The Pirate King's Daughter - Chapter 30
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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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Episode 30
“Your identities…….”
My eyes met those of the person aiming a gun at me. She was someone I knew.
The moment she recognized me, her eyes widened in shock.
“Miss, what are you doing here?”
It was the Commander’s Daughter, who had taken a liking to me before and gotten into a rivalry with Kheese.
“And what are you doing here, of all places?”
While the miss and I were still reeling, Kheese and Berto rushed in from nowhere, knocked the revolver from her hand, and subdued her.
“Two Aura users now—that’s convenient. Even if a gun gets pointed at our heads, we won’t have to worry about dying.”
Perian, who as always had hung back cleverly, approached with an air of complete detachment from the whole affair.
“Hold on, both of you, just calm down a moment. It looks like they snuck in just like we did.”
The miss was someone who usually went about with an escort even in broad daylight, but now she was alone.
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
The miss’s eyes glistened with tears at the speed with which things had unfolded. Yet her gaze remained steady, as though she were forcibly holding back her sobs.
“If you don’t scream, I’ll take my hand away from your mouth. Besides, we knocked the guards out when we came in, so even if you do scream, there’s no one to help you.”
The miss nodded, and Kheese and Berto released her.
“You remember me, don’t you?”
“How could I forget that infuriatingly handsome face?”
Her reply was sharp, but my looks still seemed to work on her.
“It’s hard to explain everything, but our ship was unfairly detained, so we came to find the Sea Chart.”
“So what you’re saying is you plan to escape?”
“Yes. And you’re here for theft, correct?”
“Theft?!”
The miss bristled with indignation. But she looked more like an angry kitten than anything truly threatening.
“You didn’t knock out any naval officers when you came in, so this isn’t your first time. But I’m curious—why steal a Sea Chart instead of some other precious item?”
“Precious things you can buy with money.”
No matter how rare a Sea Chart was, you could acquire most things if you had enough coin.
“Your father probably doesn’t want his precious daughter venturing out onto dangerous seas.”
Greedy and corrupt as he was, at least he valued his family. Unlike some fathers I knew.
“And he probably bribed the guards.”
The miss flinched—my guess had hit the mark. Her nerves made her glance repeatedly at the revolver she’d dropped.
‘How did mine end up in her hands again?’
Since my only weapon now was a dagger, I’d been worried. Revolvers were too expensive to replace.
I bent down and picked up the revolver. Its cool surface fit naturally into my palm.
“It seems we’re both in trouble if caught. How about we each take what we came for and leave?”
“Before that, there’s one thing I want to ask.”
The miss opened her mouth with a cunning look instead of answering directly.
“Is this woman really your lover?”
She pointed at Kheese as she asked.
He opened his eyes wide, as if demanding I answer properly.
‘Now is the time to appease her.’
“No. She’s just my colleague.”
“I thought as much.”
The miss tried to control her expression, but her mouth kept twisting into a smile.
“We just need to take the Sea Chart and go. What about you, miss?”
“I’ve got what I need. I’ll help you.”
“Help us with what?”
“Setting sail. There are Navy personnel everywhere, so it won’t be easy. I’ll draw their attention while you get the ship out.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because I know my father isn’t entirely good. If you were truly the kind of criminals worth detaining, you would’ve knocked me out or killed me already.”
The miss had a good grasp of her family’s nature. She seemed to have grown up sharp and practical beneath her disreputable father.
Once outside with the miss, we hid our bodies some distance from the ship.
“Ah, miss, what brings you here at this hour?”
Two Navy officers guarding the Wharf recognized the miss and spoke in a flustered tone.
“Why? Is this somewhere I’m not allowed to be?”
“That’s not it…….”
“Then what? Are you going to go running to Father again? Tell him to supervise his daughter better?”
Clearly, this wasn’t her first time pulling something like this.
While the miss created a distraction, we quickly climbed the ladder Berto had lowered onto the deck.
The ship drifted slowly out to sea, following the waves without raising the sails.
At first, the swaying feeling wasn’t pleasant, but I’d grown accustomed to it—and now there was something soothing about that gentle motion.
“Where are you looking right now? Are you ignoring my words? Why, just because I’m not the Commander but just an irresponsible daughter with a taste for power?”
“Absolutely not!”
As the Navy officers sensed something suspicious and began to turn toward the sea, the miss suddenly screamed at the top of her lungs.
“Liar! You don’t think I don’t know you’ve been spreading rumors and laughing at how I was put down by some man earlier?!”
I didn’t understand the context, but the miss seemed to have a real talent for causing scenes.
Her voice was swallowed by the sound of the waves. The ship had drifted far enough away.
Hoot———
A horn sounded.
Fires lit up in various places, and the bright beam of the lighthouse swept across our ship.
With a rustle, white canvas unfurled.
And at the very top of the mast, a flag rose and fluttered in the wind—a Pirate Flag with a jellyfish skull drawn on a black field.
Bang! Bang!
The Navy officers fired, but their bullets couldn’t reach the ship as it picked up speed.
I confirmed that Dilshard’s vines had climbed the mast and successfully unfurled the Pirate Flag, then bounded up to the upper deck.
Navy personnel had gathered everywhere by then.
I stepped onto the horizontal rail of the gunwale and waved my arms widely.
“Farewell, Navy dogs!”
* * *
“I’m against it. That’s too harsh. Your body won’t survive.”
Perian spoke with a serious expression.
“Do you have any other good ideas?”
At my question, he fell silent and sank into thought.
The others were no different. Their brows were furrowed with concentration.
“Two people doesn’t matter to me, but then there’s no fun in it.”
“Let’s narrow the scope. Bathroom cleaning would be suitable.”
“The common bathroom is only for you all anyway. I’ll use my own, clean it myself.”
We were deciding on a Game Penalty.
Before escaping Balas Island, remembering how tedious the voyage had been, I’d purchased materials for a Pirate Flag and Trump Cards.
For that reason, we now sat around the table after meals.
“What about Indian Bob?”
“What’s that?”
Four pairs of eyes turned toward me.
“The loser bends at the waist, and the winners hit their back.”
“Tatiana, why do you keep suggesting such harsh penalties? Your back wounds have healed, but you still feel the pain.”
Perian objected again.
“Do we have to decide on a Game Penalty?”
Berto asked the obvious question.
“That way we have real competitive spirit. So the person in last place grants a wish to the person in first place. How’s that?”
At this proposal, everyone nodded without objection.
‘I wonder what wish I should ask for.’
I exchanged a discreet glance with Pudding, who remained hidden from view.
“Done!”
I tossed the last remaining Queen of Hearts and Queen of Diamonds onto the deck pile.
“Again?”
Having won first place for the third hand, I shrugged my shoulders smugly.
“You’re all so bad at this. Try harder.”
Dilshard was the one left holding the Joker until the very end this time.
Pudding, hidden behind him, let me know which cards not to draw each time I pretended to deliberate, which allowed me to win.
‘Cheating is wrong, but.’
What does it matter? We’re among ourselves. It’s not like I’m making anyone do anything unreasonable.
Laughing quietly to myself, I shuffled the cards and dealt for the next hand.
“Which one should I pick?”
I placed my hand on the rightmost card in Dilshard’s hand and glanced at Pudding.
Pudding crossed his tentacles in an X shape and shook his head.
“Hmm, maybe this one?”
The moment I looked at Pudding again.
Vines burst forth from hiding and groped for Pudding’s tentacles, seized them, and wrapped around his body so he couldn’t escape.
“Aaah!”
Pudding’s form was revealed.
“I thought you kept staring into empty space. So you’ve been cheating together the whole time?”
Dilshard, who’d thrown down his cards, spoke while holding Pudding like a hostage.
“Tatiana, save me!”
“No wait, I think our little one’s about to burst.”
As I fidgeted anxiously, Dilshard tossed Pudding to me.
I quickly reached out and caught him.
“Are you all right?”
“Whimper, that hurt.”
As I was comforting the whimpering Pudding, a gentle yet sinister voice cut in from somewhere.
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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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