Chapter 416. Mysterious Encounter
It’s been three months since the ’Fake’ Phantom Pirates made their theatrical entrance at Veins Peak. Though they hadn’t stirred any trouble since their shadowy debut—a ship cloaked in darkness emerging like a ghost and vanishing just as mysteriously—their reputation still loomed over the island like a lingering mist.
Whispers filled the streets, inns, and tea houses. "Did you see that ship’s shadow? It vanished!" some said.
Others speculated about their origins, their powers, and most of all, the inevitable clash with the real Phantom Pirates.
With the grand auction approaching and the tension between the two so-called Phantoms mounting, the entire island was abuzz with anticipation.
After the showy arrival, Tyler had used high-grade concealment arrays to hide the ship near a desolate cliff, far from the busy ports.
The shadow of the ship that had once lingered on the water vanished within days, but the impression it left behind was etched in every mind.
Tyler just wanted to show off. Besides, it’s not possible to hide a ship in shadow for too long. This time, it worked only because the shadow remained still.
Veins Peak was a vast island with five villages, three towns, and one central city nestled around a towering mountain cracked like an open vein—a natural formation that gave the island its name.
The port town thrived with mercantile activity, but it was in Rogue Town, a quieter trade center, that Tyler found himself one lazy afternoon, casually strolling into a quaint pastry shop.
Just as Tyler stepped in to browse the colorful tarts and buns, another man arrived beside him. There was nothing extraordinary about the man at first glance—a bit of stubble, simple clothes, and not a hint of cultivation aura. But Tyler’s instincts flared. Something was wrong.
The man gave a pleasant smile. "You like pastries too? This place has the best almond buns on the island."