Elizabeth stared at him for a heartbeat—then turned and ran.
She barely took two steps before Daniel appeared directly in front of her, blocking her path without warning.
She skidded to a halt.
"…Right," Daniel said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Kidnapping women isn't exactly my preferred hobby, but clearly you're not going to cooperate if I ask nicely."
Elizabeth didn't hesitate.
She lifted her leg and drove it straight toward him.
Daniel reacted on instinct, catching her ankle mid-strike. His eyes widened as the intent registered a fraction too late.
"Are you insane?" he blurted. "You don't hit a man there! Do you have any idea how painful that would be?"
Even though he had steel skin, he didn't believe a hit there would be painless. He had never tested it, and he had no intention of finding out.
Just the thought of something hitting there was enough to make him instinctively tense.
Some experiences didn't need experimentation.
Elizabeth struggled against his grip, fury clear in her eyes.
"I don't care!" she snapped. "You're trying to kidnap me—do you honestly think I'd just cooperate?"
Daniel paused, then sighed. "Alright. Kidnap might be the wrong word," he said. "I'm thinking more along the lines of taking you along on an adventure."
Elizabeth stared at him.
"I thought having a beautiful woman's company would make the journey more… more—" he frowned slightly, searching for the word, "—colorful."
As he spoke, he let go of her leg and stepped back, giving her space.
"Adventure?" Elizabeth repeated flatly. "Why should I come with you?"
"For many reasons," Daniel replied calmly. "Undead sailors. Ancient curses. Long sea journeys. Gods. A haunted ship. Hidden treasure."
He counted them off on his fingers. "That should be enough reasons."
Elizabeth crossed her arms. "Do I look like a child who believes in fairy tales?"
"Yes," Daniel said without hesitation. "Because you already have."
She stiffened.
"That ship you saw," he continued, "the day you found that medallion on Will Turner—it wasn't your imagination. The same ship is attacking Port Royal right now."
Elizabeth's breath caught.
"That medallion drew them here," Daniel said. "That's why they reacted the way they did when they saw it. That's why they laughed."
Her mind raced. "…So that's why."
Daniel watched her closely. "Don't you want to know why they're searching for it? How they tracked it all the way here?"
"How did you know?" Elizabeth asked, staring at him. She had never told anyone—about the medallion, about finding it, about the strange ship that had appeared that day.
Daniel shrugged. "I have my ways."
He glanced briefly toward the window, where distant cannon fire still echoed, then looked back at her.
"So," he continued calmly, "you have a choice. Come with me and find out why those pirates want that medallion, how they tracked it here, and what exactly that ship is."
He paused, then added bluntly, "Or you can stay. Marry that Commodore. Spend the rest of your life here, safe, proper, and permanently trapped."
Elizabeth stiffened. She didn't like how casually he said it—like her future was just another path on a map.
Daniel met her gaze, expression unreadable.
"Either way, the world doesn't stop," he said. "It just moves on without you."
Elizabeth clenched her hands at her sides, torn between anger, fear… and something else she didn't want to admit.
Curiosity.
Because deep down, she already knew one thing—
Staying would haunt her far more than leaving ever could.
The life she lived now was a lie—a role carefully performed, the image of a perfect lady worn for others, not for herself.
If she remained, she would be choosing a future she never wanted.
"I—" Elizabeth began.
She didn't get to finish.
Soldiers' shouts echoed from the corridor outside.
"Find the Governor's daughter!"
Footsteps rushed closer.
Daniel glanced toward the door and sighed. "Too late."
Before Elizabeth could react, he scooped her up effortlessly, holding her in his arms.
"Hey—!" she started.
"You might want to hold on," Daniel said calmly. "This might scare you."
Before she could protest, a black aura spread over his body, wrapping around them both. The air shifted—and in the next instant, they were gone.
The room vanished.
Elizabeth gasped as the world reappeared in motion.
They were moving—fast. Far too fast.
Streets blurred past them, lights and shadows streaking together as people, buildings, and fire rushed by in indistinct flashes. The sound of wind filled her ears, and her grip tightened instinctively around Daniel's coat.
No carriage could move like this.
No horse.
No human.
Her heart pounded as she realized what she was seeing.
She slowly lifted her head and looked up at Daniel.
"What are you?" Elizabeth asked quietly.
Daniel glanced down at her.
"I'm one of those mysteries," he said. "The kind that no one can solve."
Elizabeth swallowed, tightening her grip on his coat. Fear was there—but so was something else now. Curiosity.
*****
A/N: If you'd like to read chapters ahead of the Webnovel release schedule, you can join my Patreon!
The Patreon version is already updated up to Chapter 84.
👉 patreon.com/Universal_Peace