The Crown Prince In Hiding

Chapter 25

Tampa Bay

To the west of Velmount, just a few miles beyond its territorial waters, lies an island.

Its symbol is a pirate flag fixed to the tip of a blade—a direct reflection of its culture.

Tampa Bay.

A lawless land.

As long as your pockets are deep enough, almost anything can be bought here—illegal weapons, forbidden tomes, outlawed creatures, every form of human trafficking, stolen jewels, assassination services, narcotics—it has it all.

It is also a haven for wanted pirates, port-controlling gangs, and smugglers who have come from every corner of the world.

This place holds both immense wealth and its downfall within a single night. Anyone fleeing charges, debts, or hunters may come to Tampa Bay to resolve their situation through various means… but you must take that risk yourself.

No one here cares who you are—unless you are famous enough.

But even then… it does not guarantee that those hunting you cannot reach this place as well.

Here, it is a common sight that when morning sunlight arrives, the bodies of unfortunate travelers—or those marked for death—float adrift in the bay. Some with empty purses, others with slashed throats. Bloated corpses drifting with the tide into Velmount’s waters have become routine for coastal patrols.

Tampa Bay is a land free from government rule.

It belongs to no one.

Luminus once planned to dismantle the power structure within Tampa, but that plan was abandoned due to its proximity to Velmount.

Though Tampa is not officially a nation, it is treated as one. Instead of governance, it is ruled by influence.

Or simply put… a regime of gangs.

The view descends from the full moon, soon to give way to the rising sun within hours. Yet even as time advances, the green mist welcoming incoming ships refuses to fade.

They had arrived—Tampa Bay.

Dan and Rafinya sat facing one another, both gazing toward the harbor as it slowly emerged from the fog. Casca stood at the helm, fully alert.

All three wore cloaks, their appearances carefully blended to resemble locals as much as possible.

(The bow struck the dock.)

Dan gestured for Rafinya to pass him the rope, which he secured to a post.

“First time here, isn’t it, Rafinya?”

“Yes.”

She answered, scanning left and right cautiously.

“But you seem familiar with this place… Mr.Fury.”

“I’ve been here once or twice.”

He tightened the rope.

“But the one truly familiar with it would be my subordinate.”

The moment they docked, Rafinya looked up and saw the people of the port staring at them. Some retreated into windows. The air reeked of danger and unease—so thick it was almost suffocating.

“Rafinya.”

“…Yes?”

Dan raised two fingers.

“Before we step onto this land, I have two things to tell you. Only two.”

Only Fury exists here.

Rafinya nodded hesitantly and stepped off the boat.

But when she turned back—

Casca was gone.

“Mr.Fury… Casca—she…”

“Leave her. She knows what she’s doing.”

“Then that means…”

“It’s just you and me now.”

“Yes.”

Inside Tampa, to put it simply—it was the largest black market in the world. A hub of illegal trade and weapon commerce.

Sailors, pirates, and mercenaries flooded the streets. A massive economy thrived here, fueled by constant bargaining and arguments, forcing Rafinya to clutch her cloak tightly.

She glanced to the left—

And froze.

An iron cage.

Inside it, a creature resembling a winged lizard—a baby dragon, its wings torn off, waiting to be bought by some Zentinel alchemist to be turned into an elixir of longevity.

A group of sailors passed by—large, filthy men reeking of alcohol. The stench made her recoil inwardly.

To those from Luminus, this place was the refuse of the world.

Yet she endured.

“I didn’t think Tampa Bay would reek this much of salt and rot… damn it.”

“Didn’t you say you’ve been here before, Mr.Fury?”

“In my real form.”

They passed another dock. Rafinya saw a decomposing corpse being picked apart by seagulls.

“You didn’t smell this before?”

“I cannot perceive scent as well as humans.”

At that moment, Dan’s gaze fixed on something at a stall.

He stopped.

Rafinya followed his line of sight.

A translucent yellow stone—

Inside it, something like a creature was trapped.

“……”

“Mr.Fury?”

“Nothing. Let’s go.”

Then—

Rafinya’s sharp instincts caught movement.

From a nearby alley—

A group of children.

Not too young, yet not as old as her—perhaps thirteen or fourteen.

They were watching them.

Closely.

Even among the crowd, Rafinya’s refined complexion—nurtured by proper care and nourishment—betrayed her noble origin.

They had marked her.

The children began stepping out.

“Hey~ big sis.”

“….”

Five or six of them followed from behind.

“Big sis! Where are you going?”

Even as Rafinya quickened her pace, they did not back off.

“Mr.Fury…”

“Don’t stop walking.”

Dan said calmly.

“And don’t look at them.”

She nodded—but at that moment, the smallest boy grabbed her cloak and pulled.

“Big sis, do you have any money?”

Rafinya turned and removed his hand.

And in that instant—

She had engaged them.

The switch was flipped.

The boy suddenly threw himself to the ground.

“Ow!!!”

His cry rang out.

Rafinya froze.

She had never faced something like this before.

“Please~ just give us a couple of coins!”

Another child clung to her side, pressing close. Others surrounded Dan as well.

Nearby scammers began watching.

More and more gathered.

This would have been easier if they were thugs.

Rafinya could have drawn her blade and ended them without hesitation.

But these—

Were children.

“Big sis! Just two silver coins!”

“Let go!”

“One coin is fine! Just give us something!”

More children lingered behind her, reaching for her valuables.

She pushed one away—only for another to slip in behind.

Blatant deception.

This was not a threat Rafinya was prepared for.

Not an enemy she could strike.

They were children.

And they knew it.

They knew someone like her—someone from a noble background—would hesitate.

Rafinya didn’t know what to do.

She couldn’t bring herself to act.

And they took advantage of it.

But then—

Crack!

One of them collapsed in front of her.

Blood burst from his forehead as he convulsed on the ground.

Everything froze.

Rafinya.

The children.

All of them.

Slowly—

They looked up.

A red-eyed boy in a cloak stood there.

His gaze—cold.

In his right hand—

A crowbar.

At its tip—

Blood.

“…Eh?”

They stared, stunned.

Their friend lay twitching, skull shattered.

“…Eh?”

Then—

A girl screamed.

The children scattered, fleeing in terror, glancing back in panic.

But when they looked—

They saw it.

Dan.

Calmly bringing the crowbar down again—

Onto their friend’s skull.

Again.

And again.

“Mr… Mr.Fury…!?”

Rafinya stood frozen.

He had done it.

He had killed the boy.

Even though the child had already released his wallet—

He did not stop.

Blow after blow.

Bone against iron.

Again.

Again.

Until the body lay still.

Only then did Dan stop.

And his words echoed—

Before we step onto this land, I have two things to tell you.

Dan Burn is not here.

Prince Fury is not here.

Only Fury exists here.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!