DOTM: Chapter 335/336

Chapter 335: Beckett

Will Turner was unreliable, and the former Governor, Weatherby Swann, also had no good ideas. As a British nobleman, he was used to handling matters through proper channels and rule-abiding methods.

Now that his greatest source of support had been stripped away by his opponent, he was completely powerless to fight back. His only remaining hope was that Ethan was not a spy, but rather someone from within the country, preferably a member of some secret organization. Only that could explain his mysterious background.

If Ethan truly held such an identity, then the most severe charge against Swann—colluding with a person of unknown background (suspected of conspiring with a foreign spy)—could be dismissed.

If that accusation was cleared, the rest of the charges would be minor, and Weatherby Swann could easily deal with them. He might not even need to return to face trial, and could be reinstated immediately.

Unfortunately, Ethan's identity wasn't what he imagined. Although Ethan's earlier attitude of not caring much about Beckett had given him a glimmer of hope, Ethan soon clarified the situation.

"How could it not be?"

Swann was devastated. Although Ethan claimed he wasn't a spy, even if he were just a civilian, that still wouldn't be good enough!

Ethan shook his head. Swann was a decent person and had helped him a great deal in the past. He wouldn't just stand by and do nothing.

What Swann didn't know was that even without him, Beckett would still have made him a target. To accomplish his goals, Beckett needed to remove Swann. And Beckett wasn't someone who played by the rules. He would use whatever methods were necessary.

People like Weatherby Swann, who insisted on acting within the rules, were rarely able to hold their ground against enemies like that. In the original plot, Beckett casually disposed of Swann with a flimsy excuse.

Elizabeth had only learned of her father's death when she returned from the land of the dead. That was when Swann himself finally realized he had died—he had never expected Beckett would take action against him.

Compared to the original plot, in this altered timeline where Ethan had disrupted the story, it was even more reasonable for Beckett to want him dead. With the charge of colluding with a suspected foreign spy, Beckett could kill Weatherby Swann with full justification, and even Swann himself wouldn't be able to dispute it.

"Don't worry. Elizabeth will be fine."

After all, this matter was partially his responsibility. Because of his interference, Swann's situation had become much worse. Ethan had made up his mind to reverse it.

However, his method would be simple and crude. He wasn't sure whether Swann would be able to accept it.

"How do you plan to do that?"

"First, let's get Elizabeth out. A prison is no place for a noble lady. And I doubt Beckett is offering her any special treatment."

Although the young blacksmith Will Turner hadn't gone through the same trials he did in the original plot, he still had pirate blood in his veins and never lacked courage when it mattered.

Previously, he had hoped Weatherby Swann could resolve the crisis through legitimate means.

Once he realized that was no longer possible, he began to consider more unorthodox solutions.

"Break her out of prison?"

Weatherby Swann frowned. It wasn't that he objected to the idea, but the prison in Port Royal was not an easy place to infiltrate. Even if they stormed in and rescued Elizabeth, then what? How would they escape from Port Royal with thousands of soldiers around them?

"There's no need to break her out. Lord Cutler Beckett will personally return Elizabeth to us."

Ethan set the teacup in his hand down and raised his voice, not even turning toward the door.

"Wouldn't you agree, Lord Beckett?"

The door to the parlor was suddenly pushed open, and in walked Beckett, flanked by two squads of musketeers.

Wearing his uniform, Beckett entered with his hands behind his back and his head held high. He cast a curious glance at Ethan, who remained seated calmly.

Weatherby Swann and Will Turner instinctively stood up when the soldiers burst in. Seeing the rows of musketeers pointing their weapons at them, their faces turned grim.

And with good reason. Just moments ago, they had been discussing plans to rescue someone from Port Royal's prison. Now the man in charge of the port had arrived in person.

Judging by the timing, Beckett had probably been outside the door for some time. If Ethan hadn't spoken up when he did, Beckett might have continued eavesdropping. If he had waited until they finished their conversation and then burst in, the scene would have been even more awkward.

"So you're Ethan?"

Beckett looked at him condescendingly, almost like he was going to poke Ethan in the chest. The only reason he didn't was because he was still sizing him up with a bit of curiosity.

He didn't look very old—probably around twenty-three or twenty-four. He was tall, even sitting down.

His clothes were unusual, but the material was clearly high-quality—definitely not something commoners could afford.

Beckett was also speculating on Ethan's true identity. Given his fearless demeanor, was it possible he really belonged to some secret department within the country?

He wanted to probe further, but Ethan had no interest in playing that game. He hated conversations filled with veiled hints and back-and-forth wordplay.

A simple matter could end up dragging on for days of scheming and political maneuvering. Ethan didn't have that kind of patience. For him, this problem was quite easy to solve.

"I'm Ethan. You don't need to waste time probing my background. I'm not British."

Weatherby Swann's face instantly turned pale. He didn't even know how to curse Ethan in his heart. Even if you're not British, must you say it out loud right now? Doesn't this confirm the charge of colluding with a spy? Don't you see the dozen muskets pointed at us? Beckett could have us all riddled with bullets on the spot!

"Governor Swann, don't worry. Beckett wouldn't dare kill you or Will. He's relying on using your daughter to threaten Will into doing his bidding."

Beckett's previously composed expression immediately darkened.

He wanted to demand how Ethan knew his plan, but he quickly realized it was pointless. If the man really was a spy, he wouldn't reveal anything. And if he had simply deduced it, there was nothing to gain by asking.

"Seize him."

Regardless, he had to be detained. Since Ethan wasn't a British subject, Beckett had no need to waste words.

Seeing Beckett give the order directly, Ethan silently praised his decisiveness. For a regular man to become the main villain in Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and 3, he did have some capability.

Unfortunately for him, he had run into Ethan. There was no way he could've imagined the level of power Ethan now possessed—something far beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Ethan slowly stood, one hand behind his back and the other waving lightly, as though brushing away an annoying fly.

As he moved, a visible blue ripple spread from him. Several soldiers approaching to capture him were blown back on the spot.

The ripple didn't dissipate after striking them. It continued outward toward the circle of musketeers, causing most of them to stumble and fall.

As they lost their balance, many musketeers reflexively pulled their triggers. But since they were falling, most bullets flew harmlessly into the ceiling. None were aimed at Weatherby Swann or Will Turner.

The accuracy of these smoothbore muskets was already poor. Bullets often veered off after firing. Still, it wasn't so bad that a musket aimed at the ceiling would somehow hit someone on the floor.

One unlucky—or lucky—bullet struck the chandelier overhead. And as fate would have it, the chandelier happened to hang right above Ethan and the others.

"Look out!"

Seeing the massive chandelier fall, Will Turner, who still hadn't fully grasped what was happening, instinctively shouted. He tried to tackle Ethan aside, but there was no time. Just as he moved, the chandelier was already falling.

How could Ethan be harmed by a chandelier? Even if it hit him, it wouldn't do any damage with his current physique.

But he was in the middle of showing off. Getting coated in dust from a falling chandelier would ruin his flair. To maintain his image, he kept one hand behind his back and waved the other casually again.

A translucent blue energy shield formed, stopping the falling chandelier in its tracks. With a gentle flick of his hand, the heavy fixture flew sideways and knocked down several soldiers who hadn't misfired earlier and had gotten up to shoot again.

From start to finish, Ethan had moved only one hand. His gaze remained fixed on Beckett.

Whether it was the earlier energy ripple or the chandelier interception, Ethan had not harmed Beckett in the slightest. The soldiers around him had been flung away, but Beckett himself only felt a gentle breeze pass by.

Though he was unharmed, his body felt stiff and uncomfortable. Just as he was about to say something, he was startled to notice—Ethan seemed to be glowing.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 336: Beckett Dare Not Resist

Ethan had never known that he was quite famous among a certain group in Port Royal.

This group was the naval soldiers of Port Royal.

The soldiers who had followed Commodore Norrington out to sea to pursue the Black Pearl had all witnessed the sight of Ethan unfolding his wings and soaring into the sky.

That scene had left a deep impact, and all of them had remembered Ethan ever since.

After returning to Port Royal, these soldiers treated their encounter with a messenger of God as something to boast about, leading to legends about Ethan spreading among all the military personnel in Port Royal.

So when Beckett ordered Ethan's arrest, many soldiers in Port Royal were reluctant to act. The two who actually stepped forward were soldiers brought by Beckett himself, not sailors originally stationed in Port Royal.

As soon as they made a move, and Ethan began to glow, slowly unfolding a pair of pure white wings that shimmered with golden light, countless soldiers immediately dropped their weapons, knelt on the ground, and began to repent, praying for God's forgiveness for their earlier offense.

Beckett stood frozen in a daze. When he had taken over Port Royal, he had investigated Ethan and hadn't missed the information claiming that "Ethan is actually an angel," but he hadn't taken it seriously.

Although there were many magical phenomena in this world—like the legendary Flying Dutchman and the bizarre experiences of its captain Davy Jones, which he was aware of—he had never believed that angels actually existed.

He didn't know what to do now. Should he kneel like the others around him? While he was still hesitating, Ethan had already walked up to him with a "kind" smile on his face.

The light around Ethan gradually dimmed, becoming warm and comforting, making people long to bask in that divine glow forever.

He wasn't the only one who felt this way. The aging Weatherby Swann had some old injuries and ailments that constantly troubled him, but at that moment, he felt completely healed. It was as if he had returned to his prime years.

Even though he wasn't close to Ethan and Ethan had his back to him, just seeing those folded pure white wings made him want to kneel down.

Beckett, who was bearing the brunt of the pressure, finally couldn't hold on. He knelt on the ground, drenched in sweat, and began to pray for forgiveness.

"Releasing Elizabeth… that shouldn't be a problem, Lord Beckett?"

"As you command, Elizabeth will be released immediately."

Beckett turned and ordered his aides to release Elizabeth at once and escort Miss Swann over respectfully.

He didn't know why Ethan cared so much about Elizabeth. He didn't dare consider whether an angel might have fallen for Miss Swann. All he knew was that he had to comply—otherwise, he couldn't imagine the consequences.

Beckett hadn't even considered whether Ethan might have used some dark magic or illusions to impersonate an angel. He simply didn't dare to gamble.

He had no way to determine whether this was real or fake. Ethan had previously knocked down dozens of people with a wave of his hand, and the huge chandelier that fell from the ceiling didn't seem to require more effort than brushing off dust. Beckett was certain that if Ethan wanted to kill him, it would be easy.

What shocked him even more was that when Ethan approached and he was enveloped in the light radiating from Ethan's body, some old scars on his hand miraculously disappeared—as if those wounds had never existed.

Such a "miracle" was not something someone dabbling in dark magic could achieve. This was a real miracle. He was now genuinely inclined to believe those "absurd rumors"—Ethan was indeed a messenger of God.

Ethan nodded in satisfaction, retracted his wings, and withdrew the Holy Light surrounding him. He gently patted Beckett's shoulder, seemingly to show he was pleased.

Beckett didn't know that it was precisely because he had yielded and knelt to beg for forgiveness that he had narrowly avoided disaster.

If he had tried to "expose Ethan's true identity" or "reveal his tricks," what awaited him wouldn't have been a gentle pat. The more likely outcome would have been Ethan erasing his soul completely from this world.

Now that Beckett had submitted, Ethan had no interest in bullying an ordinary person. He motioned for him to get up and returned to his seat.

He had been sitting there earlier, with Weatherby Swann and Will Turner seated across from him.

Now, both Swann and Beckett stood there obediently. Even Will Turner, standing nearby, looked constrained and silent.

No one dared to sit, nor did anyone dare to speak, afraid of angering this messenger of God.

Beckett, who had previously tried to arrest Ethan, didn't even dare to lift his head. He stood silently with his head bowed, cursing in his heart why his men hadn't brought Elizabeth Swann back yet.

Until Elizabeth arrived, he felt like there was a sword pressed against his throat, ready to strike at any moment.

Only when Elizabeth appeared safe and sound would that blade withdraw—if only slightly.

He didn't expect to be favored by this messenger of God. As long as he wasn't punished, that was enough.

Now, he desperately hoped that what the scriptures said was true: God is merciful and would not overly punish those who had erred.

Fortunately, Ethan didn't seem to intend to hold him accountable—at least not on the surface.

When Elizabeth was brought in, Beckett quietly let out a sigh of relief.

"Then… I'll take my leave, sir."

"Remember to compensate Governor Swann for his losses." Ethan emphasized the word "Governor." Beckett paused, then immediately understood Ethan's meaning. Although unwilling, he didn't dare disobey. After giving a sign of acknowledgment, he left Governor Swann's mansion with his soldiers.

The group of soldiers who had barged in so aggressively left without a fuss. A few unlucky ones who had fallen badly—especially those crushed by the chandelier—were dragged away. From beginning to end, none of the injured dared show even the slightest dissatisfaction, not even letting out a groan of pain.

Ethan noticed but paid no attention to them.

Although he couldn't be bothered to argue with ordinary people, that didn't mean he'd heal those who had tried to attack him. Just because a dog bites someone doesn't mean that person can't beat the dog to death.

Not killing them was already lenient. Healing them? He wasn't the kind of person who, after getting slapped, would ask if the other person's hand hurt.

"Long time no see, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth was still a little dazed. When soldiers came to the prison to take her out, she thought her end had come, believing that damn Beckett had ordered her hanging.

But the soldiers acted strangely. They were extremely polite. Not only did they unlock her shackles right away, they even asked if she felt uncomfortable.

She didn't answer. Even if she did feel unwell, she wouldn't tell them.

But what happened next confused her even more. The road they took led straight home. When she arrived at her own doorstep, she began to wonder if her father had done something to save her.

Just as she was thinking that, she saw someone who had left a deep impression on her—the man who had almost changed her entire worldview.

"So it was you."

Elizabeth was a very smart woman. She glanced at her restrained father, recalled the behavior of the two soldiers who had escorted her home, and immediately understood what had happened.

Ethan must have performed some miracle and frightened Beckett and the soldiers.

She looked at her father and Will again. The two of them must have been just as shaken.

"When did you get here?"

"Today."

Elizabeth pulled her father and Will down to sit with her.

She sometimes doubted Ethan's identity, wondering if the magician persona was just a cover. But since they had spent time together, she wasn't so frightened that she'd act like a timid bird. She could still speak to Ethan normally.

"You just arrived in Port Royal today and immediately came to see me?" Elizabeth didn't think she held that much importance in Ethan's heart. "Is something wrong?"

"No, I just happened to come here and wanted to see how you were doing. I didn't expect to find you locked in the dungeon." Ethan briefly explained what he had talked about with Governor Swann earlier. "So I just brought you out. That way, your father and your fiancé wouldn't be too worried to eat."

Elizabeth looked at her father, then at her fiancé Will Turner. She smiled at them both and sincerely thanked Ethan.

Ethan didn't respond with any false modesty like "you're welcome." He had helped Elizabeth and Weatherby Swann out of trouble, so being thanked was only natural.

Moreover, he had done more than just rescue Elizabeth. If Beckett didn't want Ethan causing trouble for him in the future, he would have to abandon all actions targeting Governor Swann. That meant all charges against Swann would be dropped, and he could continue to serve as the Governor of Port Royal.

This also meant Elizabeth would remain the Governor's daughter, continuing her noble lifestyle. But this young lady was never one to settle for an ordinary life—and now, seeing Ethan again, her eyes were already shining.

(To be continued.)