Chapter 41

The pirates gathered on the deck.

In this moment, unlike usual, a rather serious atmosphere enveloped them. Elkana and Magellan were sitting off to one side, glancing around cautiously.

“What are they planning? Suddenly calling everyone here like this.”

“Anyway… It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it? This must be for the division of spoils from the incident two days ago. The fatigue has mostly worn off, and the injured have recovered, so a wrap-up is necessary.”

Today, Elkana gave her oblivious boyfriend a playful jab.

Though she hadn’t witnessed it firsthand, while the Pirate King and his crew were busy attracting the Navy’s attention, a secret plundering operation had taken place, executed skillfully by the infiltrating team, as planned throughout Benessa.

During that endeavor, they managed to snatch up a whopping 10,000 talants.

Additionally, the auction items brought by Elkana’s group were no ordinary goods, meaning the profits gained from this incident were substantial. Elkana easily deduced that around 30% of that would go towards maintaining the pirate crew, and the Pirate King summoned everyone to distribute the remaining earnings and honor their contributions.

Unlike the gloomy state from two days ago, Elkana was now fully revitalized and brimming with anticipation.

Seeing her, Magellan cracked a slight smile.

“Division of spoils, huh… That definitely sounds about right. We did something similar back in the day.”

“True… That Dex guy was such a pain, insisting on getting even a single more coin.”

“Looking back now, Polka had his own issues too, always lurking around for the final strike and snagging the credit.”

“Yeah, right! I was just waiting for the right moment to point that out…”

Suddenly, memories of their companions started resurfacing. Although the memories weren’t necessarily pleasant, recalling them brought on a fleeting sense of nostalgia… and soon, they were enveloped by a weighty emotion.

“…Ugh…”

“…Magellan…”

Magellan bit her lip, wearing a pained expression. Elkana placed her hand on Magellan’s shoulder to comfort her.

Finding solace in her gesture, Magellan suppressed her inner fury and spoke in a quiet voice.

“I will definitely repay them… their grudge…”

“We have to repay it… no matter what…”

Thus, the two took a brief moment to dwell on their feelings of resentment.

Once their emotions were a bit more settled, Elkana, wanting to lighten the mood, spoke up cheerfully, bursting with excitement.

“By the way, we really made quite an impact in Benessa this time, didn’t we? If we’re lucky, we might even snag a position among the officers!”

“Hmmm… Actually, I have something to say about that…”

“Hmm?”

In stark contrast to the anticipated expression of excitement, Magellan seemed less than thrilled.

As Elkana felt puzzled by that reaction, she cautiously inquired.

“What’s up? The auction items we brought back are really quite something. I mean, it seems like we’ve secured enough to be considered impressive, right?”

“…Sigh… In terms of profit, sure. But… honestly, if I were the Pirate King, I might actually get angry.”

“Huh? Why?”

“That’s…”

In the midst of expressing her confusion and a hint of embarrassment, just as Magellan began to explain the situation from the ‘Captain’s’ perspective…

“!”

“Hmm…”

In the next moment, the pirates, who had been slightly slouched, straightened up and stood tall.

Following suit, Magellan and Elkana also gathered themselves, taking their stands.

The Pirate King Ezra Drake settled into his seat, observing the pirates before him.

To his side, Vice-Captain Lemain began to speak in a calm voice.

“Everyone has gathered as commanded, Pirate King.”

The Pirate King nodded faintly at her words. His gaze then shifted to the assembled pirates on the deck.

“You all likely have some idea, but the reason I called everyone here is to organize the events from the recent incident in Benessa. First off, Auriel. Step forward.”

“Y-Yes!”

A woman walked cautiously forward in response to the Pirate King’s call. With silver hair and striking blue eyes, she was a remarkable beauty, radiating a serene aura befitting a nun.

“Meet our new companion, Auriel Stardust. She is a fellow cleric like Lemain and is skilled in healing, so if anyone needs assistance, don’t hesitate to talk to her.”

“A… Auriel Stardust?”

“Could it be that celestial voice?…”

A slight murmur rippled among the few pirates who were in the know. The Pirate King waved his hand lightly, calming the noise before speaking seriously once more.

“Regardless of her past, she is now one of our crew. As always, refrain from causing unnecessary turmoil and treat her kindly.”

Having concluded the introduction of the newcomer, the Pirate King gestured for Auriel to return.

He then transitioned into a more serious discussion regarding the Benessa incident.

“First, the strategist, Samir.”

“Here.”

As his name was called, Samir Rolonu stepped forward to acknowledge the Pirate King. Being the first to be mentioned clearly indicated he was the key player of the operation, holding the largest share of the profit (20%).

“Once again, everything went smoothly thanks to your plans. There were some minor losses, but they remained within your predictions; I recognize your efforts.”

“Your kind words are undeserved. What I did was merely flesh out the framework provided by the Pirate King. Instead, I believe we should commend those who worked hard on-site even more.”

His demeanor exuded courtesy and humility. Seeing him, the Pirate King offered a gentle smile and a nod.

“I do not wish to downplay their efforts. However, strategy falls not on just one person, but on the lives of many who participated in this endeavor. By executing it flawlessly, you essentially safeguarded everyone here. That’s what I hold in high regard.”

“Thank you for saying that, I am truly grateful.”

Samir lowered his head in appreciation. Despite a tone that seemed composed, the genuine smile he wore revealed his deep joy at that moment.

“Next, let’s hear from the leader of the infiltration team, Hayr Sassán.”

“Here.”

A man dressed in black, giving off more of an assassin vibe than a pirate, approached. His every move conveyed grace and he bowed respectfully.

“Once again, you’ve exceeded expectations with your outstanding contribution. I want to express my gratitude for flawlessly handling the situation, even when some plans had to be altered unexpectedly.”

“Everything is for my Sultan.”

His response carried a firm yet profound sense of loyalty. This was true not only for Hayr but also for the individuals standing behind him—those who had donned clown masks and managed the covert operations as part of this mission.

“Now, Lemain.”

“Yes, Pirate King.”

“You led the naval battle to a perfect victory as planned. Additionally, you assisted during the final retreat. I thank you for your reliable performance, as always.”

“Thank you, Pirate King. And about the reward…”

“15% from the plunder.”

“C’mon, can’t you give more?”

“14…”

“Just kidding!”

As praises and rewards continued to flow for those who had successfully completed their tasks, Elkana cautiously inquired of Magellan.

“Hey… why are we at the back? We did quite a sizable job too. Shouldn’t we be getting called soon?”

“…Sigh…”

Magellan’s voice conveyed a hint of dissatisfaction. With a heavy sigh, she replied.

“Well… honestly, we’re in a position where we wouldn’t have a leg to stand on, even if we got scolded.”

“Huh? What… what do you mean?”

Magellan’s unexpected words drew a look of confusion from Elkana. Just as she was about to clarify the situation with a serious tone…

“Next, Franklin.”

“…Yes, Captain…”

Franklin spoke in an unusually subdued voice. Simultaneously, the atmosphere on the ship grew cold, far removed from before…

It felt like facing a criminal.

In the chilling atmosphere, the Pirate King spoke in a calm manner.

“I want to commend you for your efforts. Regardless, the mission was successfully completed.”

“…Thank you…”

At that moment.

“However, Pirate King, you know that’s not all there is to it.”

“…”

Lemain’s voice turned icy as she spoke up.

She directed a cold glare not only at Franklin, who was bowing his head, but also at Ambasha and Elkana standing behind her.

At that moment.

“First… let’s hear the story. There might be circumstances we’re unaware of. Addressing anger comes after that.”

“Yes… understood.”

At the Pirate King’s words, Lemain retreated slightly.

Then, addressing the worried expressions of Ambasha and Elkana in the intensifying atmosphere, the Pirate King said:

“Explain why you two strayed from the mission site. Why were you in the auction house instead of the storage area at that time?”

“!”