Reincarnated in a Fantasy World with Murderous Intent.

A random excerpt:

“I’m looking for information on the White Fang.”

The port officer I was speaking to, the manager, jerked as if stung. “The Fang?”

“Yes, is that a problem?”

“Is there going to be trouble?” he asked, looking at the two guards I’d brought along. “Because if there is, you’re going to need a hella lot more men than that. I’ll need to alert my people too.”

I frowned. “There shouldn’t be any trouble, I’m here to ask the captain a few questions about a crewmember who disembarked.”

“You’re going to question Red?”

“Red is the captain I assume.”

He nodded. “You know the Fang is about the most feared pirate ship on the seas, right?”

I frowned. Trust my quarry to have come in on such a vessel. Everything about the boy was just… excessive.

“And you know that Captain Red is an Elder Vampire?” he went on. “She’s about a thousand years old, so they say, and as tough and as smart as they come.”

I sighed. “She’s not excessively unfriendly though?” I asked.

The manager made a face. “I guess not. She just scares the shit out of me.”

“Where are they docked?” I asked.

“Berth fifteen C,” he said. “You’d better hurry, they’re getting ready to cast off.”

“Right. Can you show me the way then?”

Instead of replying, the manager shouted at a nearby worker. “Johnson! Show this officer to the White Fang please.”

“Aye boss,” Johnson said. “This way sir.”

We followed the worker out, through the port, which was bustling with activity as it always was. Along we went to the area that hosted mostly non naval craft, and to an imposing ship with furled black sails, sitting by itself at the end of the quay.

“That’s the Fang,” Johnson said. “Good luck! I’m off.” He scarpered.

Scowling, and with my escort in tow, I walked towards the pirate vessel. It was probably the most impressive ship in the port, barring a couple of our larger warships, and there was a fair amount of activity going on around it. They were, indeed, preparing to leave. I was just in time.

An enormous man with a wide brimmed hat and a face mostly covered in hair approached me. I had to stop myself from flinching. He was a fearsome figure.

Still, his tone was polite and civil.

“May I help you officer?” he asked.

“I’m here to speak to the captain, if possible.”

“Is there something wrong?” he asked.

I glanced over at the crew working behind him. Most of them had put down any crates, or stopped what they were doing, and were glaring in my direction, hands on swords.

“No, nothing like that. I’m just here to ask about a crewmember who disembarked here.”

The man’s eyes widened. “I see. Please wait here. I shall fetch the captain.”

He walked off up the gangplank whilst I stood there, trying not to look threatening. The crew started working again, but kept an eye on me and my escort as they did so.

A shiver of dark premonition went through me, seconds before a tall figure strode down the gangplank.

Captain Red, it could only be, approached, and I tried to stop myself from quivering. Something about her just radiated danger. I felt like a rabbit before a lion.

“Officer,” she said, as she neared. “How may I help you?” A smile, showing long fangs.

Chiding myself for my reaction, I took a breath and forced myself to calm down.

“I’d like to ask about a crewmember who disembarked here, if I may.”

“And who would this crewmember be?” she asked, still smiling that unnerving smile.

“He’s a young lad, a wizard, by the name of Theodore Helmage.”

“Ah, yes. He was a valuable member of my team. I hope he’s doing well, and not causing any issues?”

“No, not at all. However, a few… anomalies in his paperwork have shown up, and I just wanted to ask you how long he was with you, and where you picked him up. Plus anything else you feel you could share about his time with you, and his abilities.”

“I see.” The captain nodded. “I’m sorry officer, but I can’t help you.”

“You can’t?”

“Let me rephrase that. I won’t help you.”

“You…” I was astonished. This never happened. “You do realise that I’m a senior officer in this city, yes? I could have your license to dock revoked you know. It wouldn’t be hard for me.”

Red sighed. “So quick on the threats.” Shaking her head, she stepped a pace closer. My two guards jerked slightly and put their hands on their swords, but I held an arm out.

“Officer, it’s true that you could cause the Fang some issues,” she said in a low voice. “However, I’ve been coming here for a very long time, and I have a number of… let’s say influential contacts of my own. This isn’t my first day in this line of work you know.” She held a long, thin, finger up. “That’s not to say it wouldn’t cause me some inconvenience, but you know what? I’d rather piss your government off than Theodore Helmage. I have contingency plans in place for paperwork problems. I can deal with them. However, I would not like to make Theo angry. I value my ship, my crew and my own life too much to try that. So do what you will. I’ll take the risk.”

She looked around. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, we’re preparing to cast off. I hope your investigation works out.”

With that, she strode off back onto her vessel, leaving me open mouthed.

A senior vampire was willing to fight the Dominion Empire rather than make a young lad angry?

I turned around in a daze, and started making my way back to the city.

“What the fuck?!”