Chapter 3: Isn't Acting Boldly in Person Also a Form of Recklessness?

[Endtime Witch – Freyria Augustus: ???]
[Due to the reconnaissance skill being a trial version and the vast difference in ranks between both sides, no further information could be obtained.]

No, System Bro, it’s one thing to give me a trial version of the skill, but did you have to neuter its effectiveness too?

Staring at the three question marks floating before him, Mo Wen’s heart roared in frustration.

The reconnaissance skill (trial version) was the same.

The cursed doll’s information was so detailed it was almost indecent, with only one hidden trait left to be confirmed after containment.

But his so-called “prison mate” only displayed a title and a name...

The disparity was just too great!

Also, what did rank mean? Did it have anything to do with his known profession, the Black Iron-tier Black Beast Crew member...?

“Clack!”

A crisp sound snapped Mo Wen’s attention back.

Freyria—no, Freyria Augustus—stepped on the cursed doll with her foot and snapped her fingers with one hand.

In an instant, the Black Beast Crew members surrounding them from all directions stiffened, their bodies collapsing forward like lifeless machines, mirroring the cursed doll’s earlier state.

Having done this, Freyria turned her gaze back to the distant Black Beast Captain and softly commanded, “Kneel. I have something to say to you.”

With a heavy thud, the imposing Black Beast Captain—who looked nothing short of fearsome—knelt down, its swirling black mist calming obediently as it hit the deck.

Though it resisted fiercely, its knees betrayed it, pounding into the wooden deck hard enough to crack and dent the surface.

“From now on, you swear loyalty to me.”

Freyria’s eyes glowed with a misty, deep violet light.

In a flash, an indescribable aura descended with a rumble.

The twisted air seemed to hint at a colossal presence stretching itself out, yet Mo Wen, limited by his narrow “vision,” could see nothing but felt his breath growing labored.

Is this the power of a “question mark-level” elite? It was overwhelmingly strong!

While struck with awe, Mo Wen’s taut nerves relaxed slightly.

No matter what, he had at least shared a “pleasant exchange” with Freyria, unlike the Black Beast Captain, who only wanted his kidneys—err, his life.

Freyria winning was far better than the Black Beast Captain prevailing.

Hope flickered in Mo Wen’s eyes.

“Thump, thump! Thump, thump!”

Suddenly, his heartbeat quickened.

Oh no, was this the classic “hero saved by a beauty” causing his heart to flutter... nonsense!

Mo Wen painfully raised his hand to clutch his chest.

His heart pounded like a drum, blood rushing fiercely, veins bulging.

Something was wrong!

What was happening...?

Straining, Mo Wen looked toward Freyria and the Black Beast Captain.

The once-subdued Black Beast Captain now rose slowly, expressionless.

Around it, a violent distortion formed a massive crack, beyond which something terrifying seemed to be descending bit by bit.

Something was very wrong!

This feeling...

In the life-or-death moment, Mo Wen’s mind raced and quickly pinpointed the likely cause of this sudden change.

The “Strange Artifact—Cursed Doll” came from the Forbidden Item faction known as the Puppet Kingdom.

Both were aboard the Black Beast ship, but the Black Beast Captain did not belong to the Puppet Kingdom.

The terms “Strange Artifact” and “Forbidden Item” alone revealed the gap between them.

Whether Freyria defeated or killed the Black Beast Captain was irrelevant, but crucially, this witch lady was trying to control the Black Beast Captain...

This triggered a counterattack from the Puppet Kingdom, whose location was unknown.

Judging by the present situation, the Puppet Kingdom was probably, quite possibly, definitely even slightly stronger than Freyria.

What the hell was going on?!

Gritting his teeth and suppressing the pain in his chest, Mo Wen shouted, “Freyria, can you win?”

The girl in the prison garb turned her head, eyes first showing surprise, then a hint of helplessness as she smiled wryly. “Do I look like I can win?”

Only then did Mo Wen notice the wooden texture beginning to appear on the girl’s neck.

Now the strength comparison was clear as day.

Unreliable!

Mo Wen lamented silently.

But soon, he gathered himself and forced calm.

Though his heart pounded violently, he was not in immediate danger nor immobilized.

Observing the battlefield carefully, Mo Wen quickly made a discovery:

Though Freyria was no match for the Puppet Kingdom, the latter could not easily take her down either. For now, despite Freyria’s disadvantage, the two were locked in a stalemate.

This was his only chance to save himself!

“Fire a shot at the Puppet Kingdom? No, I can’t even see it, and who knows if System Bro can get reconnaissance on it.”

“Wait, maybe I don’t need to scout the Puppet Kingdom itself—if I can scout its ‘arrival coordinates’ on the Black Beast ship, or the Black Beast Captain, that might work, right?”

“But I only have one reconnaissance use left, and if I fail...”

Recalling the question marks when scouting Freyria sent a chill down Mo Wen’s spine.

The Black Beast Captain was certainly weaker than Freyria, yet stronger than the cursed doll. Whether reconnaissance would succeed was uncertain.

But Mo Wen couldn’t afford to gamble.

“I can’t change my skills, but rank...”

His gaze landed on the white-haired little girl still under Freyria’s foot, and his eyes lit up with an idea.

To attain the Black Iron-tier profession of Black Beast Crew member, one must pass the Black Beast ritual—that is, defeat or kill the cursed doll.

If he succeeded in becoming one, would his rank change?

If so, the last reconnaissance attempt would have a much higher chance of yielding useful information!

But if that was the case, in the eyes of the Puppet Kingdom—the “behind-the-scenes boss” of the Black Beast ship—would it be a betrayal to climb ranks as its employee, spy on its secrets, and then fight it...?

Mo Wen quickly shook his head, dismissing such convoluted thoughts.

Time was pressing; he had no time to ponder. He began to move immediately.

One step. Two steps. Three steps...

His pounding heart made each step agonizing, his vision faintly dimming.

But in such a critical moment, he had no choice but to push through.

Clutching a dagger, Mo Wen struggled over to Freyria. Amid her surprised gaze, he crouched down and looked at the white-haired little girl who tilted her head back.

Their eyes met, and a faint smile crept across Mo Wen’s face. “Be good. I’ll be very gentle. Just hold on, and we’ll get through this.”

The stubborn tuft of white hair swayed in the wind, oddly curling into a question mark.