Chapter 246
Chapter 246
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 246
Chapter Title: The Pirate Emissary
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Whoosh!
The warships of the Olivia Navy, having swept away every last pirate in the nearby waters, were anchored along Olivia's beaches.
The sailors had thoroughly surrounded a single small merchant vessel, so concealed behind those massive warships that it was barely visible at all.
"Raise your hands in the air and come down slowly. Any funny business, and we'll turn you into a pincushion on the spot."
Clack! Rumble!
From the ship's railings, the navy men aimed arrows and cannons at the merchant ship in unison.
"Well, well. I didn't expect a red-carpet welcome with open arms, but this is a bit too stingy, even for me."
A tall, handsome man with flowing long hair and flashy jewelry adorning his body from head to toe.
Tetsai merely pouted and grumbled at the navy's deadly threats, utterly unshaken.
If anything, it was the Olivia Navy growing tense at his every little gesture.
The Flower Thief, Tetsai.
True to his moniker, he cut a strikingly beautiful figure, but rumors swirled that he was a top-tier master swordsman, well beyond intermediate level.
Considering he hadn't even hit forty, his potential was said to be among the elite not just in the archipelago, but across the entire continent.
He might have been the vice-captain rather than the captain, but with the Mermaid Pirates counting among the archipelago's strongest, even most pirate captains had to give him a wide berth.
No matter that he'd come alone, lightly armed and claiming to be an envoy— if a continent-renowned figure like him suddenly went berserk and drew the shamshir at his waist, the Olivia Navy would be the ones paying the price, not him.
Small wonder they were on edge.
In the taut silence, ready to snap at the slightest touch...
"Everyone, stand down."
A voice so youthful it rang clear and bright echoed across the beach.
It was Jerome, having rushed over after receiving word from Delo.
"Baron! But this man..."
"It's fine. It doesn't look good for Olivia's elite navy to surround one person like this, jumping at every shadow. Besides."
Swoosh!
He eyed Tetsai, who had already stepped off the merchant ship onto solid ground, and continued.
"From the looks of it, he's not here to fight."
No hint of killing intent in Tetsai's eyes.
Not that it would have mattered much if there had been.
"Tetsai, was it? Head to the lord's castle. Since you've come as an envoy, not an enemy, it's only right to offer a master like you a cup of tea."
Tetsai, who had been quietly gauging Jerome's reaction, flashed a grin and gave a slight bow.
"An honor to meet the famed Baron Jerome. You've been smashing our boys to pieces for half a year now—I was dying to know what kind of guy you were. Mystery solved today."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, well. Seems you're big enough to talk things out. If not, I figured I'd wipe you all out for wasting my time and bolt. Haha."
The navies around them flinched at his grim joke, but Jerome just matched Tetsai's easy smile.
"I see. Though that doesn't look so easy."
"Haha, no kidding. Pull my sword on a whim, and it'd be my head rolling instead. I'll behave."
Tetsai laced his fingers behind his head with a playful shrug. No false modesty or exaggeration there.
Jerome had caught the glint in his eye as he subtly scanned Lampang and Beskin standing behind.
"Smart move. I wouldn't want to dry-jerky the guy who came to talk first, either."
Snap!
Jerome tilted his chin, urging him onward.
"Let's go. I'm quite curious what kind of fun proposal a Mermaid Pirates vice-captain might have."
* * *
Sip!
"Ho, this is tea steeped from Philador Kingdom grains."
"You know your teas."
"Haha, gotta have an eye for goods when piracy's your trade. Though I prefer my liquor."
"Liquor? If your business pleases me, I'll crack open a bottle."
"Shame."
In the office, alone with Tetsai, they'd spent the time on small talk.
Clink!
After several rounds of tea, Jerome set down his cup and got to it.
"Now, to the point. Why has the right-hand man of the South Commander sneaked into enemy territory like this?"
The man before him looked like some spoiled rich noble's wastrel son, but he was the vice-captain of the Mermaid Pirates, the terror of the continent.
A top brass even among archipelago executives.
For such a key figure to venture alone into enemy lines without escorts meant the matter was highly sensitive— not for outside ears.
"Hmm, where's the fun in spilling it straight? Care to guess?"
Tetsai grinned and tossed the question back instead.
"......"
Jerome met his calm gaze wordlessly. A gentle smile unfit for a pirate, but his eyes weren't smiling at all.
This was a test.
If he couldn't even predict this much, Tetsai had no intention of broaching the subject.
Thud!
Jerome leaned back in his chair, reflecting on the past.
As the war between the Holy Empire and the Continental Alliance heated up, the archipelago pirates had exploited the chaos, rampaging like they owned the seas.
The great pirates backing Pirate King Balak, harrying the Alliance's rear.
There had been exactly three of them.
Jerome opened his mouth steadily, still sunk in his chair.
"The South Commander plans to betray Punish Archipelago—no, Balak himself. Am I wrong?"
Tetsai's grinning eyes went wide as saucers.
'What the hell is this guy?'
South Commander's right-hand man Tetsai nearly lost his composure at Jerome's pinpoint strike to the core.
Guessing a betrayal of the archipelago wouldn't have shocked him so.
Rumors floated around, after all. Anyone not an idiot could guess as much from an enemy exec showing up solo.
But Jerome had named Balak specifically.
Similar on the surface, but worlds apart.
'Thought he was just some punk on a rampage after luckily finding Videlle Kroit. Guess the rumors aren't all hot air.'
"Ho, what makes you think that?"
He masked his thoughts and asked slowly.
"If you meant to betray the archipelago, you wouldn't send just the vice-captain—you'd bring the whole Mermaid Pirates to defect outright. Sneaking in secret means no such intention."
"That doesn't fully explain it. Maybe the whole crew couldn't move yet, so they sent me ahead quietly?"
"Sure. But then you wouldn't test the waters or size up my caliber like this. Rebellion's the ultimate taboo in any outfit, anywhere in history. Get caught or fail, and every head involved rolls. So you wanted to gauge if I'm worth proposing to, right?"
"......"
"......"
"...Haha, hahahahaha!!"
Tetsai, who had been glaring silently, suddenly burst into wild laughter.
"Well, well. Sorry about that. I figured smashing our locals was all thanks to 'him.' Thought you were just some meathead punk. Turns out the rumors undersold you bad."
Jerome could easily guess who "he" meant.
"Videlle Kroit?"
"Oh, you even know his identity? How'd you track down that old ghost who ghosted after the Sword Family idiots backstabbed him—and hire him on the spot? Clever one."
Playful words, but Jerome's response bumped his estimation up another notch.
Videlle Kroit had wallowed in despair for years, never stirring no matter how the south roiled.
'Not only found the guy quick, but earned enough trust for him to reveal himself...'
Interesting.
Captain Martel's judgment never missed.
This "punk"—no, Baron Jerome von Carviot— was worth talking big business with.
Thwack!
Tetsai downed the last of his tea and slapped his knee lightly.
"Fine! Let's get down to brass tacks. But first."
He wiped the playfulness from his face entirely.
"One question, Baron. What do you want to do with the archipelago?"
'What to do with the archipelago...'
A question Jerome had pondered since his return to the past.
Among the continent's forbidden zones, the archipelago was unique— ruled by humans.
Through the continent's long history, they'd never once bowed to continental overlords.
Not even to their own—until the titan Balak rose.
Truly untamable, beasts in human form.
And given the distance from the mainland, ruling them was wildly inefficient to boot.
-The Continental Alliance scoffs at them as sea barbarians, but don't. Whether you pull them to your side or not could swing the whole war.
Dwayne's words from their first meeting flashed through his mind.
From then till now, Jerome's vision for ending the war with the archipelago hadn't wavered.
"Coexist. I want to coexist with the archipelago pirates."
"Coexist..."
Tetsai mulled it over.
'What an interesting guy.'
Jerome's fame had long reached the archipelago.
Spies had also reported how he'd built up the navy with massive backing from multiple kingdoms.
Young, talented, state-sponsored.
Anyone would assume he aimed to crush them.
Yet out came "coexist," not conquest.
It kept piquing Tetsai's curiosity.
He held full authority here.
The pirates' fate hung on him.
Thus, utmost caution in deciding.
"You think that's possible? As a noble from a prestigious house, you must know our history."
"I do. But the archipelago's still a place where people live. Bound to be some who'll listen to reason."
He knew the history well.
Including those who'd sought prosperity through continental trade.
"And you know they all failed?"
"Of course. But this time could be different."
"Basis for that faith?"
"Past traders were weaklings opting for trade over force. Changes things if the trader's the strong one."
If reason worked on someone like the South Commander, they might forge a whole new history.
"Pity. The archipelago's at its historical peak now. In softer times, maybe your dream flies—but now we've got four at or above Captain Martel's level."
True enough. "Now."
"Just make Martel the strongest."
"What? You think claiming the throne's a casual hike?"
Tetsai gaped in disbelief, but Jerome's face stayed stone.
"Doesn't have to get strong himself to be the strongest."
"...?!"
Tetsai caught on late and roared with laughter again.
"Hahaha, hahahaha! You know what you're saying?!"
"If I lacked that resolve, I never would've set foot here."
Tetsai stared at Jerome.
'...He's serious.'
Eyes brimming with unyielding will, no tremor.
Shield Family's third young master, top noble house.
Thwarted imperial plans repeatedly.
Genius of geniuses, solving kingdoms' woes before thirty.
And he'd walked into Olivia of his own accord.
How long did he bore into those eyes?
"...Come next spring, the archipelago launches a massive offensive across the south continent. Starts with Olivia—full command, even Balak himself. The real hammer blow."
Jerome's eyes widened at Tetsai's bombshell.
The unified archipelago's pent-up might from twenty years past.
A sudden strike would unleash unimaginable havoc.
"In that fight, South Command handles the left flank. We'll hit the West Command's side when they lead the vanguard. Prepare well."
Tetsai had decided.
Creak!
"Deal. Looking forward to it."
"...Betray us, and I'll kill you with everything I've got."
Tetsai gripped his hand in warning.
"Likewise."
It fit. The puzzle's final piece.