Chapter 251
Chapter 251
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 252
Chapter Title: Gathering of the Pirate Lords
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A vast beach as expansive as Bond Island itself.
Ships from the Buccaneer Pirates—the grand fleet of the North Command's Pardal, bearing the Kraken emblem—began docking one by one.
"Yaaawn. Have we finally arrived?"
As the ships came to a halt, Pardal emerged from the captain's quarters, stretching lazily after dozing off with his head nodding.
His view filled with the staggering number of vessels blanketing Bond Island's wide shore.
Pardal frowned at the sight of fleets that rivaled his own Buccaneer Pirates in scale, already anchored there.
Ships emblazoned with the emblem of the North Sea's great beast, Leviathan, glowing with a blue hue.
And others painted with a bloodied hand protruding from iron-barred torture devices.
Emblems of the East Command's Gadik Pirates and the West Command's Iron Maiden Pirates.
"Tch, their tastes in emblems are always so damn twisted. Not a sane one among 'em."
Pardal had no idea that the other three Commands thought the same about his own Kraken emblem.
"Still, looks like I came in dead last. Damn it."
Pardal scratched the back of his head vigorously. The South Command's Mermaid Pirates were regulars stationed on Bond Island, so their early arrival was expected.
But who would've thought the East and West Commands would beat him here too.
"Why didn't you set sail sooner, Captain? You wasted time fooling around, and now look."
His first mate, Nolland, scolded Pardal as he scratched his own head.
"Hey, you think I did it on purpose? There was treasure, so of course I had to check it out. We're pirates—what, you want me to just sail past? Might as well tell a sparrow to ignore a mill."
To an outsider, it sounded like any mundane pirate banter.
But the "fooling around" Nolland mentioned was the massacre of an entire fishing village.
A single rumor about hidden treasure. They slaughtered every villager, decapitated them, and plopped the heads down before heading to Bond Island.
"Tch! That West Command psycho bitch is gonna have a field day with this."
Pardal's head already throbbed at the thought.
"It's your own fault, Captain. Let's get going. I'll have the crew stand by nearby."
Regardless of Pardal's mood, Nolland urged him onward.
Pfft!
Well, they say ten years can change mountains and rivers.
Even that West Command girl must've matured by now, gained some dignity as a Command leader.
Her lunatic temper probably mellowed too.
"Fine, fine. Let's go. Hell, better sick than dead."
Pardal sighed deeply, dragging his feet to show his reluctance, while Nolland forcibly dragged him along.
The screams of the villagers they'd massacred were long forgotten in their minds.
To them, those desperate cries meant less than the reluctance to head to the Sea King's Hall.
Caaaang!
The harsh screech of metal clashing against metal echoed through the space.
The towering ceiling and sealed doors amplified the sound, letting it reverberate broadly.
Or perhaps it was simply the advanced skill of those wielding the metal.
The Hall of the Sea King, where the Archipelago's ruler, Pirate King Balak, resided.
As Pardal dragged his unwilling feet to the meeting, he wasn't greeted warmly—instead, a sudden strike flew at him.
But Pardal, having anticipated it somewhat, blocked with his prepared sickle.
Kiiik! Kiiik!
Two daggers grated against his sickle, producing a chilling screech.
Before them stood a woman with a doll-like, expressionless face, coldly swinging her blades at him.
"Omari, you crazy bitch!"
The woman called Omari didn't flinch at Pardal's crude insult, her face unchanging.
She merely continued her lethal assault with relentless dagger strikes.
"The King... said to gather. You're late... so die."
Her words came haltingly, a bit clumsy.
But her dagger arcs were anything but—frighteningly swift and precise.
Swaaack! Swa!
Clang! Kaaang!
A barrage meant to kill, plain and simple.
Pardal sensed the raw murderous intent in her strikes.
The West Command's Omari was genuinely trying to end him.
'This psycho! She's way more unhinged than before!'
Ten years change a landscape? Time brings dignity and tempers the wild?
Bullshit.
Pardal admitted his misjudgment.
Piiiing!
Right then, the dagger in Omari's left hand grazed Pardal's cheek.
Drip!
A thin trail of foul blood trickled down his face.
"...You bitch."
Lick!
Pardal licked the blood from his cheek, slowly awakening the feral beast within.
He couldn't hold back anymore.
Right then.
"Pardal, Omari. That's enough."
A massive man, calmly sipping tea amid their brawl with the South Command leader, spoke evenly.
Daring to interrupt a Command duel? Any other fool would've been diced and pickled on the spot.
But this man had the authority.
"The King will arrive soon. You don't plan to show him such a pathetic display before him after ten years, do you?"
Logical words.
But Pardal, with his lid flipped and savagery stirred, wasn't convinced.
"No, old man! You saw it! This bitch swung first and cut my face!"
"Omari's response was excessive, true. But you were late too. Didn't you behead a guard for opening the door a second slow?"
"...Those worthless grunts and me? The same?!"
Omari was just as unconvinced.
"Old man. This slimy bastard was late. Made the King wait. Must pay."
"That's payment enough. The King's not here yet—a scratch like that suffices."
"......"
"......"
When neither relented, hands still on weapons despite his words,
The man's aura shifted in an instant.
Ruuuumble!
Mountainous pressure filled the hall.
"I said... 'that's enough.'"
The force bore down on the North and West Commands' shoulders.
It enveloped the entire Sea King's Hall.
Pardal gritted his teeth against the overwhelming pressure.
'...Tch! Still a ways off from touching this geezer.'
The man, with a brutal iron club rivaling Pardal's massive frame propped nearby,
Was the East Command's leader, Drake—the seat of the Commands.
The strongest among them, they said.
The man who ruled the seas with the Gadik Pirates, boasting the mightiest force before Balak's rise.
The only one to challenge Balak and survive.
Those titles defined Drake.
Excluding Balak, he reigned as the Archipelago's undisputed strongest.
Ssshhk!
Pardal first relaxed his grip on his sickle under Drake's menacing aura.
"Fine, fine. That's enough, right? Lucky psycho bitch. Thank the old man."
"...You're weaker than me. Weak... yet acting merciful."
Omari snorted derisively. Pardal felt veins bulging on his forehead but steadied his breathing to calm himself.
'...Just you wait.'
He was far younger than Drake. The future seas wouldn't be his.
One day, when he surpassed him and claimed them, he'd purge the old relic and the psycho alike.
How much time passed as Pardal concealed his thoughts and settled?
Jingle!
A faint clink of earrings from deep within the hall.
Just trinkets colliding—how loud could it be? But it was the Archipelago ruler's signature sound.
Rumble!
As if their spat never happened, the four sea-dominating pirates shot to their feet.
"Hail the King!"
"Hail the King."
"Hail... the King."
"How have you been?"
Balak entered the Sea King's Hall, receiving their varied greetings.
"It's been a while. Everyone faring well?"
A voice laced with boredom yet brimming with explosive potential.
"First time all together in ten years. You've all bulked up."
Swipe!
Balak flicked his hand lightly, and the Commands' bodies floated gently back to their seats.
"......!!"
Despite their shock at the involuntary movement, they hid it.
'Even... stronger.'
'The King... incredible. As expected.'
'...Gotta stop Tessa.'
Unaware or uncaring of their thoughts, Balak slowly spoke.
"Drake."
"Yes, my King."
Drake bowed at the calm call.
"Lately, the Gadik Pirates have crossed territorial waters for excessive plundering."
"......!!"
Casually tossed out, but cold sweat trickled down Drake's back.
He commanded the Gadik Pirates, overseeing all of Osiris Kingdom's seas.
'...Witnesses were all eliminated.'
How far did the King's eyes reach?
Deny it as baseless rumor? Confess and explain?
A split-second dilemma. He decided quickly.
Thud!
Drake dropped from his chair to his knees.
"I deserve death, my King. I yielded to greed unintentionally."
Lowering his head, he glimpsed Balak's reflection on the floor.
Glassy eyes, cold and piercing unlike his weary tone.
'Dangerous.'
A lie would've meant execution here.
"Why the greed?"
Gulp!
Drake swallowed dryly and continued.
"Osiris Kingdom's been chaotic internally, responses lax. I judged it safe to push deeper. Forgive me for troubling you unintentionally."
"......"
Balak's gaze shifted to Martel.
Martel understood the silent query.
"...Gadik Pirates' tribute this year rose 20%. Intelligence estimates align with deeper incursions into Osiris waters toward the Great Yellow River."
In short, no personal betrayal—just opportunism.
"...Rise."
Drake stood with inner relief at Balak's words.
'Intelligence eyes that deep. Good I sent extra tribute.'
They'd pushed nearly to Osiris's central regions along the vital Great Yellow River, yet spies reached there too. Astonishing.
Balak questioned Pardal and Omari similarly, then leaned back quietly.
Creeeak!
The chair groaned under his massive frame.
"...This farce grows tiresome. Now..."
Once, reshaping the vast Archipelago thrilled him.
Now, it was just stifling. Rotting away on this cramped land.
But opportunity knocked. A brash fool, thunderbolt-headed, dared war on his turf.
'Rumor says kingdoms poured heavy support.'
Starting with recruiting his hidden nemesis, Vidal Kroit, and massive supplies from nations.
They thought united kingdoms could "win" against the Archipelago.
But the Archipelago could too.
Scattered, it couldn't expand to the continent.
All those Olivia resources and manpower gathered in one spot.
Smash them at once, exploit the kingdoms' momentary weakness, and seize continental foothold instantly.
Thump!
Balak felt his heart pulsing with rare vitality.
'Jerome, was it? That punk's name. At least grateful for this.'
Revived dreams in his jaded heart.
In return, a merciful death.
Balak looked down from the dais at the Commands.
"...Prepare for war."
Their eyes sharpened. Finally.
Finally. Their long-cherished ambitions became reality.
"Mobilize next spring. Olivia first, then claim the southern continent."
War declared.
At last, Balak sealed Olivia and the Archipelago's clash.