Chapter 218
Chapter 218
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 218
Chapter Title: The Sirens' Savior
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"Sit up straight, you bastards!"
Thwack!
The pirate who took a hit to the back of his head grimaced.
Damn it, if you're gonna hit me, use your own damn hand. Wagging that finger and puppet-whacking me from afar was even more infuriating.
"What're you glaring at? Huh?"
As Saladin menacingly widened his eyes, the pirate smoothed out his twisted expression, gradually averting his gaze.
But inwardly, he was cursing up a storm.
"Tsk tsk."
Saladin clicked his tongue and turned back to Jerome.
"That Dwayne guy... he's seriously scary sometimes. Feels like he can see right through to a person's soul."
"Well, yeah."
I played it off casually, but even I couldn't hide my inner surprise at Dwayne's strategy.
We already knew pirates valued personal gain and glory over camaraderie.
We also knew Samuel was sharp-minded enough to give the navy headaches.
But it hadn't occurred to me to combine those two facts into a strategy like Dwayne did—on the spot, no less.
Truth be told, I had braced for some sacrifices in rescuing the sirens. Faye and the others had too.
It was unavoidable. Even with our overwhelming force, the pirates could've bought enough time to take the sirens hostage.
Those hostages would've had to sacrifice for the greater good.
But Dwayne changed the plan: fire the cannons but don't close in.
That would tip off the cunning Samuel right away. He'd sense the attack wasn't the real goal.
Once Samuel split off in a frenzy over the sirens, capturing him would wrap up half the operation.
I looked up at the sky. The sun was already dipping low.
"Time to move. Saladin, keep 'em secure. No screw-ups."
"What the hell do you take me for...?"
I left the grumbling Saladin behind and headed out with Rampang and Beskin, moving to our assigned spots as per Dwayne's plan.
Now it was time to wrap this operation up.
Boom! Kwaboom!
The sight of countless cannonballs from the galleons streaking across the sea with thunderous roars was nothing short of spectacular.
Especially since the gunners were the Neptune Pirates, who dominated the kingdom's western coast.
Their sharpshooting artillery skills were downright awe-inspiring.
"Gahhhh!"
But for those on the receiving end, it was pure hell.
Splash! Splash!
While the Cherion crew panicked on deck, the Sea Maria danced effortlessly out of the cannonballs' range. If the Neptune Pirates' gunnery was sharp, Jean's navigation was downright divine.
Needless to say, the Neptune Pirates were furious.
"Shit! You idiots! Why can't you hit that one ship? You wanna end up shark bait for the captain?!"
Burgess, Samuel's right-hand man and the Neptune Pirates' first mate, berated the crew, but they just groaned.
"B-but that ship's too fast, First Mate!"
"Yeah, it's like the damn thing's alive!"
Burgess could see it too. No clue where this freak ship had come from.
Goddamn it! Never heard of Ikenia having a vessel like that.
No faulting Burgess's eye. The Sea Maria, pride of the Grand Maria Fleet that ruled Laurent Port, was a masterpiece built to conquer the rough northern seas.
Unless it was Pirate King Ballak's flagship Nightmare, no ordinary pirate galleon could keep up.
And the captain's sailing skills were incomparable too—but Burgess had no way of knowing that.
So he just drove the crew harder.
"Shut up! If you lose those bastards, you'll be the captain's chum instead. Unless you want keelhauling, chase 'em with everything you've got!"
The crew paled at Burgess's words.
Keelhauling.
Binding someone with rope, tossing them overboard, and dragging them under the hull for a full circuit.
Seemed simple, but the barnacles on the keel would shred their backs raw, leading to fatal blood loss.
Even the brutal Neptune Pirates dreaded it.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Burgess's threat worked; the pirate ships picked up speed.
But they had no idea this was all part of Jean and Dwayne's plan.
Once Dwayne confirmed they'd lured them deep into open water, he signaled. Brilliant spells erupted behind him.
Kwaaaaang!
"Gahhhh!"
Set and Aria's flames engulfed the galleons.
Bzzzt!
"Aaaagh!"
Seira's lightning fried the seawater-soaked crew en masse.
And the highlight: a lone shark—no, a man—leaping from a distant cliff, slicing through the waves.
Krunch!
Rampang, channeling the might of a megalodon—one of the ocean's fiercest beasts—smashed a galleon to splinters.
Splash! Splash!
With fires raging, shocks surging, and hulls shattering, the Neptune Pirates crumbled in moments.
"Looks like that's mostly wrapped up."
Dwayne had overseen it all from the lead ship.
This op was foolproof from the start.
Few in number, but our force could tangle with Ballak on his home island or even the Four Spirits.
No matter how notorious the Neptune Pirates, the outcome was set.
Rampang being here meant Samuel was secured without issue.
And most of their fleet was pinned here. Head and body down—done.
"Now, just the finale, Baron. Leave it to you."
Time to cap it off with the grandest flourish.
Enraged by the sudden barrage, a horde of pirates gave chase to the Sea Maria. In a flash, the swarming coastal area emptied, leaving only cracked sunlight-baked sirens and a handful of guards.
"Damn, we got shafted again. Thought I'd get a taste of blood for once."
One pirate grumbled from atop a wooden crate, mid-poker game.
"Heh, what's wrong? I'm loving it. No point going out there—just hassle. Plus..."
Thud!
Grinning at the complainer, another pirate slapped down his hand triumphantly.
Straight flush. Crushing victory.
"...I get to fleece suckers like you. How great is that?"
Clink!
He swept the gold coins from the table with glee.
"Shit!"
"You cheating bastard! You rigging this?! How do you keep drawing winners?!"
The others' moods soured. Pirates by trade, they stole and killed at whim—high aggression baseline. Stuck babysitting after missing the fight, now losing pocket change at cards? Infuriating.
"Sob... sob!"
A young siren's cries grated on their nerves.
"Shut it, you bitch!"
The grumbler earlier stormed toward the child, snarling curses.
"S-sorry. The chain's chafing her neck—it's hurting bad. I'll calm her, so please..."
"Shut your trap!"
Slap!
He backhanded the mother aside and squatted before the kid.
Her neck was poisoned green, flesh inflamed; skin cracked like dry fields from too long ashore, blood oozing.
Any child would've wailed in agony. She'd held back this much—impressive restraint.
But the pirate, already twisted, didn't care.
Crack!
"Eek!"
He yanked her hair; a pained cry escaped.
Sadism gleamed in his eyes—the thief's delight in others' pain.
"Heh heh! Cards suck today. Guess I'll play with you instead."
Shing!
He drew his shamshir. Others protested—not out of pity.
"Hey, don't touch the captain's goods. You'll get fucked."
"Hmph! One missing won't matter."
"Tch, I warned ya."
Agreeing it was fine, they tuned back into poker.
"Heh heh! C'mon, kiddo. Let's have some fun with Uncle."
As the blade rose high and despair filled her eyes...
Slice!
Something cut the air around the pirate.
"...?"
Odd. He hadn't swung yet.
Thud!
Then he saw it: his hand, still gripping the shamshir, on the ground.
Realization hit; pain exploded late.
"A-Arghhh! My hand!"
"Quiet, trash."
Slice!
A cold voice rang out. His head hit the dirt—no blood from wrist or neck. Instead, cuts froze solid, blood beading slowly as time passed.
Sliced and flash-frozen.
Meanwhile, a stranger approached the young siren.
Clank! Clank!
The mother, neck-chained, scrambled to hug her child—fearing harm.
Swoosh!
As his hand neared slowly, she squeezed her eyes shut, shielding the girl.
Even if it killed her, save the child.
No pain came. Instead, a pop from her neck.
Pop!
"...?!"
Cool relief washed over her neck.
A sensation once natural, now alien. She cracked her eyes; the man knelt, gazing at her.
"You're free now."
Short words. He reached for the child.
"!"
Pop!
Her chains fell too.
As someone diced the pirates mercilessly, the man carefully snapped every siren's bonds—necks, limbs—without harm.
One pirate tried using sirens as shields against a grizzled man.
Thud!
He casually subdued him.
Moments later, after the last chain...
"You've all suffered greatly. Head that way for safety. Go."
"Wh-who are you? Why help us?"
Once trusting of humans, the sirens now eyed their savior warily—hardened by ordeal.
To Jerome, their suspicion echoed a recent scene, bittersweetly familiar. He smiled wryly.
"Faye asked me to come. Save her kin captured and tormented by pirates."
"F-Faye?"
Wary eyes softened. No outsider would know that name.
"Yes. I understand the distrust. But trust me just this once?"
"A-alright."
Unlike the pirates, Jerome's steady politeness swayed them. They shuffled off slowly.
Grateful savior, knew Faye—no tricks.
The last, a tiny siren, turned back mid-retreat.
"Big bro! Thanks for saving me! What's your name?"
Childlike innocence. But every siren perked up.
Not one lost on this beach, thanks to him. Gratitude beyond measure.
"I'm Jerome. Jerome von Carviot, lord of Olivia in the Ikenia Kingdom."
Olivia's lord, Jerome von Carviot.
That name seared into the captive sirens' minds.