"Mr. King, I have to admit, I had my doubts about this venture of yours. But it seemed I've underestimated you." Captain Free Sword's jolly yet scrutinous voice rang from the Vermin Transponder, "So, what is the haul?"
Jacob has just reported his succession in the Vile Witch Layer. He confirmed that this place belonged to someone from the Witch Race. But he omitted all the crucial details about the Witch Palace and the Witch Queen Margret.
All he revealed was he got the inheritance after going through some difficulties. He didn't reveal his encounter with Star Hackers, or Captain Free Sword might lose confidence in him if he knew Jacob was now the enemy of Star Hackers.
But that guy didn't even ask about how he got here and directly asked about the treasures, <nulli>'As expected of a pirate.' Jacob scoffed inwardly before he replied impassively, "It's pretty good. You'll definitely like all of these, I can assure you, Captain!"
"Hahaha… since you've said it, Mr. King, I believed you, and you'll be generously rewarded once you come back." Captain Free Sword laughed heartedly, "Now that you have gotten what you wanted, are you moving to the next phase of your plan?"
Jacob impassively replied, "Indeed, now all I have to do is to spread the news and wait for those three hegemonies' high-ranking members to take the bait. It'll be quite easy to enslave them this way. I need your permission to go forward with my plan."
"Since you performed well, Mr. King, as long as it is for the Unique Star Ocean Medallion and your actions won't affect me or my crew, you can take actions as you see fit. But you have to give your usual report in more detail." Captain Free Sword nonchalantly stated.
He was still under the impression that Jacob could not make false reports because of the Slave Rune, nor could he take independent action against him. So, he was now even more confident that Jacob could pull this off.
However, Jacob wanted to hear exactly those words because with them, he was free until the plain trial and he doesn't have to move around anymore, nor he was planning to.
"Thank you for your trust!" Jacob thanked Captain Free Sword as if he was very gratified by his acknowledgment.
Captain Free Sword was pleased with Jacob's attitude as he said, "Now on to our next business. Remember I've told you that if you pull this off, I have another task for you?"
<nulli>'What is he after now?' Jacob frowned as he replied, "Indeed, please go ahead."
"It's simple actually, you see, my crew and I hadn't come here of our own free will. But traitors in our ranks betrayed us, and I had no choice but to use a very precious treasure to escape with my and my crewmates' lives.
"The Dark Elf you saw in Masha's lab is one of the traitors. Although he surrendered on his own and claimed to be the only traitor, I beg to differ. Because it was quite clear he was sacrificing himself for someone else, or it might be just my overthinking things.
"Whatever the case is, we can't just go back if there is even the slightest chance of another traitor still present amidst our ranks because we'll be just going back to our doom.
"If there's still a remaining traitor on this ship, he or she has deep ties with one of the three hegemonies of the Unique Plains. If he could contact the Epic Plain's three hegemonies, I'm pretty sure our enemy won't sit still once they find out where we are and might send someone to finish the job." Captain Free Sword grimly revealed.
Jacob's expression changed slightly since he never expected Captain Free Sword to reveal this information to him. He also had his own speculations about why a powerful person like Captain Free Sword would come to the epic plains.
Now, it was quite clear he wasn't here of his own free will but was betrayed by one of his own people.
"What do you want me to do?" Jacob asked, as he had a very bad feeling about this. If there was still a traitor, then that person was cunning enough to get still not caught by that conniving ogre, so what can someone like him do?
"Heh, it's pretty simple, actually. If there is a traitor and they want to contact the unique plains, then they need at least the leader-level character to establish that contact.
"All you need to do is to enslave the three hegemonies leaders somehow. So, if the traitor tried to make contact, you'll know, and all you have to do after that is to tell your kind Captain, and I'll handle it from there." Captain Free Sword stated his plan.
But Jacob's expression clouded, and he almost started to curse Captain Free Sword because he was asking too much.
Enslaving the three leaders? He would die before he could reach their safe bunkers, and they were not foolish enough to meet him in person and alone.
Captain Free Sword was simply asking him to commit suicide!
Jacob calmed himself and tried to talk reason, "But captain, it's impossible to do that. I'm not powerful enough to go toe to toe with the leaders, and they seldomly made appearances. No one knows about their actual whereabouts. Besides, if there is a traitor, he might have already made the contact, or he might not even do this. So, it's simply too risky for our own plan."
"Hahaha! As expected of you, Mr. King. But you have no choice but to do it. Even if that traitor had made contact already, I wanted to know, and if he didn't dare to, then I was to be sure of it.
"Because without assurance, I can't go back, nor do I want to resort to violence with my crew on mere speculation. I need to be sure that there is another traitor, and you, Mr. King, are going to help me whether you like it or not.
"After all, your life is also connected with us now, so you better do all you can to keep it safe! Oh, and I'm pretty sure the three leaders will be in the plain trial, so you'll get your chance!" Captain Free Sword coldly laughed before he directly cut off the call after he gave the absolute orders.
Jacob's eyes were swirling with killing intent as he wanted to crush that vermin transponder, but his body wouldn't let him.
<nulli>'This bastard!' Jacob fumed before he regained his calm and sighed ruefully, "At least he didn't give me an ultimatum. I look forward to that day when our positions will have switched!"