Chapter 311: Golden Alternation
“Ahem, that, um… Ah! Actually, what I said earlier was the gibberish language from Babal Island~ Although it sounds a lot like the common language, the meaning is completely different, you know~”
“Eek~ This is really troubling. If those words just now were misunderstood, that would be trouble~”
“I’ve actually admired the Beasts Pirates for a long time~”
“Ha, haha…”
Sain’s movements in packing his luggage came to a halt, and he nervously clasped his hands behind his back, as if eager to distance himself from the bundle of luggage on the table.
“You’re still as witty as ever.”
“…”
“Uh…”
The fake smile on Sain’s face froze, and soon sweat began beading on his forehead again.
Sure enough, such an obviously nonsensical excuse couldn’t fool anyone.
“Actually, Mister Sain, you don’t need to be so nervous.”
“Ah? I, I’m not nervous~”
“What do I have to be nervous about?”
This was a lie.
Sain was so nervous he was about to throw up, and his modified mechanical left hand was sparking from shaking so violently!
『It’s over, it’s over, it’s over, it’s over!』
『Why is this terrifying brat here too?!』
『And she heard everything I just said! What to do, what to do, what to do!』
Cold sweat poured down his forehead like a basin of ice water had been dumped on it, and Sain would rather the person alone with him now be Kaido, who had just zipped away like smoke…
There was no helping it; the first impression she left on him was just too profound.
Although her face always wore an innocent, harmless smile, the power she casually displayed back then was simply too terrifying.
Especially for Sain, a scientist, he knew better than anyone just how horrifying those flames were that vaporized every item in the laboratory in an instant.
The energy that erupted in that moment could erase any substance in the world at will.
So compared to the golden-haired, excessively beautiful girl before him, the unreasonable Kaido actually seemed a bit safer in Sain’s mind.
At least against Kaido, his body could withstand a few clubs, and at worst, he could leave a complete corpse.
Pulling a small handkerchief from his pocket, Sain wiped the sweat from his forehead a little.
“Ah, well, about joining the Beasts Pirates, I am quite willing myself. What I was doing earlier was packing in eager anticipation to go report for duty.”
“Ha, haha…”
“…”
“You don’t have to force yourself like this.”
Seeing this, Lahel showed a kind smile and took a step forward, seemingly wanting to get a bit closer.
『Eek—!』
Like a stress response, Sain retreated several steps backward until his back hit the wall corner and he was forced to stop, while his head shook as if fitted with a motor.
“No no no no!”
“Not forced at all!”
“I’m joining the Beasts Pirates of my own free will!”
Seeing the six-meter-tall burly man across from her looking like a startled little beast, Lahel had to stop her approach and said softly from where she stood:
“Sigh~”
“I know Your Excellency has all sorts of concerns, but rest assured, after joining the Beasts Pirates, we won’t restrict your research direction. You can study whatever you want—it’s your freedom.”
“No need, no need. Please give me orders by all means! I’ll research whatever you want me to research!”
“As for research funding, Your Excellency doesn’t need to worry about it anymore. The Beasts Pirates’ finances will fully fund it.”
“No need to waste a single cent of yours! I’ll handle all the research funding myself and won’t cause you any trouble!”
“As for the Navy and World Government issues you’re worried about…”
“Understood! I understand! As a member of the Beasts Pirates, I’ll fight them to the end with all my strength!”
“So, please let me join the Beasts Pirates by all means!!”
“I beg you, this is the request of my lifetime!!!”
“…”
…
In short, after Sain’s bitter pleading and even kneeling request, he finally got his wish and became a member of the Beasts Pirates.
“Since Mister Sain you wish to join us, please accept this.”
Ding~
A feather as if cast from gold slowly materialized in Lahel’s palm, engraved with the word ‘QUEEN’ on it.
“This is the symbol denoting executive status. Captain Kaido said if you join, you can directly obtain the position of highest executive—that is, the Great Calboard.”
“As for the ‘QUEEN’ on it, that’s your provisional code name. If you don’t like it, I can…”
“No no no no! No need to trouble you, I really like this code name. Queen（QUEEN）, right? I’ll change my name to that from now on!”
“I see…”
The golden feather, following Lahel’s will, slowly floated in front of Sain, then was carefully caught by him…
Looking at the faintly glowing feather in his hand, a scientist’s instinct made Sain temporarily suppress his fear and begin wondering what material this thing was made of.
『This weight—is it gold? No, gold shouldn’t be this hard… Some kind of alloy?』
『My super alloy mechanical arm can’t even leave a scratch on it. Could this thing be harder than diamond? If so, maybe it could be used for…』
Like Obei back then, Sain, as a scientist, was soon completely captivated by the feather’s material and began pondering its uses as a new material.
Watching Sain clutching the feather and muttering to himself, Lahel helplessly sat down somewhere nearby… Just as Kaido said, it would probably take him half a month to return from the West Sea.
And during this time, Lahel would stay on this island waiting for him.
This was something the two had agreed on before coming: Lahel would stay here to watch Sain, while Kaido would go alone to the West Sea—this was Kaido’s own idea; he seemed unwilling to let anyone know that place’s location.
“The continuation of the bloodline, a brand new life… I wonder what kind of child it will be.”
…
“Wah~ Wah~”
Boom!
Boom boom!
The infant’s cries had just rippled through the air when they were immediately drowned out by the roar of cannon fire. Amid the massive explosions of cannonballs, the crying suddenly grew even louder, as if competing with it.
And around that resounding cry were the roars belonging to adults…
“Hurry! You two jump into the sea and escape!”
“I’ll cover you!”
Boom~
Cannonballs filled the sky and flew straight toward the warship where Burufaruto and the others were, instantly blasting the nearly brand new warship into flying wood chips and billowing smoke and flames.
The firepower equipped on the Celestial Dragons’ vessel exceeded Burufaruto’s expectations. Their fierce counterattack foiled his plan for a quick victory, and combined with his unfamiliarity with operating Navy warships, the Beasts Pirates side was even suppressed in return.
Now the enemy was shelling while ramming toward the Beasts Pirates side, seemingly intent on sinking them directly!
“No, Burufaruto, I can’t just abandon you and escape like this!”
Holding the child and pushed to the ship’s railing, Lahel shouted loudly.
“You got into this danger to save me, I can’t…”
“Lahel! This isn’t the time for your nagging! If we don’t go now, none of us can escape! Cough, cough cough!”
The violent movements tore open the wound on his abdomen again, and the shifting of his internals made Burufaruto cough up several mouthfuls of blood uncontrollably.
“Burufaruto, are you okay?!”
“I’m fine, cough cough! Listen up, Lahel, you must take the child and leave right now, or it’ll really be too late once the Navy behind catches up!”
Without waiting for the other to speak again, Burufaruto pulled out the golden feather from his bosom and stuffed it into Lahel’s hands.
“Give this to you—it’s my executive symbol.”
“When you meet people from our Beasts Pirates crew, show it to them and tell them you’re my friend. The Beasts Pirates will take care of you.”
The golden feather no longer glowed, but it was still very warm in hand, as if the energy contained within hadn’t been fully depleted.
“Burufaruto…”
Hearing this explanation, Lahel seemed to realize something and reached out to return the heavy golden feather.
But as he lifted his hand, the feather—recently re-engraved with ‘JACK’ by Lahel—was gripped by a pair of smaller hands. The child in Lahel’s arms seemed to really like the feather and hugged it tightly, refusing to let go.
Perhaps the sunlight-like warmth transmitted by the feather made this little one, who had just experienced the cold seawater, feel attached and secure. In any case, after hugging the feather, the child miraculously stopped crying…
“…”
Seeing this scene, Burufaruto suddenly grinned, and the infant in the swaddling clothes smiled along.
“Haha~ You little one really know good stuff.”
“In that case, this thing is a gift to you—consider it an early adult present from your godfather.”
Seeing the other party’s demeanor as if settling his last affairs, Lahel couldn’t help saying:
“…Burufaruto, let’s escape together.”
“We’re both Fish-Men; there’s a good chance we can successfully escape into the sea, and then…”
“No, that’s not possible.”
Before the other could finish, Burufaruto decisively shook his head in refusal, then looked calmly at his subordinates still fighting back on the ship and said:
“Lahel, I can’t escape.”
“My brothers are all on the ship. Some have been with me since I first joined the pirate crew—we’ve been through life and death together. I can’t abandon them and escape alone.”
“This is my choice.”
“I…”
“Lahel! But you’re different. For this child, you must live on!”
“…”
“…”
“I understand… I’m sorry.”
Lahel fell silent for a moment, then finally clenched his fist and spoke.
Blood dripped from between his fingers; he had never hated himself as much as he did now.
From his position, Burufaruto was in mortal danger to save him—he absolutely could not escape!
And if he were still alone, he would choose without hesitation to stay and fight side by side with Burufaruto, even sacrificing himself as a matter of course.
But now he was a father…
Burufaruto, as the boss, chose to stay for his brothers.
And Lahel, as a father, chose to escape for his child.
He could be a slave, but his child could not be a slave again, so he fled from the Celestial Dragons with all his might.
He could die, but his child could not, so he abandoned everything human and chose to escape once more…
“Heh~ That’s right~”
Seeing the other no longer nagging, Burufaruto laughed easily, then suddenly slapped his forehead as if remembering something.
“Right, almost forgot this. Take this too, and when you get to the Beasts Pirates, give it to a red-haired little girl named Aoxi.”
With that, Burufaruto pulled out a palm-sized item he had prepared long ago from somewhere and handed it to Lahel.
“Red hair, Aoxi…”
Taking the item from the other, Lahel, fearing he misheard due to the cannon fire, repeated it.
“Yes, that little girl is even prettier than the legendary Fish-Man princess—you’ll recognize her at a glance.”
Burufaruto added proudly.
“Mm, I guarantee delivery.”
“Then, stay safe, take care all the way~”
“…”
“Take care all the way.”
