I reign supreme in the Western fantasy world for eternity.

Lilith lay on the bow of the boat, leaning half her body out to look out at the sea, her ears picking up the faint, uncertain sounds.

Several ships had already appeared on the sea, but they were far apart from each other, like distrustful stray cats that would scatter as soon as they caught a whiff of each other's scent.

This is how pirates got along.

In this coastal area, proximity means threat, and threat means conflict.

Ji Tian had seen several ships turn and speed away immediately upon seeing their small boat, without even raising a signal to inquire.

After sailing for about half an hour, the color of the seawater began to lighten, and the coral reefs on the seabed were faintly visible. Looking up again, a huge island could be seen.

From here on, we have entered the waters under the jurisdiction of the "isolated reef". The ships that were originally keeping a distance began to slow down and were no longer wary of each other.

As one ship even grazed their side, someone on deck waved in their direction, as casually as a neighbor greeting them.

It has a real-life version of a strange tale about rules.

Lilith shrank back from the bow of the ship, her purple eyes sparkling. "Master, they don't seem to be wary of each other anymore. This pirate king must have quite a bit of influence!"

The small boat continued forward.

After walking for less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, several small wooden boats with very shallow drafts appeared on the sea ahead. The boats were painted dark gray and almost blended into the sea in the shimmering light.

As Ji Tian looked closely, he noticed that the rower's ears were slightly protruding from the top of his head.

Based on the rumors circulating at sea, they should all be orcs.

Lilith saw it too and immediately perked up: "The guides have arrived!"

Their boat stopped near a shallow shoal, where three or four similar boats were already waiting. After Ji Tian and the others arrived, an even smaller canoe emerged from the waterway between the rocks.

A half-orc girl stood on the boat, slender in figure, with a pair of long, gray-white ears on her head swaying gently with the rocking of the boat—she was a rabbit-tribe half-orc.

She approached the small boat, her voice clear and melodious, carrying a gentleness that seemed unusual for someone who had spent years at sea:

"Are you here to attend the rally?"

Lilith leaned out from the bow, her hands gripping the edge of the boat, her voice full of curiosity: "Yes, yes, we're here for the gathering! Um... the tide's in!"

The bunny-eared girl paused for a moment, then smiled, revealing a small canine tooth.

"We came with the tide."

In fact, such codes are dispensable; their symbolic meaning far outweighs their practical significance. After all, even if someone gets the news from the pirates and rushes over, they wouldn't be able to distinguish between the real and fake.

But Lord Lonely Reef said that it doesn't matter.

The bunny-eared girl, Chong Jitian, and the others nodded. "The boat is here. Follow me. The channel ahead is difficult to navigate. If you're not careful, you'll run into a reef. Someone needs to lead the way."

Elena frowned. "The ship is anchored here? Aren't you afraid other pirates will come and rob it?"

"Don't worry, it's very safe here. Of course, if you're still concerned, you can leave a few people here to keep watch or take a detour to the port at the back of the island. Most of the large pirate fleets here do that."

"...Is that so? There's absolutely no need for that. Our little boat can be stored in the storage space." Elena had a feeling that something was fishy, ​​but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Lilith exclaimed softly, "Her ears can move..."

The girl clearly heard it, and her ears twitched involuntarily twice.

The group then transferred to dugout canoes.

The girl with rabbit ears stood at the stern of the boat, gently touching the edge of the reef with a slender bamboo pole, and the canoe nimbly turned into the waterway hidden by coral reefs.

The waterway was extremely narrow, and the rocks on both sides were so close that they were almost within reach, but the girl's movements were skillful, and she precisely avoided the sharp edges with each movement.

Lilith crouched in the boat, her hands gripping the side of the ship, her purple eyes fixed intently on the long, constantly turning ear:

"Sister, you row so steadily! Are you from around here?"

The bunny-eared girl turned around and glanced at her, a smile curving her lips: "I was taken in by Lord Lonely Reef, so I guess you could say I'm part of the island."

"Have you lived here for a long time?"

As she rowed the boat, she answered, "It's been about four years. I used to make a living in the port in the south, but then I was kidnapped by human traffickers and almost sold to a mine in the far sea. It was Lord Lonely Reef's men who intercepted me."

Lilith blinked. "So you never thought about leaving after that?"

"Leave? I have a house here, work, no one beats me, and no one looks down on me for being a half-orc. Why should I leave?"

"Um...you're right."

After passing through the last narrow opening, the view suddenly opened up.

The island is shaded by green trees, with white sand beaches, and rows of wooden houses and stone buildings scattered on the hillside, with wisps of smoke rising from the rooftops.

The island's docks were already filled with boats of all sizes, their masts like a forest. The pirates were unloading cargo, mooring their lines, and greeting acquaintances on the docks, looking just like a group of fishermen who had just finished shopping at the market.

The canoe gently pulled up to an empty spot on the dock. The girl with rabbit ears jumped ashore, stuck a bamboo pole in the shallow water, and turned to Ji Tian, ​​saying:

"We've arrived. The gathering doesn't officially start until tomorrow. You can explore the island first. The taverns and inns are in the city. There's a market not far ahead, where there will be barbecue and grilled fish in the evening, as well as fruit juice vendors."

Lilith's eyes lit up. "Okay, I'll try it in a bit! See you later!"

After the group left the small boat, the girl named Mira rowed the canoe away from the shore to continue ferrying other pirates, muttering to herself, "What strange guests."

The crowds on the dock gradually thinned out. Ji Tian stood at the edge of the dock for a while, scanning the boats moored on the shore.

He noticed that many ships were equipped with new cannons, but the cannons were crudely installed and did not match the hull, clearly indicating that they were added temporarily.

He withdrew his gaze and walked along the slope into the island.

Ophelia walked beside him, and only spoke after making sure there were no outsiders around:

"The girl named Mira lied when she introduced herself, but everything else was true."

When you're out and about, you have to choose your own identity. Lilith often disguised herself to protect herself when she was wandering, so it's not surprising.

Ji Tian led the group up the slope and saw a temporary shed made of wooden planks and coarse cloth in the distance. The sheds were connected by ropes and several oil lamps that had been extinguished were hanging there.

The air was filled with the aroma of burning charcoal and grease, mixed with the salty smell of the sea breeze and the sour smell of some kind of fermented fruit juice.

This is the market Mira was talking about.

Several rows of wooden tables were scattered on the open ground in front of the shed, some of which were already occupied by people.

Pirates and orcs sat in twos and threes, eating grilled fish and bread with gusto, the clinking of glasses and rough laughter filling the air, much like a tavern in a port town.

Lilith's nose seemed to smell something. She jogged through the crowd, stopped in front of one of the stalls, and stood on tiptoe to peek inside.

The stall owner was a stocky middle-aged man with charcoal ash and oil stains on his apron, skillfully prying open oyster shells with a broad-bladed knife.

"Fresh!" he called out, neatly arranging the pried oysters on the wooden board and sprinkling a handful of chopped herbs. "Just caught, and they're plump!"

Lilith turned around and waved to Ji Tian: "Master! There are oysters! Fresh ones!"

Ji Tian walked over to pay, his gaze lingering on the stall owner's face.

The man was bending down, scraping barnacles off an oyster shell, his movements swift and efficient.

His hair was gray, his cheeks were sunken, his jawline was distinct, and his eye sockets were deeper than normal, giving him a rough look from years of exposure to the elements.

But those eyes, and that face, reminded Ji Tian of someone he thought he would never see again.

I once met and witnessed the cursed apostle in the capital sacrifice his life.