Chapter 4: Heading North, Heading South
Bikahi Island.
In front of the Port Tax Bureau’s official residence, the Eckmond Kingdom’s Golden Coffee Tree Flag and the Whitebeard Pirates’ pirate flag fluttered high together in the wind.
Elus stood under the flagpole.
He looked up at the skull flag above with its iconic curved mustache.
“It’s clearly a World Government member nation, yet we’re hanging a pirate flag. Fran, don’t you find that awkward?”
Suddenly,
Elus spoke up, breaking the silence around him.
“Your Highness, if you haven’t slept enough, you can catch up on sleep as much as you want once we’re on the ship.” The girl with flame-like brilliant red long hair stood beside Elus. Her crimson eyes showed indifferent cold light. The black-and-white traditional long-skirt maid outfit covered her graceful figure, revealing only the black round-toed leather shoes peeking out from under the skirt.
“Here… hanging just one flag would actually be enough,” Elus murmured.
“It’s still daytime! Please don’t talk in your sleep; it’s embarrassing.”
“……Fran, are you picking a fight?”
Elus glanced sideways at his personal maid.
The red-haired girl’s name was Fran. She had no surname, was an orphan, seventeen years old, and was his personal maid trained by Elus’s mother for him. She wasn’t just for warming his bed; in critical moments, she was the last shield standing by his side.
After rounds of harsh and brutal eliminations, she was the only one out of nearly a hundred candidates who emerged victorious.
So,
As long as there were no major mistakes, even if the girl had a little hobby of mocking people, it could be tolerated with a broad chest.
And honestly, Elus didn’t dislike Fran’s little hobby. Compared to the other timid maids in the royal palace who wouldn’t even resist when cornered, Fran’s personality was more interesting and more fun to tease.
“How could I? I’m just a maid; what reason would a maid have to pick a fight with her master?” Fran said seriously.
“None?”
Elus glared at her, then calmed down again. “Then pretend there isn’t! I’ll get you back for it sooner or later anyway.” He put extra emphasis on the word “later.” The girl, who had been perfectly serious, immediately gritted her teeth, blushed, and shot Elus a fierce glare, but didn’t pick anymore.
Someone was coming.
There were two men, one tall and one short, both wearing identical standard black suits, walking quickly toward the flagpole.
“Dick, Eschbach, are you all prepared?”
When the two approached, Elus asked.
“Eight warships assembled, supplies and ammunition all checked, no shortages, all crew on each ship in place. Ready to set sail anytime.” The shorter one on the left spoke. Though short, at 222 centimeters, he was still taller than Elus by quite a bit.
But compared to the giant on the right at a full 350 centimeters, he really was the short one.
“Well done, Dick, Eschbach.”
Elus praised them.
The short one was Dick, the giant was Eschbach. Both were Elus’s aides-de-camp, similar to his personal maid Fran. They had been by Elus’s side since childhood, receiving top elite education. As long as they survived, when Elus ascended the throne, they would be candidates for the kingdom’s new ministers.
Eckmond Kingdom’s current Navy Minister, Berville Foy, was previously Berville’s aide-de-camp.
“Your Highness, are we setting off now?”
Eschbach lowered his head and asked in a deep voice.
This 350-centimeter giant looked intimidating, but his speech carried a calm, composed tone. His gray-brown eyes showed no impatience or impulsiveness—exactly the opposite of the eager Dick.
“Where are Dillon and Kappas?”
Elus asked about his other two aides-de-camp.
“They’re holding down the fort on the ships.”
Eschbach replied.
“Since everyone’s here, let’s go!”
Elus looked up at the two flags overhead.
Then he turned and walked out of the Tax Bureau’s official residence.
Fran followed closely behind without missing a step. Dick and Eschbach also followed.
Soon,
The eight warships docked at the port set sail. Under the navigator’s guidance, they sped northward at full speed.
————
North.
Toothed Whale Sea Area.
This sea area was the northern gateway to Eckmond Kingdom. Unless the enemy could fly, any invaders wanting to enter Eckmond Kingdom from the north had to pass through here. Whale Head, Whale Belly, and Whale Tail Islands were the three gates.
Now, Whale Head Island and Whale Belly Island had already been captured by Amento Kingdom’s invaders.
Only the last Whale Tail Island remained in Eckmond Kingdom’s hands.
On the vast sea waves, a fleet of fifty large warships cut through the waves, racing toward Whale Tail Island in the south.
“Flutter flutter!”
Amento Kingdom’s flags fluttered in the wind.
However,
Amento Kingdom’s King, Nebri IV, stood on the deck, looking up at that familiar flag, his eyes full of ashen despair.
It’s over.
Everything is over.
Amento Kingdom, with its 120-year history, was destined to not escape this calamity. No matter whether King of Maritime Transport Umit or Eckmond Kingdom won or lost, Amento Kingdom would have no good end. If not for the thought of leaving a bloodline for the Nebri family, he wouldn’t want to live anymore.
For his young son captured by Umit, he could only grit his teeth and persist, cooperating with Umit’s actions at all costs.
Of course,
He also harbored dark thoughts of dragging others down with him.
Since the Nebri family’s kingdom was done for, why should the Sokachio family continue to lord over Eckmond Kingdom? Especially since there had been much friction between the two countries over the years, and the Nebri family had been rubbed into the dirt by the Sokachio family more often than not.
Getting revenge on his old rival before dying was worth it.
And if the Sokachio family’s bastards could make that bastard Umit suffer a bit, even better—mutual destruction was what he looked forward to most.
“Buru buru.”
The Den Den Mushi rang.
Nebri IV rolled his eyes and looked at the black-haired man on the lying chair nearby, surrounded by women on both sides—’Ghost Sword’ Venkura, a pirate with a bounty of 15 million. Hatred flickered in his eyes.
This guy had pretended to be tired of the pirate life and wanted to join Amento Kingdom, tricking open the kingdom’s defenses and quietly seizing control of the entire country.
In reality,
This famous great pirate in recent years was a subordinate secretly planted by King of Maritime Transport Umit.
“Lord Umit.”
Venkura pushed away the women beside him and respectfully held the Den Den Mushi to report, “We’re almost at Whale Tail Island. Barring accidents, we’ll arrive before evening. Rest assured, before you go to sleep, I’ll bring you good news.”
“Venkura~, I’m waiting for your good news. Don’t disappoint me~~~!!”
Meaningful words.
The Den Den Mushi vividly mimicked the King of Maritime Transport’s piercing sharp gaze.
Venkura lowered his head deeply,
“Lord Umit, I won’t disappoint you.”
