Lewis barely finished his command when the wind snatched his last syllable away. The Shadow members moved like trained hounds, swift and precise. They grabbed Madeline and her family, dragging them away without hesitation.Madeline didn’t resist. She stood there like a hollowed-out statue, her face drained of all color. Hope had been ripped from her so completely, it left nothing behind.Ethan tilted his head slightly, catching a glimpse of the crew lowering a lifeboat into the churning sea. The small vessel rocked against the waves. His lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.Lewis had understood his signal perfectly. The timing, the execution. Flawless. If Shade had been in charge, the outcome would have been far more brutal. Robert and Madeline wouldn’t have gotten a lifeboat. They’d have been tossed overboard, swallowed by the depths in an instant.The lifeboat drifted farther and farther. Soon, even the rhythmic splash of the oars faded into nothing. Madeline

On a typical cruise ship, weapons were unheard of.But this was the Carnival Cruise.If necessary, it could transform into a floating fortress in the blink of an eye.Of course, they weren’t at that point yet.The Shadow moved like ghosts. One second, the deck was empty. The next, they were there. No sound. No warning.It was as if they had materialized from thin air.At the bow, Shade stood motionless.A cold, deadly aura radiated from him, like a wraith from the underworld.His twin katanas were already unsheathed, their blades gleaming with a chilling glint in the dim light.What use were katanas against a fully armed pirate ship?These weren’t just any katanas. Ethan had personally modified them, making them sharp enough to slice through steel.And right now, Shade stood poised, his very presence exuding a silent promise. If he wanted to, he could cut the Black Jack in half with a single stroke.The two ships locked in a silent standoff.The Black Jack showed no signs of slowing.

Katharine’s fingers tightened around the phone."That’s great news! I’ll be there right away!"After hanging up, she turned to Ethan, excitement shining in her eyes. “That was William! The contract is ready!”Ethan grinned. "Nice! Congrats."She exhaled, steadying herself."This is a huge deal for my family. I can’t mess it up."Ethan studied her for a second. “Want me to come with you?”Katharine blinked."You’d do that?""Of course. Let’s go."When Ethan smirked at her, Katherine’s heart skipped a beat.Then she smiled. "Alright. Let’s do this."She fell into step beside him, the wind ruffling her hair as they walked.Meanwhile.Robert and Madeline stumbled back into their house, looking like drowned rats.Madeline’s hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms. Her voice was sharp, practically spitting venom."Ethan…Ethan, that useless bastard! How the hell did he get so powerful? Why the hell was Mr. Parker bowing to him?!"Edith, looking pale, whispered,"Sweetheart