Chapter 52

For days they had been clamoring for more herbs. The mountains of herbs we once had were gone—Ben had taken every last one.

 

But the full moon had already passed, and the mercenaries who had suffered with me knew it’d be hard to find more. To be exact, we had harvested everything in sight. Nothing else would be found anywhere near these waters.

 

“The captain needs to decide! We don’t even know if our comrades are alive! They won’t even let us hear their voices!”

 

“……We’re departing.”

 

I listened, focusing on their conversation.

 

I’d known a lot of time had passed, but it seemed they’d finally given up on searching and chosen to deal with the pirates.

 

If anyone was running out of time, it wasn’t the pirates—it was the mercenaries. When I let out a short laugh, Pat asked: “Why are you so calm, Lep?”

 

“Me?”

 

I wasn’t calm the way he meant. I simply knew that panicking in fear—losing sight of the path in front of me—was the fastest way to die.

 

“You think clearly to survive. Fran’s calm too.”

 

Fran had cried buckets, but he didn’t seem to think we’d die in pirate hands. Instead, he fretted about what would happen afterward, begging me—his lady, whom he was supposed to protect—to protect him.

 

“You won’t die, my lady. Think of Lord Evan. The thought alone is horrifying.”

 

Fran’s shoulders trembled. The day we’d meet the pirates was close, but his unshakable trust eased my heart a little.

 

“Of course. I wouldn’t leave Evan behind and die. Evan would be devastated.”

 

“If he doesn’t unleash the aftermath on us, we’ll be lucky…….”

 

Time passed—long enough that it felt heavy.

 

Then the bell clanged loudly, announcing the fated day.

 

Hearing the thuds of many footsteps and coarse voices climbing onto the deck, I knew we’d entered the pirates’ den.

 

The mercenaries hauled us up to the deck. All around us were men who screamed ‘pirate’ from a single glance.

 

They sported long black beards and carried all manner of dangerous weapons. Behind them, a pirate flag fluttered.

 

I swallowed hard. Their infamy had not been exaggerated.

 

‘Of all the pirates out there… so this really was the Empress’s doing.’

 

The Sea Leopard Pirate Crew were the first group Bastien had ever wiped out. Yet here they were—and not the small fry. Their leader was present.

 

“Hrrm, this girl, huh?”

 

The captain strutted toward me. I didn’t look away.

 

‘Captain Hook? Where’d he leave his left hand?’

 

Where his left hand should have been was a gleaming metal hook.

 

He lifted my chin with it, the cold metal crawling across my skin.

 

I sent a quiet look to Fran and Pat, telling them to stay calm.

 

Time to start the desperate gamble I’d prepared before coming here.

 

“You probably don’t know why you’re here or why this happened, right? Someone begged us to kill you.”

 

“Yes. I know.”

 

“What?”

 

“I even know whose orders you’re following.”

 

He frowned in surprise. I lifted my chin with confidence.

 

“Want to know who it is?”

 

“We work for money. Don’t care who hires us.”

 

“Do you think many people could free pirates captured by the Crown Prince of Alterun? Very few. And I know her well. If you complete the job, she’ll kill you all. No loose ends. No evidence.”

 

“Kill us? Really?”

 

The pirates exchanged looks, muttering that I was talking nonsense, then burst into laughter.

 

“Haha! Bold girl. But too bad—we don’t plan on dying.”

 

‘That won’t be up to you…’

 

I shifted tactics.

 

“Then I’ll pay you double. Isn’t double-dipping your specialty?”

 

I smiled.

 

He scratched his chin with his hook, interested—then his eyes flashed. He wasn’t accepting.

 

“Sure, double is nice. But I bet selling you would fetch even better money.”

 

‘Damn it.’

 

I narrowed my eyes. I wanted to slap his hand away as he gripped my jaw, turning my face like merchandise. The mercenaries understood what he meant and broke into outrage.

 

“Your offer’s tempting, but this is even better. And that expression—very nice. Be grateful. We were supposed to kill you, but selling you as a slave? At least you get to live. Isn’t that lucky?”

 

He grinned, delighted by my horror.

 

No wonder he was a pirate captain.

 

I clenched my teeth.

 

The others cheered him on.

 

Then the mercenaries who’d brought us here shouted: “Now release our comrades!”

 

“Oh, right. You deserve a reward.”

 

There was a reason this crew was infamous and a thorn in the empire’s side.

 

The Zeiran Empire had even thanked Bastien after he crushed them so thoroughly that it had allowed him to establish diplomatic ties.

 

‘Of course…’

 

I swallowed a sigh.

 

They had no intention of keeping their word.

 

Their captured hostages appeared—skeletal, eyes dull—blades held to their throats. The pirates immediately began subduing the mercenaries.

 

“Slaves in abundance! Hahahaha!”

 

The captain laughed, booming with joy.

 

I felt anger—not just at their cruelty, but at the miserable sight of those who had risked everything and gained nothing.

 

They’d gambled with their pride and honor, and it had all amounted to nothing.

 

“I love that look in their eyes. Don’t you all?”

 

The pirates cackled as if celebrating.

 

“Having fun?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Playing with people’s fear.”

 

“L-lady… don’t provoke them… please…”

 

Pat tried to stop me, but I had to say it.

 

“Too bad. Soon you’ll look just like the mercenaries. Oh, no—worse. At least they’ll survive. You won’t.”

 

“You think being merchandise means we won’t hurt you?”

 

He lifted his hook to my neck.

 

A bead of blood slid down my skin.

 

Fran gasped and tried to fight back, but was pinned by pirates.

 

“…Brat. You’re something else. Aren’t you scared? You could die.”

 

He tilted his head at my unchanged expression.

 

“Dying isn’t as disgusting as the idea of entertaining you. And you won’t kill me. I’m worth too much. But if you ignore me, you really will all die.”

 

I leaned closer to the hook.

 

He pulled back first.

 

His pride stung, he raised an eyebrow, but I didn’t care.

 

“You got a note from the prison guard, right? The snake with the dagger—”

 

“What’s this brat— shut her up!”

 

“Wait.”

 

“You’re the only one who received that note, right, Captain?”

 

His eyes widened.

 

I smirked.

 

In these battles, confidence matters. Knowing your own value matters.

 

“You’re smart. That’s why you’re captain. Ignore me and something very bad will happen.”

 

The crew shifted nervously. No one likes dying. And they had been inches from death in that prison.

 

‘Come on, take the bait. Take it…’

 

“Hahaha! Girl, you’re probably right. But I’m the kind who enjoys that kind of tension.”

 

He believed me—but didn’t care.

 

His arrogant grin made me want to spit.

 

“Lunatic…”

 

“Best compliment!”

 

He bowed like a pompous petty noble.

 

As their laughter filled the deck, a lookout shouted from atop the mast:

 

“Captain! Unknown ship approaching! Fast!”

 

“What? They dare enter our waters? Show them—!”

 

I turned my head, but the ship was too far for my eyes.

 

It approached fast—soon a massive vessel appeared, followed by several smaller ships.

 

I recognized the crest fluttering above.

 

“…The House of Weiss?”

 

A fierce raptor, claws outstretched.

 

I stared at the banner, dazed.

 

The giant ship rammed straight into the Sea Leopard Pirate Crew’ vessel.

 

The impact jolted everyone.

 

Fran used the chaos to knock aside a pirate and grabbed me.