CHAPTER 486: 486. ANALYSING THE SITUATION

The sea shimmered with the first light of dawn. From the east, the rising sun painted the waves gold, scattering ripples of fire across the horizon.

Above the waters, a dragon roared. Zuzia’s massive form exhaled torrents of dragon breath, scorching the sea’s surface. The Red Skulls, once united as a monstrous serpent, had already broken apart. Dozens— no, hundreds— of crimson skulls scattered like startled fish, plunging into the depths.

Zuzia dived after them, her massive body slicing through the water. Yet no matter how fast she swam, the scattered skulls swam even faster, darting into darkness, dispersing in all directions. Within moments, they vanished completely.

"They’re gone," Lily said, her voice low but certain. She stood at the ship’s railing, her eyes following the empty waves. "They split themselves too thin. We could chase one cluster, but it won’t matter. We’ll find nothing."

The Temptress turned her gaze toward Tyler, who is just returning.

Lily knows that His speed in the ocean was unmatched— even Myrtle who is a turtle might not compare when it came to raw maneuverability underwater. Yet instead of pursuing the fleeing skulls, Tyler didn’t even care about it?

That choice... unsettled her.

Why didn’t he chase? Lily thought, suspicion flickering in her sharp eyes. She retraced the events in her mind. Tyler had vanished quietly, almost deliberately, when the serpent scattered. For someone like him, there was only one reason to abandon the chase. He had found a lead— of something he didn’t want outsiders like Myrtle to know.

Her lips curled faintly. The Copper Pot... That’s the only reason I can think of... Her assumption is on spot.

The sea gradually calmed, leaving only faint ripples and steam from Zuzia’s dragon breath. The battle’s echoes faded into silence.

A flash of orange light shimmered on the deck as the dragon shrank, her majestic form folding inward until she returned to her humanoid body. Zuzia landed lightly on her feet, though her cheeks puffed in frustration.

"We lost them," she muttered, her tone almost childlike despite her power. Arms crossed, she pouted, glaring at the sea as if it had personally offended her.

"Don’t worry, Princess," Myrtle said quickly, stepping closer with an encouraging smile. "We’ll find them again. They can’t run forever."

But Zuzia only huffed, her cheeks still puffed, a stubborn dragon-girl sulking in defeat.

Tyler approached, calm as ever. He reached out and rested a hand on her head, ruffling her silver hair with a soft smile.

"Don’t worry," he said gently. "We’ll hunt them later. For now, take a breath. The sea isn’t going anywhere."

Zuzia blinked, her pout faltering. Slowly, her shoulders relaxed, and she gave the faintest nod. "Mm."

Her puffed cheeks softened, and the tension eased from her eyes.

But Myrtle, watching from the side, felt her chest tighten. Her smile faded as her gaze locked on Tyler’s hand resting atop Zuzia’s head.

Jealousy flared like fire in her heart. She forced her lips into a grin, but her glare betrayed her true feelings.

---

The Phantom Pearl floated silently in the vast sea, its black sails swaying with the morning breeze. The deck was quiet except for the creak of wood and the rhythmic splash of waves. Most of the top crew members (Tyler and the girls) had already gathered inside the conference room with Tyler.

Only two remained outside: Myrtle, arms crossed and tapping her foot impatiently; Lady Reaper, standing motionless beside her with her scythe leaning against her shoulder; and another one who is absent is Mana, who was fast asleep within Tyler’s soul, silent and unseen.

After several minutes of muffled voices and discussion from within, the door opened. Tyler’s voice called them in.

Myrtle exchanged a glance with Lady Reaper, then followed her inside.

The room was bright, unlike the gloomy atmosphere outside. It even made Myrtle pause a little. A long table sat at the center, polished black wood reflecting the faint light. Everyone was already seated, masks still concealing their identities.

Lady Reaper and Myrtle took their seats.

"Alright... now," Tyler said slowly. His tone carried weight. With a nod from him, the others removed their Phantom Masks one by one, revealing their faces.

Myrtle’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected this.

"Zuzia gave her word and her trust in you," Tyler said, smiling faintly. "So we’ve decided to show you our true selves as well." He reached up, pulled off his mask, and set it down on the table. "My name is Tyler White."

Myrtle’s jaw dropped as she looked at the sexy bunny, now turned into a charming fox girl with three tails "You’re a Fox?!"

The words came out sharper than she intended. She felt betrayed somehow, though she couldn’t explain why.

Su Fei raised an eyebrow. "So what? Still better than a Turtle."

Her cheeks flushed. "Shut up! A fox in rabbit skin is no worse than a wolf in sheep’s clothing."

The two bickered back and forth, their voices echoing across the table. Mathilda smirked into her teacup, Darla tried not to laugh, and even Lily’s lips twitched. They never seen Su Fei being friendly with someone.

"Alright, enough," Lily said, clearing her throat. Her tone shifted the room back to seriousness.

She waved her hand, a projection appeared on the table, spreading it open like a scroll to reveal rough sketches of ships, coordinates, and hastily drawn notes. "Based on what happened ... it seems the Red Dragon already predicted we’d make a move. To prevent that, he devised a plan. He sent the Red Skull Pirates to lure us here instead."

Myrtle frowned, raising her hand like a schoolgirl. "I don’t get it. I’ve got a ton of questions. Like—why are you even going after the Red Dragon? How did he know about you? And why lure us here only to set no trap?!"

Her words shot out rapid-fire, like bullets from a gatling gun.

"Good questions," Lily said calmly. She gestured for her to continue.

Myrtle opened her mouth again, but Lily raised a finger. "First: Red Dragon doesn’t actually know about us. His target is your princess, Zuzia. Second: He targeted is because your princess is with us. Third: he’s a Seer. He probably calculated the future, saw he couldn’t kill us quickly, and chose instead to delay us. By luring us here, he gains more time to prepare."

She leaned back, crossing her arms. "And if he succeeded in buying even a few days... that’s enough for him."

Tyler leaned forward, resting his hands on the table. "And his plan did succeed. Because there’s something nearby I have to retrieve. Also there is a another reason for targeting him, other than Zuzia, that alone is reason enough for us to move against him."

Myrtle tilted her head, curious, but said nothing. She doesn’t want to pry.

"But we can’t just dance in the palm of his hand," Lily said sharply.

Darla nodded in agreement. "What exactly is our goal with Red Dragon? He’s a Loose Immortal. Do we really plan to kill him?"

Myrtle perked up at that question —she wanted the answer too.

Tyler’s eyes darkened. He paused, recalling a memory burned into his soul: Azure’s image of Red Dragon. And the vision of Mana he shared with her when they entered into contract. When he finally spoke, his voice was heavy.

"We’re not going to kill him. Not yet. He’s too strong. But we have reasons to confront him." He exhaled. "The Red Dragon... is Mana’s ex-lover. The one who killed her father."

The room went silent. Even Lily’s confident mask cracked for a moment. Mathilda’s jaw dropped, Darla’s eyes widened, and Zuzia’s brows knitted in shock.

Lily was the first to recover. She slammed her palm on the table. "Then you’d better hide that thought before Mana stirs. Do you want her to hear it the moment she wakes?"

"I know," Tyler said quietly, rubbing his temples. "I’ll keep it buried."

Lily inhaled deeply, regaining her composure. "That settles it then. If Red Dragon sought to delay us, it means he’s wary. He saw that our interference might cause trouble for him. Which is exactly why we should press forward. Go to the waters he wanted us to avoid."

"This item is equally important," Tyler countered firmly. "I can’t leave without it. Not sure if it will stay or disappear."

Lily’s voice sharpened. "If you delay, you risk giving him time to seal his weakness. We may never get another chance to strike. Can’t you see that?"

Tyler’s hand slammed on the table, making the projections flicker. "So what? You know exactly what item I’m talking about. You know how valuable it is for this crew. What if I miss it forever?"

Their voices clashed like swords, filling the chamber.

"So what, then? Are we not going to confront Red Dragon?" Lily demanded.

"We will," Tyler snapped. His voice softened a moment later. "He targeted Zuzia. And for Mana’s grudge, we won’t let him walk free. But first... we need what I seek."

"Now, now... don’t fight," Mathilda cut in quickly, raising her hands like a referee. "We’re all on the same side here."

"Hmph!" Both Tyler and Lily turned away from each other, glaring at the opposite direction.

After a long pause, Lily exhaled and straightened her back. "Fine. Let’s do this logically. We’ll split up. Tyler will pursue his treasure. Meanwhile, we’ll head to Nox Pass."

Myrtle blinked. "Wait, won’t Red Dragon already be watching for you?"

This time, Tyler is the one who answered , "The one going to Nox Pass won’t be the Phantom Pirates. It’ll be the White Pearl, led by our Vice Captain and the others."

He turned his gaze toward Myrtle and Zuzia. "As for you two— you’re coming with me."

Myrtle stiffened. "W-what? Me and princess too?"

"Yes," Tyler said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Both of you. Because the Red Dragon is only wary of Dragon Princess, her aid and her new friends the Phantom Pirates."

The decision was made.