Lord of Cinder in American Comics

Although Himiko was the ruler of ancient Japan, her rule lasted only a short time. After that, she sought immortality and took her followers to the depths of the sea.

No one knows Himiko's true location, only that her father's research mentions the Dragon Triangle, and the Pacific Cemetery, which shares the same name as Bermuda, becomes Lara's destination.

Lara had just stepped out of school, brimming with a free spirit and a love for the wilderness. Her incomprehension of her deceased father and her yearning for adventure led her and her like-minded classmate Samantha to embark on the Resilience to Yamatai.

When Laura finished writing in her diary, she realized that the stars were already shining brightly, and it was already night as she studied her father's notes.

"Didn't Jonah come to wake me today? Hasn't he finished cooking yet?"

Rubbing her stomach, Laura left her cabin and went to the deck, where only the lookout was on duty.

When the lookout saw Laura, he rubbed his hands and called out to her, "Hey, Laura, ask Jonah when he'll have dinner ready, and tell the captain I need to get someone to relieve me, I need to go to the toilet!"

Laura waved to the lookout to indicate that she had received it.

However, when Laura arrived at the kitchen, she found that it was different from usual. Almost everyone on the ship was there, lined up neatly at the cabin door like guards.

Looking at these people, Laura asked, puzzled, "Hey! What's wrong with everyone? Is this some kind of performance art?"

Jocelyn Reyes, the ship's mechanic, frantically winks at Lara after seeing her, urging her to leave.

Laura understands that Jocelyn doesn't like her, so their relationship isn't very good, and she can't grasp the true meaning behind Jocelyn Reyes's glances.

Laura tried to push everyone, but found that they couldn't move and could only blink at her.

Realizing she had encountered some strange event, Laura didn't try to run away. Instead, the situation fueled her adventurous spirit. She lowered her body and pressed herself against the ship's wall to try and find out what was going on.

The kitchen hatch was not closed, and Laura could see the scene inside by the light inside the cabin.

The kitchen had now been transformed into a luxurious dining room, with a small round table in the center where a tall, thin man was dining elegantly, while Jonah mechanically served him.

Laura glanced into the cabin out of the corner of her eye. Seeing this scene, she wanted to go back to her own cabin to get the weapon her father had left her. Although she didn't know if it would work on this person, having a weapon in hand would make her feel more at ease.

However, when Laura tried to turn her head, she found she couldn't move her body. At the same time, she heard a voice in her ear.

"Leaving without saying goodbye? That's not very polite..."

Completely unable to control her body, Lara stiffly walked into the kitchen and stood next to the greedy man.

Laura discovered that she could actually speak, but instead of rushing to express herself, she quietly watched the greedy man eat.

After the greedy person finished eating all the food on their plate and wiped their mouth, they slowly said, "You're the most sensible one, knowing not to disturb someone's meal..."

After saying that, the greedy man waved his hand, and Laura found herself able to move again.

At this moment, the round table and various decorations in front of the greedy man disappeared, and his chair was replaced by a single sofa. He was holding a glass of wine and looking at Laura.

Laura observed the greedy man's posture, as if he were a superior waiting for an explanation from below, and that Laura's explanation could determine the life or death of the entire ship.

Instead of asking or explaining readily, Laura tried to be friendly by saying, "I haven't asked your name yet, sir?"

"I am a greedy person, a demon."

Upon hearing this, Laura felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave. She had originally thought that the person in front of her was some kind of superhuman who could control people, and that she might be able to get close to him or find an opportunity to fight back using the weapons on the ship.

But when it came to demons, Laura didn't know how to answer. She believed the answer almost instantly. It wasn't that no one had ever pretended to be a demon before, but those people were either wiped out by various countries or turned to ashes by hell.

The fact that the person in front of me dares to speak means that what he says is true; at least he is not afraid of any country or hell.

Ignoring the chill running down her back, Laura continued to ask humbly, "So, is there anything I can do to help you?"

“I originally wanted to go to Skull Island, but now I’ve changed my destination… I’m going to Yamatai with you, Laura Crawford…”

"You know me? You know Yamatai? It's true! My father's records are all true!"

When archaeology was mentioned, Lara became instantly interested. She almost forgot about the surroundings and paced around in circles, talking to herself.

However, when Laura regained her senses, she was filled with remorse for her actions. She wondered if she had offended the demon before her.

However, the greedy man said nothing, but simply savored the wine in his glass.

Seeing this, Laura grew bolder and said to the greedy man, "Sir, since we're all in the same boat, could you release my friends? This ship still needs them to steer it..."

Laura finished speaking nervously and waited for the greedy man's reply.

However, the greedy one simply stretched out a finger, waved it in the air, and freed everyone.

After being restrained for so long, everyone trembled and squatted down, sitting on the ground to relieve their sore muscles.

Jonah, the cook, shouted and lunged at the greedy one.

"Laura! Run!"

Jonah's actions were somewhat reckless, but also very brave; he was the only one present who dared to confront the greedy one head-on.

However, Jonah was forcibly fixed in the air, and once again he could not move at all, and could only frantically signal to Laura with his eyes.

Laura heard the sound and saw Jonah become a floating stone sculpture.

“Jonah! Sir, he means no harm, I will make him cooperate…”

Laura pleaded with the greedy man, trying to save Jonah's life.

However, the greedy one moved Jonah behind Laura, freed him from his restraints, and said, "It's alright. Such brave people are rare even in Hell. I'll keep an eye on him, and I'll take his soul as soon as he dies..."

The words of a greedy person may be as casual as saying they're going downstairs to buy groceries, but to Laura and Jonah they sound like a death knell.

Before Laura could continue explaining, the greedy man bypassed them and headed towards the deck outside the cabin.

Everyone moved their bodies frantically along the way, even though their limbs were still numb and tingling, but fear kept them away from the greedy.

On the deck, the greedy man deliberately found the best spot with a good view, leaned against the railing at the bow, and waited.

Looking into the darkness inside the ship, the greedy one smiled slightly and said, "Aren't you going to make a move? Aren't you tired of waiting for so long?"

As soon as he finished speaking, several gunshots rang out from the darkness, and two semi-automatic weapons fired all their bullets at the greedy man.

Having emptied all their bullets, the man in the darkness was still not satisfied and launched a rocket-propelled grenade toward the greedy man.

"Hey! Using an RPG is a bit much!"

Chapter 239: Changing the Course to Yamatai

RPG, carrying the hopes of everyone on the ship, flew towards the Greedy One, but saw no explosion.

All they saw was the greedy man leaning against the railing walking back towards the crowd, with the grenade floating in front of him.

On one side, the greedy man faced a dark corridor with bullets flying around him, and on the other side, the crew on the ship who hadn't recovered yet. Grenades were dangling right in front of everyone.

Pointing at the grenade, the Greedy One looked into the darkness and said, "If you don't come out soon, I'll let go. The grenade has already exceeded the safety spin count..."

However, the darkness remained silent, and no one emerged from within.

The greedy man re-examined the grenade and discovered the trick: it wasn't filled with explosives, but was a modified holy water bomb.

The grenade floated in front of the greedy man, its various latches and knobs falling off on their own and disintegrating into parts.

The remaining parts fell to the ground, leaving only a pool of holy water before the greedy man.

Looking at the holy water, the greedy one mischievously stuck his finger in, creating a burning sound and smell with the flames. Since one finger evaporated relatively slowly, the greedy one simply stuck his entire hand in.

Like water being poured into a hot pan and evaporated, the sound and smell both stimulated everyone who saw the scene.

The greedy man knelt on the ground, clutching his chest, struggling and saying, "Oh my god, I can't take it anymore... Haha, just kidding, if you don't come out, I'll kill them all..."

The bullets that were originally aimed at the greedy were now in the greedy's control again, with one in front of each person, aimed at them.

Faced with such a threat, a male voice came from the darkness: "I surrender. Please spare them. You can do whatever you want to me!"

After he finished speaking, a man in plain military uniform emerged from the darkness, with a dagger strapped to his left shoulder.

This is Captain Conrad Ross of the Endurance, holding two weapons and slowly placing them in front of the greedy man.

Looking at the weapons at his feet, the greedy man paid no attention and continued to gaze into the darkness.

“Actually, I know exactly how many people are on the ship, where you are, and what you’re doing, so don’t play hide-and-seek with me, Samantha…”

Under the threat of the greedy, a girl with an oriental face, Samantha, emerged from the darkness. She was Laura's classmate and one of the funders of this expedition, but she was also a descendant of Himiko.

Samantha leaped out of the darkness like a rabbit, hiding in a panic behind Captain Conrad. Then, seeing Laura in the crowd, she ran to Laura's side and grabbed her arm.

At this moment, everyone was around the greedy man, waiting for him to decide their fate. Almost no one on the ship had any objection to Captain Conrad Ross's actions.

Aside from the most callous traitor on the entire ship, James Whitman, this popular archaeology television presenter only cared about fame and fortune; nothing else mattered to him.

Like a dog, Whitman crawled out of the crowd and began to fawn over and beg for mercy from the greedy man, based on the conversation he had overheard between the greedy man and Laura.

"My lord, I am the most renowned archaeologist on the entire ship. Only I can find Yamatai..."

Whitman's words separated him from others: the greedy are interested in going to Yamatai, and only archaeologists can guide the way, while others are useless.

If Captain Conrad Ross's resistance were in accordance with the devil's nature, he would surely have taken the souls of some people to establish his authority, while Whitman would have had to rely on his own talent to escape with his life.

Whitman's actions drew stares from everyone on the ship, who couldn't believe he was actually begging for favors. For Laura, this act shattered her idolized image of the doctor she so admired.

Hearing Whitman's words, the Greedy One crossed his arms and stroked his chin with the other, saying, "You're right, I have to punish you to make amends for your earlier offense..."

Hearing this, everyone felt a chill run down their spines, awaiting their fate. Captain Conrad and the cook Jonah had already begun their final prayers.

The greedy man waved his hand, pointing at Captain Conrad Ross, and said, "For your offense, I will make your closest person betray you... She will hide the true identity of your child..."

Upon hearing this, Conrad Ross immediately looked at Jocelyn Reyes, the ship's mechanic. He had been having an affair with the ship's mechanic, and Jocelyn's child was even Conrad Ross's, though he hadn't told him.

But doesn't the greedy person's words directly reveal the answer to the riddle?

Next, the greedy man pointed at Samantha, causing Laura, who was standing in front of her, to tremble.

Waving a finger at Laura, signaling her to move aside, the Greedy One continued, "As for you, Samantha, descendant of Himiko, I will stop your ancestor's plan and ensure her resurrection fails!"

“Alex Weiss, you have a crush on Laura, but Laura doesn’t love you… Jonah Mayawa, I’ll be waiting to take your soul after you die…”

After saying this, the greedy man returned to the deck at the bow of the ship, took out a deck chair, and enjoyed his last moments of peace.

Whitman, who was hated by everyone, was left behind, along with the eruption of everyone's conflicts.

Among these people, some were told they had a crush on someone and were ready to face social humiliation. Others thought about how they had a child that her mother had kept from them, and immediately started arguing and fighting with her mother.

Jonah, preoccupied with his own thoughts, awaited his death until Laura pointed out the truth behind it, at which point Jonah finally felt at ease.

Everyone present resumed their previous harmonious sailing state, except for Whitman, who was ostracized.

Laura then brought Samantha to the side of the greedy man.

It was nighttime, and the greedy creature yawned, preparing to retract its deck chair and then grab a cabin to sleep in. Laura and Samantha stood in front of it, blocking its way.

Upon seeing the greedy man, Laura mustered her courage and said gratefully, "Thank you, sir..."