Arcane: Begging for Help in a Parallel Universe!

[Check Out My P4treon For +50 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! And get chapters before publishing them here for free on my p4treon][https://p4treon.com/roooaaa]

===

The torrential rain drenched Bilgewater, turning the city into a soggy, miserable mess. As an island city, Bilgewater was already infamously humid, but the relentless downpour made it unbearable. The rain soaked every corner of the city, making it a nightmare to venture outside. Yet, despite the dreadful weather, the summons from the Leviathan couldn't be ignored.

Boots crafted in Demacia splashed into a puddle, sending droplets flying in all directions. A rat scurrying in the corner hissed at the intruder, but the boot's owner paid no attention to the frightened creature. Instead, his gaze was fixed on the dock ahead. The dock belonged to Gangplank.

The Pirate King, the Scourge of the Seas, the Master of the Leviathan... He had countless titles, each earned through bloodshed and fear. Okk tightened his cloak, shielding himself from the cold wind and rain. The summons had come suddenly and unexpectedly, but given Gangplank's notoriously erratic and violent nature, Okk wasn't entirely surprised.

The old man had ruled the city for over a decade, and unless something drastic happened, his shadow would loom over Bilgewater for decades to come, until a new Pirate King emerged. Truth be told, obeying Gangplank's orders wasn't so bad. As long as you didn't defy his will, showed him respect, and paid your dues on time... Hah, "dues"! Such a polite term for extortion. Regardless, as long as you played by Gangplank's rules, life in Bilgewater could be comfortable and even luxurious.

As an isolated island city with a natural harbor, ships from all over the world docked here. Spices and tobacco from Shurima, exotic beasts from Ixtal, silk and porcelain from Ionia, gunpowder and cannons from Noxus, swords and armor from Demacia, and cutting-edge tech from Piltover... Everything you could imagine was available. The only price? Obeying the Pirate King's rules.

Lost in thought, Okk continued forward, crossing the narrow wooden bridge that led to the dock. The bridge, washed clean by the rain, still bore the stains of blood that had seeped into its planks over the years. Below, the waters churned with razor eels and frenzied sharks, while the posts lining the bridge were adorned with the desiccated remains of those who had crossed Gangplank. It was a scene designed to instill fear. Anyone who crossed this bridge would feel their legs weaken before even laying eyes on Gangplank.

But Okk scoffed at such theatrics. True power didn't need to rely on fear-mongering. Besides, his loyalty to Gangplank was rooted in the commands of the true power behind the throne—the one who had supported Gangplank's rise to power.

As Okk crossed the bridge, he noticed that the Leviathan's dock was already crowded. Most of the city's prominent gang leaders had gathered here. Like the one-eyed man ahead of him, who had once single-handedly raided a Noxian ship with nothing but a harpoon and a bone cleaver. When his eye was gouged out, he simply swallowed it and kept fighting. Or the bald man, a lone wanderer from the deserts, whose curved blade was so sharp and swift that he could strip a man to the bone without killing him. And the fat man to his right, who had once wielded two cleavers to massacre an entire gang and take their place.

Yet, today, these fearsome figures stood quietly on the dock, their usual bravado absent. Why? Silence. Yes, silence. An unnatural silence. Gangplank hadn't even shown his face yet. Why were they all acting like frightened mice?

Puzzled, Okk pushed through the crowd and froze at the sight before him. Heads. So many heads. A mountain of heads. Each one encased in crystal, preserving their final expressions—shock, anger, fear, madness—each face telling a different story.

Gulp—

Okk swallowed hard, his hands gripping his cloak so tightly that the veins on the back of his hands bulged. He pulled the cloak tighter, as if trying to shield himself from the cold rain and wind. But an indescribable chill took root in his heart, spreading like weeds and leaving him frozen.

Knock, knock, knock—

The sound of knocking interrupted Link's thoughts. Deep in contemplation about how to counter a demon's ability to manipulate emotions using inspiration from lobotomy procedures, Link looked up, annoyed. The door opened, revealing Miss Fortune's smug face. But as soon as she stepped inside and saw Link's dark expression, her confidence evaporated, replaced by unease.

With her hands behind her back, Miss Fortune lowered her head, her eyes searching for her invisible toes. "Link, Okk and the gang leaders are here." Link glanced at his pocket watch and realized over two hours had passed. Time flies when you're deeply focused. Einstein's theory of relativity wasn't wrong.

"Hmm." Link nodded slightly, his expression no longer as dark but still unsettling. Miss Fortune hesitated. "Should I... leave now?" She reached for the door handle, but before she could open it, Link spoke. "One last piece of advice, Sarah." Miss Fortune's palm grew sweaty, and a cold shiver ran down her spine. She looked up at Link, trembling. "Y-yes?" "From now on, call me Boss." "...Yes!"

Miss Fortune wasn't sure how she made it out of the captain's cabin. Her legs felt like jelly. "Captain, what's the plan?" Raven, the first mate of the Syren, who was nursing a wounded arm, hurried over and whispered. Miss Fortune snapped out of her daze and glared at him. "What's it to you? The Boss's business isn't for you to meddle in!" Raven shrunk back, muttering, "I was just—" "Just what? Get back to work!" Miss Fortune clicked away in her high heels, leaving Raven to scratch his head and glance nervously at the Leviathan's cabin door. Were these really the same soft, wealthy Piltovans they had raided? They seemed completely different now!

After keeping everyone waiting for half an hour, Link finally appeared on the deck of the Leviathan. Dressed in a white lab coat, he looked down at the gathered gang leaders. "Gentlemen, this is our first meeting." His cold, spine-chilling voice cut through the rain, echoing in everyone's ears. "I know you're here to see Gangplank." "But he's dead, so this is undoubtedly bad news for you."

As Link spoke, Miss Fortune tossed Gangplank's crystal-encased head onto the dock. It rolled a few times before coming to a stop. Everyone saw Gangplank's final expression—shock, anger, brutality, and an unmistakable thirst for blood. Staring into the eyes of the Pirate King's severed head sent chills down their spines. The Scourge of the Seas, who had terrorized the oceans for over two decades, was dead? His head encased in crystal and thrown at their feet? It was like a bolt from the blue.

"I know it's hard to accept, but he's dead. There's no point dwelling on the past. It's time to move forward." Link stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at the crowd. They stared up at him, dazed, through the curtain of rain. "From today onward, this city is mine." "I don't care what you think or whether you accept me. I had Sarah gather you here to deliver a simple message." "Whatever rules Gangplank had, I don't care. My only rule is obedience." "So, to make our first collaboration pleasant, I'm issuing a bounty as a test." "Bring me Malcolm Graves and Twisted Fate—alive." "The first to complete the bounty will receive a reward and a place in my city."

Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 140 on my patreon go take a look and remember if you reach 110 stones of power I will publish the next chapter.