Captain – Chapter 501 – The Night Curtain Falls

The pirates were cautious.

Even someone as fierce as Harriet, when approaching the man who had come alone to the meeting, deliberately suppressed her breathing, slowed her steps, advanced in sync with her subordinates, and never for a moment did her hands leave her curved blade and its sheath.

Beyond coldness and madness, what was most commendable about this Night Curtain captain was his almost incredible combat ability. Rumor had it that when he first appeared in the islands, he had single-handedly overwhelmed an entire pirate force.

It should be noted that those who could establish influence in the islands were no ordinary people.

The pirate who was then viewed as a stepping stone, although not as famous as Red Beard and his ilk, still had nearly a hundred ruffians under his command and occupied a town as his nest.

Yet even so, he was still killed by the then unremarkable, nameless young man, right in the midst of the protection of dozens of skilled fighters.

From that point on, the name Enzo Leyne officially stepped onto the stage of the islands.

Of course, rumors tend to exaggerate, but unlike those who never stop talking about their achievements once they have them, Captain Enzo never mentioned these things, because to him, they were merely drops in the ocean of his journey.

They were trifles not worth mentioning.

Therefore, the situation in the scene was somewhat subtle. The pirates used slow but unified steps to shrink the encirclement, each person tense, constantly guarding against the opponent’s aggression. In contrast, the man standing at the center was relaxed.

One could even say he was at ease.

His demeanor looked exactly like the protagonist in a stage play surrounded by villains, already knowing the script, knowing that in the end, he would inevitably win.

Where did this confidence come from?

The same question, apart from appearing in the minds of the crew, even Roy couldn’t figure it out. But as the situation progressed, she no longer had time to think deeply.

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As the pirates moved, the girl also grabbed the hilt of her curved blade and slowly approached the man. From the beginning, she had never planned to be a spectator in this battle.

As the “monster” in people’s mouths, Roy understood the opponent’s strength better than anyone.

Because this title, before her meteoric rise, had always belonged to him. Although she repeatedly displayed superhuman power in front of everyone, even now, apart from her crew members, no one thought…

That she could defeat the Night Curtain in combat.

This was her reason for always wanting to fight him.

“Do you know why people call me the Night Curtain, and the Ghost Scythe the Black Tide of the Night? Is it because… we always appear at night?”

When the pirates were close enough that one sprint would bring him within range of their blades, Enzo, who had maintained a smile all along, finally spoke. But he didn’t issue a warning; instead, he asked this seemingly random question.

“Gentlemen, is no one curious?”

The man’s gaze didn’t shift, still only looking at Roy, but the subjects of his question expanded from her to everyone, and the amusement in his words grew increasingly thick.

Hearing this, the pirates instinctively became suspicious, but quickly turned uneasy.

A figure like Enzo the Night Curtain couldn’t possibly be like a clown in a comedy, saying such a thing just to adjust the atmosphere and make the audience laugh.

This question, no, this self-addressed question, was more like a declaration.

A declaration of the victor.

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“The notion that I specifically choose nighttime to act is, of course, the conjecture of the ignorant.”

Receiving no response, the man seemed somewhat disappointed. He sighed lightly and explained without enthusiasm: “That’s because, wherever I go, if I wish, regardless of the time of day, it will immediately become night.”

“Just like… now.”

Looking at Enzo who slightly spread his arms, once again smiling, with an appearance of unrestrained indulgence, Roy seemed to sense something. Her steps faltered slightly, her dark golden pupils involuntarily dilated a bit, reflecting that pitch-black cloak.

From the moment the man finished speaking, that black garment seemed to suddenly possess life. The night-like color began to gently undulate, even flowing like water.

Like mist, yet also like tangible wind currents, the “night color” gradually dissipated, then in the blink of an eye, swept across the beach like a tide, even covering the entire lonely island.

The scene before their eyes rapidly tended toward deep darkness at a perceptible speed.

The captain could even vaguely see that strange, eerie airflow still spreading continuously, outward to engulf the waters near the island, upward to touch the dim sky.

Just as the man had said…

“Night is falling.”

Hearing Enzo’s murmur, Harriet reacted faster than her subordinates. She suppressed the tension in her heart, roaring as she drew her blade, and just before being swallowed by the real, cold darkness, fiercely slashed down at the opponent.

Unfortunately, she struck nothing.

There was nothing in front.

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At the same time, due to the alertness and unease in his heart, the first mate, who had been closely following the girl’s side and constantly vigilant, also immediately reached out, trying to keep the captain by his side before the unknown change occurred.

But just like Harriet’s blade, Caine also touched only disheveled wind.

The girl had vanished into thin air.

“Tap, tap…”

In the world of night, steady footsteps approached.

After a simple assessment, confirming that the relative position between herself and the opponent hadn’t changed, Roy looked up and soon saw the man slowly emerging from the overturning darkness. She let out a slight breath as if to steady herself.

“Surprised, child?”

As if without any hostility, Enzo stopped just outside the girl’s blade range and demonstratively raised his hand toward the surrounding quiet, peaceful darkness.

As if saying, this was the origin of the two words “Night Curtain” in his legendary title.

Being able to manipulate darkness, this was truly an incredible power.

Or rather…

“A good thing. Why didn’t I notice it before?”

Not looking in the direction he indicated, Roy only stared intensely at that hand, at the deep black ring worn on those slender fingers.

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The ring was made of some unknown material, presenting a dark gray hue, resembling three twisted, fierce claws tightly gripping the lightless black stone in the center. It was the source of the thick darkness surrounding them.

“Don’t dream, child. Even if you had noticed it then, I wouldn’t have given it to you.”

Slowly raising his hand, gazing at that ring as deep as an abyss, seemingly containing boundless darkness, the man smirked, like a child showing off a toy.

“The Dream-Calling Ring of Nyx is indeed an excellent treasure.”

After admiring it for a while, Enzo withdrew his hand and turned to look at the captain, full of hostility like a fierce little wildcat, asking with a half-smile: “Why do you look as if I’ve bullied you, little Roy? Isn’t this the situation you wanted?”

“I remember that during those years when you were causing havoc in the Eastern Seas, you often treated me as your imaginary enemy, saying you wanted to fight me. Oh no, in your heart, you must have been thinking of giving me a good beating to prove you’re stronger than me in this aspect?”

“Well now, the opportunity has come.”

“Indeed.”

With a light snort, Roy methodically drew her curved blade and, like a cheetah ready to pounce, narrowed her eyes and said calmly: “Such a rare opportunity, I don’t want to waste it. So, Captain Enzo…”

Even in the darkness, the Iskavian curved blade still flickered with a faint cold light, as if in the process of pointing at that man, even it gradually became fervent.

After all… that was Enzo the Night Curtain.

Just as the blade tip pointed directly at the man’s nose, the girl’s cold challenge rang out.

“Please.”