Chapter 235
Chapter 235
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 235
Chapter Title: Swelling Olivia and Midnight Betrayal
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After using the information guild in Sapan territory and returning to Olivia, Jerome was startled by the noticeably increased population in just a few days.
He had disposed of the Neptune Pirates and bought the innocent slaves who had been unjustly captured by the Sharon Kingdom, settling them as territory residents.
It was only natural for the population to grow since it was all part of the plan.
Even so, it hadn't increased this much.
'This is practically sending almost all the slaves from the Sharon Kingdom, isn't it?'
"That's exactly what you're thinking."
Dwayne, with dark circles under his eyes, looked at me and spoke.
"King Peter sent everyone innocent, excluding the criminals in Mercado. He apparently covered the shortfall from the Neptune Pirates' ransom with the royal family's private funds."
"What?"
I was shocked by Dwayne's words. The difference in payment aside, considering Mercado's scale, even the high price of the Neptune Pirates wouldn't have covered it. How had King Peter paid such a massive sum?
"Well... it's probably to show his firm commitment to the kingdom's industrial reforms. Reforms like this need to be swept clean all at once to start fresh. And since he's decided to support us anyway, he's calling it even."
"Ah, yeah, that makes sense."
It would be ridiculous to boldly declare slave industry reforms and then say he'd sell off the remaining slaves too.
And what Olivia needed most was people, so this was the most solid support possible.
"But that's not the whole story, is it?"
Pfft!
"Well, of course there's some personal motive. He's probably asking for a little favor in his love life."
Dwayne chuckled.
"Why don't you send a communication to Banten later? Ask him to keep an eye on Elunheim."
"Yeah, I should."
If something comes, something must go. Even if he'd helped purge the Mercado slave traders, this many people was overkill as compensation.
Repaying in some other way would balance the scales.
"By the way, who did you find in Sapan?"
"How'd you know?"
"I heard from Lampang. Apparently, someone who can perfectly handle Olivia's internal affairs."
Maybe because they shared the same administrative temperament, Dwayne showed rare interest.
"Yeah, pretty much. Otherwise, you might collapse at this rate."
"...There are people from the Sharon Kingdom who worked in administration among those sent. Give it a little more time, and I can set up the system alone."
Dwayne pouted slightly, his expression a bit sulky.
"Aw, jealousy doesn't suit you. Is it because you lack the skills? You need to handle other things—no time to wrestle with numbers at a desk. Got it?"
"...Hmph. Understood."
Only after I assured him it wasn't about doubting his abilities did Dwayne's expression soften.
'He's not a kid, geez.'
Even if he grumbled like that, once he actually met Jeremiah, Dwayne would have no choice but to acknowledge her.
Her talent for internal affairs was that exceptional.
Creak!
Opening the window replaced the office's thick scent of paper and ink with the fresh aroma of the southern sea.
Peering out, I could see at a glance how buildings and settlements were forming across the territory—places that had only dotted fishing villages in the distance before.
"They've come all this way."
It had been several years since I'd attended the spring festival, kidnapped Dwayne, and brought him here.
We'd planned and revised countless times to reach this point.
From the moment I met Dwayne, I'd seen the archipelago pirates as one of the key variables in the war against the Empire.
This operation would consume the most time and resources of all our plans so far.
I had to give it my all. This wasn't like before—the enemy's scale and power were on another level.
From the territory residents on a small scale to support from neighboring nations on a larger one. A single choice from me could sway countless lives.
As I steeled my resolve, my gaze caught a group training on the distant beach.
I'd heard they hadn't even started formal training days ago, but they were already showing signs of discipline.
"Any guesses on old man Delro's true identity yet?"
Delro, the village chief of Raine Village. After appointing him as the overall naval training supervisor, I hadn't forced any questions.
That said, I still needed to pin down his background definitively.
This was too critical an issue to keep someone of unknown origins around indefinitely.
"Hmm, well..."
Flip!
Dwayne rifled through some documents briefly, then furrowed his brow.
"There's someone it points to based on age and skill... but I need to dig more."
"Why?"
For someone with such distinctive traits, staying hidden was the odd part, yet Dwayne was dodging a firm answer. Unusual for him.
"He's recorded as having died over ten years ago. Officially announced by the Sword Family themselves."
"A dead man, huh..."
Something smelled off.
"Dig deeper. We might grab another weakness from the Sword Family if we're lucky."
Dwayne's lips pursed again.
"Talk is easy. How annoying would it be if I did it myself... Ugh."
Tsk.
Was it my imagination? Lately, everyone seemed extra grumpy.
Whoosh...
The gentle lapping of southern sea waves against the shore at night.
Night fell faster in the archipelago than on the continent.
By evening, low tide exposed the maximum shoreline, prompting early closure of "business" and return to the islands.
Especially with an imminent departure, pirate crews checked their condition rigorously, retiring even earlier the night before—standard for archipelago pirates.
This army-like discipline was the secret to their mastery of the seas.
Yet the same actions could appear differently to others.
Their rigid routine simply made their patterns predictable.
Crunch... crunch...
The silent shoreline, most pirates deep in sleep.
A group crept cautiously toward where the pirate ships were anchored.
Anyone spotting them would immediately note their mostly diminutive statures.
"Sis, I'm so scared."
A voice too youthful for scheming.
Surprisingly, it belonged to a genuinely young girl.
Not just her—the rest following were similar, immature children who hadn't fully grown.
"Shh! Keep it down. Miss this chance, and it's all over."
The woman leading them urgently hushed the girl's whimper.
"Tomorrow, the Cybele Pirates handling our sector head to Olivia. Skip tonight when everyone's asleep, and we'll never escape slavery."
Astonishingly, she had intuited King Ballak's order to the Cybele Pirates two months prior.
In an archipelago where all but pirates and their families were imported slaves, knowing their departure schedule was far from ordinary.
It stemmed entirely from her abilities.
Despite her youth, Cybele's captain Artis had recognized her sharp mind and entrusted her with the crew's finances—a wise choice.
Under her, their finances improved dramatically.
She plugged every leak and optimized every expense for maximum effect.
Though newer than Neptune Pirates, her contributions helped secure the Ikenia route.
Thus, intimately familiar with internal logistics, she'd noticed the unusual surge in supplies lately.
She despised her life as a pirate's plaything.
She'd endured only for her sole sibling and the equally precious children, not bound by blood but by bonds.
Now, a chance to escape this hell had arrived.
"Sis, you sure it'll work? It's low tide now. Ships are beached on sand—how do we move them with our strength?"
The next-oldest boy voiced concern.
She looked more impatient than her usual calm.
"Don't worry about that."
She dismissed it curtly.
"Uncle Maki told me. During low tide, there's a brief incoming tide moment for some reason. Push then."
Mention of Maki eased the boy's face. If Uncle Maki said it, it was trustworthy.
He'd been a slave under Cybele long before they arrived—practically father to all kidnapped children.
Whoosh!
"See? Waves are picking up. Uncle Maki was right."
Sure enough, water steadily rose beneath the dried hulls, as Maki predicted.
How much longer they waited, once enough water pooled, the children approached the ship cautiously, lest anyone see.
"Wish Uncle Maki came too."
Pain flickered in the woman's eyes at the child's wistful words.
-Heh heh, what could I do at my age? I'll end my days here—escape on your own. I'll buy as much time as I can, so hurry.
Maki had insisted on stalling personally for their futures.
Even risking his neck if the plan leaked.
'Uncle, we'll come back to save you.'
Pushing aside regret and pain, as the woman and children placed hands on the hull—
"Kids, what're you up to?"
"...!!"
A chilling voice, slithering like a serpent up their spines, froze the children rigid.
The woman fared no better—in fact, her shock hit hardest.
The voice belonged to her nightmare incarnate.
Turning, she faced a smirking middle-aged man with arms crossed.
"...Captain Artis."
"Why stop? Keep going. What's with the pause?"
The amused middle-aged man was none other than Cybele Pirates' captain, Artis.
Swish!
As if on cue, Cybele crew emerged one by one atop the ship.
"C'mon, runts! Keep pushing! Get our ship outta here! I wanna escape so baaad!"
"Puhahaha!"
As the full crew aboard jeered, the woman squeezed her eyes shut.
How had it leaked? How did they know?
"Curious?"
Snap!
Reading her face, Artis smirked vilely and snapped his fingers. A hesitant middle-aged man emerged behind him.
The children's eyes widened like saucers.
The woman's especially— he wasn't supposed to be here.
"Ma...ki, Uncle. Why are you..."
"...Sorry."
Maki, trusted most by all—past, present, future—averted his gaze from her, pleading to Artis.
"C-Captain. I did as you said, so you'll let me leave the island? Right?"
Guilt faded fast; his face brimmed with joy.
"Ah, of course. I always keep my word, y'know? Captain's honor?"
As Artis grinned, Maki started to mirror it—
Splat!
"...Huh?"
Artis's cutlass pierced Maki's chest.
Gurgle...
Blood sprayed from his mouth instantly. Even bleeding out, Maki's eyes burned with confusion and rage at Artis.
"Why..."
"Why? I promised, didn't I? To send you off the island."
Grin!
Artis's cheerful face held no remorse.
"Didn't say anything about alive, though."
Thud!
A glance at the falling corpse prompted crew to grab it, brush past the children, and toss it into the sea.
Splash!
"Congrats on leaving the island. Hope you're happy down there."
Artis watched the sinking body, then turned to the woman.
"Now, Jemi. What should I do with you?"
"......"
Jemi bit her lip hard.
Twinkle!
Clouds parted, revealing moonlight.
Her light green hair, hidden in darkness, shimmered mysteriously under its glow.