Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Nautilus (2)
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3.
There were two ways to travel from Victoria Island to other continents.
One was by airship.
The other was by ship.
Naturally, most people took ships, turning the port city of Lith into Victoria Island's central hub.
“You can't go on any adventure without passing through Lith.”
Those arriving on Victoria Island or leaving it all gathered in the port city of Lith.
However, not everyone gathered there.
“Except for the Nautilus pirates.”
The Nautilus was the exception.
“Why?”
It was obvious.
“They're pirates, aren't they?”
After Kairin became captain of the Nautilus, plundering and crime were banned, but the infamy the ship had built up over the years couldn't vanish overnight.
The Nautilus's true nature was freely adventuring across the vast seas. It didn't mesh with the atmosphere of Lith Harbor, a place focused on haggling and trade.
Like water and oil.
“My god.”
But the biggest reason was this.
“Is that really a ship? No matter how I look at it, it seems like an island.”
The Nautilus was enormous, comparable in size to a small city.
Anyone seeing the Nautilus for the first time couldn't help but be awestruck by its sheer scale.
The next surprise came after boarding.
“Items for sale! From 1st Circle to 3rd Circle!”
“Monster parts of all kinds for sale!”
“Potions in bulk!”
The place was practically a city, with all sorts of items being traded in real time.
This was a rare sight in Lith, where nearly all trade was dominated by the top ten merchant groups.
“Guns for sale! All types of muskets available!”
Most striking of all were the guns.
Guns weren't particularly rare items in the Maple World.
Yet they were surprisingly hard to come by.
For two reasons.
“As expected of a pirate haven—guns everywhere.”
First, few people used guns as weapons.
Pirates were essentially those who could wield gun or cannon items.
Just as users of items with magic skills were classified as mages, and those with warrior skills as warriors.
The second reason was strict censorship on guns.
“If someone snaps, killing one or two people would be nothing.”
Guns, unlike swords, polearms, bows, or magic—which required high levels of practice—could be handled decently with minimal training.
And their power was immense.
Of course, they weren't absolute weapons.
The cooldown between shots was longer than any other weapon.
Hitting decently and hitting properly were worlds apart.
Tales of pirates who relied solely on gun power to challenge Mystic Gates and died weren't even considered noteworthy.
Even so, guns were undeniably more dangerous than any other weapon when accidents happened.
In Lith, pulling out a gun got you reported and restrained immediately. Most kept them well hidden.
For El Pam, who had only operated in Lith until now, this was a whole new world in every way.
“It's all so different.”
“The real deal is over there.”
“Pardon?”
“The real highlight of the Nautilus is that bounty board.”
What made the Nautilus truly unique was none other than the bounty board.
A massive board stretching 100 meters long—more like a city wall than a bulletin board—filled wall-to-wall with bounty pages.
This was why adventurers flocked to the Nautilus.
“Clear it, get the bounty. Can't beat that.”
If you wanted, you could embark on Mystic Gate adventures anytime.
To Lith adventurers bound by contracts to merchant-owned gates, it was like a story from another world.
“But that much risk.”
Of course, it wasn't all good.
“Most are unmanaged powder kegs. Trolling happens all the time.”
As Kiri said, the bounty gates on the Nautilus were like ticking time bombs.
That was why Lith's top ten merchant groups managed their Mystic Gates.
“But survival rates are surprisingly similar.”
“What?”
“Lith adventurers and Nautilus adventurers have comparable survival rates.”
Interestingly, Nautilus adventurers didn't blindly rush to their deaths.
“What's that supposed to mean? They're all bombs waiting to go off!”
“High risk means manage it properly. Nautilus adventurers have an ironclad rule.”
“Ironclad rule?”
“Don't touch the expensive ones.”
Abandon reckless adventures proportional to the risk.
That was how Nautilus adventurers survived.
“Ah, so that's why the 9.99 million meso one sat for a year?”
No challengers for Eagle Eye's Tomb—a prize anyone would see as valuable—because of that.
“No, wait.”
That was why.
“So right now, we're...”
“Woooah!”
“They tore off the 9.99 million meso bounty page!”
“What? They took that one?”
“A challenger for Eagle Eye's Tomb!”
The moment El Pam tore off the 9.99 million meso bounty page, every adventurer nearby erupted in excitement.
Amid the frenzy, only Dibo's face hardened.
'Crazy!'
From what he'd heard, this wasn't just any high-paying 9.99 million meso gig.
“Oh, one more ironclad rule.”
“Another one?”
To the stunned Dibo, Ralph revealed one more absolute rule of the bounty board.
“Once you tear it off, no take-backs.”
“Absolutely?”
“Well, one way exists.”
“Y-Yeah?”
“Since Captain Kairin set it, become the new captain in her place and nullify it.”
“Come on!”
Dibo scowled at Ralph's absurd remark.
But that was it.
Dibo didn't rage or panic.
“The boss will handle it.”
No matter the circumstances, if El Pam wanted the adventure, it was unavoidable.
“He's got it under control.”
El Pam had perfectly cleared every adventure so far.
'With the boss, even hell's an adventure.'
He trusted El Pam.
'Alright, let's feast on some cash.'
The moment Dibo steeled himself—
“Who's the bastard who snatched the 9.99 million meso page?”
A clear voice rang out as a woman appeared.
“Golden Aida!”
A woman with golden eyes.
4.
“Golden Aida!”
At that name, a dead silence fell over the chaotic bounty board area.
It had to.
“Golden Eye? Kairin's disciple?”
Golden Eye Miner.
She was none other than one of Captain Kairin's disciples.
On the Nautilus, being Kairin's disciple meant more than just apprenticeship.
To become her disciple, one absolute condition had to be met.
Innate genius.
Golden Eye Miner was no different.
Golden Eye—her golden irises never missed a target.
Naturally, she bore a title befitting that talent.
“Wasn't she on a 200-man Mystic Gate adventure?”
She was tackling a 200-man Mystic Gate, the pinnacle of orange-grade difficulty.
Yet here she was.
“She succeeded!”
Her title now included "200-man Mystic Gate Adventurer."
Miner shouted.
“You there! Hand over that bounty page!”
At no one else but El Pam.
A baseless demand.
One that broke the ironclad rule, too.
Whoever tore off a Nautilus bounty page owned it irrevocably—no one could take it.
At least on the Nautilus.
But who was she?
Disciple of Captain Kairin, who made the Nautilus's rules and ironclad laws.
So Dibo hurriedly moved to El Pam's side.
'Trouble!'
Dibo knew El Pam wouldn't yield to Miner's demand here.
What followed?
Conflict.
And in conflict, Dibo's role was protecting El Pam.
That was why he stuck by El Pam.
“Plenty of spots left.”
'Huh?'
That moment.
“Capacity is 74. Our party's four. Still room.”
At El Pam's words, the stunning Miner's golden eyes cooled.
'Looks reasonable...'
No reason to draw a gun on a sensible person.
“10,000 meso per spot.”
But the atmosphere shifted at those follow-up words.
“What?”
“Exactly that. 70 spots left, 10,000 each. Pay for as many as you want.”
Then Miner's golden eyes blazed fiercely.
“You're selling spots for money?”
“Not forcing a buy. But ownership of the Mystic Gate is our party's.”
Her golden eyes still burned.
“Per Captain Kairin's rules.”
But at those words, Miner's gaze chilled.
Mentioning Kairin meant no more games.
Now it was one wrong word from explosion.
That moment.
“Captain.”
Ralph jumped between them.
“This ain't right.”
His sudden intervention drew no suspicion.
Anyone stepping up to stop a fight here was welcome.
The crowd admired his courage.
El Pam didn't know, but facing furious Miner took real guts.
'Doesn't look ordinary.'
'If someone's stepping up...'
Seeing Ralph's rugged face, they thought reason might prevail.
“One per 10,000 meso, huh.”
To those expecting that, Ralph showed his true colors.
“Should be at least 135,000 meso each.”
What kind of man Ralph was.
“9.99 million divided by 74 is 135,000 meso. Anything less feels off, right?”
Silence blanketed the area at Ralph's words.
'What?'
Their brains short-circuited from the absurdity.
Dibo moved in that stunned moment.
“Hey, come on!”
Having seen this nonsense daily, Dibo vented at Ralph.
His words restarted the frozen time and atmosphere.
“What the hell?”
“Who are these guys? Where'd they come from?”
Murmurs grew.
Chaos brewed.
“Something's gonna blow.”
Tension thickened.
“Quiet down, everyone.”
But the feared incident didn't erupt.
“Huh?”
“Bandages?”
“It's Murat!”
A man with bronze skin, eyes wrapped in bandages.
“An executive!”
One of the Nautilus executives, Murat, had arrived.
The mood stiffened instantly against his presence, incomparable to the local pirates and adventurers.
Even Miner was the same.
Before executive Murat, she couldn't keep her golden eyes ablaze.
Gulp!
She could only tense up.
Only one exception.
El Pam remained unfazed.
Not because of any prior connection with Murat.
'First time seeing him.'
He'd heard the name, but this was the face.
No matter.
Only heroes who saved the Maple World or Cygnus Knights' leaders stirred El Pam.
Above all, El Pam knew.
“I heard. You're tackling Eagle Eye, that child's tomb.”
“Yes.”
“And selling remaining spots for 10,000 meso each.”
“135,000 meso.”
“Here to do business?”
“Isn't that the Nautilus way?”
His method violated no ironclad rule.
“If you don't like it, change the rules. I'm from Lith. Do it Lith-style. Commission me for Eagle Eye's Tomb. I'll follow your way.”
Want change? Pay accordingly.
Murat eyed El Pam through his bandaged eyes.
Sizing him up.
Blind Murat had a special sense for that.
Whether lies, bluff, or tricks.
'Amazing guy.'
His sense confirmed El Pam's sincerity, no bluff.
More astonishing: El Pam's breathing and heartbeat.
'No tremor in this chaos.'
What experiences forged such composure?
Intriguing.
He was certain, too.
Impossible to persuade El Pam.
One option left.
“Miner, it's legit. He tore the page—rights are his.”
Make Miner back down.
“No fights on the Nautilus.”
At Murat's words, Miner eyed El Pam.
“Fine. I'll pay.”
“How many spots?”
“All remaining ones!”