Chapter 276. Like a Pirate (1)
This was Oros, the port city of the Neon Kingdom.
The already somber atmosphere, darkened by the collapse of the royal family, grew even more ominous with a new piece of news. Every resident of Oros wore the same grim expression as they stared toward the harbor.
Several ships were docking—each bearing flags of different colors, snapping in the wind. And from those ships emerged men and women who could only be described as terrifying.
"Mom... Who are those people...?" a child asked.
"Shh. Stay quiet. Whatever you do, don't make eye contact with them," the child's mother said.
Pirates were the lawless scourge of the sea. In the Neon Kingdom, where law and order had crumbled after years of war, they were nothing short of nightmares. They pillaged coastal villages, bled fishermen dry, and acted with utter impunity.
Especially for the people of Oros, who lived in a harbor city, the pirates' cruelty was all too familiar. So the citizens could only watch in paralyzed fear as the pirates came ashore.
Even the harbor guards, who were supposed to defend the docks, pointedly ignored the pirates, because these were no ordinary outlaws.
These pirates were the guests of the man who had seized the kingdom—the Mercenary King.
"That flag..." one of the sailors said.
"...That's the Pirate Queen's crew. The Queen herself... She's really here..." another sailor muttered.
Some veteran sailors recognized the banner, adorned with a snake-entwined skull, and immediately knew who had arrived.
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It was the ruler of the seas. The Pirate Queen had set foot on land.
"The Mercenary King... and now the Queen...?" another sailor exclaimed.
"Has God truly abandoned us?" the sailor next to him added.
Sighs and muttered prayers of despair spread throughout the city.
The Mercenary King's coup, and now the Pirate Queen's involvement—it was clear to everyone that the storied Neon Kingdom was nearing its end.
At that very moment, despite the mounting tension, Kynda struggled to suppress a murderous impulse as she spoke with Caron. "What are you going to do if Nelson laid a trap?"
"If that happens, I'll hop on your pet monster and run," Caron replied with a grin.
"That might be the dumbest thing I've heard today," Kynda said.
She had been invited to this feast laid out in the Neon Kingdom—or so she thought.
She'd thought that all she was supposed to do was bring a spoon and help herself. But when she lifted the lid, she realized she'd have to cook the meal herself.
The core of this plan boiled down to one thing: How to eliminate the Mercenary King efficiently. And the one who had engineered this entire mess was sitting there, as shameless as ever.
"You should be grateful I supplied the ingredients," Caron said. "The cooking should be left to the chef, no?"
"...You'd better keep your promise, you conscience-deprived wolf," Kynda growled.
"Of course. I'll secure full continental approval for your maritime security and shipping company. I'm starting to think you'd like to retire in luxury," Caron said.
"I could live in luxury with what I've already saved," Kynda muttered.
"Ah, then it must be about legacy. Makes sense. Someone of your stature would want to end her story with dignity," Caron said.
If only he'd shut up. The Queen could only click her tongue at the smooth-talking brat who mixed just enough flattery into every sentence. She wondered where in the world he had learned to speak like that. Caron reminded her strangely of a young Halo in his prime.
Though Caron and the Queen were speaking openly, no one around them suspected a thing.
That was because Caron looked like a pirate in every possible way. He had a strong, muscular build, tanned skin, scars running across his body, and a black eyepatch completing the look. He was the picture of brutality.
Even his voice was coarse and gruff—nobody could have imagined that this fearsome pirate was actually Caron Leston.
"You know, Saintess, you're really fitting in," Kynda remarked. "You've got that gloomy look. You do look like an advisor to a pirate."
"...Thank you for the compliment, Queen Kynda," Seria said.
"I told you, just call me sister," Kynda said.
"Considering our age difference, I don't think I can do that... It feels as if I'd be insulting the Light," Seria replied.
"Hmph. At least wear something that fits your body. A female pirate should be a bit sensual, no? Shame," Kynda said, quickly changing the subject when age came up. She sighed in disappointment.
The artifact made of doppelganger skin hadn't worked well on Seria, likely due to her being a saintess. So they had simply draped a dark, ominous robe over her.
As for Leo, he looked a lot like Caron, just dumber. The key difference was his shining bald head.
"I really can't get used to this," he muttered. He appeared to be a mean-looking bald pirate, complete with a wolf tattoo etched on his scalp.
"Leo," Caron called out.
"...What?" Leo asked.
"That's it. That's the best look you've ever had," Caron answered.
If one were to judge by appearance alone, Leo looked like a first-rate thug.
"Looks like you've split a few heads in your day, huh? Seriously, you look great. Keep this look going. Talk like a pirate, too," Caron advised.
The objective of this mission was clear.
The Queen's job was to keep the Mercenary King distracted. And while she did that, Caron and his team would move independently.
As proof of his authority, the Queen had even given Caron an identity plaque designating him as the Sixth Hero—an elite title among her inner circle. Caron had taken the place of Bessic, the Sixth Hero he'd killed back in the Southern Great Forest.
Kynda glanced at Caron's face and let out a quiet sigh. Then she asked softly, "So you'll move as soon as you leave the city?"
"I have to," Caron replied. "I'm planning to kill every dark mage I see. I'll probably hit the border towns first—"
"I've already arranged that," Kynda interrupted. "I told them you'd be operating a special unit to scout out potential pirate strongholds. You'll be able to move freely."
"That's why I love my Queen. Always thinking ahead," Caron said with a smirk.
"Make sure you settle the bill later," Kynda said.
"Careful yourself, Your Majesty. We don't know what traps the dark mages might have laid," Caron advised.
"You're adorable when you worry," Kynda said with a smile.
"It's not a worry—I just don't want you screwing up the mission," Caron replied coldly.
"If you can't even say something nice..." Kynda said.
They had already identified several key regions where dark mages were likely hiding.
Kynda reached out and placed a hand on Caron's shoulder, then said, "Since we've come in wearing masks, go wild. Like a mad dog. Like a pirate. Got it?"
"Like a pirate," Caron echoed. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Haha, good," Kynda said.
She looked around the streets, smiling in satisfaction. Citizens stared back in terror, frozen in place.
And yet, for some reason...
...It leaves a bitter taste, Kynda thought.
Ever since being crowned the Pirate Queen, Kynda hadn't made a habit of tormenting the innocent.
Without another word, the Pirate Queen and her crew marched down the city's main road. Thus, they made their grand entrance into the Neon Kingdom.
***
As soon as Caron stepped into Oros, the first place he sought out was a shabby tavern tucked away in the corner of the city.
Creaaak.
The door—looking as though it could fall apart at any moment—swung open, and a group of rough-looking pirates marched inside.
The moment they burst in, the customers who had been quietly drinking turned to stare, startled by the sudden intrusion.
"Owner! Bring out the whole damn barrel!"
"Got any decent beer in this dump?"
"Serve up some food too—loads of it!"
True to their nature as seafarers, the pirates bellowed their demands with thunderous voices.
"Heheh."
"Been a long time since we drank on dry land, huh?"
As the pirates filled the empty tables, laughing and shouting, the mood inside the tavern quickly turned tense and dangerous.
"Hey, owner!" the one who looked the most menacing among them shouted across the room as he slammed down into his chair.
The tavern owner, face pale as a sheet, trembled as he hurried over. He asked, "Y-Yes, sir?"
"Bring out every bottle of liquor you've got," the pirate ordered.
"W-We still need s-stock for... selling..." the owner stuttered.
"Are you refusing a paying customer right now?" the pirate asked.
The owner flinched.
These were pirates under the direct command of the Queen—famous for their ruthlessness.
Even though fear gripped him, business had been terrible lately. He had barely any coin left. If he lost the rest of his stock now, that would be the end.
So, screwing his eyes shut, the owner dropped to his knees and begged, "Please... I beg you. I'll give you all I can spare, just... Please, have mercy, just this once..."
He was sure they had come to clean the place out. After all, what else were pirates known for, if not pillaging...
Especially since even the city guards, who should have protected them, had washed their hands of any trouble involving the Queen's pirates.
The owner braced for the worst.
Thunk.
A heavy pouch dropped to the floor in front of him, landing with a thud.
"That should be enough, right?" the pirate said casually. "My crew's been craving land food, so just get cooking."
"E-Excuse me?" the owner asked, confused.
He quickly opened the pouch and gasped in shock. His hands slipped and the pouch tumbled from his fingers.
There was a pile of gold. It was an enormous amount of money—something he had never seen before in his life.
"Y-You're really giving this to me...?" the owner asked.
"If you keep talking and annoy me, I might take it back. Now go to the cellar and bring out your finest liquor," the pirate ordered once again.
"Th-Thank you! Right away, sir! I'll have it out in no time! Mary! Get these gentlemen their beers, quickly!" the owner shouted.
Some of the pirates raised their voices toward Caron in protest.
"Boss! I thought pirates didn't pay for anything!" one of the pirates said.
"This weak little town ain't worth it! Let's just loot the whole place!" another pirate added.
It was the most pirate-like response imaginable.
Without hesitation, Caron grabbed an ashtray from the table and hurled it straight at their foreheads.
"You dumb bastards!" he snapped. "We're aiming for something big. What the hell are we gonna get from robbing this pisshole tavern? If you're gonna live, live big, you worthless maggots!"
Blood trickled from the pirates' brows where the ashtray had struck, but they cheered as if they had just been blessed.
"That's our boss!" one of the pirates said.
"Big score! Big score!" another pirate added.
"So shut the hell up and drink! Anyone who can't hold their liquor, I'll rip your damn throat open and pour it in myself. Got it?!" Caron shouted.
While Caron barked orders and bantered with his men, Leo and Seria could only sigh from their seats.
So this really is his calling, Leo thought.
He must've been a pirate in a previous life, Seria mused. There's no way he could act this naturally otherwise...
To control those wild pirate maniacs so effortlessly—it had to be an inborn talent. If Caron had been born a pirate from the start, the continent's entire history could have been rewritten.
The two took slow swigs of beer, still shaking their heads in disbelief.
Time passed in a raucous blur.
When the tavern was practically bursting with noise, one of the former customers carefully approached Caron's group.
At once, the pirates sprang to their feet, drawing their weapons.
"Who the hell are you?" one of the pirates asked.
"You dare approach our boss—?" another pirate added, but was cut off.
"He's my guest, you maggot bastard!" Caron roared. "Back the hell off!"
The pirates scrambled to bow and clear a path.
"S-Sorry! We didn't know!"
"Please, this way, sir!"
"...My thanks," the customer said.
The man, cloaked in a hooded robe, gave a polite nod and slowly sat down across from Caron. In a low voice, he asked, "The mad dog?"
It was the prearranged code phrase—set up before they entered Oros.
Caron quickly cast a silencing spell using Pluto, cutting off the surrounding noise. Then he grinned and answered, "Bites anything it sees."
"...It really is you, Young Master," the customer said.
"Good to see you, Pasran," Caron said.
"Pasran, loyal servant of the Ducal Family of Leston, reports to Young Master Caron and Young Master Leo. Your disguise is... honestly, an inspiration to intelligence operatives everywhere," Pasran said.
"Flattery, huh?" Caron replied with a smile.
The man, Pasran, was an intelligence agent stationed in Oros who worked under the Ducal Family of Leston.
"These are the details you requested, sir," Pasran said, handing over a crystal orb imbued with protective magic.
Caron accepted it and began browsing the contents.
"All the information gathered by agents across the region is included," Pasran explained. "From the flow of goods to the locations where the Mercenary King's mercenaries are stationed. We recorded everything you said you might need."
"You've done well," Caron said.
Unlike the closed-off Holy Kingdom, the Neon Kingdom was full of holes—ravaged by war.
The Ducal Family of Leston had already embedded operatives across every southern kingdom. That the Mercenary King had managed to start a rebellion despite that was a testament to his skill.
Caron knocked back the whiskey the tavern owner had brought and wiped his mouth lazily with his hand.
"Based on the logistics and troop placements, we've narrowed down a few villages where dark mages are likely hiding," Pasran continued.
"Excellent," Caron said.
"The most probable one is Loki Village, about a day's journey from here. The Mercenary King's personal troops are stationed there, and lately, a massive amount of supplies has been flowing into the area. But... Young Master, may I ask how you intend to approach this?" Pasran asked cautiously.
Caron smirked and replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "Like a pirate, of course."
The plan was simple. He had no intention of making it complicated.
"We barge in like pirates, and we loot everything," he continued.
Knights fought like knights. Pirates fought like pirates.
Caron's strategy was brutally straightforward.
"We hit Loki Village first and strip it clean. Leave nothing behind," he explained.
"Young Master... Looting might be a bit..." Pasran trailed off.
"Taking from bad people is justice, alright?" Caron interrupted.
It was invincible logic.
Pasran let out a small gasp of admiration as he recalled the rumors surrounding Caron. They say if the Mad Dog bites you, you die—and it seems they were right.
Only now did he truly understand why such rumors had spread.
"You filthy landlubbers! Once we're done eating, we're going on a raid! So fill your bellies!" Caron shouted.
"Raid!" a pirate shouted.
"Boss says get ready for plunder!" another pirate shouted.
Thus began the legend of the Mad Dog Pirate Crew.