Chapter 48

Vegetables quickly cooking over the hot flames.

Normally, it was customary to stir-fry thick vegetables over medium heat, but when preparing dishes for dozens rather than just one or two servings, it was crucial to maintain high power and keep stirring continuously.

In that sense, the military’s cooking unit required an astonishing level of physical strength, even more than that of the average soldier, and they had to endure such demands without resting for even a day.

After all, throughout the week, there was not a single day when one could go without a meal.

Thus, the forced massive physical exertion and regimented lifestyle dictated the daily routine of the cooks.

Even though they were short on combat training time due to spending 70% of the day on cooking, there was a reason Franklin maintained his position as one of the top powers under the Pirate King among the five key executives.

With sweat pouring down, Franklin was simultaneously preparing a large amount of vegetables.

“Ah… right.”

Suddenly recalling something, Franklin lowered the heat for a moment and began searching for something.

At that very moment…

It approached her discreetly yet swiftly.

*

That creature had barely managed to fill its belly with hard, tasteless feed over the past few days.

Even the meat it had finally found after barely escaping was frozen cold, and it hadn’t been able to eat its fill due to the human that suddenly appeared.

And now, right in front of it, there was a human preoccupied with something else.

A rather large, fleshy female human.

Just before, it had failed to hunt due to a male that had barged in.

However, now that it had evaded that being, there were only this female human and itself in the vicinity.

With the expectation of being able to eat warm meat to its heart’s content this time, it prepared to attack, channeling magical power into its fangs.

And then…

– Whoosh!

It rushed toward its prey with incredible speed.

So fast that one couldn’t even track it with their eyes, it lunged with teeth capable of tearing through steel, aiming straight for the nape of its target.

And…

*

“Damn it! Where the hell did it go?”

“It seems it might have slipped away… it doesn’t look like it’s here.”

“But… we’re in the middle of the sea on a ship… there’s nowhere to run. Doesn’t it feel like it’ll just reappear from somewhere?”

Expressing frustration, Magellan began to step out of the storage area.

Following him cautiously were Elkana and Ambasha.

Despite searching thoroughly in the vicinity, they hadn’t been able to find that weasel, instilling a deep sense of tension and fear in the three of them.

If they had mastered something like the Circle of Magical Power, they could have sensed its presence in an instant, but unfortunately, none among the three were able to use that magic.

Had Auriel been around, she might have attempted something similar, but sadly, she was still wandering in dreamland.

Having searched to this extent, it was highly unlikely that it was around the area, so the three of them decided to head outside toward the kitchen.

Since things had come to this, reporting to their superior Franklin and discussing a countermeasure would be the right move.

In contrast to them, since she could also use the Circle of Magical Power, they believed Franklin’s assistance would allow them to find it quickly.

But…

“…Wait a moment…”

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

Suddenly, a possibility began to dawn on Magellan.

His steps toward the kitchen began to quicken.

“W-Wait, Magellan! What’s with the sudden rush?”

“Could it be… that creature went toward the kitchen? The only place with the lights on at this hour is there.”

“Oh!”

“Could it be…?”

Although Franklin was stronger than Magellan, she was currently in the midst of cooking and wouldn’t be fully aware of her surroundings.

At such a moment, if she were to be ambushed by that weasel, it would be dangerous, no matter how strong Franklin was.

Heavy with a sense of impending crisis, the three rushed hurriedly into the kitchen.

“A-Ambasha!”

Ambasha anxiously called her name.

Even though she thought it couldn’t be true, she remained worried, fearing something dangerous might have occurred, and moved further into the kitchen calling for Franklin.

And then…

“Gah!”

“!…”

At that moment, upon seeing the scene before them, Elkana and Ambasha came to a sudden halt.

What lay before their eyes…

Was a horrid sight of a beast with red liquid dripping from its mouth and chewing away.

And right next to that creature was…

“Heh heh, you’re really eating well. You must have been quite hungry, huh?”

– “Chirp~ Chirp~”

“…”

Unlike just moments before, where it seemed as if it would tear a human apart, this creature was now making a sound reminiscent of a chick.

And…

Smiling as she always did, she gently stroked its head…

Franklin.

This creature rolled over, belly up, performing a delightful display… an act dubbed a sign of submission.

After a few more strokes of its belly, the creature transitioned back from submission mode to meal mode.

After patting its head a few more times, Franklin’s gaze shifted to the three, who were now standing in a daze at the creature’s drastically altered state before them.

“Hmm? What are you all doing there, brandishing a knife… was there some fight from the morning?”

“…”

“Ugh, well… that is…”

Given the bizarrely transformed situation, the three could only chuckle awkwardly for a moment.

Meanwhile, watching the scene unfold in the kitchen…

The Pirate King, who had rushed in believing his lover might be in danger, realized he had ended up with a half-hearted worry.

Gazing at the jerky he had prepared in advance, he licked his lips slightly.

‘With this, I guess that won’t be necessary anymore.’

The item the Emperor had used to tame the weasel,


Lamb Jerky.

For some unknown reason, after tasting this once, that ferocious creature began to wag its tail at the Emperor who fed it.

Of course, the Emperor’s powerful “strength” was also a contributing factor.

‘Anyway… I’m just glad Franklin is unharmed.’

With that thought, he concluded that the immediate fire had been put out and returned to his cabin.

Feeling a bittersweet sense of amusement at the fact that his ‘female’ had been NTR’d by his lover in such a manner,

He also felt a slight intrigue at the fact that Franklin’s powers had increased yet again.

*

A city located on the border of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Gibraltar.

At this moment, there were three factions that hesitated to show their faces to one another gathering in one place.

The meeting’s host, Admiral Achroiel, who was the representative of Benessa and the one who brought up the discussion first, sat before her two companions, both also dressed in uniforms, relaxed yet ready.

A middle-aged man with blonde hair and an imposing presence.

He was a hero renowned from the Amerigo Union independence war, wielding military authority in the current Frantz Kingdom.

General Rafael.

Along with his fame and power, he had reached the realm of a Grade 11 Grand Magician, and with a pompous voice, he spoke to Achroiel, who sat before him.

“It certainly has been a long life. I never thought I’d see the day when an insignificant bounty hunter like you would dare to summon me.”

“Indeed. I never imagined I’d end up using the debt from that time in this way while playing the role of a bounty hunter. To be honest, I would love to make you suffer even more than back then.”

“Didn’t we agree to stop discussing that?”

“Yes, I understand well. We shall put an end to that topic as you wish.”

Given the circumstances, there was no need to ruffle the other’s feathers further, so Achroiel wisely minimized his words.

Meanwhile,

as they were reflected in the gazes of another woman seated across from them.

She looked around her early thirties, was adorned with blonde hair and golden eyes, possessing a captivating beauty, and spoke in a calm tone while gently stirring tea infused with milk.

“Well then… let’s wrap up the small talk and get to the point. Achro, what is the reason you called us here, even bringing up those old debts?”

At the blonde woman’s inquiry, Achroiel withdrew something from his pocket and presented it before the assembled group.

“That’s because… of this guy.”

“!… ”

“Who… who is this person?”

Unexpectedly, Achroiel presented a bounty notice for an individual.

The monetary amount listed within neared 50,000 talants, and at that moment, even the most renowned powerhouses in the continent had their expressions rigidly freeze upon simply seeing that face.

“Well? What do you say? Would you like to take a crack at capturing him? Pirate King.”