "That really puts me in a jam…"
He had barely finished speaking when a young worker came over and whispered something in his ear.
The foreman's expression changed instantly. With a look of fear, he stared at Charles. "S-sir! Three days—give me three days at most, and I'll install our very best turbine for you. Just three days!"
Although Charles didn't know what had been said, he clearly sensed the shift in the man's attitude.
The goal was achieved, so Charles didn't bother saying more. After a few brief instructions, he headed out.
"Get everything ready. We set sail the moment the turbine is finished."
"What about Jack and the others?" Deep asked about the missing crew members.
"There's no time to worry about them. If the ship is ready and the police still haven't found them, they're likely done for."
Just as Charles was speaking with his crew, Lily—perched on his shoulder—exclaimed in surprise, "Mr. Charles, look! It's that painter!"
Charles looked up to see the disfigured, blind artist.
The man stumbled toward them, sniffing the air as he moved.
Charles sensed instinctively that this man was looking for him.
"Can I help you?" Charles asked, stepping in front of him.
The question startled the blind man, but then a glimmer of joy appeared on his scarred face.
"Sir, I've finally found you! I wanted to talk to you back at Helen Square, but there were just too many people—I…"
"Get to the point," Charles interrupted.
The blind man hunched his shoulders and lowered his voice to a whisper. "Sir, I have critical information vital to your survival. I want to trade this news for passage on your ship off this hellhole. I can't stay here anymore. Everyone bullies me."
Charles didn't know what this man was plotting, but it was too one-sided a deal to refuse—besides, he needed more local intel. "I'm listening."
"I know you and your crew are strong, but you need to leave immediately. The police have already reported that you killed Durand. The higher-ups are sending two Dukes to handle the 'problem.' If you wait for them to arrive, you'll never get out of here!"
"Dukes? What are you talking about?" Charles frowned.
The blind man grew agitated, his hands gesticulating wildly. "It's not just that the ones you killed were Vampires! The truth is, all the islanders here are Vampires! This is their main lair: Black Crystal Island!"
This revelation stunned everyone from the Narwhal. Shock was written all over their faces as their eyes swept over the surrounding islanders.
"Everyone?"
"Yes, all of them. Including me."
As he spoke, the blind man opened his mouth, revealing razor-sharp vampiric fangs that gleamed in the light.
Charles's expression turned utterly grim. If it was just a few Vampires, that would be no big deal. But the whole island? They were meat on the butcher's block now.
He thought he had barely escaped with his life, only to stumble right into the wolves' den.
If they're all in on it, then just now…
A sudden realization dawned, and Charles's face paled. He gathered his crew and rushed back to the shipyard.
The moment he entered, he nearly collided with the foreman.
"Weren't you supposed to be expediting our ship's repair? What are you doing leaving the yard?" Every crew member wore a hostile expression.
"Uh… I… I…"
Charles couldn't be bothered with explanations. He ordered his crew to seal every entrance and gather everyone inside the shipyard.
Staring at the foreman's pale, shifting expression, Charles said, "Drop the act. That man already told us everything. You and everyone else on this island are all in on it together, right? I'll bet you haven't so much as laid a finger on my ship."
"Traitor!" the furious foreman roared, his monstrous true form erupting as he lunged toward the blind man, only for a Black Blade, still stained with blood, to bar his path.