Overthinking

A moment later, Replicus had returned the Paladin Champion to the ship. He slumped back into his seat and took several minutes to process what had just happened.

"Looks like this is going to be harder than I initially thought. That sockethole has a plan with this man," Replicus said.

Oddly, the Paladin Champion looked to be at peace, not knowing that he – as Replicus surmised – was bonded to a particularly powerful Undeath creature for whatever reason. Or perhaps several?

The creature that came out of him insisted that he drop the Champion back into the ocean and make a U-turn for home.

'What's his plan?'

Indeed. That was the question.

What was the masked man's plan?

As things looked now, it might be impossible for Replicus to heal the Paladin and attempt to make him an ally as well as killing him and making him an Apostle.