The dark waves of the ocean roiled, and the moonlight shimmered, as the mysterious black Ghost Ship slowly approached.
The wind-sailed ship and the cruise ship were of similar length; its tattered black sails were eerily empty, and the ship’s body glistened with a dim sheen under the moonlight, like a black statue polished by wind and waves. It was both fear-inducing and irresistibly mysterious.
The crew and the filming team stood on the deck, silently observing this uninvited Ghost Ship.
There was not a single light on the Ghost Ship, only endless darkness. The arrival of the ship brought an unusual atmosphere to the calm sea.
It was not just fear.
Greed occupied much more.
In other words, everyone was overwhelmed by a strong desire to explore.
Based on rumors and experience, the crew guessed that this Ghost Ship was a pirate ship lost to a sea disaster that had been blown to an unknown island, and now it had set sail again due to the sea breeze.
A pirate ship meant treasure, wealth delivered to their doorstep. There was no reason to let it go lightly.
At the captain’s orders, the sailors switched on the searchlights and organized a ten-person treasure-hunting team. They donned life jackets, jumped onto the lifeboats, and moved toward the Ghost Ship.
Director Wallace was the most excited, shouting at the top of his lungs to join the treasure-hunting team. He wanted to board the ship and shoot several scenes to include in the movie.
The Ghost Ship was not only a great hook for the box office but also a free shooting location. Just thinking about adding these scenes to his film filled Director Wallace with excitement.
More thrilling than sleeping with the leading lady last night.
The captain earnestly advised that the Ghost Ship was in disrepair, and the slightest carelessness could lead to mortal danger.
Wallace wouldn’t listen. As a director with artistic pursuits, he feared a mediocre life more than death; he dreaded leaving the world without a memorable masterpiece.
"As a director, the first half of my life has been too mediocre. I’ve never been to war, encountered pirates, earthquakes, tsunamis, or storms at sea... not once,"
"Other directors survive disasters and are inspired to create timeless masterpieces. I only have envy. I’m no worse than them; I just lack opportunity. Tonight, I won’t let this chance slip by!"
Wallace disregarded the warnings, organized the crew to board the lifeboats, and the captain and the first mate were almost driven to madness by this harebrained director.
Meanwhile, Wayne came to the stern, and while everyone was gathered on the deck, he dived into the sea and swam stealthily toward the Ghost Ship.
With the help of a Water Element spell, he moved quickly through the water. Before the lifeboat had even approached the Ghost Ship, he had already boarded it from behind.
At this moment, Wayne didn’t care if there were any Mages on the cruise ship, or if his spellcasting would be detected. He smelled a strong scent of darkness; there was a treasure on the Ghost Ship.
"Heaven sends down its treasures to those who are destined; those who don’t seize such gifts shall bear the consequences; it’s utterly foolish not to take advantage of opportunities." Wayne could rattle off hundreds of such honorable aphorisms. In short, treasure wasted in others’ hands could only realize its full value in his.
The deck of the Ghost Ship was in ruins, the moisture was extreme as if it had been dredged from the water, and the decaying wood would crumble upon touch.
Using the cover of darkness, Wayne avoided the searchlights from the cruise ship and followed the aura of darkness to the captain’s cabin, where he quickly found a palm-sized treasure box.
He pried open the rusty lock and saw a Dark Ring inside the wooden box that glowed with a faint light.
"This ring looks very familiar!"
It might be an illusion, but the ring was oddly familiar, closely resembling the Asylum Director’s treasured collection.
Wayne imagined a pirate captain with an evil black beard, causing havoc in the sea with the Dark Ring. Any naval force that tried to pursue him would be defeated by the ring, and he lived above the law for years, amassing countless treasures.
Latterly, due to a maritime disaster, the arrogant pirate ship sank to the ocean floor.
As for the ring’s resemblance to the one in the Dean’s possession, it was understandable. If there could be two Death Knights, why not rings of the Dark Goddess? This artifact was probably part of a set, or even more, and the Dean had found one of them.
It all made sense and was very logical, so Wayne quickly convinced himself.
Sounds of footsteps on wooden planks came from behind; Wayne raised an eyebrow and slowly turned to look.
In his sight, a skeleton in armor surrounded by black mist, with white flames flickering in its eye sockets, was only a horse and a sword short of being a full-fledged Death Knight.
Gave me a scare, thought it was a Dark Knight!
Wayne gripped the Dark Ring in one hand, black mist twirling around his fist. The sudden scare, because of the Dark Ring, made him almost think the Dark Knight had come knocking.
If you’re a Death Knight, then who am I?
"Nice to see you again, Wayne. How do you like the welcoming gift? Do you enjoy it?"
The skeleton rid itself of the Death Power and revealed Dean Plank’s rigid white-bearded face, expressing admiration: "Honestly, you’ve got some nerve. I thought I’d give you quite the fright."
"You indeed scared me..."
Wayne weighed the ring in his hand and was quite speechless: "Dean Plank, what are you doing masquerading as a ghost in the middle of the ocean? Is the Asylum organizing some team-building event?"
As he spoke, he pretty much had his answer.
"I promised the High Priest not to meet you. People should keep their word..."
Plank reverted to his skeletal form: "It’s been many days; how are you considering things? Are you interested in joining our Liberty Mage Alliance?"