Woke up in a villain's body

Raven approached the mysterious figure he had seen earlier at the dock.

"Who are you?" he asked,

The figure remained calm and emotionless. "You must be Raven. Watch your back. You're going to face more than just pirates. And prepare yourself for Captain Varian's beast—it's something you won't be able to ignore."

Raven's urgency grew as he pressed for answers. "I asked, who are you?"

Without another word, the figure turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Raven alert and uneasy.

Varian huh, so he knows I am coming for him, well that's good I don't want you to be an easy target anyways

Later, a massive pirate ship appeared on the horizon. Cannons fired, striking the liner and throwing everyone into chaos as passengers scrambled to escape.

Raven's instincts took over, and he shouted to the crowd, "If you know how to fight, get ready! These pirates won't hesitate to kill us!"

When the pirate ship pulled alongside them, Raven watched as mercenaries fought back against the attackers. Just as they started gaining an advantage, someone among them betrayed the group and attacked from within.

"What's going on?" Raven yelled as the traitor was exposed.

"Looks like we've got snitches amidst," one of the mercenaries muttered angrily.

Raven decided to join the fight

"Arise"

Blood Summoning Activated.

Take down every pirate, Raven watched as his summonings fought against the pirates, damn these guys are good or I am becoming lazy nowadays

After they managed to take control of the situation, Raven saw that the survivors and mercenaries had regained order.

As he watched them steer the ship, feeling uneasy. What else should I expect

He took a moment to catch his breath and assess the situation. They had captured the pirate ship, but reaching Calonia safely would still be a challenge.

When they arrived in Calonia, Raven stepped into the bustling port, where he was greeted by the salty sea breeze and lively energy of the city. Sailors guided their ships safely ashore using impressive naval vessels and towering lighthouses.

Raven wandered into a nearby tavern and spotted Captain Varian's crew sitting at a table. He quietly listened in on their conversation without being noticed. They talked about the tides that made pirate journeys easier but also mentioned a monster that Varian had tamed.

A senior naval officer approached Raven with a serious expression. "You were part of capturing that pirate ship, right? We need to talk."

Raven pointed toward Varian's crew sitting nearby. "You know who they are right. Are you too scared to meet them or rather arrest them?"

The officer frowned, clearly annoyed. "Don't mess with Calonian naval officers."

Raven smirked. "You're the one who shouldn't be messing with pirates, oops my bad, I mean mess with me."he burst into laughter

She got annoyed and left

After a while Captain Varian strolled over to Raven, flashing an easy smile. "Hey there, I'm Varian. I know Carl sent you my way."

Raven narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, I got the message also from one of your lackeys well I did justice to him seems you didn't train him well.

So what is the deal with you."

Varian suggested "Well Raven let's make a deal, Raven interrupted. Don't waste your energy Valian, with all the troubles you've given me,I'm already set on killing you and you know this popular phrase, Dead man don't talk."

Varian laughed. "Well, good luck with that."

Their exchange hinted at a deeper strain beyond this moment. Raven recalled a previous encounter with the pirates under Varian's leadership. He's been a pain in my neck for far too long.

The following morning, corporate officers knocked on his door. "The General wants a word with you," they asserted.

Raven shot back, "Who the f**k is your General well tell him to drop by instead."

The officers exchanged uneasy looks before quickly leaving. This time, though, the atmosphere felt charged—Raven realized he had stirred up trouble, and they'd be back with reinforcements.

A few hours later, they returned, this time with extra guards, but Raven was already one step ahead and missing from his spot.

As he wandered through the city, the signs of the pirate attack were everywhere. The naval guards were on high alert, and tensions were running rampant. Locals murmured about Varian's beast, a creature said to be controlled through dark sorcery or rather forbidden art.

Suddenly, a striking woman approached him, her eyes fixed on Raven with curiosity and a hint of wariness. "Raven, we need to talk," she stated decisively, her voice smooth yet commanding.

Raven studied her, skepticism was evident on his face. "What's up with your authorities? Tell your General am too busy to have conversations with him.

The woman smirked. "Oh, well I can't really tell if you are joking or expecting me understand what you are saying," she said, stepping closer. "You're not easy to overlook, Raven. But I think it's time we had this chat somewhere else."

Raven's instincts kicked in. "And why should I take your word for it?" His hand instinctively hovered near his dagger.

Before Raven could react she put Raven on a deep illusion

Raven woke up and find himself in an unfamiliar room.

"Urgh, at least I wasn't knocked out "

The warm scent of tea filled the air.

"Wassup, Raven? I'm an Imperial Vanguard," she said, watching his reactions closely.

Raven was surprised. "Then... you must be Ariana?"

Ariana nodded. "Yes, I am, you're pretty good at figuring things out aren't you."

Raven sat up, still feeling disoriented. "And your powers... you must be Queen Seraphina's daughter," he ventured, trying to figure out who the character could be from the novel.

Ariana's expression turned serious when her mother was mentioned. "Yes, that's right. But titles don't define me, Raven. My mission does."

Raven thought about what it meant for her to be there. Is she trying to protect me, or is she just gathering information?

"The truth is, you're already seen as a high-level profile threat," Ariana explained. "We've seen what your powers can do. I was sent to observe you.

"And how did you become interested in me?"Raven asked

"I followed you from the capital," Ariana admitted. "We need to know more about your connections to Lord Carl and Captain Varian."

Raven raised an eyebrow. "And what about Varian? What's your interest in him?"

Ariana's expression turned serious. "Varian's involved in big illegal activities—magical trafficking and using forbidden beasts. He's become a major threat to our naval routes."

Raven's mind focused. "And what about his A-ranked level beast?"

"Yes, that's a problem," Ariana agreed. "But my role here is to gather evidence on his operations without being noticed."

Raven's determination grew. "I need to take that beast down and I will need your help."

Ariana nodded but clarified, "I agree, but I won't be helping you on your mission. If I'm seen assisting you, it could ruin everything."

Raven questioned her further. "And what exactly does your undercover mission entail? What are you trying to achieve?"

Ariana explained, "I'm here to prove Varian's involvement in these illegal activities. If I succeed, it could give us the leverage we need to take him down without starting a war with the pirates."

As they spoke, a falcon bird flew in delivering a message to Ariana, she checked the letter

"Looks like our time is running out," Ariana warned. "Varian's men are moving. You'll have to handle your mission alone, Raven. I'll be watching from the shadows."

Raven's system suddenly beeped, alerting him to a powerful enemy nearby.

System Notification: Warning! Powerful Enemy Detected!

Details: "Prepare for combat! This enemy is dangerous and full of bloodlust, which will require strategic thinking to defeat."