The Price of Entry
Rose leaned against the ship's railing, letting the sea breeze wash over her. She had no particular worries or tasks to occupy her, yet simply breathing in the wind of freedom made her chest swell with overwhelming emotion.
At the top of the mast, the Black Rose flag fluttered proudly. The crew buzzed with anticipation, dreaming of the alcohol and women waiting for them in Carcadon.
"Land ho!" The lookout's cry rang out as Sara approached.
"There's a ship off the starboard side. It's closing the distance toward us."
"What flag?" Rose asked.
"No colors. It doesn't appear hostile, but how should we proceed?"
Pirates usually sailed under false flags, but near Carcadon it was safer to fly the pirate banner openly. Rose gave her orders without hesitation.
"Inform the crew. We won't engage in battle, but have them ready their weapons just in case."
"Understood."
A brigantine pirate ship moved parallel to the Sara Vale, slowly drawing closer. When they were within hailing distance, the enemy captain finally showed himself.
"Never seen that flag before! Who's your captain?"
The opposing captain was a frivolous-looking man. When he saw Rose standing at the rail with her officers, his eyes widened in genuine surprise.
"Whoa, the captain's a woman? Now that's a surprise. You part of Cerilla's fleet?"
Even pirates followed some rules. The Empire might claim dominion over the seas, but it couldn't cover every wave. Four major pirate organizations had carved out their own territories in the gaps, and one of them was Cerilla's Silver Eye Pirates. She was also the only woman among the four great pirate lords.
"What's your business?" Rose demanded.
"Heard rumors that the Empire's dogs have been sniffing around here lately. But if you're the captain, I doubt that's anything to worry about. How about we head to Carcadon together and grab a drink? I know a great place."
"Don't approach me with such trivial nonsense. Sail your own course."
"Feisty. Just my type. Guess I'll see you at the harbor then."
The man didn't push further. He increased speed and headed for port first. Rose reminded herself that she would have to survive among men like him from now on. For a moment she had forgotten she was now the beautiful admiral, and the realization hit her anew.
Soon after, their ship docked at the harbor. Despite being daytime, the port looked gloomy and reeked of a foul stench. Drunken men lay sprawled everywhere while street urchins openly picked their pockets. The other pirates simply laughed and watched, none bothering to intervene.
After confirming the mooring lines were secure, Rose was about to step onto the pier when a group of pirates blocked the gangway. It was the same crew they had encountered earlier.
"Well, well. Fancy meeting you again," the man said, acting as if it were pure coincidence. "Like I asked before, I've never seen that flag. Which outfit do you belong to?"
"None of your damn business. Move aside."
"Whoa there, can't do that. The Empire's dogs have been lurking around here lately, and Carcadon's in chaos. We can't just let anyone in like before. We search ships first, then grant entry. Of course, that includes body searches for the ladies."
He wiggled his fingers obscenely, a lecherous grin spreading across his face.
"First time I've heard that Carcadon has an owner," Rose said.
The man paused for a moment, then burst into loud laughter.
"Of course there's no owner. We're just concerned citizens acting as a vigilante group to maintain public order."
He was spouting complete nonsense and clearly had no intention of revealing the true nature of this extortion.
"Kein, chase these flies away."
Kein stepped forward as if he'd been waiting for the order. He didn't even need weapons. The pirates faltered in confusion as he grabbed them one by one and hurled them into the water like logs.
"W-what the hell are you doing?! Do you know who you're messing with?"
The remaining subordinates backed away in fear while Kein continued pushing forward, clearing a path.
"Should I care? Get lost. I'm already pissed off because we're out of rum."
Kein seized each man by the scruff of the neck and tossed them into the sea. The entire blocking group scattered completely. Having cleared the way, Kein headed straight for a tavern as he'd mentioned, while the rest of the crew dispersed to satisfy their various desires.
Rose entered a dockside tavern with Sara and Nelia. They needed to shake off the journey's fatigue and get a feel for Carcadon's atmosphere. The unpleasant encounter had at least provided useful information about the Empire's spies roaming about.
"Haaah." Rose drained a large wooden tankard of rum in one go and let out a refreshing sigh. The liquor was cold enough to make her head tingle, with a distinctive aroma that proved strangely addictive. She hadn't wanted to stop drinking once she started.
"Hey! You bastards! Today our captain, Rose of the Black Rose Pirates, is treating everyone!" Nelia suddenly jumped up from her seat, climbed onto the table, and hurled a pouch full of gold coins toward the bartender.
"Give every idiot in here a mug of the finest beer!"
"Whoa!"
"Long live the Black Rose Pirates!"
"Long live the beautiful captain!"
The moment Nelia finished speaking, every pirate in the tavern erupted in cheers. In pirate society, appearing weak could make one a target instantly, so her gesture was smart. It would also help when recruiting more crew later.
Nelia began dancing on the table, shaking her tankard. When pirates crowded around to watch, she dove into their midst. She threw her arms around their shoulders, partying wildly. Though the men cast lustful glances at the beautiful dark elf, they were quickly swept up in the festive mood.
But the celebration didn't last long.
BANG!
The tavern door flew open violently, and every man froze in place. Only Nelia, oblivious as ever, continued humming and dancing.
The newcomer was a massive, menacing man. Behind him stood the same pirates Kein had thrown into the sea, now soaked and shivering.
"There, boss. It's that bitch," they said, pointing at Rose.
The giant strode toward her, roughly shoving aside anyone in his path. Though the tavern was filled with hardened pirates, the men who were pushed aside didn't utter a sound and simply made way.
"Black Rose of the Black Rose Pirates. You're definitely not one of the Empire's dogs," the giant said, stopping before her. He gave a small nod as if recognizing her face. "But you've come to the wrong place to cause trouble. Did you think Carcadon was the same as an imperial city?"
Rose, pleasantly buzzed from the alcohol, answered in a soft, slightly seductive voice.
"Isn't Carcadon the city of freedom? That bastard earlier spoke as if there was a king here."
"Not a king, but there is an owner."
"Owner? Who are you talking about?"
"Pirate King Barghan Dros. This land belongs to him and operates under his rules."
Rose knew the name. Among the four great pirate lords, he was considered the greatest—the Pirate King. These men were clearly his subordinates.
"He wishes to see you. Needless to say, your opinion isn't required."
Rose had expected something like this. In the early stages of the game, Barghan was the greatest pirate and ruled as their king until the protagonist killed him. To operate in Carcadon, she was destined to face him eventually.
"Fine. I'll visit him later."
BANG!
The moment Rose answered casually while sipping her drink, the man kicked the table in front of her, smashing it to pieces.
"Right now," he said, shoving his face into hers. Sara's rapier and Nelia's dagger instantly pressed against his throat.
Despite the blades at his neck, he showed no fear.
"And we don't need the others. Rose Black, you come alone. If you refuse, your ship will meet Davy Jones immediately."
Rose stretched languidly and stood up.
"Sara, Nelia. It's fine. I'll go. You two handle the resupply. I had to meet Barghan sooner or later anyway. Since we have guides now, let's get this over with."
At her words, Sara and Nelia withdrew their weapons and calmed down.
"Understood. We'll finish resupplying and secure lodgings."
After leaving the tavern, Sara and Nelia headed toward the city center while Rose followed Barghan's subordinates.
Barghan's lair sat imposingly at the center of the harbor. It was practically a palace. For a pirate, living in a mansion complete with gardens was absurdly luxurious. The pirates sprawled everywhere across the grounds and the completely neglected garden suggested the place had been seized from a fallen noble.
"No weapons allowed inside."
As she tried to enter the mansion, two guards held out their hands. Rose unfastened the sword from her waist and handed it over.
"But things have been tense in Carcadon lately. Someone tried to assassinate the boss just days ago. So we need to search you as well."
After taking her sword, the guards' attitudes shifted to arrogant confidence.
"I'd advise against that. Unlike you, I am a valuable person."
Her words failed to intimidate them. They were the Pirate King's men, while she was merely the captain of a newly risen pirate crew.
"If you don't want to, then leave. Assuming you can get your ship out of port in time, of course."
They spoke as if their men had already taken control of the Bloody Requiem. Though Rose had left some crew to guard the ship, if Barghan's men were determined to sink it, there was little she could do.
With no other choice, Rose spread her arms. A quiet female servant approached and removed the coat draped over her shoulders. However, it was not the servant who would perform the body search. These men weren't gentle enough to show such consideration for a woman.
The guards finally began touching her waist as if handling a treasure. Since she wore a short shirt, there was clearly nothing hidden there, yet they seemed to simply want to feel her skin. They pretended to search her legs while stroking her buttocks, then ran their hands down her bare thighs—exposed by her shorts—and groped her shoes.
They were half-certain she had no place to hide a weapon and were simply using the search as an excuse to molest her. Rose had no choice but to endure it. Meeting Barghan was inevitable sooner or later.
"And what is this?"
One guard's hand finally slid up to gently squeeze her ample breast.
"Hiding cannonballs in here? But they're far too soft for cannonballs."
He deliberately kneaded and twisted her breast, openly harassing her.
"You'd better stop," Rose warned, frowning.
He ignored her. "I'm simply conducting a body search. I'm asking what this is."
He deliberately poked the area where her nipple would be.
Meanwhile, the scattered pirates began gathering one by one. They surrounded Rose to prevent any escape and watched the spectacle.
One guard handled her upper body while the other knelt and stroked her thighs.
"If you don't cooperate, this search will take even longer. And of course, you won't be allowed inside the mansion."
The giant who had delivered Barghan's summons watched indifferently, unconcerned about the delay. In the end, the one who would lose out by not meeting Barghan was Rose. She knew this perfectly well.
"Just finish the search quickly."
The guards took her answer as permission to do whatever they wanted and began moving their hands in earnest.
"What are you hiding in your chest? This is obstructing the search. We'll have to remove it."
What the guard referred to was her bra. He drew a dagger and sliced through the straps. The bra fell away in his hand. Though she still wore her shirt, her generous breasts made her nipples clearly visible through the fabric.
"Suspicious. Very suspicious."
The guard smiled lewdly as he rolled her nipples between his fingers over the shirt.
"Mmm..."
Rose felt faint pleasure rising and bit her lip. The more she reacted, the more they would torment her. With so many pirates watching, they probably wouldn't dare violate her publicly. If that had been their intention, they would have used more aggressive methods. It seemed they only wanted to tease and harass her moderately. Rose decided to endure it, hoping they would stop at this level.
But the other guard unbuckled her shorts and yanked them down to her ankles.
"What are you doing?!" Rose cried out in shock, but the guard holding her upper body prevented her from bending forward.
"I told you. There have been assassination attempts on our boss. We have to be thorough. Besides, women have secret places, don't they?"
Rose recalled where she had hidden the drug she gave Lucas. In this world where people used any means necessary, there would surely be others who employed such methods.
In the end, Rose relaxed the arms that had been resisting and allowed them to continue the search.
"Hmm, I can't tell like this. We'll have to remove everything."
"You bastards..."
Ignoring her contempt, they slowly pulled down her panties as well.
"Don't worry, those guys can only see your ass. Or we could continue the search in the storage room, just between us."
Rose bit her lower lip again. If she entered a closed room with these guards, the outcome was obvious.
"...Just finish it quickly."
"Good. Behave yourself and it'll be over soon."
But once her panties reached her thighs, they pulled her shirt up to her neck as well, completely exposing her most private parts.
"We'll need to check inside, so spread your legs."
"What? Inside?"
"Obviously. We're going to search inside your pussy."
"There's nothing there!"
"Can't trust that. After all, you're a pirate too, aren't you? Or should I call one of those friends back there to help?"
At the guard's words, the watching pirates raised their hands and shouted that they would volunteer. In the end, Rose had no choice but to spread her legs herself.
"Mmmph..."
Two of the guard's filthy fingers finally spread her folds and pushed inside.
"This bitch is soaking wet. Were you actually enjoying this?"
"Sh-shut up. That's enough, isn't it? Stop."
"No, we've only just begun."
The guards divided her upper and lower body, diligently caressing her erogenous zones. They stroked her breasts and circled her nipples while the fingers inside her pussy rubbed her walls and pressed firmly against her sensitive spots.
"S-stop... haaah...!"
Eventually Rose trembled as a light orgasm washed over her. The stimulation hadn't been strong enough to make her squirt, but anyone watching could tell she had reached climax.
"Good. No problems here."
Only after she was too weak from orgasm to stand properly did the guards release her. However, they had sliced her bra and panties to shreds with the dagger. She had no choice but to put her clothes back on without underwear.
"Now let's go. We've kept the boss waiting too long."
Only then did the guide open the door and lead her into the mansion.