"Captain, he knows Councilor Ricciardo?"
Anderson was also taken aback.
After all, he was very concerned about this demigod, needing to find him to eliminate his own misfortune constitution.
"He's from the School of Life."
Silas smiled, looking at the very nervous Darkwill. "Right?"
Because he'd changed his appearance, this acquaintance hadn't recognized him.
He also didn't want Darkwill to recognize him, otherwise the fat apothecary might inquire about his sister's recent situation.
"Uh..."
Darkwill forced a smile, his face more crumpled than if he were crying.
He was indeed a member of the School of Life. However, his guide, his teacher, had taught him only the most basic knowledge before kicking him out.
He had traveled around various places on his own, slowly working to advance to Sequence 8 before gradually establishing connections with the organization.
As for why Darkwill was taking this ship, it was indeed because of a certain matter that required him to go to Oravi Island to find his teacher's teacher, Councilor Ricciardo.
He just hadn't expected to encounter this series of events along the way, much less that the notoriously vicious Blood Reverend would see through him at a glance.
"That's wonderful!"
Hearing this good news, Anderson was overjoyed.
He familiarly walked up to the fat apothecary and patted his shoulder. "We're planning to visit that councilor.
Now we're counting on you for the introduction!"
"Alright, okay..."
Darkwill forced a smile, not daring to disobey.
He had personally witnessed Silas's power.
An entire warship and the Beyonders aboard were no match for him, let alone himself at Sequence 8.
So he could only cooperate obediently, standing to the side with the sailors.
However, judging by their appearance, they shouldn't be hostile toward the School of Life... Darkwill could only console himself inwardly.
At least it wouldn't be worse than his previous predicament...
After resolving his situation, it was time to decide the fate of the others on the ship.
"Captain, everyone is gathered here."
Anderson said. "What do we do next?"
Hearing this, the crowd showed some panic.
After all, the Blood Reverend's notorious reputation had spread throughout the Sonia Sea.
The pirates were no longer relaxed either, knowing this person showed no mercy to his peers.
Silas looked calmly at these people.
The shadow at his feet swayed, making him feel the aura of corruption emanating from people's shadows.
Distortion, hatred, jealousy, disgust, greed, lust... everyone had problems to a greater or lesser extent.
Everyone had the source of corruption within them.
Among them, the pirates' shadows were the darkest.
They radiated malice, had killed countless people, and were steeped in sin. They were thoroughly rotten.
The ordinary passengers and soldiers were more complicated. Some were relatively innocent, while others carried sins, tainted by the scent of blood and death.
I would have to decide who stayed and who went, judging them by their circumstances…
Silas thought this to himself and felt a sudden irritation.
Why overthink it? Everyone harbors dark thoughts deep down.
Everyone is capable of corruption.
Why not just use my power to draw out everyone's darkness and make them mine?
If I corrupt them all, I would become the master who bears all their burdens… No!
He snapped back to alertness, quelling the wild thought.
The shadow at his feet swayed, constantly whispering extreme ideas, trying to twist his emotions toward cold indifference, urging him to abandon his humanity and act under the potion's influence.
If I follow the shadow's suggestion and do this, I'll probably be the first one to be corrupted...
Silas thought to himself, simultaneously firming an attitude: the power of corruption can't be abused!
This wasn't just to reduce harm, but also to protect himself. Using the power of corruption too many times would also make him inevitably fall toward the edge of losing control.
The moment this thought arose, he felt the potion within his body seemed to digest to a certain degree.
Sure enough, this is the key to acting...
Silas thought inwardly.
Spread corruption, but don't indulge in corruption.
Use corruption to practice one's beliefs, rather than being driven by corruption to pollute everything.
Corruption is the means, not the end.
The Black Knight is still a knight!
Come to think of it, Sequence 4 "Black Knight" was very much like a power-enhanced version of Sequence 7 "Shadow Ascetic."
Besides the enhancement of shadow abilities, there was also the approach to acting principles.
The "Shadow Ascetic" needed to spread forbidden knowledge in hiding, using various methods to work hard to lead people to corruption and madness.
But the "Black Knight," after gaining the ability to make people corrupt at will, needed restraint to prevent complete corruption from using the ability recklessly.
However, the acting principles shouldn't be limited to just this... I still need to continue exploring.
Thinking this, Silas raised his head to face his captives.
"Swish!"
His shadow spread out, merging with everyone present's shadows.
Everyone watched in horror as their pitch-black shadows glowed with bloody red light, gradually drawing out the most crazed and twisted thoughts in their minds.
Some people had insufficient malice originally, so these thoughts just emerged and crowded their minds.
Others were already emanating sins all over.
Their bodies immediately resonated with the shadows, their flesh twisting and corrupting into ferocious monsters.
The "Black Knight's" "Corruption"!
"Ahhhhh!"
The screams of normal people and the roars of the corrupted rang out continuously, composing an extremely terrifying ensemble on the deck.
Not just those covered by shadows, even Silas's pirate crew members showed unease seeing this scene, as if recalling having seen this scenario before.
Some had even been among them at the time.
Soon, the pirates on deck had all transformed into corrupted monsters.
A portion of the soldiers and a small number of passengers met the same fate.
They transformed into ferocious, twisted monsters, roaring in the pitch-black, quagmire-like shadows.
"Swish."
Silas controlled the shadow's erosion, stopping the spread of "corruption" at the appropriate moment.
The pitch-black shadows slowly retracted, and those deformed, twisted bodies were submerged within them, swallowed by his shadow.
The potion within his body was slowly digesting...
He closed his eyes to sense it, then opened them to look at Anderson.
"Anderson, I'll leave the rest for you to handle, just as I told you before."
He spoke in a deep voice to his first mate.
Having said this, he paid no more attention to the scene and directly rode the wind back to the flagship.
"Yes!"
Anderson released Darkwill and stepped forward, coming before the survivors.
"Let me introduce myself first. We're a newly established pirate crew.
The captain is the 'Scarlet King' Alexander Gascoigne. He has another title: [Blood Reverend]!"
When this notorious name echoing through Loen was spoken, it caused another wave of panic among the crowd.
"Don't worry. All of you who remain have passed the captain's judgment and are safe now."
Anderson explained with a smile:
"Those who couldn't persist in the captain's shadow were all people who committed sins and were unforgivable."
He smiled and said to these still-frightened people, spreading his arms in an exaggerated manner.
"Since you've all passed the captain's test, we naturally won't make things difficult for you.
You can continue your voyage. After returning, remember to spread our fame. Tell the five seas that the fifth sea king has been born!"
The crowd gasped, seemingly not daring to believe Anderson's words.
"Honored sir, is what you say true?"
The second mate from the fleet asked in a trembling voice.
"Of course.
Ordinary passengers can return to your ships. We won't touch your cargo, property, fresh water, or food."
Anderson smiled, then looked at the bound soldiers. "As for you, we're confiscating your ship.
After you teach the sailors how to operate the steam ship and cannons, you can also leave."
The biggest spoils from this battle were this warship. It had to be put to good use.
After this, Anderson sent these fortunate survivors back to the merchant ship and commanded the sailors to pilot the captured warship while towing another pirate ship away.