Debuff Master-Chapter 812

‘That’s it!’

The moment Siegfried realized which door he needed to choose, he pivoted and began walking toward the right door.

“Kyuuuu! Why are you suddenly heading there?! What if it’s reverse psychology-ing your reverse psychology just like you said, owner punk?!”

“It’s not. This is the right one.”

“Kyuu?”

“Just hurry up and follow me.”

Siegfried grabbed Hamchi by the scruff of his neck and strode confidently toward the right door.

‘This is the one.’

Siegfried was one hundred percent certain of his choice. He had a solid clue that helped him decide which door led to the real tomb of Pirate King Freydlief.

A few days earlier, he had a conversation with Captain Bellatrix in a tavern at the Kraken Harbor.

“If I become the Pirate King, I’ll free the people of the Green Isles from the chains of endless plundering. Then, I’ll fulfill the dream of my ancestor, Freydlief. The dream of establishing a maritime kingdom, something he could not see to fruition—”

According to her, Freydlief dreamed of abandoning piracy in the later years of his life in order to build a maritime kingdom in the Green Isles. He wanted to create a haven for the lost souls of the sea rather than a den of criminals living off plundering.

With this in mind, the items in the right chamber, such as farming tools, books on agriculture, fishing nets, and legal texts, were deeply tied to Freydlief’s vision.

The farming tools and nets symbolized a shift from piracy to sustainable agriculture and fishing. The legal texts reflected his resolve to abandon a lawless existence and foster a law-abiding, organized society.

In other words, the right door perfectly embodied Pirate King Freydlief’s ideals and dreams. Thus, Siegfried confidently chose the right door. He could be wrong, but his reasoning left no room for doubt as he walked through the door.

Boom!

The door closed behind him.

Sssssh...!

The objects inside, the farming tools, fishing nets, books on agriculture, and legal texts, vanished like a mirage, replaced by a gray stone coffin, clearly belonging to the Pirate King.

Mounds of gold coins appeared behind the coffin, and they glimmered in the dim light.

[Alert: Congratulations!]

[Alert: You made the correct choice!]

[Alert: You have discovered the tomb of Pirate King Freydlief!]

[Alert: All of the Pirate King’s treasures now belong to you!]

A string of messages popped up in front of Siegfried’s eyes, but the next set of messages made his eyes widen in surprise.

Ding!

[Alert: Congratulations!]

[Alert: You have acquired the title Pirate King!]

[Alert: You are now the Pirate King of a new era!]

The effects of the title were nothing short of astonishing.

[Pirate King]

[I am the Pirate King!]

[A prestigious title bestowed upon the one who ascends as the ruler of the Green Isles, following in the footsteps of Pirate King Freydlief after centuries.]

[This title carries the weight of Freydlief’s dream of establishing a powerful maritime kingdom rather than as a mere leader of pirates.]

[Type: Title]

[Rating: Legendary]

[Effects: Authority over the Green Isles, Control of the High-Speed Sea Route Passage, +25% to all stats while at sea, +200% respect from all pirates, +500% affinity with sea monsters]

The title’s effects were nothing short of incredible.

Controlling the Green Isles was one thing, but obtaining control of the High-Speed Sea Route Passage, which held the potential to become the most efficient route for global trade, was a monumental advantage as well.

The Proatine Kingdom had a modest navy, but Siegfried could easily dominate the seas surrounding the Nurburg Continent with the High-Speed Sea Route Passage.

Sure, the additional respect from pirates would come in handy, but the massive boost in affinity with sea monsters was a game-changer. Taming a powerful sea monster could easily provide combat capabilities surpassing most warships.

The title’s bonuses were specific to the sea, but it was still undeniably an extraordinary SSS-grade title.

“Whoa! Pirate King!”

“Kyuu?! Did you become the Pirate King, owner punk?!”

“Uh... I guess so?”

Siegfried found himself unexpectedly crowned as the new Pirate King.

“Of all things, I never thought I’d become the Pirate King. Not like I planned for this—”

It was then.

“The new Pirate King...” A voice echoed softly, addressing Siegfried.

Startled, he turned his head to find none other than the ghost of Pirate King Freydlief smiling at him.

“W-What the heck?!”

Siegfried was shocked by what he was witnessing. He had defeated Freydlief’s ghost in the battle earlier, yet here he was again, standing before him.

***

Siegfried found himself face-to-face with Pirate King Freydlief once again.

“You’re... still alive?” he asked, his voice tinged with confusion.

“Once a man has already died, what’s a second or third time dying? Hahaha!” Freydlief replied, laughing heartily and brushing off the notion as if it was nothing.

“Erm... Okay?” Siegfried replied, sounding uncertain.

“Young Pirate King of the future. You have my gratitude for granting me peace,” Freydlief said in a more solemn tone.

“Peace? What do you mean by that? I gave you peace?” Siegfried asked, looking puzzled.

“Indeed, it was you.”

“How...?”

“I’ve been waiting here for centuries, hoping for a successor to appear. Someone worthy of carrying forth my legacy, a ruler with the soul of a king,” Freydlief explained, his voice filled with longing.

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“A ruler with the soul of a king...? What exactly does that mean?” Siegfried asked. “It means someone capable of building a maritime kingdom in the Green Isles instead of living as a mere pirate.”

“Ah! Well, if that’s your main criteria, then I’d say you’ve come to the right person,” Siegfried exclaimed after realizing what the Pirate King meant.

“Oh?”

“I am, after all, a king of my own country.”

“You are?” Freydlief asked, his eyes widening in surprise.

“Yes. It’s a small kingdom, but we’ve recently been recognized as an emerging power on the continent. In fact, not long ago, we recently won a war against a great power!” Siegfried boasted with a smile.

“Ha! But if you’re a king, why were you here pretending to be a pirate?” Freydlief asked, sounding intrigued.

“Well, it’s a long story...” Siegfried proceeded to recount the events that had brought him to this point.

“I see... So that’s what happened. It seems my successor is not a mere pirate but a promising young monarch. As strange as it is, perhaps this is for the best. Pirates who swear to reform often find it difficult to abandon their old ways entirely. True kings, however, are a different matter.”

“Turning over a new leaf isn’t exactly easy.”

“Indeed. Regardless, you are now my successor. As the new Pirate King, I entrust you with the task of transforming the Green Isles into the maritime kingdom I have always dreamed of creating. It was my lifelong ambition, one I could not fulfill while alive.”

“You can count on me.”

“And take care of my descendants too.”

“I promise.”

“Good. Then allow me to give you this as a token of my trust and gratitude.”

Freydlief handed Siegfried a pirate hat, and its age was apparent from its weathered appearance.

[Alert: You have obtained Pirate King’s Hat!]

The item’s description popped up in front of Siegfried’s eyes.

[Pirate King’s Hat]

[The favorite hat worn by Pirate King Freydlief during his lifetime. Though ancient, it carries the aura of a legendary figure.]

[Beware as it can be a bit unhygienic with a musty odor, dandruff, and even fleas...]

[Type: Hat]

[Rating: Legendary]

[State: Soulbound (Pirate King)]

[Durability: Infinite]

[Effects: Defense +1, Magic Resistance +1, HP +5, Mana +5, Stamina +5]

While its stats were underwhelming for a legendary artifact, the hat’s true value lay in its unique skill.

[Fleet Summon]

[Summons the Legendary Flagship of the Pirate King, the Nautilus, and its ghost fleet.]

[The Nautilus and its fleet are invincible ghost ships impervious to permanent destruction and unmatched on the open sea.]

[The fleet is manned by spectral sailors infused with spiritual energy.]

[Type: Summoning Skill]

[Cooldown: None]

“T-This is incredible...” Siegfried stammered, awestruck after reading the description.

This was truly a game-changer. Armadas cost astronomical sums to build and maintain, and even the mightiest of kingdoms found them to be financially burdensome.

However, Siegfried had just obtained command of the Nautilus, a legendary ship, along with an entire ghost fleet. They were powerful enough to rival multiple fleets, but they required no upkeep at all, as they were a ghost fleet.

In other words, he gained an armada for free and did not have to pay to maintain them, and this was what most kingdom administrators would call a logistical dream come true.

“Carry on the dream I could not achieve, my successor,” Freydlief said.

“You can rest easy now. Just leave it to me,” Siegfried replied, assuring him confidently.

“Excellent,” Freydlief said with a warm smile. Then, he added, “Oh and...”

“Yes?”

“Never forget to take your Vitamin C. A long voyage always needs fruit. Scurvy is not a joke, you know?”

“Hahaha...” Siegfried chuckled awkwardly in response to the ghost’s concern.

“Now, off you go.”

“Go? Where to?”

“Outside. An old adversary of mine is making trouble out there. I’ll deal with them before I find my rest once again.”

“There’s something happening outside?”

“You will see soon enough. Now go, and when you need me, just call.”

“All right.”

With a deep breath, Siegfried donned the Pirate King’s Hat and turned to leave Freydlief’s tomb. As he strode toward the exit, he could not help but feel the weight of his new responsibility weighing down upon him.

The new Pirate King was ready to face the challenges up ahead.

***

“Kill them all! Hahaha!”

Captain Barbossa’s maniacal laughter echoed as he commanded his undead pirates.

The tide of the battle reversed upon the appearance of the Black Crown Pirates. It swung completely in the favor of Siegfried’s comrades. Lionbreath, the Nordic Marines, and the Medusa Pirates were plunged into the depths of despair, even though victory was just at the tip of their fingers.

“Damn it!” Lionbreath growled as his axe carved through the endless horde of undead pirates.

No matter how many he struck down, more would charge forward like a ravenous pack of wolves. The sheer number of foes combined with their formidable strength was truly overwhelming.

“Damn this rotten luck...” Lionbreath growled while panting, exhausted. His massive axe now served as a crutch as he struggled to catch his breath. “Huff... Where is my brother? Is he still not here?”

Desperation clawed at him. If Siegfried were here, then the tides of this battle would surely be easily overturned once more, but unfortunately, he wasn't here with them.

“I guess this is it...”

Meanwhile, Captain Bellatrix stood surrounded by undead pirates. The resolve she picked up when the Nordic Marines came to her rescue crumbled once again, as her crew had either fallen or been turned into undead monstrosities themselves.

“Hehehe! Don’t kill this one!”

“Captain Barbossa wants her alive!”

Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, her life was spared, but this was nothing more than a grim reprieve, as she knew what kind of fate awaited her.

“I won’t let them humiliate me,” Bellatrix muttered through her gritted teeth.

She raised her pistol, which only had one bullet remaining, and aimed it at her own temple, intending to end her life on her own terms.

It was truly better to die than to fall into the hands of Barbossa, the archenemy of her ancestor, Pirate King Freydlief. She would rather preserve her honor than face such a disgrace and tarnish the legacy of the Pirate King.

“This is all my fault... my own incompetence caused this...” Bellatrix murmured. She closed her eyes and was about to squeeze the trigger.

It was then.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A thunderous barrage of cannon fire erupted and rained down on Barbossa’s undead pirate fleet, the Black Crown Pirates.

And with it came the sound of rushing waves...

Swooooosh!

A massive armored warship emerged from the horizon. The warship was not alone, as it was flanked by dozens of other imposing vessels.

Its presence was titanic, like a steel leviathan cutting through the sea, demanding respect from everything afloat on the waters. The sheer aura it exuded was that of invincibility as if it was asserting its dominance over the sea.

“T-That ship!” Bellatrix gasped, and her eyes shot wide open.

How could she not recognize that ship? That vessel was legendary and its name was spoken with fear and reverence even for centuries after it disappeared.

The warship was none other than the Nautilus—the strongest pirate ship in the history of the continent!