Miss Witch’s Devotion Has Gone… Twisted

”Alright, you heard that? The Merfolk belong to me now. You can all scram.”

Since the pirate had already let it slip, Loren saw no point in hiding anymore. He directly removed his hood.

There couldn’t possibly be any worshippers of the God of Light and Fire here. And even if there were, and even if they relayed the message to the God of Light and Fire, He wouldn’t be able to rush over.

That earlier interception of Loren had probably cost Him quite a bit. He wouldn’t come a second time.

Besides, He already knew that Loren could use the Moon card to briefly restore himself to his peak. He wouldn’t casually come looking for trouble with Loren again.

The pirates didn’t leave, nor did they fight back. They simply watched Loren in silence.

They didn’t dare gamble on whether the Loren before them was fake, but they also couldn’t bear to give up the Merfolk.

Seeing that they had no reaction, Loren simply walked toward the lakeside.

”This is the territory of the Drowned Bone Pirate Crew. No crossing...”

The instant that Drowned Bone Pirate Crew member finished speaking, he was sent flying. The one who struck wasn’t Loren, but the captain of the Drowned Bone Pirate Crew, Yona.”Apologies, Master Mentor. My subordinate was disrespectful to you. I punished him on your behalf...”

Yona’s attitude was exceedingly humble, but Loren could tell he was lying. His apology wasn’t sincere.

Still, one doesn’t slap a smiling face. Since Yona was acting so servile on the surface, Loren spared his life. The priority was finding the Merfolk. There was no need to waste time on this rabble.

”Then you can take the rest and scram, before I change my mind.”

”Yes, Master Mentor...”

Yona’s demeanor grew more and more deferential. He even volunteered to help:

”Master Mentor... do you need us to help you search?...”

”Not necessary.”

Loren had already reached the lakeside. He checked the water quality. It was all seawater, and very deep. No wonder these people hadn’t found the Merfolk after so long.

At this depth, even Loren with his blessing would have trouble finding the Merfolk. He needed to think of another way.

Just then, a skeletal claw suddenly thrust out of the water, clamping firmly onto Loren’s arm.

”This is...”

Loren had barely let out a sound of surprise when more bones swarmed up. There were hand bones, rib bones, skulls. These bones wrapped around Loren, trying to drag him into the water.

”Master Mentor...”

Anna was about to do something when she caught Loren’s meaningful glance. She immediately stopped what she was doing.

The others also understood Loren’s intent. Except for Panike, who had just joined. She thought Loren was in danger and desperately grabbed hold of him.

”I’m fine. I’ll be right up.”

Loren said quietly, then was pulled into the water.

”Master...”

Panike stared blankly at the spot where Loren had vanished. Then she heard Yona’s laughter:

”Hahaha... Any random stray dares to impersonate Loren. Just because he has a disguise ability, he acts so brazenly.

”He can’t even act properly. Always trying to make us leave, is he afraid of being exposed?”

Despite his bold words, Yona was retreating. His crew gradually closed in around them.

Hearing Yona’s words, his crew seemed convinced that Loren was fake. Their confidence grew.

But the next second, the few at the very front exploded into blood fog. The others saw Panike’s expression. She was furious, enraged to the extreme. And they hadn’t even seen how Panike had attacked.

”Hold on a moment, Panike.”

Just then, Loren emerged from the sea completely unharmed.

He had already figured out what that thing was. What had pulled him under was Yona’s ghost ship, the Drowned Bone. Both the crew’s name and his epithet came from this ship.

Loren wanted to obtain this ship, so he didn’t want to damage it. He chose to be pulled into the sea and then use Void-walking to escape.

Panike had already shocked the pirates into immobility. Now Loren’s appearance terrified them even more.

They no longer doubted Loren’s identity in the slightest. Panike’s method was obviously that of a Witch. And no one other than Loren could control a Witch.

”I present to you, the most terrifying and most powerful Witch in the world! Panike!”

Loren stood behind Panike, placing both hands on her shoulders as he introduced her to the crowd.

”Her Arcane Ability is killing from a distance. If she wants to, she can kill anyone at any time!”

This Arcane Ability was fabricated by Loren. The purpose was to increase the fear in everyone’s hearts. Otherwise, Loren wouldn’t have wasted so much time doing all this.

But Loren wasn’t entirely lying either. Panike really could use an ability similar to telekinesis, though only in combat. It also grew stronger with people’s fear of her.

At this point, someone finally couldn’t take it anymore and chose to flee. Loren issued his orders unhurriedly:

”Panike, kill everyone who runs.”

Panike nodded, then raised her hand. The fleeing pirates instantly burst apart, their blood splattering onto the faces of those beside them, scaring them so badly their whole bodies trembled.

This was exactly the effect Loren wanted.

”Yona, hand over the ghost ship’s token. If you want to live.”

”The token isn’t in my hands...”

Yona was nearly scared out of his wits, instinctively starting to make excuses.

”Panike, tear off one of his arms.”

”Wait! Master Mentor! I’ll tell you where the token is...”

”I already gave you a chance.”

Loren walked up to Yona and sliced open his arm with Requiem. Inside was just ordinary bone.

”I know. The Drowned Bone’s token is a bone flute. It can replace one of the user’s bones, lending the user power through it.

”The reason you’ve turned into this ghastly half-human state is because of the Drowned Bone’s curse.”

As always, Loren suddenly revealed all of someone’s trump cards.

”Panike, dismantle all the high-ranking members of the Drowned Bone Pirate Crew. Let’s see where it really is.”

Panike nodded, then raised her hand. The high-ranking members of the Drowned Bone Pirate Crew simultaneously burst apart. They didn’t even have time to scream.

”Seems the bone is with you.”

Loren glanced at the scattered bone fragments on the ground, then looked back at Yona.

He actually knew it was impossible for Yona to have given the token to anyone else. He did this purely to intimidate.

An impeccable good reputation is useful. An extreme bad reputation is useful too.

”The token is right here!”

Yona no longer dared delay. He directly tore open his own arm and removed the bone flute that had replaced his arm bone.

”Good. You can die now. Panike, do it.”

Yona was still holding the position of offering the bone flute when his body exploded. The bone flute fell beside Loren.

The once unbridled Pirate Emperor was kicked to death like a dog by Loren. This horrifying scene lingered in the pirates’ minds.

What left the deepest impression was still Panike, who killed from a distance. It was as if a hand was squeezing their hearts right now. They could die at any moment.

Only the pirate who had first spoken with Loren was different. He stared at the silk pouch in his hand, his eyes full of madness.