The Pirate King's Daughter - Chapter 21

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 21
I’d already anticipated that Kiis wouldn’t be able to handle the man’s approach.
“Are you perhaps visiting our island?”
“Yes.”
Perian quickly scanned the Navy jacket. From how sparse the insignia was, the man was clearly low-ranking.
In other words, useless.
“If you have time to spare, we’d be happy to show you around. There are some excellent restaurants nearby—we’d love to treat you.”
“I’ve already eaten. Besides, I have other business to attend to.”
“Ah, so you already have somewhere in mind? May I ask where?”
“Well…”
Perian let out an awkward laugh.
For all his worldliness, he’d never dealt with a pretty woman’s persistence before, and he had no idea how to handle this clingy fool. It felt different from when women threw themselves at him.
The dynamic was altogether different.
“Hey.”
That’s when Dilshad, who’d been watching silently, spoke up with irritation.
“You actually think your face warrants this?”
At his expression—as though looking at a filthy pig—the Navy man’s face flushed crimson.
“Fuck off. Why don’t you get lost?”
When Dilshad, dressed in his usual casual wear, made as if to kick him away, the sailors quickly vanished.
“Being good-looking feels more exhausting than I expected.”
Perian sighed.
“If people heard that, they’d think you suffer terribly for your looks.”
Dilshad resumed walking, needling Perian as he went.
“You’re still too young to understand, but women prefer a gentle beauty like me over someone as frightening as Kiis.”
“Who are you calling young?”
“Why do I look frightening?”
Both of them bristled at once.
Laughing at how identical their reactions were, Perian spotted a notice board behind them.
“Look at this—such sharp eyes.”
It was a wanted poster with Kiis, Perian, and Dilshad’s faces on it.
Below their information hung a new broadsheet.
“What is this…?”
Berto and Tatiana’s execution date had been set.
* * *
With nothing better to do, the Navy officer who’d visited us days ago came to see us again.
“Your execution date has been confirmed.”
I jumped to my feet.
“This doesn’t make sense. What crime have we committed?”
It was beyond comprehension. The Navy Alliance Base was hastily deciding on execution without proper procedure—it made no sense.
Even if we truly were pirates, this was clearly wrong.
“Who made this decision? Surely it wasn’t you?”
Unable to contain my anger, I moved toward the bars, but Berto held me back.
“Spirited, aren’t you.”
If Berto got involved, this man wouldn’t be worth a single punch.
“Just listen to what I have to say. The execution date has been set—and then postponed.”
Confused by his contradictory words, I frowned, and the officer’s lips twisted into a contemptible smile.
“The moment the execution was announced, uprisings broke out all over the island. Though it was only caused by three people, the damage was so extensive that ‘uprising’ is quite the apt description.”
So he’d decided on execution to draw us out?
‘Now I understand.’
In the original story, one reason we’d been held here so long was that the Commander of this base coveted Kiis.
Aura Users were exceedingly rare, after all.
“Will you cooperate with me now?”
“What do you think? Can you expect honor from pirates?”
“I see. If you change your mind, let me know anytime.”
The Navy officer left without hesitation.
He seemed convinced we were entirely within his grasp.
Once I’d made my decision, I waited for him to leave the building before turning to Berto.
“If any Navy soldiers come in, don’t hesitate—attack them.”
“What?”
And before he could ask what I meant, I simply screamed.
“Ahhh! You bastard! Get away! Somebody help me!”
I leaped up and hung from Berto’s neck. Startled, he caught me.
“Help! Somebody save me!”
“Ugh, Tatiana. Wait a moment.”
As I thrashed and struck his shoulders, Berto lifted my waist with one arm, then raised both my wrists high with the other hand.
Hearing the commotion, Navy soldiers came running—the two who guarded the entrance to our floor.
“Put the woman down at once!”
The sailors pushed their guns through the bars.
But they couldn’t shoot that easily.
I knew the Commander coveted both Kiis and Dilshad. Without direct orders, he wouldn’t dare execute us.
“Don’t let go.”
I whispered into Berto’s ear and struggled with all my strength.
“Please! Please save me! He’s trying to kill me!”
Tears streamed down my face, yet the bewildered soldiers made no move to enter.
Then Berto, belatedly catching on to the second act of the performance, seized my throat with one hand.
“Urgh! Gag!”
Of course it didn’t hurt—it was all theater on my part.
To make my face red, I grabbed his hand myself and deliberately choked my own throat.
“Stop!”
Finally, a Navy soldier urgently unlocked the door and rushed in.
The moment he did, Berto set me down and charged at the two of them.
“Ugh! Ah!”
Bang—!
One was subdued instantly, and the panicked soldier fired his gun. The bullet lodged in the ceiling, and he too lost consciousness and fell.
“What fool dares raise a hand against an officer of the great Empire.”
Berto stripped the guns and swords from the Navy soldiers. Armed with the stolen weapons, we left the cell.
“More Navy soldiers will be coming soon. Stay close behind me.”
Berto headed back the way we’d been brought in.
“We need to go down.”
But my words brought him to a halt.
Common sense dictated that you escape upward from any building—especially if you’re currently underground.
So what I’d said essentially meant recapture.
I’d been about to ask him to trust me just this once, but Berto turned without hesitation and headed the opposite direction.
“Wait—you’re really going? Aren’t you going to ask me anything?”
“Be quiet and hurry.”
Berto led the way without knowing where we were going.
As we descended the stairs, we ran into Navy soldiers coming up after hearing the gunfire.
Berto threw his gun backward, grabbed the railing, and sailed upward, striking the Navy soldier directly ahead with a flying kick. One strike sent all the soldiers pursuing behind him flying backward.
His combat prowess was extraordinary. Though not yet awakened, an Aura User would one day exist on an entirely different plane from ordinary people.
‘But now there’s no heroine in danger anymore—what am I supposed to do about that.’
Well, I’d worry about that later.
When we reached the lowest level, we found ourselves facing a dead end.
I immediately felt along the wall. There had to be a loose brick somewhere here.
‘Why can’t I find it?’
Surely the information wasn’t wrong.
Whoooooo—!
As I frantically searched, growing desperate, a distant horn blast echoed through the passage.
“I’ll be right back.”
“What?”
Berto began climbing the stairs leading upward, and the sound of countless Navy soldiers running filled the air.
“Wait!”
He vanished from sight before I could grab him. Immediately after came the sound of gunfire and clashing blades—enough to mistake it for a battlefield.
“Please, please come out.”
After what felt like an eternity, finally—click—the brick my hand had been pressing sank deep inward. Dust fell as the wall swung open.
I immediately took up a gun and ran to the upper level. What I found there was completely unexpected.
Nearly twenty Navy soldiers lay sprawled on the ground, and standing in the center of them all was Berto.
Wielding a sword that radiated a blue Aura.
“Unbelievable…”
The second-male-lead candidate had awakened his Aura in the midst of attempting a prison break—all because he’d lost his heroine.
As I stood stunned, footsteps echoed from the stairs descending toward us.
We hurried back down and slipped inside the opening I’d left in the wall, remembering to pull the lever and seal it shut before the Navy could pursue.
“Whew…”
My legs went weak.
“Are we safe now?”
“Yes. They won’t even know this place exists. And even if they did, they wouldn’t open it.”
This passage led to a cave—unknown to anyone, and used by the Commander for embezzlement.
Further below, there were likely piles of confiscated contraband and firearms, all of considerable value.
As we moved toward the cave, I watched Berto from the corner of my eye.
If I asked how he knew about this place, it would be difficult for him to answer. But not asking felt awkward.
What I truly wanted to know was how he’d suddenly awakened his Aura.
Noticing my gaze, Berto slowly opened his mouth.
“I won’t ask you anything.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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