Chapter 13

The Navy Admiral of the Kingdom of Frantz, Admiral Garden, was caught in a wave of excitement as he came to deal with the bounty hunter Magellan, who had committed the “Crime of Treason.”

“Kuhuhut… Thank goodness, I was worried about what would happen at first… Truly, God has not abandoned me… no, us!”

Despite having a rather unfortunate start due to a fierce storm, he was fortunate enough to spot the enemy ship sooner than expected.

The ship of Magellan, moving slowly along with the current, appeared severely damaged by the storm.

Seeing this, Garden issued orders with a bright smile plastered across his face.

“Prepare to bombard. We will turn that filthy traitor’s ship to ashes!”

“Yes, Admiral!”

“Remember, although they’ve taken damage, that one over there is an Advanced Warrior. Don’t act stupid and get too close; take them out from a distance!”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Admiral.”

It remained uncertain if they had truly committed treason. However, the bounty hunter known as Magellan was a person far from anything of that nature according to the Navy Admiral Garden of Marinseu.

Due to the somewhat shaky condition of the Navy of the Kingdom of Frantz, they had no choice but to employ mercenaries or bounty hunters to maintain safety in nearby waters.

Representing such individuals and possessing the most exceptional skills was the bounty hunter Magellan.

However, given his affinity for drinking, womanizing, and fighting, it was quite unlikely that he would commit some grand act of rebellion.

Moreover, the death of such a capable individual could adversely affect the safety of Marinseu and the waters surrounding the Kingdom of Frantz… not to mention the entire Mediterranean Sea.

But regardless of the truth or the future state of the sea’s safety, Garden was determined in this moment to take Magellan’s head.

This order came from none other than Duke Ocleang.

As one of the three powerhouses capable of swaying the kingdom’s governance, his directive was not something that could be simply rejected. Moreover, considering the rewards that would come with success, Garden had no choice but to go all out.

“That’s 4000 talents! With that kind of money, I could quit this miserable Navy and live comfortably for the rest of my life!”

Being in a position where he had long contemplated quitting, this was a golden opportunity for a grand retirement to live lavishly afterward.

Without caring that those remaining were exhausted, Garden commanded the soldiers preparing to fire while dreaming of his bright future.

“Fire!”

-Kwahwahwahng!!!

The cannons let loose in unison at Garden’s command.

Though it was a medium-sized ship, it was barely above a small size in terms of dimensions and could hardly muster more than four cannons.

However, this was more than enough to sink Magellan’s ship, which had effectively lost its combat ability.

The ship, struck by cannon fire, quickly turned into a sea of flames, and Garden wore a pleased smile as he watched.

“Hahaha! Burn it all down! This is the filthy traitor’s grave!”

A bright future shone like the blazing flames, and with a voice filled with joy, Garden continued to issue commands for the attack.

But suddenly…

-BwooOOOOO!!!!

“Eh? What’s this…?!”

A loud sound suddenly struck his ears.

Garden, along with the Navy of the Kingdom of Frantz, turned their heads toward the source of the sound, and…

The color drained from their faces.

“Wha… what the hell is that?”

“Why is that ship so big…?”

“That’s not the point! Look at that flag!”

A massive ship suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

It was leagues apart from their own ship, dwarfing it by three to four times its size, boasting dozens of visible cannons on a colossal warship.

And… even more terrifying than that was the flag.

A golden skull drawn against a black background.

It signified…

“The… Pirate King?”

“What the hell! Damn it! Why the hell is that guy here?!”

This was far from a mere chance encounter; it was the Pirate King’s ship, sailing directly toward them.

The mere existence of it crushed their fighting spirit, turning it to dust, and the officer shouted in a frantic voice.

“Ad… Admiral! We need to retreat right now! Please give the order!”

“B-but… what about Magellan’s fate…”

“After that shot, he’s probably dead! And right now, that’s not important, is it? Do you want to become shark food here?!”

“Y-you’re right! …Retreat! We need to turn the ship around and get out of here!”

Garden hastily shook off any lingering regrets.

Fear breeds knowledge.

They knew full well that engaging the Pirate King and his subordinates with their current strength was nothing short of suicidal.

Not being able to claim Magellan’s bounty would be an issue, but being sunk by the Pirate King was not an option at all.

Just then, as Garden’s ship began to pivot hastily…

“Oh?”

“What… what is that?”

A golden ripple surged up from the wrecked ship of Magellan.

Despite a considerable distance, the sight sent chills down the spines of Garden and the Navy.

An immense wave of magical energy that shifted the atmosphere in an instant.

It twisted like a vortex rising into the sky, suggesting that something monumental was about to happen.

“Is… is it really the… Pirate King?”

“Damn it! Don’t just stand there! Move the ship! We need to escape at all costs…”

With Garden’s order, the Navy soldiers rapidly turned the helm.

At that moment…

-Pow!!!

A blinding golden flash obscured their view.

The intense heat felt as though the sun itself had exploded before their eyes, followed by an overwhelmingly fierce light.

Everything was enveloped in a burning sensation, felt all at once.

The violence of that light made the heartbeat of that fleeting moment feel painfully prolonged.

As the brilliance finally faded…

“Ugh…”

“Am… I alive?”

Realizing they were still breathing, pain from burns felt like they had been scorched by the sun, and Garden and the Navy slowly opened their eyes.

And then…

“Ugh!”

“Glug…”

What came into view before them was…

The sight of their ship missing about a third of its front.

Fortunately, the keel and lower sections remained intact, but the cabin and upper parts had literally evaporated.

They had no clue what had just happened, but everyone here knew well that this was the power of the Pirate King.

If they had been just a little closer…

No, if they had barely made the decision to retreat even a moment sooner, delaying the turn would have led to their ship being completely obliterated.

“What… what are you doing! Hurry… hoist the sails! If we get hit by another attack like that, we’re done for!”

“Y-yes, Admiral!”

Cramming all their strength into moving the ship, the terrified Navy crew worked urgently at Garden’s commands.

Fortunately, out of the three sails, only one was damaged, and the helm was still intact.

Though the balance was shaky with the front blown away, navigation was still possible.

To have retained any navigational ability after sustaining this level of damage was nothing short of miraculous.

Genuinely thanking God for that fact, Garden moved forward with every intention of abandoning any last shred of lingering desire regarding this incident.

Fortune smiled upon them with the wind at their backs.

And perhaps by pure luck, or perhaps due to the influence of that unbelievable strike, the current shifted as well, enabling them to speed away from their location.

‘The Pirate King… I’ve heard the rumors, but he’s truly terrifying… How could such a monster exist…’

Without the gust of wind they felt on their skin, they certainly would not have survived.

Thus, with a firm resolution to submit his resignation upon returning, Garden navigated the ship towards the Port of Marinseu.

*

“Ugh… I let him slip away…”

I frowned slightly, feeling disappointed.

The fleet of the Kingdom of Frantz dashed away rapidly before my eyes.

As much as I wanted to capture them for sure, they were just too far away, and the wind and current favored them.

Moreover, entering further inside posed the risk of provoking not only the Kingdom of Frantz but even the Navy of the Brittania Empire, which frequently appeared nearby.

There was no need to take unnecessary risks in this situation.

Besides… right now, the real priority was not those minuscule pests.

“Elkana, focus! Please… please open your eyes!”

Magellan shook the body of the pale, unconscious woman.

Seeing their battered condition made me frown slightly.

‘Was this the reason… for bringing me here?’

Along with that thought, I opened the status screen I had put aside for a while.

Surprisingly, even though I had met Magellan, my system had remained silent.

However, just a few days ago, after waking up, the system had suddenly started speaking out.

Today, it had been sending me unsettling feelings continuously.

<Hidden Mission Occurred - Choice of Fate>

[An event has occurred that will become a significant turning point based on your future choices.

Arrive at the waters near the Island of Sardine by the time the full moon rises and the sun begins to set.

Observe the events happening there and make your decision.

Based on your decision, the wheels of your fate shall begin to turn.

You may find yourself quietly enjoying a peaceful life, forgotten like a passing shadow in the currents of history

or you may choose to risk it all, leaving your mark upon this world for eternity.

The choice lies solely with you.

Objective: Choice and Decision.

Reward: Initiation or Abandonment of the Hidden Mission.

*Warning: This choice may lead to irreversible outcomes. Please judge carefully.]

“…”

The first quest to bear the name Hidden Mission.

I was checking that extraordinary title and content once more when…

“O Pirate King!”

Magellan knelt before me, tears beginning to show.

Tears I had never seen in the original work…

Cradling the cold, lifeless woman in his arms, he called out to me earnestly, his desire clear without saying a word.

“Please… please show mercy!”

And as I watched this unfold, a quiet thought echoed within me.

‘…Should I kill him?’