Chapter 158

“Lemain!”

In a rush, Louis was trying to get out of the boat.

However, her actions were stopped by Franklin.

“Stop it! We need to get out of here now.”

“What are you talking about! Are you saying you’re going to leave Lemain… your comrade behind? I can’t do that! If you can’t go, then I’ll go alone…”

“Don’t do anything reckless! Are you trying to make the Vice-Captain’s sacrifice meaningless? Think about why they let us escape!”

“!… Ugh…”

Louis, who had lost her composure at Franklin’s words, started to feel like she had just been doused with cold water.

As she said, it was clear why the sickly Lemain stayed behind in the enemy camp alone.

To buy time…

To hold the enemy back, while ensuring our own escape.

In this situation, Louis… no, not just the weak she, but everyone else returning there would only mean pointless deaths.

“Ugh… Ugh… Ughhh…”

Ultimately, in deep despair, Louis crumbled to her knees.

Watching her, who was engulfed in despair and crying, Franklin let out a small sigh and gave an order.

“There’s no time to be sad now. We must leave. We need to get out of here as quickly as possible.”

“Ugh… sniff… I… I understand…”

“Got it.”

Following her command, Louis struggled to get up, while Auriel opened her eyes late.

Though Cheshire and Schrödinger were still dazed, they too weren’t in the best condition, but they had no time to waste fussing over it as they quickly set sail.

At that moment…

-BAM!!!

“!!”

“Oh… oh no…”

The scene began to unfold before them as they left the port.

Black clouds covering the skies of Gibraltar.

And… countless lightning bolts pouring down from those clouds.

Even from a distance, the vibrations and noise hitting their ears hinted at the chaos occurring there.

*

-Whiiii…

The devastated central street of Gibraltar.

And the countless dead people sprawled everywhere.

As Rodney passed through that horrific massacre scene, a thick shadow loomed over her heart.

The large-scale slaughter she had desperately tried to prevent.

She had reluctantly led her subordinates to raid the black market, and if she had just secured the necessary funds, her intention was to release everyone without issue.

But…

Due to the fierce resistance that exceeded her expectations, Rodney ultimately failed.

The uncontrolled people had fled, and…

In the end, her failure had summoned her sister Nelson’s deployment, as promised.

The result was a storm of bloodshed.

Looking at the bodies lying on the ground, cut down by swords, Rodney asked in a heavy voice.

“…How many died?”

“…About 2000 people who were either working in the black market or were citizens using it were massacred. The others seem to have fled or hidden somewhere.”

“2000? Is that so?”

The number 2000 was certainly not small.

However, there were over 10,000 people in the black market when she rushed in, and given Nelson’s personality, she wouldn’t stop until she’d hunted down everyone involved, meaning the death toll would surely escalate exponentially.

Thus, 2000 casualties seemed far less than she had anticipated.

Filled with doubts about that fact, she simultaneously wondered if it hadn’t been a merciless slaughter, then what had caused the immense fluctuations in magical power she had sensed just moments ago…

Rodney quickly headed to the location where she felt her sister’s presence.

And…

“U-uh… Sister?”

“…”

The scene that unfolded before her was…

Nelson standing alone in the middle of the chaotic plaza.

An icy aura surrounded her.

The blackened ground and her tattered clothes, along with the visible wounds, suggested that an intense battle had taken place there.

But who dared?

Was there anyone other than that Nelson who could inflict such injuries?

Moreover, what troubled her further was the fact that the person she was looking for was nowhere to be seen.

Even if they had turned their opponent to ash with high-voltage electricity, some traces would have remained. Yet there was nothing in sight.

As Rodney was engulfed in questions and confusion, she didn’t dare to ask the details.

At that moment…

“…Rodney.”

“Yes…?”

“Contact the headquarters. As fast as you can. Gather all available troops here.”

“Th-That’s…”

“It’s an order. Execute it immediately.”

“Y-yes… understood.”

Unlike usual, her voice was devoid of any lightness.

Feeling the deadly intent radiating from her, Rodney had no choice but to follow the orders without asking more questions.

Once Rodney hurriedly left, Nelson was alone again.

Looking silently at the sky, her face was filled with deep fury.

The battle against that woman, still etched in her entire body.

While the situation was one where she was hunting a cornered enemy, it was certainly not an easy task.

The wounded predator, showing a fierce demeanor even in her ruined state…

While thinking of that face, which had flashed a chilling smile at her…

And… recalling the final moment that woman had shown her.

Nelson bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.

‘The summit… was right in front of me…’

*

As one climbs higher, they must learn to regulate their emotions.

The leader with a dozen subordinates,


The captain steering a ship with dozens onboard.


And then… even the Pirate King ruling the seas.

The higher one rises, the more my words and actions influence the lives of countless others,


In the worst case, a single choice of mine could sway the lives of many.

Therefore, since stepping into this position, I had tried my best to suppress my emotions.


Of course, it wasn’t easy, but I’ve worked towards actions that benefit our pirate crew… and further, the pirates as a whole, making that my guiding principle.

However…


At this moment,


No matter how hardened my heart, I could not suppress my emotions.

“C-Captain?”

“Didn’t you hear? I’ll say it again. Gather all the pirates that can be mobilized immediately. Call all the Pirate Lords from the Five Seas…”

I barely managed to restrain the exploding emotions as I spoke.

“Y-yes… understood.”

Sweating and lowering his head, Samir left the room.

Right after he exited the captain’s quarters…

I buried my face in my hands for a moment, overwhelmed by the incoming grief.

“Damn… Lemain… how could you…”

The report I received from Franklin.

The attack by the Brittania Empire,


And… the news of Lemain’s death in the process.

Though I hadn’t seen her complete body, it was that ‘bitch’ of a person who did it.


At that point, hoping that Lemain was alive was as good as impossible.

Moreover, given that her condition hadn’t been good right before her escape, the answer was already clear.


Lemain was no longer of this world.

I felt like my heart was overflowing with blood tears.

I desperately wanted to run to that damned place…


To Gibraltar right this instant.

However, regardless of this desire, that place belonged to the Brittania Empire.

A location that a single touch could make the Imperial Navy pounce like hounds.

Not to mention that it wasn’t the only issue.


Even at this moment, countless Brittania warships were gathering at Gibraltar.


The ever-increasing enemy forces.


And their total commander, the one known as the Queen of the Sea.

Grand Magician Admiral Horai Nelson.

The only person I had been unable to defeat on the seas.


The one who had defeated the Emperor in the original work.

If that was my opponent, then even if trivial matters arose, I would likely choose to avoid contact with her as much as possible.


I didn’t want to lose my precious ones, swept away by simple emotions, even if I had to face unpleasant experiences.

But…


What had just happened…


Was something I could never just let go.

Lemain Migdal.


One of my most treasured companions,


My oldest friend.


And…


Beyond mere friendship, a being who had been like family since we stood side by side as bottom-dwelling pirate crew members.

The fact that such a person had been killed


Tore apart the line of patience I had held within my heart.

“I will never forgive you… Nelson… I will definitely twist your neck with my own hands!”