Transmigrated As A Beautiful Cannon Fodder Omega To Marry An Evil God Alpha In Place of Another - Chapter 26

“Wow, look at the size of that ship!”

Under the scorching sun, a massive vessel slowly approached the town’s pier. The dockworkers, first spotting the giant masts, halted their labor one by one. One worker wiped the sweat or perhaps salt, from his face with a towel draped over his shoulder.

“Those masts… that’s not a pirate ship, is it?”

“What?” A sun reddened worker from the Continent of Wind gasped in panic. “Pirates? Should we report to the Sheriff?”

“Are you crazy? The last five Sheriffs all met violent ends. Who’s brave enough to take the job in this godforsaken place?”

“Stop talking and run! What are you waiting for?”

“Didn’t a crew raid the town recently? My god, they’re coming in broad daylight this time!”

The pier descended into chaos. Screams mingled with the clatter of dropped cargo. Some fled for their lives, others dove into ship cabins, hiding behind whatever cover they could find. The once bustling dock, filled with noise and sweat, fell into a sudden, eerie silence.

With a heavy thud, the anchor hit the water. The iron chains rattled for a moment before the ship drifted to a halt. Several Annan sailors jumped ashore, hauling thick ropes to secure the massive hull to the dock. Even without local help, they performed the task with practiced ease.

The waves lapped against the hull, and seagulls soared past the furled sails, letting out long, piercing cries.

A tall, handsome man with long, raven black hair was the first to disembark. He turned back immediately, bowing at the waist with one hand behind his back and the other extended, waiting quietly.

In the bright sunlight, as the sea breeze blew, a slender, fair hand was placed into the man’s palm. The man’s thin lips curled into a smile as he bowed his head respectfully. “Noble Master, watch your step.”

It wasn’t convenient to use the title ‘Your Highness’ here, so ‘Master’ was used as a substitute. Though a bit awkward, A-Wu was clearly enjoying the role.

Bai Rui walked off the ship with a neutral expression, his hand still resting in A-Wu’s palm. His skin was pale, and under the sunlight, the fine peach fuzz on his cheeks glowed softly, giving him a radiant aura.

“Who is that?”

“So beautiful… and with such striking Eastern features.”

“He looks like the one in charge. Elegant, like a nobleman. Surely not a pirate…”

The sight of a refined, beautiful young nobleman leading a crew of bloodthirsty pirates was unheard of. The people hiding in the corners began to whisper, their admiring gazes shifting between Bai Rui and A-Wu.

“Not only is the nobleman handsome, but even his servant is tall and dashing!”

“Oh, absolutely. They’re so distinguished. Their presence alone makes this dump feel high-class.”

“Could he be the new Sheriff? He has such an air of nobility.”

“Maybe… but does a Sheriff usually bring a crew of pirates?”

The gossip died down instantly when One Eyed Jack stepped onto the pier. Wearing a massive pirate hat adorned with two long feathers fluttering in the wind, Jack approached.

“Master,” the pirate captain bowed respectfully. “What are our orders?”

Bai Rui had become somewhat immune to this chuunibyou inducing title. He didn’t answer immediately but looked around at the peeking workers before spotting a sign nearby: Margaret Town Shipping Office.

So, “Gambler’s Town” was just a nickname; the real name was Margaret Town. Bai Rui recalled his original world building notes, he had designed this map himself and remembered there were hidden areas here.

He tilted his chin up slightly. “Find whoever is in charge.”

No sooner had he spoken than a sailor dragged a middle-aged man forward. “Boss, this guy is the temporary dock manager. He was hiding behind the crates watching us.” The sailor roughly yanked the metal tag on the man’s chest. “See? His ID is right here.”

“Rude!” Jack snapped at the sailor, ordering him to let go. “Mr. Bai said we are to be civilized maritime workers from now on.”

Someone nearby whispered, “Wow, even as drifters, they’re still ‘workers’? And ‘civilized’?”

Jack kicked the two gossiping sailors away before flashing a smile at the old man, a smile intended to be friendly but which looked terrifying, revealing a row of blackened teeth. “Old man, we aren’t bad people.”

“Hehe…” “Heh…” “Jie-jie…”

The other pirates joined in, trying to look kind but only succeeding in looking more menacing. The old man trembled violently, squeezed his eyes shut, and let out a whimper, bracing for the executioner’s blade.

The scene was incredibly awkward.

“Ahem.” Bai Rui cleared his throat and stepped forward. “Old gentleman, do not be afraid. We truly mean no harm.”

The clear, pleasant voice was a stark contrast to the gruff pirates. The old man opened his eyes and darted behind Bai Rui, using him as a shield. “Young gentleman, you look like a noble. Are you perhaps the new Sheriff?”

Bai Rui raised an eyebrow and dismissed the sailors with a wave of his hand. The scarred, fierce men bowed obediently and retreated. Once the “monsters” were gone, the old man finally stood straight.

“Oh, how terrifying.”

Bai Rui looked at the old man. “Are you the manager here?”

“Oh, yes, I am.” The man smoothed out his linen suit, though the wrinkles popped right back. “I am Gray. The townspeople call me Boss Gray. I run the only tavern in town and am quite the personage here. If you would honor me, I invite you and your…” He glanced nervously at the deck. “…your attendant to have a drink.”

He was looking at A-Wu, whose handsome face was undeniably captivating. “And how might I address you, young gentleman?”

“You may call me Mr. Bai,” Bai Rui replied with a polite smile.

“Ah, Mr. Bai. What brings you to our Margaret Town?”

A town named after a jewel that earned the nickname “Gambler’s Town” was never simple. Bai Rui knew not to let his guard down. “I am here for frontier trade. My ship, the Black Pearl, carries seafood and deep-sea treasures. I am looking for sales channels.”

He didn’t mention the deep-sea pearls, the brilliant coral, or the hold full of Super Catalyst, a substance worth thousands on the black market. Between the loot from the Witch King’s castle and what he’d squeezed out of the nobles who betrayed him, Bai Rui was incredibly wealthy.

“Oh~” Boss Gray avoided One Eyed Jack’s gaze. “Well, this is a port, so we have fish. But actually, most people here don’t eat fish.”

“They don’t eat fish?” Bai Rui was puzzled. “Why?”

Gray looked troubled for a moment before forcing a smile. “Come to my tavern first. I’ll contact some buyers and see how we can help you.”

As the sun dipped below the horizon, heavy clouds swallowed the twilight, turning the sky a bruised purple. Walking along the wooden boardwalk, Bai Rui felt something was off about the old man, though he couldn’t put his finger on it.

A-Wu, who had been quiet, stretched lazily. “Oh, the weather’s changing.”

Bai Rui rolled his eyes. Sometimes he felt A-Wu’s soul just wandered off to another dimension even when his body was right there.

“Master, you seem unhappy,” A-Wu noted. He yawned, noticing the blushing glances from local women and even some young men, as they passed.

Bai Rui noticed too. He bit his lip and quickened his pace. After a lady hid behind her fan, giggled, and handed A-Wu a scented card, Bai Rui’s pace became a frantic stomp-stomp-stomp against the wood.

A-Wu looked at the card, then at Bai Rui’s retreating back. He smiled, tossed the card aside without looking at it, and caught up. “Master, wait for me! Why so fast?”

He leaned in close to Bai Rui’s ear, his voice a teasing whisper. “Why are they all looking at me?”

Bai Rui suppressed the urge to glare. “Likely because they like you.”

“Like me?” A-Wu kept pace easily with his long legs. “But Master, I think more people are looking at you. This town is quite passionate.”

“If you like it so much, feel free to stay,” Bai Rui snapped.

“I don’t like it,” A-Wu whispered, his warm breath hitting Bai Rui’s ear. “I only like following you, Highness.”

Bai Rui’s earlobes instantly turned a dusty pink. “Watch your words.”

They entered the tavern. “Come in, come in! An-An, come greet our guests!” Boss Grey shouted.

Inside, the whispers continued. “So handsome…” “The tall one’s hair is like Eastern silk.” “I like the slender one. Look at the red at the corners of his eyes. He’s stunning!”

A-Wu ignored the crowd, focusing entirely on Bai Rui. “Highness, you’re biased. You named the pirate and the ship, but you haven’t given me a name yet.”

Bai Rui found it hard to explain the Pirates of the Caribbean references. As A-Wu leaned closer, the air seemed to thicken. Bai Rui’s heart hammered against his ribs.

Something is wrong, he thought. He felt an intense physical dependence on A-Wu. Was the effect of a temporary mark really this strong? He realized then that A-Wu was an Alpha. During his sudden fever, A-Wu’s mark had saved him, and now his body seemed magnetically drawn to the man.

“You…” Bai Rui’s lashes fluttered as he met A-Wu’s amber eyes.

“Me?” A-Wu’s voice was magnetic, vibrating with a low, teasing tone. “Alright, Highness, don’t be nervous. I’m just playing with you.”

A-Wu took off his own coat and draped it over Bai Rui’s shoulders, subtly covering the scent-gland at the nape of his neck. “It’s getting cold. Don’t catch a chill.” He straightened Bai Rui’s collar, his fingers lingering with a faint, cold fragrance.

Suddenly, rain began to pour outside. The tavern emptied as locals rushed home, leaving the room quiet and chilly. Bai Rui felt warm, though, partly because of the coat, and partly because of the man standing over him.

“Oh~ Hello, travelers. I am the drink server here, Bili An-An. You can call me An-An.”

A soft, feminine male voice broke the silence. A young man in a lace trimmed shirt, unbuttoned low to show his chest, leaned against Boss Gray’s shoulder. “Old Gray, I want that new limited-edition lace shirt from the tailor’s. It’s very expensive~”

“I’ll buy it for you when the rain stops,” Gray promised, the two of them flirting openly.

“Ahem,” Bai Rui cleared his throat, feeling like an intruder.

An-An turned his sharp eyes toward Bai Rui, noting the exquisite fabric of his clothes and the fine gold chain of his pocket watch. This one is loaded, he thought.

“Mr. Bai, you look like a rich man who would buy ad space in the Imperial Theater to find a husband. Are you single? Staying long?”

“Just a businessman,” Bai Rui smiled politely. “I won’t be staying long.”

An-An reached out to touch Bai Rui’s shoulder, his eyes greedy. “I don’t believe you. You must have millions of Imperial credits…”

Before his hand could land, a large hand clamped onto his wrist.

“Ouch!” An-An gasped. He looked up and froze. A-Wu was staring him down with a cold, expressionless gaze.

Seeing A-Wu’s face up close, An-An’s face flushed. He immediately leaned into A-Wu’s chest, letting his shirt slip further. “Oh, you’re so rough! How can you treat an Omega like this? I am the only Omega in Margaret Town!”

He released a cloying, sweet pheromone. A-Wu frowned as the boy clung to his waist.

“You’re a servant, yet you’re so crude compared to Mr. Bai,” An-An pouted, looking up at A-Wu with predatory interest. “I can’t even stand up now. I want you to escort me back to my room.”