[Pterosaur Guarding the Castle]A Level 4 monster card. A pterosaur that watches over the mountain fortress, skilled at high-speed dives from the sky, capable of tearing enemies apart in a single swoop.
Although it wasn't particularly powerful once even nicknamed Cannon Fodder Dragon during the early days of Duel Monsters Chase still added it to his deck with a satisfied nod.
Every expansion of his deck meant an increase in magic power.
And to a card wizard, even the so-called "fodder" could become a trump card with the right synergy.
With that, Chase exited the depths of his consciousness and gave a silent signal to the elven swordsman to keep watch over the unconscious Clooney.
Then he turned away, casually retrieving his sleeveless cloak from where it had been tossed during the battle, and slipped it back on.
High above, the cursed dragon, which had been watching the entire fight from the skies, descended without being summoned lowering itself to the wrecked ship and crouching down before Chase.
It was time to go.
With a graceful leap, Chase mounted the dragon's back, and they soared across the sea toward the merchant ship.
As soon as they landed, Ina and the others rushed over.
Lambert and the surviving crew members quickly gathered around, their faces lit up with relief and awe. Their voices overlapped as they crowded around Chase, offering words of gratitude and admiration.
They couldn't stop praising him.
"You really saved us, Mr. Chase! We were as good as dead before you arrived!"
"Thank you! Truly!"
Chase smiled and raised a hand modestly.
"Let's not overstate it, everyone. We only defeated the pirates because of the teamwork and unity shown on this ship."
But Ina quickly shook her head.
"That's not true at all! It was mostly thanks to you, Mr. Chase. We were just... background actors."
Ina and the other two scratched their heads in embarrassment, now addressing Chase with formal respect.
Meanwhile, Lambert and the rest of the crew blinked in confusion, pointing at themselves.
"Wait… we were part of the team too?"
Chase nodded seriously.
"You all helped put out the fire. Without that, I wouldn't have been able to go all out in battle."
His words, calm and humble, struck Ina right in the heart.
She clutched her hands together, eyes shimmering with emotion.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Chase," she said softly, guilt washing over her. "I actually thought you did it all on purpose earlier... I shouldn't have doubted you. I'm really, really sorry!"
Chase gave her a gentle smile.
"So… my friends from Black Pheasant Foot, that means you'll be helping with the compensation too, right? I'm not about to pay it all by myself."
Ina froze.
『⑅•ᴗ•⑅』
What the heck?! Give me back my feelings! Give them back!!
In just one sentence, the noble image of a strong, charming, dependable S-Class wizard came crashing down in Ina's mind like a broken teacup.
As she stood there twitching, her mouth barely holding back a scream of complaint...
The atmosphere suddenly shifted.
Chase's lighthearted smile vanished.
His face turned serious in an instant.
"I have something important to take care of," he said firmly. "You all stay here on the ship. Protect the others. Wait quietly for the Marine Guard to arrive."
Seeing that Chase wasn't joking in the slightest, Ina and the other two quickly snapped out of their daze. They straightened up, standing tall with their chins raised.
"Yes, Senior!" they answered in unison.
That fierce battle earlier had completely convinced them. Chase wasn't just strong he was in a league of his own.
Chase gave a small nod, saying nothing more. He turned away and began preparing to leave, intending to take Clooney back and confront Marshall face-to-face.
Just as he reached the edge of the merchant ship, he paused.
He turned back around.
His gaze locked onto Ina and the others serious, deep, and unreadable.
"Is something wrong, Mr. Chase?" Bucklevin asked hesitantly.
"To be honest…"
Chase gave a calm, almost teasing smile.
"I liked you better when you were rebellious."
With that, and without giving them a chance to respond, he turned and leapt onto the back of the Cursed Dragon. In one smooth motion, the beast took to the air, gliding back toward the remains of the shattered pirate ship.
On landing, Chase walked over to the slumped body of Clooney, who still had his eyes closed.
He gave him a solid kick.
"Hey. If you're alive, say something."
Knowing full well that Chase wouldn't kill him, Clooney stubbornly remained silent. He lay there like a lump unmoving, like a dead pig that didn't fear boiling water.
Chase didn't press him.
Instead, he crouched down slightly and spoke in a low, thoughtful voice.
"If I'm not mistaken… that space magic you used earlier that was a form of ancient Lost Magic. One of the techniques from the Eighteen Battle Gods of Evil, wasn't it?"
Clooney's eyes snapped open in shock.
"You actually recognized it?!"
Chase met his gaze evenly.
"I don't recall hearing that the Deep Swamp Guild Master had access to such magic. Did you get it from Marshall?"
From the way Clooney had used it in battle, Chase could already tell his control was sloppy. He lacked finesse.
He wasn't anywhere near the level of someone like Minerva, who had wielded it with ease and terrifying precision.
When Clooney heard the name Marshall, his pupils contracted sharply.
But just as quickly, he composed himself and returned to a neutral expression.
"I don't know anyone named Marshall," he said coldly. "And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you anything."
Chase shrugged, unfazed.
"I'm not trying to make you admit anything. It won't matter soon anyway."
He spread his hands casually.
What he really wanted to confirm was whether Marshall was the actual wielder of the Eighteen Battle Gods of Evil magic.
And Clooney's reaction however brief had told him everything.
That alone was valuable information.
Clooney suddenly stiffened, realizing he had just given himself away.
The corners of his mouth curled into a wicked grin, and he dropped the act entirely.
"You have no idea who that man really is. His background is far beyond anything you can imagine."
"You'll die… horribly…"
His voice turned raspy with madness.
"Heh… haha… none of us can stop it. Not you. Not anyone…"
"The old order will collapse. Magic as you know it will be torn apart."
"A new age is coming…"
"A world ruled by God… will rise at last!"
Chase narrowed his eyes.
A world ruled by gods?
He looked down at Clooney, who now wore a trance-like expression equal parts reverent and deranged.
Something dark and twisted had taken root in this man's heart.
And whatever it was, Marshall was at the center of it.
A hefty commission payout.A long trail of missing wizards.A Dark Guild that had once been attacked…And now, the sudden reappearance of magic from the Eighteen Battle Gods of Evil.
When you pieced all the parts of this S-Class mission together, an overwhelming sense of conspiracy loomed over everything.
"Interesting," Chase muttered with a small grin. "Didn't expect to stumble into something like this just by picking an S-Class job for fun."
Whatever Marshall was up to, Chase was growing more and more curious by the minute.
Still, questions could wait.
It was time to get paid.
That was the job, after all.
With a sigh, Chase raised an elbow and thud! knocked Clooney out cold. Then, with casual efficiency, he pulled out a thick hemp rope, tied Clooney up like a sack of potatoes, and secured him to the claws of the cursed dragon.
On the deck of the merchant ship, Ina, Lambert, and the rest of the crew watched with admiration sparkling in their eyes as the cursed dragon soared into the sky.
They stared in envy as the shadowy beast carried Chase away toward the horizon.
Far away, in the abandoned lighthouse on the outskirts of Asroba City…
Crash!
The rusty iron door was kicked open.
Chase stepped inside without ceremony.
"Commission completed. Time to check out, Mr. Marshall."
Marshall, who had been sitting in a daze on an old wooden bench, jerked upright.
His eyes locked onto the bloody, unconscious body of Clooney, now tossed onto the floor like a broken doll.
His pupils trembled.
His face turned pale with disbelief shocked, as if this outcome had never once occurred to him.
The gloom in Marshall's face vanished in an instant.
In the blink of an eye, he was smiling again, stepping forward with exaggerated lightness, putting on a show of pleasant surprise.
"Mr. Chase… you really did it? That's incredible! Just incredible!"
He looked down at the unconscious Clooney, his thin frame trembling. Then, without warning, tears welled up in his eyes and spilled down his cheeks.
"Finally… finally…"
"This vile pirate who's committed so many atrocities has finally fallen into my hands!"
Chase raised a brow at the dramatic scene.
No wonder the reward was so high. With acting like this, this guy could make a fortune on stage.
After his performance, Marshall sniffled, wiped away his tears, and lifted his head to scan the room.
"Where are the rest of the pirates?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
"They're all dead," Chase replied calmly. "The only one left is this so-called captain in front of you."
He narrowed his eyes at Marshall, gaze sharp and untrusting.
"This guy is the one who supposedly murdered your wife and children, Mr. Marshall. You're not planning to walk back on your word now, are you?"
"N-no, of course not, you misunderstood!"
Marshall waved his hands nervously, but there was a flicker of something something telling across his face.
When he realized there were no other survivors, his body relaxed. He exhaled relieved.
"Good. They deserved it. Those scum died well!"
He turned back with a broad smile.
"Mr. Chase, thank you, truly. I'm so relieved you weren't lost like those other unfortunate wizards…"
Chase couldn't be bothered to keep up the charade.
He lifted his hand, palm open.
"If you're done pretending, I'd like my payment. I'm very busy."