🎊🎊DOTM: Chapter 337/342

Chapter 337: Let’s Go Out and Play Together

Elizabeth's thoughts weren't hard to guess. After Ethan reappeared, the adventurous young lady's itch for excitement returned, and she wanted to go with Ethan to experience more wondrous things.

"Elizabeth."

Governor Swann, who knew his daughter very well, didn't even need to wait for her to speak. Just seeing her expression, he immediately guessed what she was thinking and wanted to dissuade her.

But the Elizabeth of today was no longer the same girl who used to pretend to be obedient.

Ever since she secretly ran off on an adventure last time, and instead of getting together with Commodore Norrington as her father wished, she started a romantic relationship with the young blacksmith Will Turner, Elizabeth realized how much her father doted on her. She no longer felt the need to hide her true thoughts from him.

Will Turner also looked at his fiancée with a worried expression. It wasn't that he was unhappy about her being too close to another man. Ethan's presence didn't lead him to think in that direction at all. He just instinctively wanted to keep his distance from such a "special" existence.

Ethan didn't express an opinion. He knew Elizabeth wanted to go on another adventure, and he didn't mind.

"Next, we're going to find Jack."

"Jack? That pirate?"

Before Elizabeth could speak, Governor Swann had already voiced strong opposition.

"No, absolutely not."

Associating with a pirate was something he could never accept.

This was entirely reasonable. No one understood better than Governor Swann, as the Governor of Port Royal, what kind of people pirates were in this era.

Port Royal was the most important port in the Caribbean. European merchant ships coming to the Caribbean, or Caribbean merchant ships heading to Europe, would all stop at Port Royal.

Port Royal was the primary trade hub of the entire Caribbean.

Such a place accumulated vast wealth from the Caribbean region, naturally attracting the attention of countless pirates.

Even though pirates rarely attacked heavily fortified port cities directly, the merchant ships that docked there often brought tales of pirate brutality.

As Governor, Swann had read and heard far too many reports and firsthand testimonies about the atrocities committed by pirates. These included written records and survivors' oral accounts. In all of them, pirates were portrayed as villains who deserved to die a thousand deaths.

Under such circumstances, how could he possibly accept his daughter associating with a pirate?

"Jack is a bit different from other pirates…" Before Elizabeth could explain, Ethan spoke first. "I don't even know if he should be considered a pirate. He's more like a traditional maritime adventurer."

Maritime adventurers often dabbled in piracy, but there was no need to point that out now.

Governor Swann's expression turned strange. Maybe he couldn't understand why Ethan was speaking on behalf of a pirate, or perhaps he felt that Ethan was subtly warning him not to oppose Elizabeth going out.

Will Turner had similar thoughts. If he hadn't considered it before, he was now slightly suspicious that this man, who might be an angel, had taken a liking to his fiancée.

Competing with an angel for a woman sounded like something out of a legend, but Will just felt terribly uncomfortable.

While Will was lost in thought and Governor Swann's expression kept shifting, Elizabeth kept pestering Ethan about his plan. Was he going to find a ship and go to sea? She thought Ethan's arrival in Port Royal to find her meant he wanted her help acquiring a ship.

"A warship is unlikely. We can charter an empty merchant ship."

As soon as the topic of adventure came up, Elizabeth became especially lively. Last time, she had spent several months at sea, and although she had been a little tired by the end, she missed the excitement now that she was back to her peaceful home life.

But now that she had returned to that quiet life, she was starting to miss the thrill of maritime adventure again.

"No need for all that trouble." Ethan waved his hand. He no longer needed to rely on ships to find Jack. Besides, he wasn't planning to waste too much time in this world. Trying to track down Jack, who was constantly moving around at sea, using ships from this era would take far too long. "Remember the amulet I gave you two? It allows me to pinpoint your location."

"And then?"

Elizabeth didn't quite understand what Ethan meant. After pinpointing the location, wouldn't they still need to travel by ship? Was Ethan planning to 'whoosh' and fly straight to Jack?

Uh… that might not be impossible.

"Then I can use teleportation magic to go to the location of the amulet."

Elizabeth swallowed. That sounded incredible, but she didn't think Ethan was lying to her—he had absolutely no reason to.

Governor Swann forgot all about Jack's identity as a pirate. His thoughts were focused on something else entirely. "This lord really is that kind of being, isn't he?" No matter how he looked at it, this wasn't something a human could do.

Will Turner was the least familiar with Ethan. He still had some doubts in his heart, but he couldn't see what Ethan would gain from bluffing. He didn't need to deceive him, did he? He couldn't possibly be deliberately bragging to Elizabeth just to look impressive, could he? He didn't seem like that kind of person.

"If you're worried…" Ethan looked at Will Turner. "This gentleman can come along too."

Ethan didn't invite Will just because he was feeling generous. He had suddenly remembered that he still owed Jack an unfulfilled promise.

Back then, he had promised to help Jack reclaim the Black Pearl and resolve his trouble with Davy Jones, in exchange for Jack using his compass to help him find the Fountain of Youth and Blackbeard.

Now, the Black Pearl had been returned to Jack, but Davy Jones hadn't been dealt with yet.

Speaking of Davy Jones, Ethan also remembered that Will Turner's father, William Turner, was currently serving aboard the Flying Dutchman. Would bringing his son to him count as doing a good deed?

As for Davy Jones? With Ethan's current strength, Davy Jones was no longer a real threat, not even a minor one. Ethan wasn't bringing Will Turner along to help him deal with Davy Jones, but because Elizabeth had a tendency to get into trouble. Having Will with her meant there would at least be someone to look after her.

The matter was settled. No matter how unwilling Governor Swann was, he couldn't stop Elizabeth from setting out on another seafaring adventure.

The only silver lining was that he no longer had to worry about his daughter's safety. With Will watching over her, surely she wouldn't be taken advantage of by a pirate, right?

Just as Elizabeth ran off to change clothes, Ethan suddenly tossed something into Governor Swann's hands.

Although Governor Swann wasn't young, his reflexes were still sharp. Although he didn't catch it cleanly at first, he didn't let it fall either. After fumbling a few times, he finally caught the inconspicuous object.

"This is…?"

"An amulet." Ethan briefly explained its function. "This item can protect your safety. If you face mortal danger, it will send me a signal and I'll teleport you to me immediately to keep you out of harm's way."

Only then did Governor Swann realize how powerful this inconspicuous object really was. It was essentially a second life.

"Why are you giving this to me?"

This was what puzzled him. As the Governor of Port Royal, did he really need this?

"You are a good man who abides by the rules. But not everyone in this world is so principled."

Ethan simply didn't trust Beckett's character. Although the man had been frightened into submission earlier, who could guarantee he wouldn't cause trouble later?

"Elizabeth will be very safe with me. No one can hurt her. Will is going with her, so nothing will happen to him either. The only one who might be in danger is you. I wouldn't want to return with Elizabeth only to be greeted by a cold corpse."

If someone died, even if Ethan tore Beckett to pieces, it would only be an emotional outlet. It wouldn't change the fact that the person had died.

Although Ethan had the ability to summon souls and resurrect the dead, it was best not to use it unless absolutely necessary. Deities existed in this Caribbean world, and he didn't want to offend some powerful being and end up having to flee again.

So, as far as possible, he didn't want to reveal his resurrection methods. The best scenario was that Beckett was completely terrified and didn't dare to act, and Weatherby Swann continued to serve peacefully as governor.

If Beckett really made a move, Ethan had made preparations in advance so he wouldn't feel too disgusted by the man. For Ethan now, even Beckett using his full strength could only cause minor trouble, and then he'd suffer Ethan's retaliation.

Weatherby Swann didn't know what Ethan was thinking, and even if he did, he wouldn't care. No matter Ethan's intentions, he had genuinely given him a safeguard. If danger came, he could use this thing to save his life. At that point, did Ethan's original motive even matter?

"Thank you very much, sir."

Before Governor Swann could say more, Elizabeth reappeared—now dressed for travel, fully armed, and carrying her luggage. She casually handed Will a large bag, clearly packed for him, even including a finely crafted sword.

It was obvious that Elizabeth had been eager for another adventure for a long time. Even without Ethan, she probably wouldn't have been able to stay put much longer.

"Since you're ready, let's go."

Ethan located Jack's position, motioned for Elizabeth and Will to stand beside him, and then activated his teleportation magic.

(To be continued.)

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Chapter 338: Goodbye, Captain Jack

The teleportation magic Ethan used this time wasn't the kind taught at Kamar-Taj.

It was more similar to the teleportation magic used by arcane mages from Azeroth. By locking onto coordinates through the amulet, a surge of magical energy erupted from Ethan's hand, enveloping Ethan, Elizabeth, and Will. Then, with a sudden burst, the three of them vanished.

The scene was quite startling. Weatherby Swann stood there for a long time, unable to react. When he finally realized what had happened, he made the sign of the cross on his chest with reverence, then carefully tucked the amulet Ethan had given him close to his body before going about his own affairs.

Another group of people were also startled and kept crossing themselves repeatedly. When Ethan suddenly appeared on the Black Pearl, many pirates cleaning the deck were so frightened they backed away hastily.

The Black Pearl's deck wasn't exactly large, and with people packed together, one unlucky pirate was even pushed straight into the sea.

As the energy from the teleportation dissipated and Ethan and the others appeared before the stunned crew, the pirates remained huddled, watching Ethan warily.

Their reaction made Will Turner tense up. He immediately reached for his sword, ready to draw it at a moment's notice. Though he was a blacksmith, Will had practiced swordsmanship since childhood. His skills were solid, and while he lacked actual combat experience, he was confident he could handle a few pirate thugs.

"Where's Jack?"

Ethan's gaze swept the deck but didn't find Jack Sparrow, nor did he see Gibbs, Jack's trusted right-hand man.

"Could Jack have been thrown overboard by these guys? It can't be that coincidental, can it?"

That seemed impossible. The amulet he gave Jack was clearly on the ship. Jack couldn't possibly misunderstand what the item meant, so there was no reason for him to casually leave it lying around.

Sure enough, someone had already gone to report to Jack Sparrow in the captain's cabin. As soon as he heard who had arrived, Jack didn't even bother to show himself before his highly distinctive voice rang out from within.

"Oh, oh, isn't this dear Ethan? And the lovely Miss Elizabeth Swann. I didn't expect you two to still remember your old friend."

Appearing alongside Jack was his close companion and first mate, Mr. Gibbs.

Ethan smiled and nodded at Jack, ignoring the open arms he held out. He knew full well that Jack wasn't trying to give him a warm hug.

As expected, Jack Sparrow bypassed Ethan and headed straight for Elizabeth behind him, only to be stopped by a longsword pressed to his throat. The blade gleamed coldly, preventing him from making contact.

"And who might this knight be? What should I call this gentleman?"

"He's my fiancé, Will Turner."

"Turner?" Jack's expression twitched slightly, and he gave Will a second look. In the end, he didn't say much and resumed his usual playful demeanor. "So, what brings you to me all of a sudden? Something interesting, I hope?"

Ethan looked at the carefree Jack Sparrow, but he knew Jack had not been living comfortably lately.

The time he agreed upon with Davy Jones was fast approaching. If he couldn't solve that issue, he'd be forced to join the crew of the Flying Dutchman as promised.

That was hardly an appealing fate. Though joining Davy Jones allowed one to transcend life and death, roam between the worlds of the living and the dead, and made the sea no longer a threat, serving aboard that mystical underwater vessel came at a cost. The ship's magic would transform every crew member into something resembling seafood.

That's right. Once aboard the Flying Dutchman, crew members would begin to develop marine features, gaining the ability to survive underwater. Unfortunately, the appearance was grotesque and even horrifying.

Moreover, serving too long aboard the Flying Dutchman would cause the ship's magic to completely assimilate its crew, eventually fusing them into the vessel itself.

That outcome was worse than death. Jack Sparrow had no desire to board that ship and become one of its mutated crew.

So, Jack had been living in fear, often waking up in the middle of the night.

He wasn't the kind to sit and wait for death. During this time, he had been studying how to defeat Davy Jones or at least force him to abandon the deal.

He had only just begun to piece together a potential solution, but the details were still unclear. While he was agonizing over it, Ethan—who had once promised to help solve the Davy Jones problem—reappeared. It felt like divine intervention.

"God, did you really hear my prayers?"

Such thoughts flashed through his mind, showing just how much pressure Davy Jones had placed on him.

"Whether God heard you or not, I don't know. But does my appearance put you at ease?"

Ethan couldn't read minds, nor was he proficient with psychic abilities like Professor Charles. But Jack's expression was enough to tell him the man was clearly more relaxed.

"Yes, I'm very glad you still remember your promise."

"I don't have many virtues, but keeping promises happens to be one of them."

That was one trait Ethan had always taken pride in.

The two stood by the ship's rail and casually chatted, completely ignoring the nearby pirates.

Gibbs quickly understood what was going on. After hearing a few sentences, he realized they were about to discuss serious matters. He immediately drove away the curious pirates and ordered everyone back to work.

Those scrubbing the deck returned to scrubbing, those repairing ropes went back to repairing, and those cleaning the cannons resumed their tasks. As for the one who had fallen into the sea, someone was sent to throw down a rope to help the unlucky fellow catch up to the ship.

When Gibbs returned, only Ethan, Jack, Elizabeth, Will, and himself remained by the railing.

Aside from Will Turner, everyone here was already familiar with one another, so they could speak openly.

"Jack, you haven't seemed well lately. Could it be..."

Jack hadn't planned to tell Gibbs about it. There was no point—Gibbs couldn't help him.

But now things were different. Ethan could help him. Besides, Ethan had already promised to deal with the issue.

"The old arrangement?"

"The old arrangement," Ethan confirmed with a nod. "I'll help you deal with Davy Jones, and you help me find Blackbeard."

It was a fair trade. Both sides gave and received. Jack felt it was very reasonable. More importantly, Ethan's terms left him with no reason to refuse.

Only now did Jack explain the deal he had made with Davy Jones to Gibbs. Only then did Elizabeth learn who Davy Jones was and why Jack had been so afraid.

To be honest, if Ethan weren't standing beside her, and she found herself the target of someone like Davy Jones, she would likely be just as anxious as Jack—if not more so. Not everyone could bear that kind of pressure.

"So, what do we do now?"

"Now?"

Ethan hadn't given it much thought. His only plan was to help Jack deal with the Davy Jones problem, then have Jack use his compass to help locate Blackbeard. With Jack's compass, finding Blackbeard wouldn't be easy, but it wouldn't be impossible either.

Now that he thought about it more carefully, Ethan realized he didn't need to consider Davy Jones at all.

"Can you still use that compass?"

Ethan needed to confirm. The compass Jack possessed pointed toward what the holder truly desired. The issue was, it was heavily influenced by Jack's state of mind. The direction it pointed could be unreliable and constantly shifting.

"What are you looking for?"

"Blackbeard, of course."

Jack looked like he'd just heard a joke. "Now? Immediately?" After asking, he suddenly realized what Ethan was planning.

"You want to go straight after Blackbeard and ignore Davy Jones?"

"Of course. Why should I care about that octopus?"

As previously mentioned, the Flying Dutchman turned its crew into seafood. Even the captain was no exception. Davy Jones currently looked like a monster with an octopus face.

"He's looking for you, not the other way around. We just do what we need to do, and that guy will come to us."

Jack bared his teeth slightly. He felt Ethan was underestimating Davy Jones a little too much.

But thinking of Ethan's abilities, he figured that kind of confidence made sense. If he had that kind of power, he'd probably feel the same way.

"All right, I'll give it a try, but I can't make any promises."

Jack didn't hide anything. Maybe he figured Ethan wasn't interested in stealing his little treasure. After fiddling with it for a while, he finally said, not entirely confident, "Maybe... probably... I can find him."

He had tried using the compass more than once recently. Because his thoughts had been fixated on the Davy Jones problem, his mind had been chaotic. No matter what he tried to search for, the compass seemed broken. He hadn't expected that trying it now would actually yield a clear direction.

"That's great."

Ethan patted Jack on the shoulder. But the greasy feeling made him recoil and pull his hand back, casually wiping it off with a tissue.

"However, before we officially set off, I think we should give this ship a proper cleaning."

(To be continued.)

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Chapter 339: Blackbeard

To find Blackbeard, it wasn't just about cleaning up. The Black Pearl needed to dock, restock supplies, and dismiss part of the crew.

This time, they were going to pick a fight with Blackbeard. After spending time together, Jack had come to realize that this group of subordinates was unreliable, and there were too many people aboard.

"Cut the numbers. Keep about ten good hands, then set sail after resupplying."

"You can handle the arrangements."

Blackbeard was different from Jack. Jack preferred the relatively calm seas and pleasant climate of the Caribbean and operated mainly in that region.

Blackbeard's territory was much broader. Almost the entire Atlantic was his hunting ground. To challenge Blackbeard, Jack and his crew had to leave the Caribbean and venture into the Atlantic, and possibly even the Mediterranean or North Sea.

Leaving the Mediterranean aside, the Atlantic's sea conditions were much more treacherous. Sailing from the Caribbean to Europe meant crossing the entire Atlantic. No one could predict what might happen along the way. A single mishap could mean being buried in the vast ocean.

In this era, sailing was still a life-threatening endeavor. But Jack didn't believe that he and his crew would die in the Atlantic, especially with Ethan aboard.

"Make sure it's cleaned thoroughly. Our guest can't stand such a dirty and messy cabin."

"No need to bother with that. Just repair and maintain the Black Pearl. I'll take care of the cleanliness once we're at sea."

As the pirate haven of the Caribbean, Tortuga was the only suitable port for repairs and restocking. Once they arrived, Jack paid most of the crew their wages, retained a few reliable hands, and began overhauling the ship.

Gibbs was sent ashore to handle the procurement of various supplies, while Jack remained on the ship to supervise the crew in thoroughly cleaning the cabins.

Sailing ships of this era weren't just dirty. Even the open deck reeked with a foul stench.

Even naval warships from Port Royal couldn't completely avoid this. They were only marginally better.

On a pirate ship like the Black Pearl, conditions were simply appalling. Ethan felt like he was standing between a garbage dump and a public latrine. Even after casting magic to block the unbearable smell, he stood on the poop deck all the way to Tortuga.

Besides being unable to bear the interior stench, another reason was the lack of space on the Black Pearl. There weren't many cabins. The lone captain's cabin had already been given to Elizabeth. Jack and Will had to share the common crew quarters or sleep in a random corner.

If Ethan had spoken up, that room would have definitely been given to him. But it wasn't worth arguing with Elizabeth over something so trivial.

If it were the Jack of the past, seeing Ethan react this way, he would definitely have mocked him as some pampered noble who couldn't handle a little filth. He might have even played a trick or two on him.

But ever since Jack began treating Ethan as a "special being," he rarely joked with him. Even the infamous Jack Sparrow held a sense of awe toward certain figures.

Ethan never bothered to clarify that he wasn't what Jack thought he was. In his mind, his relationship with Jack Sparrow would probably remain like this.

Especially after dealing with Blackbeard and Davy Jones, there might be no need for further interaction between them.

After staying in Tortuga for a while and restocking, the Black Pearl returned to sea.

Once at sea, Ethan cast a spell to thoroughly clean the ship's interior.

A gentle breeze infused with magic swept through every corner of the ship, finally carrying away thick, foul-smelling black smoke that drifted down into the sea. The entire Black Pearl, aside from visible wear and aging, was now as clean as a newly built ship. Even the most hidden corners were spotless.

"Oh, oh, such convenient magic exists?"

Jack ran back and forth several times, inspecting every hard-to-clean spot on the Black Pearl. The result left him in awe.

"Why didn't you use this last time?"

"I hadn't mastered this spell back then."

At that time, Ethan didn't know many spells. He relied more on his equipment to cast magic and fight.

Now, he could be considered a true mage. He had already learned a large number of practical spells for daily use, though he rarely used them on his own ship, the Aurora.

Jack was stunned. He realized something incredible from Ethan's words—Ethan's strength was still increasing? At the time, he had already thought Ethan was as powerful as a god. So what was he now?

"Does it suddenly feel like your little problem isn't a big deal anymore?"

Jack's smile became difficult to describe. While he was glad he didn't have to worry about the threat of Davy Jones anymore, part of him felt that after worrying so much for so many days, finding out it was a minor issue to Ethan was kind of demoralizing.

In the past, he believed that there was no problem in this world that he couldn't solve with his cleverness. Even Davy Jones wasn't insurmountable—it was just a matter of time and effort.

But when it came to Ethan, no matter how hard he schemed, there was no way to overcome him.

The difference in strength was overwhelming. No matter what trap he laid, Ethan could likely break it with pure brute force.

The sailors on board were amazed by the magic Ethan displayed, but no one dared approach or be friendly with him. Ethan's mysterious power inspired more fear than admiration, and most sailors went out of their way to avoid him.

Fortunately, Ethan spent most of his time alone on the poop deck, lost in thought. He didn't interfere with the crew's work.

"How long will it take us to find Blackbeard?"

Jack was holding the compass, adjusting the ship's course. Hearing Ethan's question, he casually handed the helm to Gibbs, then walked over to the railing and looked out at the distant sea with Ethan.

"I'm not sure."

His compass could only point to a direction, not determine distance. Judging by the direction the compass pointed, Blackbeard was likely in Europe. Whether it was the Mediterranean or the North Sea, they wouldn't know until they crossed the Atlantic.

"Never mind. Let's just hope this guy doesn't move around too much."

Expecting Blackbeard not to move around was unrealistic.

After a long, uneventful journey, the Black Pearl finally crossed the Atlantic and reached European waters. After some searching, they discovered that Blackbeard was headed toward the Mediterranean.

Initially, the compass had indicated that Blackbeard was in the North Sea, so the Black Pearl sailed in that direction, avoiding the European mainland and heading north.

Unexpectedly, Blackbeard veered south and headed toward the Mediterranean, forcing the Black Pearl to sail in a wide arc across the Atlantic, adding unnecessary distance to their journey.

Ethan, already annoyed, was now in an even worse mood. Just looking at his expression, Jack could already imagine the tragic fate awaiting Blackbeard.

As it turned out, he wasn't wrong. Just as the Black Pearl reached the Strait of Gibraltar, they finally caught up with the Queen Anne's Revenge, which had been roaming restlessly.

The distance between the two ships wasn't far. Through a telescope, they could clearly see the condition of the other ship's deck.

Jack Sparrow's crew was observing the other ship, and Blackbeard was also watching the Black Pearl. His face showed confusion. He couldn't understand how someone like him, the infamous Blackbeard, had become the target of someone else's pursuit.

The Black Pearl was clearly a pirate ship. Its all-black appearance, including black sails, was infamous among pirates.

Who gave this guy the guts to challenge him? That was what Blackbeard couldn't figure out.

Whether the captain of the Black Pearl was Jack Sparrow or Barbossa, he didn't care.

"Since you want to die, I'll grant your wish."

Blackbeard was not known for having a good temper. If a pirate was provoked by another and didn't retaliate, how could he show his face in the future? Especially someone as well-known as Blackbeard.

Just as the Queen Anne's Revenge began to change course, a streak of fire shot out from the Black Pearl and flew straight toward it.

"What's that?"

From afar, it looked like some kind of rocket. But what kind of weapon could fire a projectile that far?

Using his telescope to get a closer look, Blackbeard—Edward Teach—was so shocked he almost dropped it.

"A... person?"

It was a man with huge, flaming wings spread behind him, flying at astonishing speed toward him.

He didn't know whether this was human or something else, but instinct told him this was serious trouble.

"Everyone, prepare to fire!"

Blackbeard gave the order. His pirates took out their muskets, but before they could aim, Ethan had already landed on the deck of the Queen Anne's Revenge.

From the moment Ethan took off to the moment he landed in front of Blackbeard, only seconds had passed—too short for Blackbeard to think of how to react.

And despite that incredible speed, Ethan's landing caused no damage. In fact, he had slowed down before touching down, gently landing on the deck like a feather. Calmly, he allowed dozens of muskets to point at him.

"Are you Blackbeard, Edward Teach?"

(To be continued.)

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Chapter 340: Take Action When It’s Time

The fiery wings behind Ethan didn't disappear immediately but folded behind him like real wings.

They radiated intense heat, making the pirates surrounding Ethan extremely uncomfortable. They instinctively backed away several steps, with some at the edge nearly pushed into the sea by their retreating comrades.

Blackbeard withstood the heatwave that felt like it could roast flesh, standing firm in place without moving, even as his zombie subordinates, transformed by dark magic, couldn't endure it and chose to retreat.

"I am Blackbeard, Edward Teach."

As a notorious pirate who once ruled the seas, Blackbeard had his pride. He wouldn't bow easily. Puffing out his chest, he met Ethan's gaze directly.

"Tsk."

Ethan didn't care at all for this man's attitude.

If it had been a heroic figure striking this pose, Ethan might have shown some respect, maybe even offered a few words of praise, or sat down for a friendly chat.

But Blackbeard? A villain guilty of burning, killing, plundering, and every conceivable evil? There was nothing admirable about him. This was also why Ethan had no reservations about making an enemy of him. Killing someone like Blackbeard came with no moral burden.

If Ethan hadn't been interested in obtaining some of his dark magic, he would've sent him straight to hell the moment he laid eyes on him.

"Who are you?"

Ethan didn't speak, but Blackbeard couldn't just stand there staring in silence. Enduring the oppressive pressure, he had to ask who this mysterious man was and what he wanted.

"My name is Ethan. I want something from you."

Hearing that Ethan wanted something from him, Blackbeard felt slightly relieved. At the very least, the man seemed to be here for something. That suggested there might be room for negotiation.

Despite his posture, deep down he didn't want to become enemies with Ethan.

He didn't know who Ethan was, nor what those flaming wings behind him were, but he knew one thing for sure: this man was incredibly powerful—far beyond his ability to fight.

As long as Ethan stayed airborne, he had no real way to deal with him. The man could attack from above at will. Even if he retaliated with gunfire, it would be meaningless.

"What do you want?"

"That dark magic you use to put ships into bottles."

Blackbeard was stunned. He hadn't expected that this was what the other party wanted.

He had assumed Ethan was here for the Queen Anne's Revenge, or perhaps the magical cutlass at his waist, or even his life. He never imagined someone would covet that particular spell.

In his own hands, that spell was just a way to collect trophies. Whether it was pirate or merchant vessels, once defeated, their ships would be shrunk into bottles and added to his collection—a symbol of his victories.

Blackbeard slowly raised his left hand, aiming to rest it on the hilt of the sword at his waist.

"What if I refuse?"

He wanted to talk with Ethan. He couldn't just hand over something to a stranger who appeared out of nowhere and demanded it. Where would that leave his reputation?

The subtle movement was meant to prepare for either defense or a surprise attack. If Ethan wasn't as strong as he appeared, Blackbeard wouldn't mind killing him right then.

But that small movement didn't escape Ethan, who had been watching him closely.

With a mocking smile, Ethan lightly raised his hand. Instantly, Blackbeard felt his left hand lock in place.

"You don't have the right to refuse."

Blackbeard looked down and saw a sphere of blue light wrapped around his left hand. It felt like a giant invisible hand was gripping his arm, completely immobilizing it.

This was a control spell. With sufficient magic output, it could restrain an entire person, rendering them unable to move.

Its advantage was its simplicity. It required no incantations or preparation. As long as the magic power was strong enough, it could suppress nearly any target. Its disadvantage was that it needed continuous output and couldn't easily be used with other spells simultaneously.

Even with Ethan's control, while maintaining his fiery wings, he could only restrain one of Blackbeard's hands. To immobilize him entirely, Ethan would need to dispel the wings and increase the spell's power.

But in this situation, this was already more than enough.

Ethan lightly waved his hand, a gesture as casual as calling for a check at a tavern. In response, Blackbeard's restrained arm was yanked forcefully to the side, pulled straight as if by an unseen force.

"Don't try anything foolish... Let me remind you, your tricks are nothing but child's play to me."

Blackbeard's face turned red. Not out of shame from being humiliated, but because the blue light seemed to apply even more pressure. The pain was so intense he wondered if his arm had been crushed.

Fortunately, the throbbing pain reminded him that his hand was still intact. More importantly, he realized that this man likely knew all his tricks. Things were only getting worse.

"Who exactly are you?"

"Just passing through." Ethan withdrew his right hand and released the spell. "I just happen to be interested in something you possess."

Blackbeard's left hand was free again. He didn't reach for his sword but instead gently rubbed his arm to ease the lingering pain.

"I'll give you what you want. And then?"

Ethan was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected Blackbeard to yield so easily.

But thinking it over, it wasn't surprising. No matter how infamous, Blackbeard was still a pirate—not a hero, not a fearless warrior, not someone who would stubbornly resist a superior opponent.

To a pirate, nothing was more important than staying alive.

Just look at how he later betrayed even his own daughter just to extend his life. That alone showed his true character.

Ethan shook his head. He hadn't thought much about what to do after finding Blackbeard. Based on the man's reputation, he figured he'd resist. In that case, Ethan would beat him half to death, interrogate him, and then kill him.

He didn't expect Blackbeard to surrender the moment he showed a bit of strength. Judging from his tone, it seemed like he was trying to trade the spell for his life.

"Why do I feel so unsatisfied with that?"

A transaction wasn't impossible. But Ethan didn't want to let Blackbeard go just because he gave up what Ethan wanted. If he did that, wouldn't he be no different from the likes of Blackbeard?

"Forget it. I'll find what I want myself anyway."

With that decision made, Ethan felt much more at ease. The fiery wings behind him suddenly unfurled and expanded. The heat they emitted surged dramatically.

With one powerful flap, the entire Queen Anne's Revenge became engulfed in flames. The structures on deck caught fire in an instant, and the sails were reduced to ash.

Back on the Black Pearl, which had been watching from afar, Jack saw the flames erupt and knew immediately that Ethan had made his move.

"Could Blackbeard actually have dared to fight Ethan?"

As a pirate, Jack understood exactly what kind of people pirates were. He figured that once Blackbeard witnessed Ethan's power, he would obediently hand over what was asked and try to exchange it for his life. Given Ethan's character, once he made a deal, he'd keep his word.

So the current situation…

"Maybe Ethan didn't bother negotiating with him at all."

That seemed like the only explanation. Both Jack and Elizabeth felt that was very likely.

Based on Ethan's earlier attitude toward Barbossa, it was obvious that he had little fondness for pirates.

As that thought crossed their minds, Elizabeth, Will, and Gibbs all turned to look at Jack Sparrow—clearly thinking he was the exception in Ethan's eyes.

"Why are you all looking at me? You should be watching over there. What's happening there is far more interesting than me."

And it was. The legendary Blackbeard and his Queen Anne's Revenge had just become history. The entire ship turned into a blazing inferno, and then Ethan took to the sky again and returned to the Black Pearl.

"Looks like it's settled?"

As Ethan landed, Jack glanced again at the burning wreck in the distance. As a fellow pirate, he didn't know whether he should tip his hat in farewell. But he worried such a gesture might offend Ethan, who clearly disliked pirates. He decided against it.

Getting into trouble for Blackbeard? Jack Sparrow would never do something so foolish. So he decisively looked away and changed the subject.

"Although it was a bit troublesome, I got what I came for."

To Ethan, killing Blackbeard and his crew was easy. He didn't even need to lift a hand. The fiery wings alone were more than enough to destroy all of them.

The only slightly troublesome part was spending some energy and time extracting Blackbeard's soul and interrogating it.

At this moment, Ethan felt rather grateful that he had previously studied soul magic under Imhotep. Thanks to that knowledge, he was able to get what he wanted.

(To be continued.)

Special thanks to random_debuff for sponsoring this extra chapter 🎉🎉🎉

Chapter 341: Free Jack

Ethan didn't directly obtain the magic he wanted from Blackbeard's soul memory, but he did learn where the book containing Blackbeard's spells was hidden.

Following the trail in Blackbeard's memory, Ethan quickly found the thin book and also discovered a large number of casting tools and materials, along with a wall almost completely filled with bottles. Each bottle, without exception, contained a ship.

These bottles held real ships, and Ethan didn't leave them behind either. With his storage space, which had grown significantly, he could now carry more miscellaneous items.

Even if he didn't need the ships himself, he could use them as decorations or give them away.

He also stored the large pile of casting materials Blackbeard had accumulated. Ethan wasn't entirely sure about the nature of Blackbeard's magic. Perhaps once he fully mastered those spells, he wouldn't need to use tools or perform rituals like Blackbeard did to cast them. But until then, understanding the nature of these materials would help him learn more effectively.

After gathering the items, Ethan left the Queen Anne's Revenge. He couldn't stay any longer—the entire ship had become a sea of fire. Although Ethan, protected by magic, wouldn't be burned by the flames he set, it would be far too embarrassing to end up covered in soot.

As for the treasures Blackbeard had plundered, Ethan had no interest in them. Let them sink with the ship. Perhaps, like many legendary treasure ships, the Queen Anne's Revenge would become the target of countless treasure hunters one day.

Having obtained everything he wanted, Ethan wasn't in a hurry to study the contents. Instead, he wandered casually aboard the Black Pearl, chatting with Jack or Elizabeth about trivial things each day.

The crew wasn't stupid. Seeing Ethan like this, they all realized he was saying goodbye.

On the night the Black Pearl returned to the Atlantic and began sailing back toward the Caribbean, Jack spoke to Ethan privately after everyone else had gone to rest.

"Seems like you're leaving for good this time?"

Ethan never expected to hide his intentions from Jack Sparrow. Captain Jack's mind worked quickly, and besides, he hadn't been hiding anything at all.

"You're not coming back?"

Jack held a bottle of rum in his hand, but after seeing the whiskey Ethan took out, he decisively set the rum aside.

"Probably not."

The Caribbean no longer served a purpose for him. He had originally come for the Fountain of Youth and Blackbeard's magic, and now both were in his hands.

After settling things with Davy Jones, Ethan planned to leave this world and likely wouldn't return.

There was nothing left here that he wanted. Even if he teleported randomly like before, his subconscious would likely avoid this place.

This parting would probably be permanent.

He casually took out two glasses. On the high seas, water elements were never lacking. Ethan easily conjured a few ice cubes and dropped them into the glasses.

Jack curled his lip. Ethan was particular about everything, even drinking. Even if he wasn't a noble, he was clearly a wealthy man living a good life—not some poor commoner from the bottom.

He never imagined he'd drink with someone like this again… or maybe this person wasn't even human.

"Is it inconvenient to come over?"

In truth, it was very convenient. He was no longer at the stage where he couldn't control his travel destinations. As long as he stored enough space-time energy, he could come anytime he wanted.

"No, there's just no need to come over specifically."

Jack took a sip of his drink. Ethan had appeared twice: once to take the Fountain of Youth, and this time to collect Blackbeard's items. His purpose had been clear both times.

Putting it that way, when Ethan said he wouldn't come again, the underlying message was that there was nothing left here he wanted.

"Oh, that's a pity." Jack finished the whiskey in his glass, then naturally poured himself another. "I won't get to drink such good liquor again. I'd better drink more while I have the chance."

Ethan smiled silently, letting the ice melt slowly in his glass without taking a sip.

He wasn't fond of drinking in the first place, and he was still debating whether to invite Jack. So, he wasn't in the mood to drink.

After hesitating for a moment, he realized he was overthinking. Even if he invited Jack Sparrow, the man likely wouldn't join his crew.

Jack craved freedom. He liked an unrestrained life—waking up one day, suddenly thinking of a destination, then sailing the Black Pearl there.

As for what he would gain, that wasn't something Jack cared about.

Ethan was different. He was extremely goal-oriented, always planning his actions in a series of steps and completing them methodically.

That kind of lifestyle was something Jack Sparrow would never tolerate. Even if it meant he could explore magical seas or visit countless amazing worlds, it wouldn't change his nature.

After taking a light sip of his drink, Ethan finally asked the question.

He didn't go into too much detail—just casually asked if Jack would be interested in living in a brand-new world, if given the chance.

Jack had already had quite a bit to drink. His eyes were half-closed, as if drunk, but his mind remained clear. He instantly understood Ethan was inviting him.

If it were an ordinary person, receiving an invitation from someone who seemed like an angel would've been thrilling. They'd eagerly agree, even willing to pay a price to enter "heaven."

But Captain Jack wasn't ordinary. After asking a few questions and learning that he wouldn't be able to live as freely in that world, he immediately declined.

"Maybe after I die, I'd be willing to live that kind of life."

Ethan didn't press further. Captain Jack had made himself clear—compared to losing his freedom, he'd rather choose death.

However, the moment Jack said those words, a strange feeling stirred in Ethan's heart. It was hard to describe and difficult to explain, but one thing he was sure of—this would not be a permanent farewell to Captain Jack.

"After you die?"

Ethan smiled and made no further comment.

He actually admired Jack Sparrow, whether it was the version from the films in his past life or the one he had come to know in this life. When he first arrived in this world, he had even considered bringing Jack aboard his ship—at that time, he thought his world was just a vast ocean and he desperately needed an experienced sailor with quick thinking to help him.

Later, as more people joined his crew and he gained more experience himself, that thought faded.

Now, facing a true and final farewell, he felt a trace of reluctance.

To say their relationship was close would be false—it was more due to the influence of the plot from his past life. He would've felt uncomfortable if he didn't at least extend an invitation, and as expected, Jack declined.

"Also, help me say goodbye to Mr. Gibbs and Elizabeth."

Patting Jack on the shoulder, Ethan finally handed him a cross-shaped pendant.

"Your old amulet doesn't have much energy left. You can use this one from now on."

Jack took it and examined it for a long while, not seeing anything special, but he knew anything Ethan gave him wouldn't be ordinary.

"Will the energy in this one run out too?"

"Yes," Ethan nodded. "But if you hold the pendant each day and pray toward the rising sun, you can keep using it without worrying about running out of energy."

Jack grinned, suspecting Ethan was joking. But after watching Ethan's expression, he realized the man was seriously explaining the usage method.

"Alright then, which god should I be praying to?"

"You don't need to pray to any god. Just pray to the belief you value most in your heart."

Jack paused, caught off guard by the explanation. That sounded far more acceptable than praying to some specific deity, and he found himself less resistant to the idea.

Just as he was about to ask something else, Ethan handed him a few more identical pendants. Jack immediately understood—Ethan was preparing to leave.

"You're leaving now?"

Elizabeth and the others were resting. Ethan handing him these pendants clearly meant Jack was to pass them along.

"Your ship is too slow. I don't want to waste more time."

"This is the Black Pearl, the fastest ship in the entire Atlantic!"

No matter how Jack boasted about the Black Pearl's speed, Ethan had no intention of sailing with them any longer. He was planning to go deal with Davy Jones alone and then leave this world directly.

"I won't kill Davy Jones, but I can guarantee he won't bother you again. If he does, you don't need to worry."

For Ethan, this wasn't difficult. All he had to do was embed a special spell into the pendant he gave Jack and leave a unique mark on Davy Jones.

If Davy Jones ignored his warning and came after Jack, the moment they met would be his end.

Conversely, if he behaved and stayed away, he could continue being the captain of the Flying Dutchman, guiding the souls of the dead at sea.

After explaining the special spell embedded in the pendant and how to activate it, Ethan formally bid farewell to Captain Jack.

"Goodbye, Jack!"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 342: Familiar Taste

Returning to the Goddess of Dawn, Ethan looked at the people around him and raised his hand in greeting.

"I'm back."

Logan and the others didn't react much. To them, it was as if Ethan had never left. One flash of light, he was gone. Another flash, and he was back.

The whole process took only a few seconds. If you happened to look away and then glance back, you wouldn't even notice Ethan had disappeared at all.

Ethan knew this was how it looked, but he had never experienced it from their perspective. After shrugging, he returned to the captain's cabin to sort through the spoils of his latest trip.

The others dispersed to take care of their own business. They knew that if Ethan had obtained anything worth sharing, he wouldn't keep it to himself.

After spending time with Ethan, Logan had developed enough trust in his character.

As for the newer crew members, they were too reserved to ask many questions. Only Evelyn, the slightly naive woman, followed Ethan into the captain's cabin, curiously asking what he had brought back this time.

Ethan took out the book he had retrieved from Blackbeard and placed it directly on the desk.

Evelyn was very interested in items like this that resembled antiques. Without being prompted, she started flipping through it.

Ethan had already read the book, and its contents had even been copied into the Book of Inheritance.

Frankly, the contents weren't anything special. Compared to the magical knowledge he already possessed, this stuff was practically the scraps of magic.

Its only value was in presenting an idea—using certain characteristics of spells like seals and barriers to achieve the effect of shrinking and storing objects.

Once Ethan understood the core principle, he didn't need props or ritual aids at all. With just his own magic, he could cast the spell.

However, the spell required a container. It didn't have to be a bottle. For example, the boxes Ethan had specially made for storing unique items could work just as well.

Since Evelyn had followed him, O'Connell and Jonathan, feeling bored, also came to the captain's cabin and stood beside her, looking over the book together.

Jonathan saw no value in the item. He was never one to hold back questions when he didn't understand something, and would just ask directly.

"You specifically traveled to the 18th-century Caribbean just to get this book? What's even written in this thing?"

Evelyn was still flipping through the pages, studying the strange symbols. She stared at them for a long time but couldn't figure out which ancient civilization's script it was.

Ethan's next sentence instantly deflated her enthusiasm.

"Those aren't words. They're magical symbols, recording how to construct the magical structure for this spell."

To ordinary people, it looked like meaningless scribbles. But to a mage who understood magic, the secrets within were obvious at a glance.

Furthermore, there was no concern about outsiders deciphering the information. Even if a grand mage explained everything in detail, someone who didn't understand magic would still be unable to grasp the essence.

After looking at it for a while, Evelyn returned the book to the table. It wasn't really an antique, nor did it contain any historical stories she was interested in. In her eyes, the only valuable parts were the few fragments of parchment tucked inside the book—those were genuine ancient relics.

The essence of Blackbeard's magic was recorded on those few fragments. They contained several incomplete pieces of magical knowledge. Someone had likely developed usable dark magic from this content, which became the spells Blackbeard used. Ethan didn't believe Blackbeard had created them himself. More likely, he had found this book somewhere and learned the spells by following the instructions.

After resolving the Davy Jones issue, Ethan had thoroughly studied the parchment fragments and ultimately concluded that they were useless.

The spells recorded might be powerful, but Ethan already had plenty of powerful magic. In fact, there were still many spells in the Book of Inheritance that he hadn't finished learning. Merlin's legacy wasn't something that could be completely mastered so easily.

Combined with the magical knowledge from Asgard and Kamar-Taj, there was absolutely no need for him to delve into these incomplete fragments. Even the complete versions might not be superior to the magical systems he already possessed.

The only useful aspect of this book was that it allowed him to master the spell that could shrink a ship for easy transport, solving the problem of how to bring the Prinz Eugen into this world.

Other than that, it had no other value, which was why Ethan didn't mind Evelyn flipping through it.

At that moment, Loki entered the captain's cabin. From his expression, it was clear he had something to say.

"Something wrong?"

"Yes."

Loki had no concept of politeness. He knew Ethan didn't like beating around the bush, so being direct was the best choice.

"If I'm not mistaken, you've already visited all the worlds you planned to, right?"

Ethan understood why Loki had come. He was reminding him that it was time to head to the Marvel Universe—or rather, to finally take him home.

The time Loki had spent on Ethan's ship was negligible compared to his fifteen-hundred-year life. To him, being exiled to Ethan by Odin was no different from a brief vacation.

However, during this short time, Loki had undergone earth-shaking changes. He had stabilized his Asgardian form, or more precisely, his Aesir form, and no longer turned into a Frost Giant when using Frost power.

At the same time, he had finally mastered Frost power that rivaled Thor's lightning. His strength had increased dramatically. He now believed he was stronger than Thor and was looking forward to returning to Asgard and giving Thor a proper beating in front of everyone.

A month in bed with injuries sounded about right.

He couldn't wait to see the expressions on his dear brother's and father's faces. Would it be disbelief? Or just disbelief?

"Everything that needed preparing is pretty much ready. It's indeed time to go to the Marvel world next."

Ethan still wanted to see Arthur and Diana, but judging by Loki's eagerness, the God of Mischief was already running out of patience. If Ethan lingered in a few more worlds, Loki might start causing trouble.

He sorted things out in his mind.

Professor Charles's request had been fulfilled. As for the X-Men world, he didn't need to pay it too much attention anymore. He could visit again if he felt like it, but it wouldn't matter if he never returned.

In the Mummy world, he had acquired spells related to soul summoning and resurrection. Combined with the Holy Light and the Spring of Life he possessed, he had a significant chance of helping Tony successfully resurrect his parents. He considered that promise fulfilled, so there was no longer any reason to avoid the Marvel Universe. If he hadn't fulfilled it, he would've felt too guilty to face Tony.

He also had a method to bring back the Prinz Eugen. All his previous goals had been achieved, and there was indeed no reason to keep delaying.

"Let me rest for a few days to recover. You can also sort through your things."

Ethan was certain that Loki wouldn't return here with him after this trip. He would definitely stay in Asgard.

Odin wouldn't allow his youngest son to wander the multiverse again. Loki, now more mature and stronger, fully met Odin's standards. What came next was making sure Thor and Loki spent more time together, nurturing their bond as brothers, so that they could work together to protect Asgard in the future instead of becoming enemies and constantly fighting.

As for the crimes Loki had committed before? Hadn't he already been exiled for a while?

Adopted or not, Loki was still Odin's son, a prince of Asgard. Enjoying certain privileges was completely normal.

"What else do I need to consider?"

There didn't seem to be anything else. He had helped Odin "discipline" Loki, helping the mischievous child mature and grow stronger. That could be considered sufficient repayment for the favors Odin had granted him.

He had helped Tony resurrect his parents. Now, it was time to consider the matter of the spaceship, right?

"I need to have a good discussion with Tony about this."

Jumping directly from a surface vessel to a spaceship capable of long-term space travel and stable atmospheric entry and exit—no matter how much of a genius Tony was, he couldn't just pull it out of thin air.

"Maybe I can take Tony to Xandar for a look. Asgard should have the coordinates for that planet, right?"

Aside from that, he needed to visit the Ancient One. The Sorcerer Supreme should also have some information to share with him, at least to let him know what kind of help she expected.

"Speaking of which, without the Chitauri attack on New York, the Avengers haven't even officially appeared in public. That world still seems to be enjoying 'peace'!"

There had always been a question debated in the Marvel Universe: Did supervillains appear because of superheroes, or did the existence of superheroes cause some people with powers to stop hiding and start committing crimes, resulting in more and more supervillains?

Due to the changes caused by his spoilers, the only publicly known superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe at this point was Iron Man. Ethan was very curious about what the Marvel Universe looked like now. If the second theory were true, would all those troubles simply never occur?

On further thought, he found it unlikely. Many events in the Marvel Cinematic Universe had already reached a critical point. Many issues had either already erupted or were on the verge of doing so. A single Battle of New York wouldn't have changed much.

"It should still be the Marvel I'm 'familiar' with."

(To be continued.)