Chapter 426
Chapter 426
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 426
Chapter Title: Reborn as the Plum Blossom Swordmaster in the Count's Family
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In the inner sanctum of the captain's quarters, the bedroom where Dairan normally slept, sticky sounds echoed. Squelch, squelch, squelch. The noises grew faster and louder.
Dairan's body writhed on the bed. Her usual leather pants were pulled down below her thighs. Her left hand gripped the bedsheet tightly, while her right hand danced between her groin like it was performing a lewd tango.
"Hngh! Ah... Krgh! Hnngh!"
She desperately stifled the moans trying to escape her lips. Her knees bent upward, her hips and waist arching off the bed. In response, her stiff red pubic hair stood on end.
Her hand parted the bush, teasing her shapely pink labia majora with wet smacks. From the soaked folds, obscene sounds kept pouring out.
Her fingers moved quickly but avoided penetration. It was her long-standing masturbation habit. Instead, they tormented the prominent, protruding clitoris.
"Hnnnghh~~!"
Dairan's body tensed. Her toes curled tight, and her head tilted back.
Just one more step. One more push, and the reward would come.
Her thumb and index finger pinched the jutting clitoris hard, twisting it viciously.
"Haahk!"
Thud. Her body collapsed back onto the bed.
A strand of red hair stuck to Dairan's sweat-drenched white cheek. Her eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling, were dazed.
"Haa, haa."
Drip. A clear strand of love juice trickled from her vaginal opening, sliding down past her buttocks.
Dairan wasn't the type to masturbate often. At most, twice a month.
But lately, in less than a week, this was already her fourth time. And each session was lasting longer by the day. What used to take five minutes now dragged on for over twenty.
"Haa, haa..."
How had she ended up like this? After pondering, she concluded it was all because of Eugene Prukerus.
Despite her warnings, Eugene fucked the female pirates on deck whenever he got the chance. The silver lining was that he didn't turn the deck into an orgy. Though it seemed like the cabins were orgy central every day.
"Damn it..."
She wanted to lock him up in the cabins.
'Ever since that guy boarded my ship, something's felt off.'
She couldn't exert control over Eugene. Despite appearances, he was an Aura Expert. Even her bodyguard Melissa couldn't take him lightly. Intimidation through force was out of the question.
Using her captain's authority wouldn't work either—their guest-host relationship was crystal clear. She was poisoned, bound by a monetary contract. She had to watch his mood.
'Worst of all... the crew's sentiment is siding with him.'
Dairan didn't expect loyalty from her subordinates except Gula. Pirates were society's dregs. Their loyalty was a commodity—buyable and sellable for profit.
Eugene had won the female pirates over with food and goods. Some had even gotten addicted to sex with him.
'Gula...'
In the worst case, a mutiny centered around Eugene could erupt. Luckily, he showed no real interest in the captain's seat, so nothing had happened yet.
'Can't let my guard down.'
The base for the new pirate recruits Borix mentioned was a small village along the coast. The village was tiny—fewer than a hundred households. Roughly three hundred residents.
"Impressive. So this is drone magic?"
"Not magic, but yeah, it's useful."
We launched the drone and scouted the village from the sky. Five pirate ships were moored along the beach.
The villagers welcomed the pirates with open arms.
"Why are they so friendly to pirates? Are these pirates from the village?"
"Maybe, but it's all about money in the end."
Dairan took the drone controller from me. Without any instructions, she handled it like a pro.
"Pirates fence their loot from the sea through deals with coastal villages or merchants."
"The lord just lets that slide?"
"Would a lord bother with a remote fishing village? As long as taxes come in, they don't care. Even if they get whimsical and poke around, they lose interest fast. These villages are probably in bed with the tax collectors anyway."
"Learn something new every day. When I become Grand Duke, I'll smash them all."
"Pfft. Grand Duke? You?"
"Mocking me? Don't you know I'm direct lineage of the Prukerus Count family?"
"If you became Grand Duke, it'd be the worst territory ever. If the Prukerus retainers have any sense, they'd never back you as heir."
"You never know."
I chuckled. Only a few knew my true nature, and I kept rumors contained.
"What's the plan? At least two hundred pirates. Head-on fight?"
"I'm not insane. If you had that monster maid of yours, maybe."
Dairan yelled orders to her crew, turning the ship toward a cliff area away from the village.
"We'll sneak into the village through the woods, burn their ships so they can't escape."
"They can just flee inland."
"We'll dig traps nearby... but we can't catch every last runner. Might be none, but we'll thin their numbers enough they can't pirate again. Borix should be satisfied."
"Doesn't look easy. Even if you're an Aura Expert, they might have one too."
"...I need your help. And your guard's."
Dairan said it reluctantly, but to minimize losses and boost success, she needed us.
"Gotta help. If you fail, I'm screwed too."
I casually draped my arm over her shoulder.
"Appreciate the help, but get this arm off."
Dairan swatted my arm away.
The Red Flying Fish pirate ship anchored away from the village. Over half the crew disembarked into the woods toward the village.
The muggy weather squeezed out sweat, and swarming bugs from all sides grated on the nerves.
"Whew... Already wanna head back to the ship."
I grumbled.
"Quiet. Stay silent in the woods."
I shut up at Dairan's scolding. Instead, I reached out and groped Gula's ass. She flinched but kept moving without complaint.
About two hours in, we finally spotted the village.
"Ready?"
Dairan scanned the surroundings. The female pirates drew their weapons. I pulled oil barrels, shovels, pickaxes, ropes, and such from my inventory.
"Good. At night, we sneak in and torch their ships. They'll come for us, so we make as many dangerous traps as possible. Move."
Dairan directed her crew to dig traps. The pirates worked efficiently, like pros.
Melissa and I trailed behind Dairan.
"Why are pirates so good at traps? Ex-mercs?"
"Pirates don't always fight at sea. When they control islands or bases like this, they prep for land battles too. I taught the crew trap-making in advance. Knew it'd come in handy."
Traps done, night fell.
Just before action, Dairan split the group.
Assault team: Melissa and Gula, to fireball the ships fast.
Combat team: Me and Dairan, to sow chaos, thin numbers among villagers and pirates.
"Torch the ships and bolt to the woods. We'll retreat there too once your op succeeds. Lure them into the traps to cut their numbers."
Dairan eyed the village. Festive atmosphere—they'd fenced their loot.
"Let's go."
Her signal dropped, and we moved swiftly through the shadows.
Dairan, cutlass in hand, headed for the tavern—the crowd hub. It overflowed, tables and chairs spilling outside for drunken revelry.
"Krahahaha! You should've seen the faces of the fools we ran into! Shaking like mice before a snake! Wish you all saw it! Krahaha!"
"Back to bragging. Hey! More booze here!"
"To our alliance!"
"To the alliance!"
Rowdy drinking party.
Uninvited guests crashed it.
"Oho! Women?! This village got babes like this?"
"...Fuck. Hold up. That redhead—ain't she Red Flying Fish from the Pirate Alliance?"
"Nah, why would that bitch be—Gurk!"
Dairan swung her aura-coated blade at a drunk pirate. His head cleanly severed, it thudded onto the table.
Chilling silence fell. Surrounding pirates leaped up, grabbing weapons. The unarmed dashed for theirs.
Red Flying Fish pirates charged.
"Fuckin' bitches deserve to die slow!"
"Nets! Get the nets!"
The Red Flying Fish didn't charge wildly. They always checked escape routes, wary of encirclement.
"Redhead! You know where you are?!"
A man burst forward. Burn-scarred face. Blue aura flickered on his sword.
"......"
Dairan wordlessly swung at him.
Clang!
Blades clashed.
"Fire! The ships are burning!"
"Fuck! Put out the ship fires first!"
"Crazy bitches! They lit 'em and ran! Chase 'em down! Catch 'em or you're dead!"
I glanced sideways—five massive fires roared skyward on the beach. Mission success. They lost their ships.
"Retreat!"
Dairan shouted. Her female pirates fled to the woods without looking back.
"After 'em! Don't let 'em escape!"
Dairan slashed at pursuers. Pirates hesitated. I wasn't idle—sliced nearby foes, guarding her flank.
The burn-scarred man glared, grinding his teeth.
"Surround these bastards first! Grab the others later! These are priority!"
Pirates encircled us. Dairan and I locked eyes, then hit the weakest point—left side. Regular pirates panicked, swinging wildly, but aura blades cleaved them back.
"Kaaaagh!"
We dashed past corpses.
"Don't lose 'em! Kill if you can't catch! You idiots! Why just hold the bows?! Throw those spears!"
Burn-scar chased. I drew my gun and fired. He tensed at the unfamiliar weapon, dodging nimbly.
But not all—two bullets slammed into his left thigh.
"Kugh!"
He tumbled. Dairan and I escaped easier.
"Dairan! This ain't toward the woods!"
"A few crew haven't made it in yet. Need to buy more time. Go alone if you want."
"Funny. Ditching you now and you get killed? Waste of my efforts so far."
"True. Plan fails without me."
My "efforts" were aimed at her. I'd invested to bed her—couldn't back off now.
'And this is prime favor-building time!'
We dodged incoming arrows, spears, stones.
Screee!
An arrow flew at Dairan's back. No ordinary shot—infused with mana. Dairan, blocking frontal pirates, hadn't noticed.
I moved to swat it, then abandoned—leaped at Dairan instead.
"Dairan!"
I shoved her aside, taking the arrow in my right shoulder.
"Kugh!"
Dairan gaped at me.
"You!!"