The Warden of The Witches-Chapter 271:
Chapter 271:
<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256="">Chapter 271: Can't Out-Dad This One</ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->More armed pirates surged from the ship's cabins, summoned by the earlier horn blast. Robbing a surrendered merchant ship didn't require the full crew, but three monsters forcibly boarding constituted an emergency demanding all hands on deck.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->The female captain continued firing at Kyle, but having already taken a hit, Kyle naturally wouldn't stand still as a target. He and the other two quickly found cover.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Load silver bullets, kill these vampires! Bring out all the holy water from the warehouse!" the female captain commanded her men while reloading her own pistol. Pirates occasionally encountered "inexplicable" things at sea or in island ruins, including but not limited to monsters, spirits, and curses, so they kept weapons and items specifically for such situations.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"You two go first. Be careful. Since she's the one the Lord specifically ordered captured, she might be unexpectedly strong..." Kyle leaned behind a crate, painfully digging the silver bullet out of his shoulder wound with his fingers.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->The other male Prince silently split his entire body into bats and attacked the pirates gathered on deck. The pirates waved their arms in terror, firing wildly into the air, but managed to kill very few bats. Instead, the bats continuously inflicted small wounds, some even latching onto them to drink blood. Once they drank enough, they detached and split into new individuals.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, the female captain ducked down, covering her head to avoid the bat attacks, while simultaneously drawing a rune on the deck. Soon, white mist rapidly spread, enveloping most of the deck.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Behind the crates, Kyle and the female Prince exchanged glances.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Kyle..." the female Prince began, hesitant.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"I retract my previous statement," Kyle shook his head and sighed. "This is just pathetic..." Using fog-based black magic that obscured vision against blood-kin? It seemed this girl's knowledge of blood-kin was limited to the superficial level of silver and holy water causing extra damage. An Inquisitor from the Heresy Inquisition would likely rate this move as embarrassingly inept. Kyle was genuinely puzzled: how could such a minor character warrant a capture order directly from the Progenitor?<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->
<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->But since the order was given, they had to obey.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"The target is only Anne Drake. What about the others...?" the female Prince asked Kyle. Although both were Princes bound by blood pact to the Progenitor, Kyle's status was slightly higher, making him the de facto leader of this operational team.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Dealing with the others doesn't matter; they're just pirates... But the target must be captured alive. We can't see her now, so attack conservatively," Kyle instructed.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->The female Prince decisively drew another rune on the deck. The surrounding fog immediately thickened. With the two fog spells overlapping—one targeting blood-kin and the other pirates—both sides were now effectively blind. Then, the female Prince also split herself into bats, randomly seeking prey. Bats didn't need sight; in this fog, they held an overwhelming advantage against the pirates, who clearly lacked experience fighting blood-kin. Blood-kin had many weaknesses, but their abilities were also bizarre. Inquisitors could defeat them by exploiting these weaknesses, but for those unfamiliar, high-ranking blood-kin could be nigh-invincible opponents.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->These bats could only inflict shallow wounds and drink small amounts of blood, but as the damage accumulated, pirates soon began collapsing from anemia.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Damn it!" the female captain cursed loudly. She too had been bitten several times by the blindly charging bats in the fog. Before her was a wall of white; in her ears, the frantic squeaking of bats and the screams of her crew. She began to realize this battle was unwinnable. Today was truly cursed—a routine robbery of a merchant ship turned into an encounter with three monsters.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->
<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Abandon ship and escape<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->—the thought immediately surfaced. Losing a ship was a significant loss, but better than losing her life. Besides, with her "family background," she could certainly afford to lose one ship.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->She chanted an incantation, casting vision-enhancing black magic on herself. Her sight cleared slightly. Immediately, she dashed towards the port side of the ship. As captain of the <!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Hippogriff<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->, she knew exactly where the escape boat was kept. She dodged several crew members rolling on the ground and reached the port side, quickly moving along the railing away from the bat-infested forward deck. As she moved further from the center of the black magic spell, the fog around her thinned considerably.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->The female captain estimated the distance, feeling she was close to her escape route. But just then, a figure appeared ahead.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Surprised?" the figure greeted with a hint of laughter.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->The female captain instantly raised her pistol—the voice was identical to the first vampire who boarded. But the figure casually waved his hand. A crimson whip flashed past, and the captain looked down in astonishment to find her pistol sliced diagonally, the barrel gone, the cylinder cut in half. A drop of blood remained on the cut, dripping onto her hand.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->The captain cried out, dropping the ruined pistol. By then, Kyle had closed the distance. "Relax, I'm generally quite gentlemanly towards ladies..." Kyle said with a smile.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->The female captain drew her cutlass and slashed. Kyle was prepared; the blood whip in his hand instantly transformed into a longsword. He swung the sword, easily parrying her sailor's cutlass, then rushed forward, driving a knee into her abdomen. The captain instantly doubled over in pain, collapsing to the deck.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"So I'll try my best not to leave any scars on you," Kyle chuckled, controlling the blood sword to revert into a whip, binding the female captain securely. "Consider that payback for the shot earlier. Now answer me, are you Anne Drake, captain of the <!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Hippogriff<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->?"<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"You... you dare trouble me knowing who I am?" The captain, Anne Drake, lifted her head, gritting her teeth. "My father is the Pirate King who controls the Coral Sea!"<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Sounds impressive, but apologies, I don't really know much about pirates... Okay, honestly, I don't really know you either," Kyle scratched his head apologetically. "But regardless, your background doesn't scare me. Your father is unlikely to be as formidable as <!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->our<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----> 'Father'." When it came to comparing dads, few could likely compete with these blood-kin Prince.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"You don't know us? Then why are you after me!?" the female captain's eyes widened. "For ransom? Treasure?"<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Oh no, the orders I received..." Kyle thought for a moment. "...are just to hand you over to the authorities, have you put in prison."</ms-cmark-node>
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