Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Too Much Money to Refuse
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Harbor city of Marnseu.
The second largest city in the Franz Kingdom and one of the continent's four great ports, this place was always teeming with throngs of people.
A massive tavern stood at the heart of the city.
Far from a mere drinking hole, it was a gathering spot for merchants and seafarers—not to mention pirates, navy men, and bounty hunters—where all sorts of tales and commissions were traded in a constant buzz of conversation.
Occasionally, you'd even overhear a live negotiation at the next table over for someone to kill the guy sitting right beside them—a situation that was anything but amusing.
Nevertheless, as a neutral ground officially designated as a zone of peace by every faction, fighting was strictly forbidden inside. That said, knives often flashed the moment someone stepped out the door.
And at this very moment,
a man slipped quietly into that tavern.
His right shoulder wrapped in bandages from a recent injury, he scanned the room cautiously before spotting a man seated in the farthest corner.
"Haha, take a look at this! This is the famed glass sword of that notorious pirate, Transparent Beard!"
"Oh my, so this is..."
"Incredible! As expected of Bounty Hunter Mazelan! How on earth did you track down and catch that slippery devil?"
"Heh heh, that's a secret. But I can share the rest... especially with pretty young ladies like you all."
The man lounged at a table flanked by women in provocative outfits on either side.
With his black hair tied back,
tanned skin, and rather handsome features,
he casually caressed the breast of the woman beside him, a sleazy smirk playing on his lips.
'That's the guy...'
Bounty Hunter Mazelan.
Leader of Demanes, one of the Franz Kingdom's premier bounty hunting crews, renowned for specializing in pirate hunts.
Give him a commission, and he'd track down even the most elusive sea dogs that were near impossible to find on land. His glittering record had made him a figure of terror among pirates.
Convinced that putting this man to work could resolve his current headache of a situation, he...
John, retainer to Duke Ocleang, began approaching him cautiously.
This was the reason for his visit—the very existence on which his own life hung in the balance.
Hoping things would go smoothly, he gently touched the missive stamped with the duke's seal tucked in his bosom.
"Hey, what do you want?"
"Pardon the intrusion. I'd like to place a commission..."
"Can't you see I'm busy? Come back when I have time."
Mazelan spoke in an arrogant tone.
Normally, even the most ruthless bounty hunter would drop everything and hear out a client from the get-go.
But this man gave off none of that vibe.
Acting as if he were the client, his attitude was prickly to the extreme.
Well aware of his own standing—which let him essentially thumb his nose at clients as a super sub—he waved John off dismissively, looking annoyed.
"What are you waiting for? Scram. You gonna stand there gawking all day?"
"..."
Mazelan's words grew sharper by the second.
But John knew exactly how to break down a smug bastard like this.
And the method was...
"First things first—let's set everything else aside and look at the amount."
With that, John proffered the letter penned by the duke.
Mazelan scowled even deeper, his voice turning icy as he glanced at it.
"This punk... trying to mock me with mere money? Insult me...?"
He peeked at the contents inside.
In an instant, the smug, standoffish expression drained from his face, replaced by sheer shock.
"...Wha... what... Is this amount for real?"
His rude speech flipped to polite in a heartbeat.
In a situation like this, pride could take a backseat...
when the sum was just too damn big.
Seeing Mazelan waver, John spoke gravely.
"It's real. My lord also said he'll pay an extra 2,000 talants if you handle this cleanly."
"...Mm."
Mazelan jerked his chin lightly, shooing the women away.
Then, with a serious look, he turned to John.
"What do I need to do?"
"Simple enough. Find the girl inside that letter and bring her back."
Mazelan hurriedly scanned the letter's details.
As his expression soured, John asked cautiously.
"Is it... doable?"
"A girl captured by an unidentified pirate... This is all the info you've got? At least tell me which crew nabbed her."
"Mm... If we knew, we'd have told you. We have nothing ourselves. But you caught Transparent Beard—surely you can handle this?"
"Jeez... Even for me, this is tricky. Give me something—a hint on who we're dealing with...!"
John held out yet another letter.
Mazelan checked the added sum inside, his tone growing even more resolute.
"Don't worry. Just sit tight—I'll bring her back for sure."
And so, pushed by cold hard cash, Mazelan accepted the commission.
John inwardly sighed with relief—one hurdle cleared.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A cook's morning always starts early.
They have to finish meals for a whole crew before everyone else even stirs.
Plus, managing and sourcing ingredients keeps them as busy as anyone.
Current time: 5 a.m.
Though dawn hadn't fully broken, Frankling—earlier than anyone save the night watch—had already risen to prep ingredients.
Normally a solo task.
But lately, she had help.
"Should I put the sliced carrots here?"
"Y... yeah, thanks for the hard work."
"Hehe..."
Frankling patted the head of the new galley runt—her smile a touch less awkward now—
Ambasha, who beamed back like an adorable pup.
'Ahh... this heals the soul...'
Their first meeting had gone warmer than expected, so Ambasha naturally became her junior and little sister figure in the galley.
After scrubbing off the grime and dressing her in clean clothes, she'd turned into quite the cute girl. Seeing that, Frankling felt recharged for the day.
"What's for breakfast? That yellow stew?"
"Mackerel curry. Made with yesterday's catch, spiced with curry from the East."
"Sea... I've never seen this before... looks tasty..."
Ambasha's eyes sparkled as she licked her lips.
Malnourished from her slave days, she always reacted cutely to new dishes—but today it hit extra hard. Frankling scooped some nearly finished mackerel curry into a bowl for her.
"W... wanna taste-test first?"
"Yes! Thanks for the meal!"
Ambasha blew on it eagerly and popped it in her mouth.
Her face lit up with pure bliss.
A smile that warmed the viewer's heart just watching her eat.
Thrilled to have this all to herself, Frankling grinned.
"D... does it suit your taste?"
"Delicious. First time I've had anything this good."
"Hehe... One of the captain's favorites. The other's a pickle made with veggies salted in seawater and red pepper powder—a spice."
"Ah... Father's... you mean?"
Ambasha's face turned strangely serious for a moment.
Oblivious, Frankling finished up the cooking.
"B... but the curry's running low now, same with that pesky red pepper powder... Guess we gotta shop tomorrow. Wanna come?"
"Yes! Sounds fun!"
Frankling chatted lightly, like it was just casual shopping.
Ambasha accepted with eager anticipation.
Her first land shopping trip since becoming a pirate—natural excitement.
With her usual smile tugging at her lips, Ambasha thought to herself.
'Ingredients for Father's favorite dish... Heh heh heh...'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Bounty Hunter crew Demanes.
Its twenty-odd specialists sat with their boss Mazelan, eyeing the woman before them.
Hooded as always, she caressed a faintly glowing crystal orb.
After murmuring softly, she fell silent and lifted her hand from the now-dim orb.
"Got a hit?"
"Yes, the great oracle of Molla has revealed it. You'll meet your target on Cyprus within ten days."
She pointed to the island on the map.
Mazelan nodded slowly.
"Pretty close to Pirate King territory... We'll have to move carefully to avoid clashes..."