Chapter 18
Unlike the hastily constructed defenses from earlier, both Franklin and Magellan now fully concentrated on bolstering their magic barriers.
“Here we go!”
-Tat!
At Magellan’s signal, the two dashed toward the Pirate King once more.
The Pirate King, seemingly expecting this, swung his sword again.
Just like before, another shockwave blasted toward them.
The impact was overwhelming, shattering their newly reinforced barriers in an instant.
‘Tch! But I managed to hold my ground!’
Although the barrier was destroyed, Magellan somehow avoided being knocked back, staying rooted in place.
Drawing strength into his legs, he closed the distance to the Pirate King, preparing to swing his sword.
But then…
“There’s one more.”
“!…Ah.”
“Ugh…”
-Crash!!!
A second shockwave followed immediately, launching Magellan into the air.
With his barrier already broken, this time he took the hit directly—at an even closer range. The blow left him momentarily dazed, the pain nearly unbearable.
“Damn it…”
Though his limbs were miraculously intact, Magellan was clearly rattled by the sheer force of the strike.
Franklin, on the other hand, was in even worse shape. One of her arms dangled limply, as if broken.
Seeing his temporary ally in such a state and feeling the ache in his chest from the earlier attack, Magellan’s resolve wavered.
‘I thought he’d go easy on us… This is just hopeless. We’re nothing but punching bags.’
He sighed deeply, suspecting this might be one of the Pirate King’s cruel whims.
From the moment the Pirate King offered a “wish,” Magellan should have known better.
Resigning himself, he began to consider forfeiting and waiting for another chance.
But then…
“What… What are you doing?”
“Huh?”
“Get up.”
Franklin, battered and struggling to stand, glared at him.
Her voice trembled as it usually did, but there was no trace of surrender in her expression.
Magellan scoffed bitterly.
“Do you think this is going to work? We’ll just end up in the same state again. If we want to avoid getting hurt any further, let’s call it quits.”
“…Are you scared?”
“!…”
“Scared of this level of pain? And you call yourself the famous pirate hunter? What a joke.”
“…”
Franklin’s words mirrored the taunts Magellan had thrown at her earlier.
Despite the situation, her provocation struck a nerve.
Strangely, however, Magellan found himself not entirely annoyed by it.
“You’ve got a plan?”
“If we’re going to block two strikes, we just need to hold our ground twice.”
“Yeah? And how exactly do we do that?”
“Together. If we combine our strength… I think we can manage.”
Franklin’s suggestion was awkwardly delivered but sincere.
Magellan hesitated for a moment before nodding.
“Fine. Let’s give it a shot. It’s not like he’s going to kill us.”
“I’ll go first—”
“I’ll lead. Don’t drag me down with that busted arm of yours.”
“…Fine.”
The two quickly assumed their positions.
Despite their battered states, they focused their remaining strength, gathering magic to recreate their barriers.
***
How do you make enemies work together?
It’s simple.
You present them with a common foe.
It’s the same logic as saying the only way to unite two feuding nations is for a larger threat to invade them.
Faced with a challenge that demands unity, even the most bitter rivals will set aside their grudges—if only temporarily.
Of course, there are always those too stubborn to cooperate, and their fate is invariably failure.
Hoping my subordinates weren’t that foolish, I had orchestrated this scenario and was now observing the results with satisfaction.
Watching Magellan and Franklin strategize, I felt content knowing that the tension between them had eased enough to foster cooperation.
As I prepared for their next move, I infused my sword with magic, bracing myself for what was to come.
Franklin assumed that the Pirate King would be disappointed in her, and she hung her head low.
She silently chastised herself for her carelessness at the last moment, contrasting herself with Ambasha, who had performed admirably.
The thought of disappointing him filled her with anguish.
Then…
“….!”
“Well done. You may have failed, but you’ve grown a lot.”
“S-Sir… Pirate King…”
With a warm smile, the Pirate King gently patted her head.
The mix of kindness, an almost apologetic air, and satisfaction on his face caused something warm to bloom in Franklin’s chest.
The apologies and self-recriminations that had filled her mind vanished.
All she wanted was to savor this moment—to feel the gentle affection of this man’s touch.
‘Even though I lost… my wish came true!’
Meanwhile, Magellan lay sprawled on the ground, lamenting his missed chance at a promotion. But no one paid him any attention.
***
The city of Bennessa, glowing brilliantly even in the dark, was a sight to behold.
For centuries, it had reigned over the Mediterranean, wielding immense power.
Though its influence had waned over time, it remained a major force, known as the “Queen of the Adriatic Sea.”
Even from dozens of kilometers away, its radiant light pierced through the night.
After taking in the city’s splendor, I turned to the gathered pirates before me.
“Everyone is here. Please issue your orders, Lord of the Sea.”
Unlike her usual playful tone, Remine spoke in a serious voice.
Responding with the gravity befitting my station, I lowered my voice, projecting authority as I addressed them.
“You’ve likely heard the details on our way here. Our target this time is that place before us—the Queen of the Adriatic Sea, Bennessa.”
At the mention of the name, the pirates’ eyes gleamed with excitement.
Among them were my five core executives and thirty elite pirates.
This group was my entire available force for this mission.
In contrast, Bennessa housed a population of around 120,000.
Its defenses included a standing army of 5,000 soldiers and a fleet of 30 warships ready for deployment at a moment’s notice.
Considering that the nearby Brittanian Empire, famed for its naval prowess, maintained fewer than 50 ships in its coastal defense fleet, Bennessa’s strength was formidable.
Furthermore, the presence of “that bastard” lurking in Bennessa made this mission even more daunting.
Of course, these numbers only mattered if we engaged them in a direct confrontation.
Our goal wasn’t to wage war—it was to “secure resources and personnel,” or in simpler terms, pillage.
Penetrating Bennessa’s massive walls through cunning and stealth wouldn’t be difficult.
Although, as Samir had warned, we would need to deal with some consequences at the end.
“Now, I’ll brief you on the plan. Pay attention and don’t miss a single detail.”
***
Under the cover of darkness, a small fishing boat cautiously approached Bennessa.
Its unassuming appearance allowed it to blend seamlessly with other fishing vessels, crossing the water at a leisurely pace.
Onboard were former pirate hunter Magellan, Elkana, their leader Franklin, and the ever-curious Ambasha.
Tasked with a specific mission, the group silently infiltrated Bennessa, slipping past the naval watch under the guise of local fishermen.
“This is thrilling!” Elkana exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement. “It’s nothing like arriving in broad daylight. Now we’re about to savor the ‘Queen of the Adriatic Sea’s juicy clam meat!’”
“Clam meat?” Ambasha tilted her head. “Oh, so you mean… grilled clams?”
Elkana, momentarily tempted to educate the innocent girl about her choice of words, decided against it.
This wasn’t the time or place for adult lessons.
“Uh… yeah. Grilled clams. They’re delicious. You just need to lick them a bit to get the juices—er, yeah.”
“Got it! I lost the bet, so I’ll treat you, senior. Dad gave me plenty of money to spend.”
“…Thanks.”
Ambasha’s cheerful response made Elkana pat her head affectionately, suppressing her embarrassment as they neared Bennessa’s harbor.
Then…
“By the way, what kind of treasure is the Pirate King after? We’re just here to help with this mission, but for him to come in person…”
Magellan’s voice, still tinged with awe after his defeat at the Pirate King’s hands, trailed off as he glanced at Elkana.
With a knowing smile, she replied, “Isn’t it obvious? Think about the time of year. It has to be that.”
“That…? No way…”
Every autumn, Bennessa came alive for one major event.
Elkana’s smile grew as she thought of the possibilities.
“For someone like the Pirate King, it’s a worthy prize—the Grand Auction.”
—
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