Chapter 71

“Will you not become my companion?” said the Pirate King.

Napoleona momentarily wore a confused expression, but soon wiped those feelings away and broke into a broad smile.

“Hehe… Well, this is quite unexpected yet flattering. I never thought I would receive a love call from the Pirate King… Even if it’s just a joke, I can certainly brag about this somewhere.”

“It’s no joke. I’m asking you seriously. General Napoleona of the Kingdom of Frantz. How about putting the past behind us and joining me to sail these seas?”

Although she still wore a smile, the seriousness in the Pirate King’s words was unmistakable.

However,

Napoleona slowly shook her head.

“I truly appreciate your words. But I am, after all, a general of the Kingdom of Frantz. I cannot betray my homeland… and the ‘family’ that resides there.”

“Is that so… Well, I suppose it is a bit early…”

“Excuse me?”

“There’s that too. In any case, if that’s your decision, I won’t pressure you. But should you ever change your mind, feel free to come find me.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Pirate King.”

“And…”

With that, the Pirate King handed a letter to the vice-captain standing nearby.

Immediately after, the vice-captain quickly checked the contents and began writing something furiously.

“I will positively consider your… no, your offer.”

“!”

The Pirate King’s demeanor, which had felt so fierce a moment ago, now exuded a surprising warmth.

Upon witnessing this, a flush of excitement crossed Napoleona’s face.

At that moment.

“Of course, this is under the condition that you provide adequate compensation.”

“Compensation… you say?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I believe you’ve momentarily forgotten that you are undeniably in the status of captives. While you’re mentioning a mutual enemy, it is you who are the ones in need, not us.”

“Umm… You speak the truth…”

Though somewhat taken aback, this was a realization she had somewhat anticipated.

From the viewpoint of the Pirate King, ruling the seas, disregarding someone like Duke Ocleang was hardly a challenge.

It was only natural for her to pay a fitting price to receive his assistance.

“Then… please tell me, Pirate King. What is it that you desire?”

Feeling anxious about what sort of grand demand he might make, yet also holding onto the hope of utilizing the formidable power he possessed, Napoleona asked in a serious tone.

In response,

the Pirate King merely gestured lightly towards a raven-haired woman standing right next to him… the vice-captain.

Then,

“Our conditions are roughly as follows.”

As she said that, the vice-captain handed over what she had been vigorously writing.

And as Napoleona received it, she thought.

‘No way… These guys are like armed robbers… No, they’ve been armed pirates all along…’

*

After a moment of contemplation, Napoleona, deciding to accommodate their conditions as best as she could, returned to the crew, accompanied silently by an unnamed follower.

Once they disappeared, Lemain smiled gently and said to me,

“I’m surprised, while it’s a tight squeeze, they actually extracted a somewhat reasonable deal from you. I certainly didn’t expect you to accept it so readily.”

“From our perspective, this is a win. Though I shouldn’t say it now, we’re in the same boat of need.”

“Haha… Well, how sneaky of you. Anyone would think that someone with such cunning became a Pirate King.”

“Well… I can’t deny that it holds some significance.”

The letter from General Rafael that Napoleona had handed me.

Their ‘request,’ stripped of any elaborate background or rhetoric, was quite simple.

They wanted us to assist in dealing with Duke Ocleang, who was gnawing away at the Kingdom of Frantz.

And regarding this matter, we had no reason to refuse.

Rather, to be precise, we were not in a position to refuse.

We had to rescue Ambasha as soon as possible, but as pirates, it was far from easy to act independently on land.

Though I had some knowledge of the original work still lodged in my mind, the world from the game and reality were distinctly different.

Most importantly, we didn’t even know where Duke Ocleang was located, making it clear our own power had limits.

In this situation, the request from General Rafael to collaborate against a ‘mutual enemy,’ Duke Ocleang, was something we welcomed with open arms…

Yet we chose not to mention the predicament of Ambasha being captured, proposing a deal from a decidedly advantageous position.

While we had certainly been quite lucky, this ‘bluff’ had turned out remarkably successful.

At that moment.

“But, Captain. Speaking of the deal, what was that proposal you made earlier? Why did you extend an invitation for her to join us?”

Franklin, for some reason, asked with a hint of concern.

To which I replied with a light smile.

“There’s no particular reason. I simply thought I would test the waters a bit, having come across the Grand Magician after so long. I figured she would refuse anyway.”

“Oh… I see… Well, that’s quite understandable. After all, the Pirate King is known for being a bit greedy…”

With a strangely relieved demeanor, Franklin spoke, but… while looking at her, I felt a bit guilty about not being able to share the truth in this situation.

It wasn’t simply because she was strong that I said what I did.

No matter how much she had formerly been part of the army, she was still a general of a nation.

The likelihood of her abandoning everything to become a pirate was extremely low.

Yet, despite that, I couldn’t help but feel some desire.

The moment I laid eyes on General Rafael’s letter, I realized.

I knew exactly who the woman before me, captured as a prisoner, was…

The one who was already powerful enough to be considered a monster, and just how much stronger she would become in the future.

And… how high she might rise thereafter…

*

On a night cloaked in darkness.

Three individuals sat side by side on the deck, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

Magellan, Elkana, and Achroiel.

Once they had been close friends, but now awkward emotions had woven their way into the fabric of their connection, and they quietly gazed out at the sea.

The night sea of Sicilia Island, from which they would soon be departing.

As they silently contemplated, it was Elkana who broke the silence first.

“…So, just to confirm, we’ve decided to move along with you on this matter?”

“Yes, although ostensibly it’s merely to claim damages from the Kingdom of Frantz.”

In truth, the Frantz Navy had obliterated the plan to eliminate the Pirate King that Achroiel had devised.

Had they not foolishly gotten involved in a squabble with the Brittania Empire privateers, this situation wouldn’t have ended as dismally as it did.

Although Bennessa had gained from a stroke of luck in the process, that was that, and this was this.

Regardless of the backstory, it effectively painted a smear on the ‘contract between nations,’ thus, Bennessa had every right to voice a protest.

Of course, this was merely the legitimate reason for entering the Kingdom of Frantz on the surface, as there was something much deeper at play.

Both Achroiel and the two friends-turned-pirates shared a common, simmering emotion within their hearts.

That was so-called…

The sentiment known as vengeance.

Using absurd reasons to murder their hunter comrades,

almost killing the two of them as well,

but now, that scoundrel had gone and kidnapped Ambasha.

Duke Ocleang.

At the very moment the Pirate King had decided to take on that scoundrel, who was consistently drawing their ire,

the three of them, harboring the same grudge, laid aside the discomfort of pirate and navy and resolved to join forces.

“We must repay it… the resentment of Mark, Davin… and everyone else…”

“Duke Ocleang… that scum will find his head on the sacrificial altar.”

“And… we will absolutely rescue Ambasha.”

Thus, feeling slightly as though they had returned to the past…

The three of them honed their blades of wrath as they awaited the approaching moment of revenge.

*

“What?! Mingsou and his subordinates have gone missing?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“That’s not all. Lately, there are rumors going around that sailors are disappearing one by one.”

“According to what’s been heard, a white ghost has appeared and taken people’s lives…”

– Bang!

“Do you really think that could be true? A ghost?! Such a thing can’t possibly exist in this world!”

Commander Pierre slammed his fist on the table in anger.

He then turned a cold voice towards his subordinates, who were now tensed up.

“By tomorrow night, we will reach the Port of Marinseu. If you’ve got time to fuss over rumors, you’d better move faster and find the culprit before we arrive.”

“Y… Yes.”

“U… Understood, Commander.”

And with that, his subordinates scattered quickly.

Watching them, Commander Pierre felt a strong annoyance and leaned back into his chair.

“A ghost… Are there really still idiots who believe such nonsense? They say people are missing, but I bet they are just slacking off somewhere.”

Of course, the reality could very well be entirely different.

Something could genuinely be happening aboard this vessel, causing sailors to slowly perish one by one.

However, Commander Pierre decided to ignore those concerns.

As he told his subordinates, they would arrive at the port tomorrow anyway.

In such a scenario, it would be nothing short of foolishness to disturb the ship’s peace unnecessarily.

Thus, Commander Pierre felt unearned fatigue seep in as he flopped onto the cabin bed.

But then…

“…Hmm?”

At that moment, something caught his eye.

Hanging from the ceiling of the cabin…

A small something with white fur…