Chapter 249
Chapter 249
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 250
Chapter Title: A Radical Proposal
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"...That's how it happened."
"...Hah! Is this bold or just plain reckless...?"
As Tessai finished recounting his conversation with Jerome, Boni let out a disbelieving sigh from where she sat listening.
Jerome's idea was that radical.
Unlike other pirate crews in the archipelago, the Mermaid Pirates were a peculiar bunch who cherished their comrades' lives above all else.
Just as Tessai had guessed Martel's intentions, the other crew members knew her inner thoughts as well.
They understood why she'd risked her own life with that bold advice to sway the king's mind, and why she'd changed course upon hearing of the young hero Jerome von Carviot's arrival in Olivia, deciding to use him to stir winds of change across the archipelago.
That's why they'd dispatched Tessai to Olivia in secret.
If Jerome truly was the extraordinary figure their captain believed him to be, they wanted him to ensure Martel's safety while they threw themselves into the fire in her place.
Just as Martel treasured her crew, the crew valued their captain's life above everything.
But the Tessai they'd sent to secure Martel's safety in exchange for a rebellion returned with something far more extreme.
-Boni. Instead of dying pointless deaths like dogs, let's take the archipelago for ourselves. If it fails, I'll take all the blame.
They'd sent him to prepare for Martel's escape, only for him to come back with this wild scheme. Boni couldn't fathom what was going through the idiot's head.
"Coexisting with the archipelago... by sweeping away the king and all those commanders, and making our captain queen...?"
Pure delusion. The ravings of a greenhorn with not a shred of feasibility.
The archipelago was currently enjoying its greatest golden age in history.
If not for the monster known as Pirate King Balak, any one of the commanders could have claimed dominion over the islands without issue.
That's why they'd been planning a rebellion—to buy Martel time to escape.
They'd sent Tessai to relay the archipelago's movements for that very reason.
Don't do anything reckless. Just quietly prepare to flee.
Boni stared silently at Tessai.
His eyes held no trace of doubt. It was clear from his gaze alone: Tessai genuinely intended to bet everything on this Jerome.
Tessai might seem like a womanizing fool at first glance, but in truth, he was a genius acknowledged by every member of the Mermaid Pirates.
Even surpassing Boni's own level at just thirty years old.
That's why they'd entrusted him with full authority over this matter. He commanded that much trust.
Such a man wouldn't arrive at this conclusion without deep thought.
"...You've got a plan for dealing with Balak, right?"
"Boni!"
Martel shouted, eyes wide. She'd expected Boni, having heard the full story, to shut down Tessai's nonsense.
But Boni ignored Martel's cry and pressed on.
"There was a woman by Jerome's side with an aura rivaling the king's."
"What about the Three Commanders?"
"Hard to believe, I know, but Jerome had another powerhouse at his side. Jerome himself matches the Three Commanders in presence. With our captain helping, the last one's manageable."
"......"
Boni closed her eyes, deep in thought.
Given Olivia's string of naval victories, it was a given that the once-retired Vidal Croit had stepped forward.
Under his command, Olivia's regular sailors would dominate any sea battle.
'The woman on the jade throne... Come to think of it, there were rumors Banten was mingling with the elves.'
The Forest Queen, Paula Minerva, could surely hold her own against the king.
If Tessai was right and Jerome and his subordinate matched the Three Commanders...
'...It's worth a shot.'
Not a hundred percent guarantee of success, but far from the hopeless dog-death scenario.
"Captain, I'm sorry, but I think this fool Tessai's idea is the better one."
"...Boni. You've seen the king who conquered the archipelago with your own eyes. And you say that?"
Martel shot back, unable to hide her disappointment.
The world might relegate Balak to the fringes of the jade throne, but she knew the truth.
He sat at the fringes not out of weakness, but because of his fearsome reputation and his rooted presence in the archipelago.
"Haha. What we've always wanted is your safety, Captain. So naturally, we choose the path where you're most likely to stay safe, don't we?"
"The king could crush Olivia flat. Then we'd really be dying like dogs."
Martel saw Olivia as a mere stimulant for Balak—a momentary trigger to awaken nostalgia in his battle with Vidal Croit, the man who'd once threatened his life long ago.
That's why the crew's notions struck her as nothing but reckless bravado.
"If you swear on the Sea God's name never to risk your life advising the king again, we'll bury everything said today in our hearts forever."
"......"
Martel fell silent at Boni's words, delivered with a sly smile.
If the battle with Olivia brought no change in the king's mood, she would have proceeded with her original plan anyway.
She grinned, flashing her gold tooth as if she'd expected as much.
"See? No helping it, Captain. That's why we have no choice but to act—for the 'proper' operation of the pirate crew, as per your orders."
"Boni... "
With a wave of her hand, Boni signaled the crew holding Tessai to head out of the intel hall.
"Hey, hey! My sword! Grab my sword!"
Boni shook her head at Tessai's bellowing, picked up his fallen shamshir from the ground, and bowed to Martel.
"Sorry for the commotion amid your heavy intel duties, Intel Chief. As for today's talk... we'll leave it to your judgment."
She called her Intel Chief, not Captain. It was a public stance, urging Martel to decide what was truly best for the archipelago.
If she judged it necessary to report everything to Balak, the entire Mermaid Pirates would march to the gallows smiling.
At least she'd earn his trust by denouncing her own crew, stepping one pace further from death.
"......"
Martel said nothing until Boni had fully exited the intel hall.
In the southwestern reaches of the Ikenia Kingdom, along the coast of Fraon Territory—one of the southern seven domains.
Unlike Olivia, where naval battles raged endlessly, the serene beach and gentle breezes here exuded pure peace.
Slurp!
Beneath a tent bearing the blue eagle emblem, a handsome young man sipped his tea.
Fraon Territory's symbol was the white rose. Thus, the army gathered under this flag was not the viscount's soldiers.
Though it was another lord's domain, the youth acted as if it were his own parlor, and no one in Fraon dared voice complaint.
He was merely a young master of his house for now, but his family wielded the power that allowed such behavior.
"Peaceful, isn't it?"
The youth, Victor, addressed Lennon, captain of the Silver Eagle Knights, standing behind him.
"All the pirates have flocked to Olivia."
"Heh! Fighting alongside him, it's no wonder. That monster must've charged in like a bitch in heat, thrilled to bits."
Ever since Jerome landed in Olivia last spring, pirates from across Ikenia's south had begun pouring into Olivia.
Those on other fronts were baffled by the archipelago pirates' odd movements, but they couldn't possibly grasp the pirates' mindset.
They merely speculated it was blind pursuit of the young hero Jerome's fame.
But Victor, a direct scion of the Sword Family, knew better.
The once-retired legendary admiral, Vidal Croit, had emerged fully.
Thus, the archipelago's monster had taken an interest in Olivia.
In other words, he knew the pirates swarming Olivia were sacrifices to reawaken Vidal Croit's prime.
"Any changes in the archipelago's movements?"
"Not just our kingdom's seas, but foreign waters are quieting down bit by bit. The family's strategists predict Balak will move as early as next spring, or by the spring after at latest."
Remarkably, the Sword Family's inner circle had accurately foreseen the archipelago's shifts.
"Hmm... So it won't be long now."
Clink!
Victor set down his teacup, gaze drifting to the sea.
The ocean was a fine vista from afar, a livelihood for fishermen.
But the moment that tranquil expanse flipped and sucked everything into its depths, it became a realm of inescapable death.
"Until our young baron's little hero game with that washed-up relic comes to an end."
Even hearing the entire archipelago might mobilize, Victor's expression remained utterly relaxed.
Once Jerome crumbled and they set foot on land, the Sword Family would have every justification to strike directly.
The kingdom's sword, Duke Braum van Dmitry himself.
Pirate King or whatever—mere pirates. There was zero chance they'd withstand the realm's strongest, his father.
Secure in that belief, the sea remained to Victor just a pretty view.
There was no possibility whatsoever of himself being dragged into its depths.
"Shine a bit brighter as a hero, Jerome. Then, from that most radiant perch, sink beautifully into the ocean's abyss. I'll be the ruler who honors fallen heroes."
Sip!
Everything was proceeding according to plan.
Clink!
Perhaps due to the gentle sea breeze, today's tea tasted especially sweet.
Unlike Victor, however, a faint possibility flickered through Lennon's mind.
'...No way they hold out, right?'
If, by some miracle—truly one in a billion—that happened... the Sword Family might lose every ounce of influence built in the south.
While a Shield Family direct heir risked his life battling the archipelago pirates, the Swords standing idly by would paint the worst possible picture.
Thus, Lennon wondered if sending reinforcements later might be wise, but he quickly dismissed the thought.
Not one in a billion—it simply wouldn't happen. Olivia couldn't beat the archipelago.
The pirates who crushed Olivia and set foot on kingdom soil would be swept away by the kingdom's sword, the Sword Family.
And in mourning the fallen hero, they'd slowly seize the southern domains.
This was the ideal scenario, the inevitable future.
No anomalies in that future.
He'd lost count of the attempts.
Not precise, but one thing was certain: it wasn't less than three digits.
Crackle!
Circulating the cultivation method Earth to slowly absorb the inner core, a rebound surged forth once more.
Expelling its energy would have been far easier.
But what he was attempting was akin to taming and rearing the wyvern Hatan had staked his life against.
Sensing that, the inner core's energy rampaged all the fiercer.
Boom!
"Kuhak!"
Blood vessels burst in his eyes, vision staining red.
Blood trickled from his mouth. Fortunately, it wasn't bright red, nor mixed with organ fragments—just blackened blood.
Blood tainted by the wyvern inner core's venomous qi.
Shudder!
With trembling hands like aspen leaves, he reached out and grasped a vial of red liquid.
Gulp!
A potion Luna had made at his request. After arriving in Olivia, she'd spent idle time with his mother and gladly brewed potions for his training.
"Hoo..."
As his churning insides settled, he exhaled in relief.
'How much time has passed?'
No way to know.
He approached the training hall entrance where meals were left, unfolding the neatly folded paper.
-25.
'Day 25.'
Twenty-five days holed up in the training hall.
He mechanically shoveled food into his stomach, then closed his eyes once more, stepping back into the world of mental visualization.
No time to assess progress. The inner core still resisted fiercely; he still spat blood trying to absorb it.
The shocks seemed slightly lessened, but who knew.
Mere mitigation meant nothing. Minor gains meant nothing.
Only two outcomes: die or surpass.
Hummm!
He circulated Earth again.
Until the inner core fully melted and surrendered.
Until he vaulted the vast, impossibly high wall fate had placed before him.
Again and again. Endlessly.