Shrouded Seascape

Shortly after, the islanders witnessed a truly shocking scene on the streets of the harbor area. A giant towering close to four meters was parading through the streets while dragging the lifeless body of a vampire wrapped in a pink curtain. The dark red blood seeping through the curtain left a chilling "red carpet" on the stone pavement.

The onlookers on the streets swiftly made way for the party and stood by the side of the street as they watched with alarmed expressions. A few in the crowd even averted their eyes and hurriedly turned to leave.

Spotting those in the crowd, Charles gave a cold smirk in response. Those people were undoubtedly spies sent by the vampires. This was the effect he wanted to achieve through the parade. So what if they were vampires? They were mere child's playthings compared to those horrors lurking in the subterranean sea.

The red carpet on the ground stretched all the way from the brothel to the police booth at the harbor.

"Hey! You lot are really bad at running this island. So many of these creatures have infiltrated the island and yet you didn't realize. Are you even working?" With his mask on, Charles chided the police as though he was someone of higher authority.

The two police officers on shift stared at the disarrayed corpse on the floor as cold sweat beaded on their faces.

"Are you guys feeling hot?" Charles pressed his masked face against them.

"No… It's not hot!" The slightly plump police officer instinctively cowered back.

"Now that I have taken care of this mess for you, shouldn't you show some appreciation? I suspect there are still more vampires hiding in the harbor. You'd better find them quickly. I still have a few missing crew members."

Staring at the pile of bodies at the entrance, the two officers dare not utter a word. They could only earnesty promise to report it to higher authorities immediately.

The moment Charles left the police booth, the portly officer urgently urged his colleague, "Quick! Inform the chief! Those newcomers have killed Durant!"

***

"Captain, will those people help us find the others?" Conor asked as he clutched onto his wrist.

"If I were the governor of this island, I'd never allow other races to freely feed on my kind in my territory."

Removing the Clown Mask, Charles wore a solemn expression as he continued, "But that's not the key issue. Judging from how brazenly those vampires revealed themselves, it seemed like this island is far from peaceful. We need to leave as soon as possible. Let's head to the shipyard now."

"Sir, why are you here? Didn't I tell you that the repairs would take a month?" The moment Charles and his party entered the shipyard, the manager approached them with blueprints in his hands.

"Can you expedite the process? Money is not an issue," Charles said. He didn't want any further incidents. Now, he only wanted a functioning turbine that could get him back to the Coral Archipelago. Once he was back in his own turf, he could take his time to change a new turbine and still feel at ease about it.

Hearing Charles' words, the manager seemed to sink into a dilemma, "This really puts me in a difficult position…"

Just before he could complete his sentence a worker approached him and whispered into his ear.

The manager's expression instantly changed as he looked at Charles with a fearful gaze. "S-Sir! Three days. I will have the best turbine here installed for you. Just three days."

Charles couldn't figure out what the worker had told the manager but he clearly sensed a shift in the manager's attitude. Now that he had achieved his objective, Charles didn't spare any more time. He left a few instructions and left the shipyard.

"Prepare the supplies. We depart immediately once the turbine is ready."

"What about Jack and the rest?" Dipp inquired about the other missing crew members.

"We can't worry about them now. If the ship is fixed and the police still can't find them, it's highly likely that they have met their demise."

Just as Charles was conversing with his crew, Lily who was sitting on his shoulder suddenly exclaimed, "Mr. Charles! Look! It's that artist!"

Charles lifted his head and saw the disfigured blind artist before him. The blind man was stumbling toward them, sniffing the air as he approached.

Instinctively, Charles felt that the man was looking for him.

"Is something the matter?" Charles approached the blind artist and asked.

Charles' sudden question seemed to have jolted the blind man, but a trace of joy soon appeared on the latter's visage.

"Sir, I finally found you. I have wanted to tell you this back at Helen Square. But there were too many people there, I—"

"What is it? Please get to the point," Charles interrupted the blind man.

Hunching his neck and lowering his voice, the blind man said, "Sir, I have crucial information that concerns your safety. I want to use this piece of news in exchange for a spot on your ship to leave this wretched place. I can't stand it here anymore. Everyone bullies me."

Though Charles was unsure what secretive crucial information the blind man had, he readily agreed to the unfair trade since he needed more information from a local anyway.

"Tell me more."

"I know you are formidable but please leave this place as soon as possible. The police had reported the news of you killing Durant upward to higher authorities. They had dispatched two nobles to deal with the aftermath. If they arrive, you won't be able to escape!"

"Nobles? What are you talking about?" Charles' brows were pressed together.

Seeming agitated, the blind man gestured wildly with his hands. "Those vampires you killed aren't the only vampires!! In fact, the entire island, every single local is a vampire! This is the vampires' stronghold—Dark Crystal Island!"

The revelation shook everyone. Disbelief and shock were written on their faces and their eyes widened in surprise as they stared at the islanders around them.

"All of them?"

"Yes, all of them, including me."

As if to prove the authenticity of his words, the blind man then opened his mouth to reveal his sharp vampire fangs glistening in the light.

Charles' expression turned extremely grim. A few vampires wouldn't pose a significant threat, but if it was an entire island of vampires, then they were like lambs to slaughter. He had thought that they escaped the insect's claws of death, only to find himself wandering into a den of vampires.

If they are all in cahoots, then earlier…

The sudden thought flashed through Charles' mind and his expression changed. He hurriedly returned to the shipyard with his crew.

The moment he entered the shipyard, he bumped into the manager who was heading out.

"Didn't you say that you will expedite the repairs of my ship? Why do you still have the time to head out?" Charles questioned. The crew members wore menacing expressions as they stood behind their captain.

"Erm… I… I…" the manager was at a loss of words.

Charles couldn't be bothered to hear his excuses and directly ordered his crew members to seal off all the exits and gather everyone inside the shipyard.

Watching the manager before him with fear and uncertainty written on his countenance, Charles said, "Drop the pretense. He has already told us. So you are in league with the others outside, aren't you? I dare say that none of you had actually touched my ship at all."

"You traitor!" the enraged manager revealed his sharp fangs and pounced at the blind man. But before he could reach the blind man, a blood-stained black blade was interposed between him and his target.