Chapter 241
Chapter 241
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 241
Chapter Title: Chapter 241
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 241
Chapter Title: The Pirate's Decoy
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The Dirforus Strait goes berserk every so often, driven mad by the conflicting gravitational pulls of its three moons churning the currents into a frenzy.
Even the ships of the archipelago pirates—who ruled these seas—were being smashed to pieces without mercy in that savage ocean. Yet a single small vessel was gliding through it all with effortless grace.
It was Jerome's ship, approaching the flagship of the Kybele Pirates to extract Jeremiah.
"Whoa... It's been ages since I was last on a boat, but this navigator Jiang's skills are no joke."
Set, who had boarded with me, couldn't stop marveling.
This wasn't your average whirlpool—it was strong enough to pulverize pirate ships in seconds.
The fact that we could slip through such waters so casually was unbelievable.
No, even before questioning if it was possible, just imagining getting sucked into one of those maelstroms would make anyone shrink back in instinctive fear.
And yet, Jiang was traversing this insane sea as leisurely as if he were paddling along a beach.
"Makes me jealous all over again. No wonder, with talents like this surrounding you."
Set shot me a sideways glance as he spoke.
"The Osiris Kingdom has plenty of talent too. They're just stifled by the chaotic atmosphere of internal strife and rivalries."
"Hmph. Yeah, I suppose..."
Set's face suddenly darkened. He was probably worried about Ishvar back home in the kingdom, still suffering from mineral poisoning.
"We're searching high and low right now, so just hold on a bit longer. Even if we don't find a cure, conquering the archipelago will let us save Pagonia."
"...Yeah. It has to."
As Set and I chatted, Jiang's godlike navigation swiftly carried us toward the site where the Kybele Pirates were sinking.
"Huh? No flagship?"
We'd clearly spotted it from afar on our way here, leading at the rear.
But now that we'd arrived, it was nowhere in sight.
Boom! Crash! Kaboom!
Cannon fire erupted relentlessly from the front lines of the pirate ships.
With most of their fleet already shattered by the whirlpools, unleashing that kind of barrage meant something was unfolding beyond my expectations.
"Jiang! Once the shelling stops, take us right up to the front!"
At my command, Jiang steered us further outward. There, in the distance, we spotted the flagship, fully ablaze and listing heavily to one side.
Creeeeak!
With the groan of splintering wood, the massive ship tilted its bulk into the sea.
"Th-that!"
Jiang, Set, and Miron—who'd come along—cried out in alarm.
None of them were unaware that the person I sought was aboard that flagship.
So naturally, seeing our target engulfed in flames upon arrival was shocking.
But I, knowing Jeremiah's value, instantly recognized it as bait they'd tossed out.
With her abilities, she could rebuild a pirate fleet of this scale in no time.
They'd definitely slipped away somewhere.
'Where?'
I scanned all around, but nothing.
Artis must have escaped faster than anticipated.
To think he'd cut loose his crew and flee this quickly.
'Wrong. No traces.'
Night had long fallen, and the chaos of flames, screams, and rushing water drowned out any clues.
"B-Baron! Message from Delo!"
Late to snap out of it, Miron thrust a glowing communication orb at me. Baron, did you find them?! Delo's voice was frantic. He'd likely spotted the flagship sinking through his spyglass.
He'd probably seen through their sneaky escape too.
"No dice. No traces anywhere. Looks like they've already slipped away."
No helping it. I was prepared to request aid from surrounding territories, even if it meant rumors about who I was so desperate to find.
Letting Jeremiah slip here would be far worse.
'We have to comb every coast with all hands if needed.'
As I steeled myself, Delo's urgent voice continued in my ear. No, Baron! They haven't escaped! "What do you mean?" Right side! They've hidden on the right island of the Dirforus Strait! Hurry over! Delo sounded utterly convinced. Questions about how he knew could wait.
"On our way now." ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The right island Delo had indicated via communication.
No traces marred its shores, but Delo wasn't one to declare certainty without basis.
A reckless man like that never would have earned his reputation as the kingdom's top admiral.
Trusting there had to be a clue, we scoured the island inch by inch. Finally, we found a small boat hidden between valley walls.
Coated in pitch-black lacquer for nocturnal escapes, it blended in so seamlessly that only close inspection revealed it.
Tucked deep in the valley like this, we never would have found it without persistence.
"They're committed to hiding out here."
The docking spot, the erased shore tracks—it all screamed premeditated concealment against our search.
Which meant, naturally...
"They've headed for the island's center."
The heart of the island was dense forest, teeming with hiding spots and ample wildlife for sustenance.
Ideal for hunkering down long-term.
'Tough bastard.'
I revised my assessment of Artis.
If you didn't know Jeremiah's powers, fine—but knowing them made her potential obvious.
How swiftly she could rebuild his shattered fleet.
Of course he'd want to escape this place ASAP and rally his forces.
Yet here he was, turning the tables by infiltrating enemy territory—or our backyard, really—and holing up.
Not a choice for the faint-hearted.
Thinking back, he'd even suspected an ambush early on and swept the island.
Though it was Delo's trap, exploiting that very expectation. Delo was brilliant; Artis wasn't foolish.
At least now I understood why the Kybele Pirates weren't dismissed as amateurs and were appointed Neptune Pirates' successors.
'I'll have to reward Delo handsomely when we return.'
Securing the sea battle was merit enough, but ensuring we didn't lose Jeremiah was incalculable.
Swish swish swish!
To guard against any pirates doubling back to the valley, I'd ordered Jiang to wait offshore. Grabbing signal flares, I took Set and Miron and raced toward the island's center.
How long did we run? As the forest core neared, faint presences stirred.
No light leaked from the pitch-black woods, but the air whispered the truth: multiple humans lurked within.
'Where?'
Hostage-takers typically fall into two types.
Those keeping captives right under their noses, or those locking them away in sealed-off spots.
The former allows instant threats but demands constant vigilance.
The latter prevents snap threats but enables efficient management with minimal guards.
'They came here fully intending to hole up. No short-term thinking.'
So, likely the latter for easier handling.
Of course, no rushing to conclusions. One misstep, and a gem like Jeremiah could perish pointlessly.
Proceed with utmost caution. Miron, check the outskirts for any caves where they might've stashed hostages. Set, you come with me to the forest center. I sent quiet telepathy to the two Black Lions versed in Heterogenous Powers.
In a situation where whispers might give us away, it was prescient to have brought them. Baron, why me...? If hostages are on the outskirts, the captain Artis or execs like the first mate wouldn't guard them personally. They'd leave it to regular crew. You can handle rescuing them solo, no problem. ...Got it. Understood. Miron looked glum at not joining us again, but he accepted and dashed off.
'You've grown up nicely.'
The old Miron would've sulked hard.
There was another unspoken reason: his Frenzy ability wasn't hostage-rescue friendly.
Once it kicked in, rationality went out the window—hard to prioritize captives when you're berserk.
If they'd opted for nearby hostages, it could've botched Jeremiah's rescue. Unavoidable.
'Your battlefield awaits elsewhere.'
I'd already envisioned the perfect stage for Miron to unleash fully.
Grateful he waited patiently despite the frustration, that day wasn't far off. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The scenery whipped by. Pacing himself for a long perimeter sweep made sense, but Miron didn't slack a step.
No time for dawdling when carrying out the Baron's orders at top speed was barely enough.
And he wasn't so frail that this distance winded him.
"...Hoo."
Only after a long search post-run did Miron exhale deeply, catching his breath.
That breath carried his pent-up frustration.
'Am I still... so lacking?'
It was a lie.
Not just the Baron's command—he was fed up chasing Jerome's shadow endlessly.
That day long ago, when young, ignorant Miron pledged loyalty to Jerome.
He'd vowed to be his sword and shield.
But now? Not helping, just struggling to keep up.
...Still, the run cleared his head some.
'No. The Baron's grand picture has plenty left. Keep training without giving up, and someday... Hm?'
As he shook off doubts, a faint sound pinged his senses.
"...How the hell did it come to this."
"...Can't go outside. Just hold out."
'!'
This island held only pirates besides us.
Jackpot.
Had to be where they'd stashed the hostages.
Miron crept forward silently, his bulk belying his stealth. Pirate guffaws reached his ears.
"Still, that bitch gets the job done right? Gotta hold out."
"Tch! Shame, though. If not for the captain, I'd have... Heh heh!"
Vile filth no ears should hear. It struck Miron's deepest trigger. Of course, your apology includes your big sis too, right? Heh. Looks frail and sickly, but that face is killer. Flashback to his weak days: the apple merchant Brandon spewing that at his sister.
As if possessed, Miron snapped the two pirates' necks.
Crack!
"Filth like you spouts from snouts, not mouths."
Glacial eyes on the fallen scum, Miron plunged into the cave.
"Wh-what?!"
The off-duty Killer Whale Squad guarding the rear jolted at the intruder.
Miron answered with his hammer.
Whoosh!
Splat!
A squad member's head exploded before he could scream.
"Trash. Not one of you leaves alive."
Miron radiated volcanic killing intent, a demon incarnate.
"Crazy bastard! What're you waiting for—kill him!"
Pirates charged en masse. Chaotic as it seemed, they seized optimal positions in the tight cave.
Whump whump whump!
His hammer carved deadly arcs through the air.
Splat splat thud!
"Gaaahhh!"
"M-my arm!"
No one blocked that hammer. All it touched pulverized.
Miron had underrated his power. Frenzy excelled in one-vs-many; he'd just never had the chance to shine.
Clearing the squad in seconds, he pressed deeper, leaving them behind.
"Everyone okay?"
"Sniff, sniff..."
"Waaahhh!"
Blood-soaked Miron entered; the kids, at their limit, burst into sobs.
"Hey, kids. No crying. I'm here to rescue you."
"Who... are you?"
Unlike the weeping children, one woman regarded him calmly amid the chaos.
Instinct told Miron: this was Jerome's Jeremiah.
"If it's not too rude, may I have your name?"
An odd question, but his clear eyes coaxed her reply.
"...Jemi. I'm Jemi."
Found her. Miron wasn't some genius like Dwayne, but even he connected the dots from the name.
Swoosh!
Without pause, he fired a signal flare skyward.
Bang!
Golden light—like Jerome's aura—sparkled softly against the three moons' glow in the dark sky.
The pirates would see it too. But Miron wasn't worried.
Hostages secured, Jerome losing to small-fry pirates? Unthinkable.
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