Chapter 5
[Port City Marenseu]
The second-largest city of the Franz Kingdom and one of the four major ports on the continent, it was always bustling with people.
At the heart of this city stood a massive tavern.
This wasn’t just any tavern; it was a gathering place for merchants, sailors, pirates, navy officers, and even bounty hunters. A place where various stories and requests were exchanged daily, making it a central hub for meetings.
Occasionally, the absurd situation would arise where a customer at one table might hire someone at another table to kill the person sitting next to them, all in real-time.
Even so, the tavern was designated as a neutral zone of peace by all factions, meaning that fighting was strictly prohibited inside. However, it wasn’t uncommon for sword fights to break out immediately outside its doors.
And at this very moment—
A man quietly entered the tavern.
His shoulder, wrapped in bandages, suggested a recent injury. He cautiously surveyed the room before locking eyes on a man seated in the farthest corner.
“Haha! Look at this! This is none other than the famous Glass Sword of the Pirate Transparent Beard!”
“Oh my, is that really…”
“Incredible! Truly, as expected of the Pirate hunter Magellan! How on earth did you manage to track down and capture such a slippery target?”
“Huhu, that’s a secret, but I can share a little—especially with lovely ladies like you.”
A man sat there with women dressed in suggestive outfits clinging to his sides.
His hair, tied back, contrasted with his tanned skin and rather handsome face.
As he casually groped the chest of one of the women beside him, a lecherous grin spread across his lips.
‘So that’s him…’
Magellan the Pirate Hunter.
The leader of Demanes, a notorious bounty hunting group in the Franz Kingdom, known for specializing in hunting pirates.
He was famed for his ability to track down and capture even the most elusive pirates—those notoriously difficult to chase on land, let alone on the open seas.
His dazzling track record earned him a reputation as a figure of fear among pirates.
Seeing him now, the man approaching—John, a subordinate of Duke Oaklean—believed that utilizing him could solve the current troublesome situation.
With his life practically hanging in the balance, John cautiously approached Magellan, carefully caressing the seal-stamped message from the Duke hidden within his pocket.
“What do you want?” Magellan asked bluntly.
“Apologies, but I’d like to make a request…”
“Can’t you see I’m busy? Come back later when I’m free.”
Magellan’s tone was dismissive and arrogant.
Normally, no matter how notorious the bounty hunter, they would immediately turn their ears to a potential client, eager for a profitable deal.
But the man in front of John gave no such impression.
He acted more like a client than a hunter, exuding an air of superciliousness. Given his position and knowledge of his own worth, he was practically a super ‘subordinate’ capable of brushing off even his ‘superiors’—a fact made evident by his dismissive wave.
“What are you waiting for? Leave already. How long do you plan to stand there like an idiot?”
“…”
Magellan’s words grew sharper, his patience wearing thin.
However, John knew very well how to deal with haughty individuals like him.
And the way to do it was—
“Before anything else, perhaps you should take a look at the amount first.”
John produced a letter that bore the Duke’s seal.
Magellan’s expression soured further as he sneered.
“What’s this? Do you think you can insult me with money? Are you trying to offend me or…”
Mid-sentence, Magellan’s eyes flicked to the content of the letter—
And in an instant, the arrogance and smugness drained from his face, replaced by sheer astonishment.
“…Is… Is this amount for real?”
It took mere seconds for his condescending tone to transform into a respectful address.
In the face of such an overwhelming sum—
Even his pride had no place.
And seeing Magellan’s resolve falter, John spoke in a serious tone.
“It’s real. Additionally, my master has promised an extra 2,000 Talars if this mission is carried out successfully.”
“…Hmmm…”
At those words, Magellan subtly gestured for the women to leave.
Adopting a serious expression, he turned to face John and asked,
“What is it that you want me to do?”
“It’s simple. Find and retrieve the person described in that letter.”
Magellan, who had begun reading through the letter in detail, frowned.
Seeing his reaction, John asked cautiously.
“Is it… possible?”
“A girl captured by an unidentified pirate… Is this all the information you have? At the very least, can you tell me which pirate crew took her?”
“Hmmm… If we knew that much, we would’ve shared it. We’re in the dark as well. But for someone like you who caught Transparent Beard, this should be a feasible task, no?”
“Tsk… Even so, you’re making it difficult. If nothing else, tell me what kind of crew I’m up against, or give me some clue…”
Before he could finish, John handed over another letter.
Glancing at the newly added amount written inside, Magellan’s voice grew even more solemn.
“Rest assured and wait. I will definitely find her.”
Through sheer financial might, John managed to secure Magellan’s acceptance of the request.
Seeing this, John breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if he had just overcome a major obstacle.
***
For a cook, mornings always started early.
Before everyone else was awake, they had to prepare the food that would enter the mouths of numerous crew members.
In addition, managing and procuring ingredients was also the cook’s responsibility, making it a busy day-to-day life no less intense than that of any other crew member.
Current time: 5 AM.
Although the sun hadn’t fully risen yet and it was still the break of dawn, Franklin was already up, prepping ingredients even earlier than the night patrol members.
Normally, this would be a job done alone.
However, from some time ago, she had gained a helper by her side.
“Should I put the chopped carrots here?”
“Y-Yes, thank you.”
“Hehe…”
With a smile that was now a little less awkward, Franklin patted the head of her new assistant—
Ambasha, who grinned like a cute puppy.
Seeing this, Franklin thought to herself,
‘Ah… This is so soothing…’
Since their unexpectedly heartwarming first encounter, Ambasha had naturally become her junior and helper in the kitchen.
After giving her a bath and dressing her in clean clothes, the once shabby girl now looked like a cute young lady, and Franklin felt she could tackle today with renewed energy.
“What’s for breakfast today? That yellow soup?”
“It’s mackerel curry. I made it with the mackerel we caught yesterday, using a spice called curry from the Eastern lands.”
“W-wow… I’ve never seen a dish like this before… It looks so delicious…”
Ambasha’s eyes sparkled as she licked her lips.
Perhaps because she’d always been underfed as a slave, she always showed an adorable reaction every time she was given a new dish. But today, it seemed even more enthusiastic than usual. Feeling pleased with this, Franklin scooped the almost-finished mackerel curry into a bowl and handed it to her.
“D-Do you want to taste it first?”
“Yes! Thank you for the meal!”
Without hesitation, Ambasha blew on the spoonful of curry and put it in her mouth.
A smile of pure happiness spread across her face.
Just watching her eat brought a warm feeling to Franklin’s heart.
Seeing that she could witness such a smile all for herself brought immense joy, and Franklin beamed.
“D-Does it suit your taste?”
“It’s delicious. This is the best thing I’ve ever eaten.”
“Hehe… I-It’s one of the captain’s favourite dishes… The other is a pickle made with vegetables salted in seawater and a spice called chili powder.”
“A-Are you talking about… Father?”
At that, Ambasha suddenly put on a very serious expression.
Unaware of this, Franklin continued to talk while finishing up the dish.
“B-but we’re almost out of curry and that chili powder… So I think I’ll need to go buy more tomorrow. Would you like to come along?”
“Yes! I’d love to!”
Franklin spoke lightly, as if suggesting a casual shopping trip.
Ambasha accepted with deep anticipation.
It was only natural, as this would be her first time setting foot on land as a pirate, excited to go shopping.
With a bright smile on her face, Ambasha thought to herself,
‘Father’s favourite cooking ingredients… Hehe…’
***
The Bounty Hunter Group, Demanes.
Comprising over 20 professional hunters, they sat facing a woman who always wore a hood while caressing a softly glowing crystal ball.
Muttering softly under her breath, the woman eventually stopped speaking and withdrew her hand from the now-darkened crystal ball.
“Did you find it?”
“Yes, the great god Molla has shown a revelation. If you go to Cyprus Island within ten days, you’ll find the person you’re looking for.”
Pointing to the island on the map, the woman explained, and Magellan slowly nodded.
“It’s quite close to the Pirate King’s territory… We’ll have to move as cautiously as possible to avoid conflict…”
—
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