Holding Hermione's hand, Noah figured that since they had nothing better to do, he might as well take her to find that Captain Jack.
But before they moved, Hermione suddenly spoke.
"Noah, did you notice that Miss Swann might have come into contact with a sorcerer?"
"Hm?" Noah tilted his head, then quickly understood.
"You mean there's a magical fluctuation coming from something she's carrying. I felt it too. It's not our system, and it feels... sinister."
"It really is sinister." Hermione recalled the sensation and nodded seriously.
"Do you think someone is trying to harm her?"
"That, I can't say." Noah spread his hands.
"If it's true, we'll just help her. You probably noticed too-the restrictions of this universe on us are very low."
Hermione nodded.
This was the first time she'd felt something like that so clearly.
At first, she thought she was imagining it.
Now, it seemed she wasn't.
She knew Noah had traveled through many universes before, so his calm reaction didn't surprise her.
He'd clearly seen situations like this many times.
Low restrictions meant greater freedom.
Greater freedom meant greater power.
"By the way," Hermione asked as they walked, "does this universe have a magical civilization?"
She was genuinely curious.
"That's hard to say." Noah thought about it for a moment.
If one said there was magic here, that wouldn't be wrong.
Immortal pirates.
Sea gods.
Strange curses.
Even things he hadn't seen personally but remembered from old conversations all pointed to supernatural forces existing.
But a magical civilization?
Probably not.
A civilization couldn't be built by one or two people who knew magic.
On Earth, magic qualified as a civilization because of Kamar-Taj, countless magical organizations, and structured systems managing magical populations.
Here?
Those with supernatural abilities were likely a minority among minorities.
This place didn't qualify.
The two chatted as they walked and soon arrived at the harbor.
The dockworkers were puzzled by the appearance of this noble-looking pair, but it wasn't the first time they'd seen them.
They just didn't understand why they were here on such a day.
The guards, however, were quite tactful.
They didn't disturb the couple.
Instead, they subtly pushed ordinary people away, leaving Noah and Hermione plenty of space.
Noah didn't comment on it.
In his view, it was unnecessary.
Still, it saved them trouble.
Before long, they reached a military dock.
And there, Noah saw him.
The undisputed protagonist of this universe.
Currently teasing two soldiers.
Jack Sparrow.
The eyeliner.
The slightly effeminate posture.
The silver tongue that left people dizzy.
Noah crossed his arms and experienced the strange sensation of watching a movie scene unfold up close.
Just as he was about to step in, Jack noticed him and Hermione first.
The target shifted immediately.
"You say this dock doesn't allow ordinary people in," Jack said loudly, "so what about those two?"
"They're not exactly 'ordinary people,' you idiot."
Jack took a hit there.
These guards had seen Noah and Hermione before.
They weren't about to make trouble.
Jack fell silent.
Only then did he really look at the pair.
And immediately realized-
He'd picked the wrong targets.
This couple was definitely not simple.
"All right, gentlemen," Noah said calmly to the guards. "Leave this to us. If there's an issue, you can ask Governor Swann."
The guards hesitated.
Then, their eyes glazed over slightly.
"Yes, sir. Understood."
They turned and left.
Only Noah, Hermione, and a suddenly uneasy Jack Sparrow remained.
Hermione was curious.
Why send the guards away and keep this... oddly dressed man?
But she didn't ask.
She trusted Noah to handle it.
"So," Jack said cautiously, "do we know each other?"
The way the handsome man was looking at him made Jack uncomfortable.
"My apologies. I have urgent business. Forgive my... ah, presumption."
"Yes. Presumption."
"We don't know each other," Noah said, tilting his head.
"But I know what kind of man you are."
"Not a commoner. The smell of the sea on you is strong-you spend most of your time at sea and rarely come ashore."
"Calluses in two specific places. You steer ships and use weapons."
"Add the clothing and the trinkets."
"You're a pirate."
Jack froze for a moment.
Then he instinctively covered his trinkets and put his hands behind his back.
"Well," he said stiffly, "that kind of deduction is highly subjective."
"So I believe there's been a great... misunderstanding."
"Yes. A misunderstanding."
"Perhaps," Noah said casually.
Then continued.
"You were once a captain. Your crew betrayed you."
"Now you're a stray dog, but you haven't let it go."
"You came here because you heard there were fine ships."
"Ships that would help you reclaim what you lost."
Jack felt like he'd been stripped naked.
He almost blurted out, How do you know?
Then he remembered the details Noah had already pointed out.
He swallowed hard.
And ran.
Or tried to.
The next moment, he realized he couldn't move.
No ropes.
No chains.
Just an invisible force locking him in place.
"There's no need to run," Noah said, crouching down with a faint smirk.
"Nowhere to go, Mr. Pirate."
"You should call me 'Captain,'" Jack said stubbornly.
"Fine. Captain." Noah shrugged.
"You're a mage?" Jack asked warily. "Sorcerers, then?"
"Mage, to be precise."
"All right, Captain," Noah continued. "We weren't looking for you."
"You delivered yourself."
"It's Captain," Jack snapped.
"What's the difference?" Noah said calmly.
"Planning to turn me in for a bounty?" Jack scoffed. "That won't help you."
Hermione studied Jack more closely.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
She frowned.
There was a curse on him.
A strange one.
He had lost something specific.
Something important.
She looked up at Noah.
This was his domain.
Noah paused.
Then spoke slowly.
"This captain has terrible luck."
"His soul doesn't fully belong to him anymore."
"Soul?" Hermione stiffened.
"It involves the soul?"
"Yes." Noah nodded.
"Interesting."
It really was.
Soul ownership.
Contracts bound to existence.
It wasn't Noah's specialty.
He manipulated souls, yes-but contracts were different.
He rarely used them.
If ever.
He didn't particularly care to master this kind of magic.
But as reference material?
That had value.
Still, Noah wasn't attached.
If he could get it, fine.
If not, also fine.
He only had two reasons for being here.
To accompany Hermione.
And to observe the state of the living dead.
That was all.
"Hey," Jack said uneasily, "what are you two whispering about?"
The sensation was unbearable.
"Nothing," Noah said lightly.
Then smiled.
"Tell me, Captain."
"Do you want to sail again?"
"To ride the waves?"
"To feel the sea beneath your feet?"
"It's Captain Jack Sparrow!" Jack snapped.
Then his expression hardened.
"What do you want?"
"I need a captain," Noah said calmly.
"Someone to take us around. To see the sights."
He smiled.
"Fortune does not favor fools."
"Do you understand what that means?"