Third person's POV
He stood in front of the mirror. His fingers gently pinched the thin edge of the facial prosthetic, slowly peeling it off.
As the prosthetic came off, a pair of chiseled features gradually revealed themselves.
They were a cold, stern gaze, a high-bridged nose, and sharply defined lips that exuded a unique charm.
His skin, already fair, was nearly translucent from lack of sunlight, appearing even paler under the lights.
His shirt collar was slightly open, hinting at his collarbones.
He stared silently at his reflection, like a vampire emerging from a medieval castle.
He was elegant and noble, yet distant and aloof.
With a light step, he moved into the steamy, hot shower area.
Fine droplets from the showerhead rained down on him.
After a moment, black liquid flowed slowly down his skin, snaking across the white floor like a mysterious ink snake.
He closed his eyes, allowing the water to wash over him. His mind was a whirl of thoughts yet blank at the same time.
When he stepped out of the shower, his aura had subtly transformed.
The powerful presence concealed by the prosthetic was now fully unleashed. An imposing force radiated outward like tangible waves.
His expression was stern, and his gaze was profound. He picked up the mask, gently placed it on his face, and swiftly donned his camouflage uniform. His every movement was decisive and efficient.
After dressing, he straightened his back and strode purposefully towards the command room.
Everyone along the way was cowed by his aura, parting to create a wide path. In unison, they saluted, "Sir!"
Derek walked with determination. His eyes were resolute and authoritative.
Derek swiftly entered the command room. Rolf, who was usually jovial and casual, instantly became serious and grave, reporting, "The pirate ship has been successfully sunk by our forces. We've spotted some pirates fleeing on life rafts, trying to escape with their lives."
A flicker of cold ruthlessness crossed Derek's eyes as he commanded in a deep, firm voice, "Let none of them escape."
"Yes, sir!" Rolf responded loudly, his voice echoing in the command room.
"What about the cargo ship?" Derek asked next, his heart filled with concern for the situation on the cargo ship, especially the safety of the two children.
"Rest assured. Alvin has already boarded the cargo ship with his team and will ensure the safety of everyone on board," Rolf reassured him quickly.
Thinking of the two little ones by the railing of the cargo ship, Derek felt a tangle of worry and anxiety.
In that critical moment, all he could think about was protecting Tabitha, with no time to consider anything else.
Now, knowing his children were alive, joy and tension collided within him.
He had just tested Tabitha, but her avoidance of Derek's name was a clear indication that her resentment towards him was as deep as an unfathomable abyss.
How could she easily allow him near those two children?
After an intense battle, the pirates were defeated.
Those captured hung their heads in defeat, escorted by soldiers, while the defiant ones were shot on the spot. Not a single pirate managed to escape. It was a complete victory, with all of them captured or killed.
The captain sat on the ground, his body trembling, muttering, "Thank goodness for the good fortune today, or everything would have been lost. Whether the cargo could be saved is uncertain, but if the pirates had boarded, we would all have died!"
In his early years of sailing, he had encountered pirates multiple times, their devilish brutality still haunting him. Those terrifying memories were like nightmares he never wanted to revisit.
Now, encountering a naval rescue, he felt blessed by divine intervention.
After boarding the cargo ship, Derek anxiously searched. His gaze was sharp, not overlooking any corner. But despite scouring the entire ship, the little boy was nowhere to be found.
"Where is that little boy?" Alvin, frantic with worry, rushed forward and grabbed the captain's collar, demanding an answer.
The captain, startled by the sudden action, wiped the tears from his eyes with a trembling hand and asked blankly, "What little boy?"
"The two-year-old boy!" Alvin almost shouted, his anxiety seeming to burn in his eyes.
"Ah, you mean Helios? I told him to stay in the room," the captain stammered.
But when they rushed into the room, it was empty, not a soul in sight.
A flash of insight crossed Derek's mind, his face changing as he spun around and sprinted towards the storage room.
The ropes binding Lucian had been cut with a sharp tool. When he jumped in to save Tabitha and Ayla, Lucian must have seized the opportunity to escape with Helios.
"Sir, we've noticed a lifeboat is missing. Someone must have slipped away in the chaos," a soldier reported, rushing over.
"Damn it! Pursue them immediately. They can't have gotten far!" Derek's face was dark with anger and urgency.
Finally, the dawn of the family reunion was within reach, and Lucian dared to run away with the child. How could Derek not be furious?
Tabitha had risked her life to find her children. Now that one was missing, how could he face her?
The entire night, everyone was frantically busy.
All were dealing with the aftermath of the pirate attack—some tended to the wounded, others cleaned up the battlefield, and still others comforted the shaken crew.
Derek was no exception, tirelessly moving between areas, directing with composure, yet worry shadowed him like a specter.
Before dawn, Rolf rushed over, his expression panicked, and shouted, "Tabitha has a high fever!"
"What?" Struck by this news, Derek's face turned deathly pale.