5
Chapter 5
Rubik felt as if the entire world were lying to him right now.
This was only natural.
'What? This territory, this title, belongs to that man?'
No matter how close his status was to being exiled, he was still a traditional noble.
Yet, no matter how strong he might be, a mere pirate had acquired the title of this place?
It was an absurd story, something he simply could not accept.
Therefore, Rubik first chose to deny reality.
And so.
"T-This is impossible...!! Where in the Imperial Code, where in the Southern Code, is there a clause that grants a title to a pirate!!!!"
Rubik shouted toward Haydam from atop the fortress walls.
Normally, they were too far apart for him to be heard.
But Haydam was a user of Aura.
He could see and hear exactly what Rubik was saying with ease.
He replied to Rubik with a nonchalant, playful air.
—The Admiral of the South authorized it personally.
At the same time, seven of their ships gradually approached them within Morgue Bay.
Haydam's damned fleet, which had sunk countless navy sailors and pirates beneath the waves.
The closer they grew, the more cold sweat began to pour down Rubik's face.
Yet, despite that.
'Not yet...! It can't be over yet...!!'
Rubik did not want to leave this place, at least 'for the time being.'
The countless gold coins and treasures he had accumulated were waiting for him in the warehouses.
A title? A territory?
Those were important, of course, but for a man who had been exiled and had no relatives, such things weren't that significant.
"No? I know nothing of this...! Who in the world would believe the words of a bunch of pirates!!"
So, Rubik decided to play hardball for now.
What if that was a lie?
Then he could simply return to the inner castle, gather his treasures, and hide on land for a while.
And what if it was true?
Since he claimed to have authorization from the Admiral of the South, he wouldn't be someone easy to push around.
Following that line of reasoning.
"Go back! I will believe you once you bring someone appointed by His Excellency the Admiral of the South!!"
Rubik shouted firmly at Haydam.
—....
Haydam gave Rubik a meaningful smile.
'...What is it?'
Rubik felt that Haydam was acting unlike his usual self.
—Can you see her? Ines Silva, the daughter of Admiral Leandro Silva.
"...!"
Rubik's eyes filled with shock as he saw the woman brought out from the captain's cabin.
Ines Silva.
The stain on Leandro Silva's reputation, something everyone knew about through the grapevine.
A bastard child who didn't even know who her biological mother was and had spent most of her life in a separate wing of the palace.
And yet, even Leandro himself had never denied that she was the Admiral's daughter.
'...Is it actually true?'
Rubik couldn't help but feel the odds tipping toward Haydam's words being the truth.
However.
"...It's a lie!"
He could not back down.
He only had to wait a little longer.
If he waited just a bit, he could load the treasures onto a ship and escape this damned South.
A new life.
A new beginning.
He could enjoy that golden moment if he just held on a little longer.
"U-Unless His Excellency the Admiral of the South has gone mad, there is no way he would give a title to a pirate!"
No, this was actually perfect.
He was a pirate, but now he was a noble with a title.
Such a person wouldn't just charge in blindly without considering his political standing.
If he had indeed acquired this estate, he would want to take it over 'safely.'
That was why.
"I, I am the master of Morgue Bay, appointed by the Admiral of the South!!! Do you think I would be intimidated by a mere pirate!!!"
He pushed forward aggressively toward Haydam, as if backed into a corner.
"Soldiers! What are you doing!! Fire at that devil!!"
And so, Rubik gave the order for the soldiers to open fire.
"A-Are we really firing? The Admiral's daughter is right there—"
"—Fire right now, you idiot!!"
"...! Y-Yes...! Understood!!"
Seeing the soldiers align the naval guns and prepare to light the fuses, Haydam.
"Negotiations have broken down. Tear it down moderately. Lawrence, this place will be our sanctuary."
"Aye-aye! Everyone, fire!!!!!!!!"
—KABOOM———!!
...He naturally made his decision.
*
Well, I didn't actually expect much.
Morgue Bay was a place where the famously greedy 'Rubik' had set up camp.
A pig of a man who took tributes from countless pirates and corrupt merchants to hoard for himself.
That's why it was a place I'd occasionally raid quickly whenever I felt bored.
In fact, Rubik probably hoped I would just pass through quickly.
After all, this place was a strategic stronghold.
If things got too serious, it would be the perfect excuse to bring in troops from the Southern center.
So, as long as we left a satisfactory amount of money on the beach, we would leave contentedly.
But now it's different.
That place is my territory.
It must belong entirely to me, and that man named Rubik should vacate his room immediately.
—BOOM——!!!
Thus, the side naval guns of Queen Marianne's Revenge breathed fire all at once.
—CRASH...!
"H-Hieek?! H-Help me!!"
They precisely destroyed only the parapet right next to the rampart where Baron Rubik was standing.
"T-This crazy bastard...! Did he drop his brain in the ocean...!!"
Rubik screamed and crawled on the floor, dodging the ear-splitting roar and the stone fragments scratching his face.
"Hey, hey! Take it easy, Lawrence! You're scratching our new home!"
Gidman gave Lawrence a cheerful shout of reprimand.
"We can just rebuild that part~!"
"Ugh, seriously, what am I going to do with this crazy woman."
Lawrence brushed Gidman off and then—
"—Now! Reload and prepare to fire!!"
""Aye—!!""
"Fire!!!!"
—KABOOM——!!!
They rained shells down on the spot where Rubik had been standing.
"Gidman. Tell The Raven to block the detour. He might try to escape by sea."
"Yes, Captain."
"Lawrence, prepare for boarding. We'll be landing soon."
"Khehe...! This is going to be so much fun-!!!"
However, knowing Rubik, he was likely agonizing over how to escape right about now.
There are roughly two options.
Either escape on a ship from the rear of Morgue Bay.
Or escape inland.
The probability suggests he'll likely flee inland as he has before...
But just in case, it's right to block the sea route.
"Captain, the message has been delivered!!"
"The soldiers are ready!"
And when all preparations were complete.
"Ines, wait here in the captain's cabin. Now... it's time to draw steel."
"...Yes."
I placed my hand on the cutlass at my hip.
"Everyone, prepare for boarding!!!!!"
""Waaaaah———!!!!""
To set an example as captain, I drew my sword.
—Whoosh——!
I leaped straight toward the smoke-filled harbor.
—Thump....
The moment I landed on the fortress wall, a blue aura surged from my toes.
The thick stone floor cracked.
Broken stone dust rose like a mist.
The soldiers who had been manning the naval guns to defend the castle.
"A-Ah...!"
Overwhelmed by the momentum, they simply fell backward, unable to even scream.
"He, he's here—"
—Slash.
And the one who dared point a spear at me had his throat cut in a single stroke.
"Drop your weapons. Then I will spare you."
I lightly flicked the blood off my blade, walking slowly through the surrendering soldiers.
—Thud.
"Aw, what a letdown. This isn't fun at all...."
Lawrence, who had landed on the wall following me, looked around and muttered.
"...Master Gunner."
"Eek...! Oh, don't you worry! I'll take care of only those who resist, Captain!!"
"Good. See that you do."
After giving Lawrence a brief nudge, I slowly shifted my gaze downward.
""....""
Not a single soldier dared to move recklessly.
It was only natural.
I had come here as the next Lord of this land.
Therefore, I desired no unnecessary slaughter.
They were the workforce and the military; why would I kill them?
Of course, those whose hatred for pirates or sense of justice was more precious than their own lives would have to be dealt with.
"...."
But I wasn't heartless enough to kill those who had already knelt.
—Step, step.
I walked slowly along the ramparts.
Actively utilizing my Aura to scan the surroundings.
I analyzed the emotions of the many people there.
Who harbored murderous intent.
Or... who was trying to hatch another scheme.
I actively scanned the area.
"...There it is."
Eventually, my gaze led to a specific building inside the walls.
A building more lavish than any other, far too extravagant for its purpose.
—Sring.
I drew my sword while staring at that spot.
—Swoosh——————!!!!
A blade of Aura sliced through the air, stretching forward.
—Slash—CRASH....
A section of the house's wall was cleanly sheared away, revealing the interior.
"H-Hieek...!"
"Where do you think you're going, Baron?"
Just as I expected.
Rubik was busy struggling with cloth bundles filled with gold coins, though I had no idea when he had packed them.
He was trying to wedge his massive, greasy body into a secret passage.
I wondered how much he had embezzled to maintain a physique like that.
"Aa-Aaagh...! Stay away! Stay away from me!!"
The moment Rubik made eye contact with me, he fell back onto his backside.
"...! M-My money...!"
The gold coins spilling from his chest rolled across the floor with a clear ringing sound.
Rubik scrambled to reach for the coins, desperate to gather them back.
—Click.
"Freeze. The Captain... has something to say to you."
"...!"
Lawrence had instantly appeared beside him, pressing the muzzle of her gun against his head and whispering.
"...Hmm."
—Screech....
I dragged a chair in front of them and slowly sat down.
Then, I looked at Rubik, who was kneeling on the floor with his hands up, and spoke.
"Baron Rubik. You insisted on rejecting something that could have been settled peacefully."
I found this very displeasing.
If he had simply opened the gates, there would have been no bloodshed.
"Furthermore, it seems you are still unable to think clearly, blinded by greed over your own life."
"N-No...! That's not it, this is—"
—Thwack....
"Gah...!"
"—Shut up. The Captain is speaking."
Moreover, the fact that he couldn't even maintain a shred of judgment was lowering his value in real-time.
He was proving to me that he had very little utility.
But who am I?
I am a pirate who is not exaggerating when called the most merciful in these seas.
Therefore....
"Now, Baron Rubik. I'll offer you a deal."
"...A deal?"
I reached out to him and continued, speaking slowly and clearly.
"Leave everything you have here and go. Then you will not lose your life."
As I said this, I stepped on Rubik's chest, pinning him to the floor.
"Gah...! N-No...!!"
I snatched away one of the cloth bundles he was clinging to so dearly.
"Why? Do you dislike that?"
"T-That's my blood-money...! Money I spent years rot-ting in this corner to collect—"
He began to explain, but.
—Slash.
"—Well, then the negotiations have broken down once again."
I wasn't curious about the rest, so I immediately slit his throat and flicked the blood off my blade before sheathing it.
"...Why are you so merciful today for a Captain? You've already given him three chances."
"Lawrence, are we pirates right now?"
"...Uh, aren't we?"
"No, we aren't. We are legitimate lords and citizens."
"Oh?"
"We repeatedly told the corrupt local lord to change his ways... but well, why is a corrupt lord corrupt? It's because they're full of greed."
"Aha!"
I answered Lawrence and looked around.
Then, a broom left in the corner caught my eye.
"...Ah, right. The wedding."
I picked up the broom and slowly walked out of the building.
Since the interior seemed sufficiently cleared out....
It was time to hold a pirate's wedding.