Here's your fully refined version with all the Chinese elements replaced by German references, updated names, and corrected phrasing to match the tone of the scene while preserving consistency:
"The Ivor Family?"
The pirate captain, Cruise, paused, the name tickling the edges of his memory. Why did it sound… familiar?
But familiarity was a good sign. If even a seasoned pirate like himself had heard of it, the family had to be significant.
His gaze softened.
"It must've been hard drifting at sea. The guest rooms on The Pearl are at your disposal. And I've already instructed the chef to prepare a fine lunch for you both — I insist you enjoy it."
"Thank you very much," Kai Adler replied politely, wearing an elegant, practiced smile. His voice held just the right amount of gratitude — enough to draw the pirate deeper into his assumptions.
"When I contact my family, there will, of course, be a generous reward."
Cruise's grin widened instantly, though he replied with mock modesty. "We're merely acting out of humanitarian concern — you're far too kind."
He waved to his men. "Escort our little guests to rest."
As they entered the ship, Kai surveyed their surroundings with keen eyes. The vessel was large enough to house over a hundred crew — roughly the same size as the ship that Joseph and his group had destroyed earlier.
Though the magical tent on their inflatable boat had been comfortable, it certainly couldn't compare to this.
Given that they appeared to be merely two unarmed children, Cruise assigned only two men to guard them. But nearly every pirate they passed in the corridors greeted them with thinly veiled malice — greedy smirks, hungry eyes.
Even Hermione, so brave beside Kai, unconsciously tightened her grip on his sleeve, hiding half a step behind him.
Kai, sensing the predatory stares trailing behind them, shook his head with a faint, knowing smile. Compared to Cruise, his underlings were poor actors indeed.
"Uncle, where are we going?" Kai asked sweetly, tilting his head, eyes wide with feigned innocence.
The two pirates exchanged amused glances, chuckling.
"You'll know soon enough."
But when they looked down, they met Kai's eyes — black, deep, unfathomable, like twin whirlpools dragging them in.
A voice, dark and irresistible, whispered across their minds.
"Imperio."
The Imperius Curse — one of the Three Unforgivable Curses.
Unlike the Cruciatus, which tormented the body, or Avada Kedavra, which snuffed life out instantly, the Imperius Curse offered total control. The victim became a puppet, their will enslaved, their body a hollow shell dancing to the caster's commands.
The Old Man had always scoffed at such spells. True mastery of Black Magic meant commanding loyalty without relying on enchantments — bending hearts and minds through charisma, not force.
But — Kai Adler wasn't here to waste time seducing loyalty. The simplest method was often the most effective.
With the two pirates under his complete control, he didn't issue unnecessary orders. They simply continued escorting him and Hermione to the cabins like obedient servants.
At the same time, Kai rifled through their surface memories, absorbing information.
His eyes glinted with amusement as he uncovered the truth.
Though they were pirates — and undoubtedly deserving of execution — Cruise's Pearl Pirates were remarkably restrained by pirate standards. Unlike typical raiders who murdered indiscriminately and looted without caution, Cruise, once a businessman, retained the calculated mindset of commerce.
They didn't "capture" — they "invited."
They relied on subtle force, manipulation, and deception to bring their targets aboard. Once secured, Cruise would investigate thoroughly — piecing together the background of his "guests." Only when confident would he decide whether to ransom, rob, or quietly dispose of them.
The methodical approach allowed the Pearl Pirates to survive in a dangerous, overcrowded ocean rife with hunters and hunted alike. Many pirate groups perished by provoking the wrong powers — this was a risk Cruise avoided with practiced caution.
Shrewd… Kai thought to himself, his plans adjusting slightly.
But what truly intrigued him was another memory buried beneath the pirate's thoughts.
The Indian Ocean had grown strangely tense in recent months. Pirate activity had escalated — but not through reckless raids. No, they were searching for something — combing the waters like a coordinated, desperate hunt.
And that something… aligned disturbingly with fragments of magical history Kai had studied.
Adding to the mystery, when Kai had casually given the name Ivor Family, the flicker of recognition — the faint wariness — in Cruise's eyes had not escaped him.
Why would a pirate in the Indian Ocean recognize a notorious Black Wizard family from Europe?
There were deeper currents swirling beneath these waters.
Lost in thought, they reached their assigned cabin — a standard bedroom with two beds. The door clicked shut and locked behind them.
Kai sprawled comfortably on one of the beds, eyes half-lidded. Hermione, perched on the opposite bed, scrutinized him, suspicion written all over her face.
"What exactly… are you planning?"
Kai, folding his arms behind his head, turned to meet her gaze.
"They've kindly prepared lunch for us. It would be rude not to enjoy it."
Hermione frowned, unconvinced.
Kai chuckled softly, relenting.
"Relax. I'll talk to Cruise over lunch. Maybe he'll be 'generous' enough to ferry us to Egypt. This ship's faster than anything we'd conjure — and after days of spellwork, even I'm feeling drained. Hitching a ride for the final stretch? Practical, no?"
"But it's… a pirate ship," she objected, biting her lip. "Aren't we… working with criminals?"
Kai's eyes twinkled mischievously. "I'm a Black Wizard, remember? And you've been happily traveling with me."
"That's— that's different!" she protested instinctively, but faltered. The distinction wasn't so easy to define when her traveling companion had likely broken more laws than the average pirate.
Kai smiled knowingly, watching her moral compass struggle under the weight of real-world complexities.
The girl's view of right and wrong remained endearingly black-and-white — she wasn't yet ready to navigate the murky grey.
"If it truly bothers you," he added lightly, "I'll kill them all myself."
Predictably, Hermione gasped, clutching his arm, eyes wide with alarm.
"No! If you… If you kill them, won't your Obscurus worsen?"
Kai smirked inwardly.
The classic window trick, as the German philosophers would say: suggest something outrageous to make the lesser evil seem palatable.
Before she could protest further, the cabin door creaked open. One of the same pirates — still under Kai's control — beckoned them.
"The boss wants to see you."
Kai rose, straightening his attire.
"Let's go."
They were escorted through the ship's interior toward the upper decks, finally entering a spacious hall — clearly where the crew celebrated, drank, and negotiated.
Cruise, now dressed in a sleek suit, played the part of refined host. Seeing them approach, he stood with exaggerated politeness.
"Welcome, our distinguished little guests."
Kai, maintaining the charade, led Hermione to the table.
The spread was lavish — grilled fish, seared meats, fresh vegetables, even rare fruits that spoke to the pirates' resourcefulness at sea.
Kai helped himself with practiced elegance, every movement calculated. His unbothered composure deepened Cruise's suspicions.
The pirate watched him closely, voice feigning concern.
"Children… what happened to you? Where are your parents?"
Kai looked up, eyes sharp.
"Kai."
"…What?" Cruise blinked in confusion.
"Just call me Kai," Kai replied, tone calm yet carrying quiet authority.
Cruise's expression darkened briefly — irritation flickering across his face. But he recovered, forcing a grin.
"Very well, Kai."
But his thoughts had shifted entirely.
If this boy isn't from a major family…
I'll throw him to the sharks myself.