Chapter 40

The reaction of the people who discovered Ishmael, the former Kobold pirate and current navigator-in-training of the mercenary company, was far more enthusiastic than I had expected.

“Lord Gryph, I don't wish to challenge your authority, but don't you think recruiting a pirate as a navigator is a bit too unconventional?”

Even Eleonor, who spoke reluctantly, had a moderate attitude compared to those around her.

“Eeeeh? A Kobold pirate? Why?”

“Isn't that the guy we captured as a prisoner?”

“Just say the word! We'll throw him into the sea right now!”

The surrounding sailors wanted to gift Ishmael's neck with a hangman's rope right away.

Their hostility towards pirates was that rampant.

Cold gazes also poured down on me for bringing Ishmael.

The reason those gazes didn't lead to a mutiny wasn't because of the amazing achievements I'd accomplished so far.

It was simply because Theo and Eleonor were glaring from both sides.

Their skills were well-known, so they judged there was no chance of winning if they attacked.

They're scared of the armed knights, but not me, is that it.

How sad, really.

Ishmael whispered to me.

“I told you this wasn't a good idea. Krrk.”

Ishmael was so dispirited it was pitiful, looking only at his feet.

It seemed he thought I might cut ties with them right away.

But if I were to do that, all the hard work I've done so far would be for nothing.

How much grief did I get from Mayor Rapacio and Matriarch Costanza for saying I'd take and use the pirates!

“Don't worry. I'll try to persuade them well.”

Now it was my turn to use my tongue.

I raised my hand to the sailors and spoke.

“Everyone, do not worry. Ishmael has completely defected.”

“Defected?”

“Yes. Ishmael and his men will atone for their past sins by cooperating with and obeying the mercenary company.”

“Hmm. Penance.”

“And when it comes to pirates, who would know them better than pirates themselves? As a former pirate, Ishmael knows well the movements and nature of the pirates of the Golden Sea. He is truly a pirate expert. Wouldn't it be a waste not to utilize that knowledge?”

That's right.

These pirates are undoubtedly villains.

To believe they would suddenly become good just because they were captured is too naive.

But at the same time, they are also useful villains.

If so, wouldn't it be better to use them usefully?

That was the reason I kept the Kobold pirates alive, only subjecting them to forced labor, despite receiving numerous pressures and demands.

「Trait Activated: Descendant of a Demon What difference is there between fascination and bewitchment?」

The atmosphere changed immediately.

The hostility that filled the ship lessened.

It was proof that my eloquence had worked.

“Well, if the commander says so.”

“It's not entirely wrong.”

“If the commander takes responsibility, well. Do we even have the right to object?”

The sailors, though bewildered, ultimately decided to take a bystander's position.

To put it a bit coldly, it's safe to say they chose the person who would bring them money over their long-held hostility.

After all, money is as important as life.

“See. I told you it would work.”

“Krrk, truly insane.”

Even Ishmael's eyes, who had just been at death's door, were wavering from side to side.

***

To be frank.

The reason I'm reaching out to former pirates is actually because of my unstable position.

“I don't quite understand. Aren't you trusted enough at this point?”

At a meeting with only the high-ranking officers participating in this voyage, Theo asked a question.

I asked a question in return.

“Does it look that way?”

“Is it not?”

“That's because your perspective is still narrow. If you look at the bigger picture, you'll understand.”

I looked at Eleonor and Ishmael.

The two of them seemed to agree with my statement.

“On the surface, my position in Fasa seems stable. But in reality, I'm in a situation where the Fasa government can replace me at any time if they so choose.”

That possibility became particularly prominent with the recent recruitment of Eleonor.

If I had a lot of subordinates from the beginning, it might be different.

But since that's not the case, I have no choice but to be swayed by the Fasa government.

Their influence is that strong.

You can see it just by looking at the members of the mercenary company.

Randolfo and Leandro?

They are all from Fasa and have close ties to the Fasa government.

The newly recruited mercenaries?

Strictly speaking, they are loyal to gold, not to me.

Eleonor?

She has a relatively pure motive of wanting to record events, but fundamentally, she is a knight of Aquitaine.

Although I've made her stay with a fraudulent contract, she is someone who can leave at any time once her curiosity is satisfied.

As you can see, the influence of the Fasa government extends to quite a lot of places.

Among them, the only person who can be called a true aide is Theo.

And it's not like I can call the Emperor's Royal Guard from the Imperial Capital.

“So that's why you are deliberately going against the opposition to employ Ishmael, Lord Gryph.”

“That's right.”

In that respect, these Kobolds of pirate origin were in a situation not much different from my own.

As seen just a moment ago, the former Kobold pirates had formed such a hostile relationship with the citizens of Fasa that their lives would be in immediate danger if I didn't protect them.

In the end, Ishmael and his men had no choice but to rely on me, if only to survive.

And I intend to nurture Ishmael and the Kobolds as my personal guard to keep the Fasa faction in check.

It's not for nothing that I went through all that criticism to get Ishmael.

Do you know how much Mayor Rapacio and Matriarch Costanza sang the praises of the gallows?

If this were a game, my affinity with them would have hit negative.

“In other words, we are a community of fate.”

“Now that I hear it, it makes sense. But aren't you thinking too far ahead?”

“You were thinking, 'Why is he making such a fuss in this small city?' weren't you?”

“Ah. How did you know?”

“I can tell just by looking.”

Theo, hit where it hurt, flinched his shoulders.

But I was actually thinking the same thing.

Why do I have to go this far?

It's because our opponents are people.

Because they are people whose minds can change at any time.

“Isn't it just because the Young Master is paranoid? You just can't feel at ease unless you have a tight grip on people and are on top of them.”

“Shut your mouth. You be quiet.”

“Tsk.”

Spreading such ridiculous rumors from where.

I forcibly stopped Theo from spreading malicious rumors.

I'm not that cunning or bad of a person.

“Now. Theo, think carefully. Would it really be a good thing for people to revere you as a patron saint, hold festivals, and offer you food and drink?”

“Isn't that a good thing?”

“You have to die first to become a patron saint. Do you like dying?”

“No, that's not it.”

Eleonor, who had been listening quietly to the conversation, spoke.

“Are you referring to the culture of saint veneration in Apennia?”

“That's right. So you knew.”

“It's a bit peculiar, after all.”

Saint veneration is a unique culture of Apennia.

They believe that saints protect the community.

Fasa is no exception, and they enshrine the remains and relics of a saint named Rainerius in the church.

There are a few other saints without fame, but that's not important.

The problem is the way they treat the saints.

“Do you know what a patron saint and a mercenary commander have in common?”

“Uh, well. I haven't thought about it deeply. What is it?”

“It's that they both protect the city. Then do you know what the difference is?”

“That one is dead and the other is alive?”

“Correct.”

It was a conversation that would have made a priest of the Western Church foam at the mouth.

But everyone here was either Eastern Church, a pagan, or a knight with no interest in faith, so no one cared about the irreverence.

“Perhaps the Fasa government might think of resolving the inconsistency between the saint and the mercenary commander as a reward for all the work. And save some money they have to pay as a bonus. What would happen if they stepped up to enshrine me as the city's 'saint'?”

“Well, I suppose the only ending would be to be helplessly enshrined in an ossuary.”

“Exactly. You'd be hearing the priest's boring sermons or meaningless praises every weekend.”

You'd probably be assassinated during a banquet, or meet an uninvited guest in the middle of the night.

Theo still had a reluctant look on his face.

“Isn't that too much distrust in humans? They're all civilized people, after all.”

“Culture is always relative. Here, that could even be a good thing.”

But from a modern person's perspective, that's just a premeditated crime.

I don't want to become a victim of a crime by being careless.

I'd rather be friends with the pirates than be revered with a ridiculous name like Saint Leonius who protected the city from pirates.

“I understand what you're worried about. I'll be careful from now on. So what is the mercenary company's next objective?”

“Naturally, we need to show results.”

Among the actions the Fasa government can take, physically chopping off my head is not the only one.

It's also possible to just dismiss me for incompetence.

What a harsh society.

This is what performance-based systems are like.

Anyway, to protect both my head and my social status, I need to produce results.

As many as possible.

That's the only way I can earn the true loyalty of the mercenary company.

“Navigator Ishmael?”

“Krrk, speak, Commander.”

“Take us to the pirates. To the richest pirates.”

Ishmael wore an expression that roughly said, ‘Does that even make sense?’ but instead of refuting, he simply nodded his head silently.

***

A few days later, a chase was taking place in the middle of the Golden Sea.

Usually, a chase in the Golden Sea involved a pirate ship chasing a merchant ship from Apennia.

But the chase happening now was different from usual.

It was to the point where you could say common sense had been overturned.

Five ships flying the flag of the Black Company cut through the waves and moved forward.

In front of them, a single pirate ship was hastily fleeing.

The pirate ship was already in a battered state from a battle.

There were even several arrows stuck in the deck.

The pirates had just discovered a greedy prey and approached it, only to realize that it was actually a ferocious beast.

The pirate ship maneuvered desperately to escape the mercenary company's pursuit, but the weather of the Golden Sea did not help.

The usually capricious wind had now completely died down.

Thanks to that, the mercenary fleet, which had more oars than the pirate ship, easily closed the distance.

Leon, appearing at the bow of the pursuing ship, shouted into a megaphone.

“Heave to, pirate ship ahead! If you surrender quietly now, we will spare your lives!”

“You young son of a bitch! Don't make me laugh! We all know we'll die if we're caught, who do you think is going to stop?”

At the stern of the pirate ship, a tan-skinned human male hurled insults.

The pirates of the Golden Sea weren't just Kobolds.

There were many other races who participated in piracy.

“I'll send you off without any pain!”

“Fuck you! You're the one who'll be taken by the devil!”

Leon grinned.

“Those guys still seem to have some fight in them. They even know how to curse.”

The pirates had no intention of giving up their escape.

Leon had no intention of watching them escape.

Now that it was clear their difference of opinion was stark, there was only one solution.

It was time for the privateer fleet to plunder the pirates.

If you felt something was strange, you were right.

But now that the Black Company had been founded, that was the new rule of the Golden Sea.

“Boatswain, tell them to row faster.”

Leon gave an order to the lower-ranking officer of the mercenary company next to him.

It was none other than Rhom, the troll knight from Aosta.

However, Rhom couldn't answer right away.

The troll had a dazed expression, as if he couldn't believe he was here.

‘What am I doing here right now?’

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