Spell Scroll

Such classified information—if he’d asked anyone on the Hodyr,he’d have been arrested on the spot.

So the only person Black could turn to was Hans, the first mate, who knew ships inside and out.

Maybe he knew a way to bypass those defensive spells.

“The Hodyr’s ammunition depot?

What—you’re not actually planning to target that, are you?”

Hans looked genuinely shocked. He hadn’t expected Black to be this bold.

“Not at all. I don’t have that kind of death wish,”

Black shook his head.

“Well… I’ve heard that depot is layered with countless defensive spells.

Only authorized personnel can enter or exit.”

“They even transport munitions via spatial magic—no manual handling required at all.”

“I’m afraid I can’t help you with this one.”

Hans sighed. He knew ships well enough,but arcane magic? That was beyond him.

“I see…”

Black’s brow furrowed tightly.

If even Hans didn’t know, then there was no one else to ask.

Was he really going to give up?

Just stand by and watch the depot get blown up?

As Black wrestled with this dilemma,an elderly pirate huddled in the corner of a neighboring cellsuddenly raised a trembling hand.

“I… I know how to get in!”

!!!

Black’s gaze snapped toward the withered old man in the shadows.

The pirate was filthy, his hair streaked white,but his cloudy eyes now burned with a deep, seething hatred.

“Old McGee… what did you say?”

Hans asked in disbelief.

He’d known this pirate for years—knew he had a tragic past—but never once heard he understood anything about ship defenses or magic.

Uriel and the others were equally baffled.

All eyes now fixed on this normally silent, almost invisible old man.

Ignoring their skeptical stares,

Old McGee slowly pulled a black cloth from his tattered coat.

Unwrapping it revealed several yellowed arcane scrolls.

He fumbled through them for a while,then pulled out one in particular.

Though its edges were frayed,the runes inscribed upon it remained sharp and legible,faintly glowing with an eerie blue light.

“What is this?”

Black narrowed his eyes, cautious.

“Heh… with this scroll, anyone can slip into the Hodyr’s ammunition depot.”

At that, Black and Hans exchanged glances—both stunned by the claim.

“Old McGee, this isn’t the time for jokes!”

“How could you possibly have something like that?”

Hans’ expression turned stern.

This old man had always been destitute—was he just toying with them?

The old pirate grinned, revealing broken yellow teeth,his smile tinged with madness.

“Of course I have it!”

“Because my grandfather was one of the shipwrights who built the Hodyr!”

The words struck the room like thunder.

Old McGee wasted no more words.

He unfurled the scroll, revealing dense, intricate runes.

Black instantly recognized its quality—this was no ordinary artifact.

“Back then, my grandfather helped design the entire Hodyr—even the defensive spells around the ammo depot!”

“But despite his brilliance,he was hanged by the Empire on trumped-up charges!”

“And our whole family was torn apart—killed, scattered, ruined!”

His finger traced a specific rune on the scroll,his eyes blazing with renewed fury.

“He died so full of regret! So full of rage!”

“Before his execution,he carved the weaknesses of every spell on the Hodyr—in blood and tears!”

The weaknesses of every spell on the Hodyr!

“He turned them into these arcane scrolls!”

His voice cracked, trembling with decades of suppressed vengeance.

“He gave them to me.

I’ve lived in hiding for decades,fled across the seas,even joined a pirate crew—all for one day: to destroy this cursed ship with my own hands!”

“But this White Pearl crew…they’re useless!

We ended up as prisoners anyway!

It makes my blood boil!”

His tone dripped with bitterness and despair—the voice of a man burdened by generational blood debt.

Then, he fixed his gaze on Black,his eyes suddenly alight with rare intensity.

“But you’re different.

You know about Jörmungandr.

You know the escape route.

You’re no ordinary man!”

The old pirate grew more frenzied with every word,

making it hard for Black to judge how much was truth and how much delusion.

“You’re sure this scroll can bypass the defensive spells?”

Black asked gravely.

The old man gave a chilling smile.

“Of course! Activate it,and it’ll tear a ten-second gap in the defenses—plenty of time for you to slip inside!”

“Even if the Empire’s dogs have reinforced the spells since then,this scroll will still work!”

“And besides… you don’t really have a choice, do you?”

Black was already inclined to believe him.

In this world, such spell-breaking scrolls did exist—and their effects matched the old man’s description almost exactly.

But would he actually hand it over?

“I’ll take the scroll. What’s your price?”

“Heh… I want you to promise me one thing!”

“Not now—but after we escape.

I need you to do something for me in the Empire!”

Old McGee spoke slowly.

Strangely, the hatred on his face had faded,replaced by a calculating, almost cunning smile.

Truth was, he’d almost asked Black to blow up the depot right then.

But at the last moment, he remembered something far more valuable.

Destroying the depot would feel good—but it wouldn’t truly threaten the Dragonheart Empire’s rule.

Back in the Empire’s heartland,his family had discovered several ancient ruins—places hiding artifacts powerful enough to topple the entire regime.

But he was too old now to pursue them.

This mysterious young man before him, however…he saw hope.

And this youth clearly harbored his own grudge against the Empire—otherwise, why help pirates escape?

“…”

“Alright.”

After a long silence, Black agreed.

He didn’t know what the old man’s condition would be.

But future problems could wait.

Right now, stopping the depot explosion was urgent.

If the ending collapsed,there’d be no “future” to speak of at all.

Seeing Black’s agreement,

Old McGee shakily handed him the scroll.

The moment it left his hands,the old pirate shrank back into the cold, dark corner—as if the entire exchange had never happened.

Was this character even in the game?

Could he be part of some hidden side quest?

Black pocketed the scroll, puzzled but pressed for time.

He couldn’t dwell on it now.

“Everyone, I’ll take my leave. Take care!”

Noticing how late it was, Black knew he couldn’t stay any longer.

“Understood. You take care too.

We’ll be waiting for you on the White Pearl.”

Hans nodded firmly, watching Black walk away.

“My dear brother! Don’t you dare die!

We’re waiting for you to come home!”

Uriel called out, his voice thick with reluctant affection.