Pirates in Fishermen's Guise
Are you serious?
Take care of it.
Naturally, it was an order to kill.
No, why the sudden decision like that?
We were about to part ways soon anyway, so I couldn't understand why he'd issue such a command.
But in a situation like this, questioning a superior's judgment was out of the question.
"Understood."
I replied in a quiet voice of my own and slipped silently toward the stern of the boat.
Definitely just one, right?
No need to draw my sword conspicuously.
I checked that the dagger hidden inside my pants was in place, then stepped onto the other boat.
"Hmm."
First things first: scan the area.
Major Eden had ordered me to handle it, so he must have sensed something.
No additional presences popping up for now.
"What is it?"
The man left on the boat spotted me and scowled as he approached.
Damn, what a vicious-looking mug.
Up close, he didn't look like any fisherman—more like a bandit scraping by in the hills.
"It seemed like it was taking a while, so I hopped over. Mind if I take a quick look around?"
I could kill him right here, but that would carry the sound across to the other side.
If I'm doing this, better make it perfect.
I'm no assassin, but I've crossed blades with a few in my time.
Call me a makeshift killer.
"The boat, you mean?"
"Yeah, I'm really into fishing vessels."
"Hmm."
The man pretended to mull it over, glanced at our boat, then spoke.
"Fine. Nothing special, but follow me."
"Thanks for letting me."
I followed him up to the deck first.
"Whoa, no wonder—built for five guys, so it's pretty sizable."
Ours was a little dinghy; this one could star in a documentary.
"Uh, yeah."
He replied indifferently, like he couldn't care less.
"Mind if I check out the hold?"
I pointed at the door to what should be the fish-stuffed storage.
Lead him down there and finish it—that's ideal.
A sealed space.
Perfect beyond words.
But executing my plan wasn't so simple.
"No can do."
"Pardon...? But we showed you ours."
"No means no."
His refusal was ironclad, leaving zero room for persuasion.
Honestly, after we'd shown him our hold, I hadn't expected the shutdown.
What the hell—do as I say, not as I do?
Classic psycho sergeant mentality.
"What, treasure in there or something...?"
As I tried another angle, my eyes caught a splatter of blood jutting out by the hold door—pure chance.
"Hmm."
Nothing wildly unusual, really.
Fish blood sprays are routine when hauling them in.
The issue? Scanning the boat again, half-wiped bloodstains dotted everywhere.
Why's my gut twisting like this?
My instincts were screaming.
Something was up.
Would you like to view the target's truth?
Not a steep price.
I'm killing him anyway—do I really need to check?
I hesitated over the points for a second but brushed it off quick.
Retirement after this landing op anyway.
Hoards turn to shit.
Truth Eye pierces the target.
Hah, figures.
Too good to be true—pirate confirmed.
At least just a crewman. Lucky break.
Truth be told, the biggest reason I'd burned the points was worry he might be some expert.
Specialties: odd jobs and cleanup. You hit the jackpot, buddy.
Hey, I'm a pro at spotting weaklings.
Attack signal, huh? Sounds like they're gearing up over there soon. Hope Major Eden's good.
A flicker of concern hit me, but damn, most useless thought in the world.
That guy's got it covered. Still... rush back and help?
No harm in racking up points here.
"Too bad. Was curious how much haul a boat like this pulls."
"Can't open the hold without the captain's say-so."
The pirate spouted the excuse I'd cooked up while using my skill.
Guess he had a brain cell or two.
"How about the wheelhouse, then?"
"Sure."
He led the way, opening the door to the wheelhouse.
With it came a thick stench of blood.
Realizing his mistake, the man grimaced and whirled—
Stab!
"Gurk!"
"Hey, you gotta maintain better than that."
My dagger plunged into his gut.
Of course, I'd whipped it out in a frenzy and shoved it home.
Whoa, that was close.
The bastard's hand had dipped toward his waistband.
A second later and I'd be the one bleeding.
Reacting the instant the smell hit paid off—I had the drop.
"Y-you bastard, what the—"
Our pirate friend looked flustered.
No wonder.
Your average-looking kid you pegged as a fisherman just gutted you with a dagger.
"What else? You got played."
"Urk!"
Desperate, the man yanked a dagger from his waistband.
Still squirming, huh.
Pirates gonna pirate.
"Might get something out of questioning you, but orders were to kill, so..."
A regular crewman—even sober, I'd back myself one-on-one.
Him gripping a dagger changed zilch.
Clang! Squish!
"Gaaaaah!!!"
I batted his strike aside easy and drove into his heart.
Aimed to kill instantly.
Too bad—he screamed in agony before dropping dead.
"Tch, messy."
That volume? Even over the waves, high odds it carried to the other boat.
"Gotta move."
Mission from Eden complete—I yanked the dagger free, pocketed it, and headed back to ours—
"Aaaah! Help! Somebody!"
"Huh?"
As I turned, the captain-looking guy scrambled over, face pale with terror.
Trailing him like a hunter licking his chops: Major Eden.
His eyes met mine: another one to handle.
"Sigh. Who's the real pirate here."
I sighed, swinging the still-wet dagger once more.
Clang!
Not full panic—guy blocked with a forearm-length sword.
Where the hell was that stashed?
Hadn't spotted it earlier, so probably tucked like mine.
Sneaky bastards.
"Y-you goddamn navy scum! You've tracked us all the way here?!"
"Hm?"
Suddenly calling me and Eden "navy."
Massive misunderstanding.
"We just pirate enough to get by! Why chase us this far?!"
Sounded downright indignant—threw me for a loop.
No, dude. Earn a living through labor, not looting. Duh.
His values were seriously warped.
"Proud of your piracy?!"
"Work your ass off and the nobles tax it all away—what's the problem?!"
A cry laced with resentment.
For a split second, it rang true—my hand faltered.
And he pounced on the opening.
"I'll avenge the boss, even if it kills me!"
A tearjerker backstory lunge.
Felt like I should take the hit, but nah—skill too low.
"Chatty pirate. Use that breath to move faster."
Keep lunging for gaps all you want.
Still three times slower than Hamus's strikes.
Clang!
I parried with force—he lost balance completely.
"Bye."
Thud! Splash!
Kicked his unguarded gut, dumping him in the sea.
"What now, sir? Finish him?"
"Quite the leisure, Captain."
"Against a mere fish— er, if I can't take it easy on fishermen, how do I survive a war?"
Almost spilled the Truth Eye intel—caught it just in time.
Careful. Extra careful.
Already got dragged into headaches for my sharp eyes before.
Show it here? Not human—that's beast without learning.
"Fair point. Though these aren't mere fishermen—they're pirates."
"Really? Had my suspicions, but pirates for sure. Scary world."
I shook my head like it creeped me out, dusted myself off.
"Sp-spare me! I'll do anything! Money? I'll tell you where I stashed all my loot!"
The captain, forgotten mid-chat with Eden, clung to the boat spouting ugly pleas.
"Hm, is that so."
What wind shifted suddenly?
Expecting Eden to end him quick, but he leveled his sword at the captain instead.
"Sell everything in that hold right now—easily 10,000 gold!"
Nice sum.
Must've pirated hard.
"Ho, and how much of that's Lycan spawn?"
"Six— no, seven, eight parts! We barely operate in Aditz Empire waters."
"Ho."
Mistaking us for Aditz navy, maybe.
Spilling how he'd ravaged Lycan seas.
True scum.
Made my eyes water imagining the fishermen he'd hit.
"Pirate crew size?"
"We're just a small outfit."
"Tch, monsters don't love humans that much..."
"Just over 200!!!"
Eden nudged the blade closer to his throat; the man jolted, correcting himself.
"Too small."
"We got hit by navy once—shrunk us bad."
"Name? And truth's best— we'll verify."
Even under threat, he hesitated a beat.
But what difference?
Wanna live? Spill.
"Mol... Molrang Pirates."
"Those guys shouldn't operate here."
"Kept getting pushed, hit empty zones, ended up here."
"Hmm, I see."
His expression said Eden grasped the picture.
"Sp-spare me! No more pirating, I swear!"
"Lies need spit for lube. Pirates quitting piracy? Even passing Lycan idiots'd laugh."
"I'm serious—"
"Quiet. Look, I see piracy as just a job to eat."
Eden dropped some wild nonsense outta nowhere.
What? This vibe like he's gonna let him live?
Felt like an act.
Couldn't read his intent at all.