“Wandering around?
Huh!
Give me a break!
You’re acting way too suspicious.”
“Is that so?
I don’t recall our crew having a policy against passengers joining the journey.”
Anne Bonny unleashed an intimidating aura toward Hasetsukabe no Koharumaru, but he didn’t even flinch.
Instead, he gripped his kunai even tighter.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed from behind, drawing attention to the horse carriage she had arrived in.
It was Tia Strandt, Emilio’s seven-year-old daughter.
She wore a red dress with a yellow pattern down the center, her hair styled in an intricate knot, and a ruby-encrusted ornament pinned to her forehead.
Koharumaru frowned as she approached Anne.
“Father!” Tia shouted as she ran to Emilio.
The two embraced tightly, and Emilio gently stroked his daughter’s cheek.
An elderly servant watched as a maid nearby struggled to catch her breath; she was one of the attendants tasked with guarding Tia from any harm.
“Who is she?” Koharumaru asked.
“Tia.
Don’t ask me anything else,” Anne whispered, breaking into a cold sweat.
“You old hag!
Why are you insulting my father?
My father didn’t do anything wrong!”
“Wait, Princess, I didn’t mean—”
“Don’t give me excuses.
I know you’re the reason my father has been acting so gloomy toward you.
Is Old Hag Anne Bonny seeing my father?” Tia shouted, pointing her finger accusingly.
The crew couldn’t hold back their laughter.
Some puffed out their cheeks to suppress it, while others burst into loud guffaws.
Anne grit her teeth, struggling to contain her temper as long as possible.
Koharumaru chuckled quietly.
“You!
Are you the lackey of that old hag?”
“No, no, no.
There’s no way I’m her lackey.
My name is Hasetsukabe no Koharumaru.
Just call me Koharumaru,” he replied.
“Koharumaru?
I’ve never heard that name before,” Anne muttered, insulted by his comment.
“Oh, come on…”
Heavy footsteps echoed from the front, causing Anne and Koharumaru to scramble.
Tia glared sharply at the woman wearing the eye patch.
“Princess, there’s a misunderstanding.
Your father and I have no romantic involvement whatsoever.
You don’t need to worry—”
“Liar!
How could I ever believe someone like you?
You’re acting way too suspicious!”
Anne was shocked, while Koharumaru let out a sigh.
He approached Tia with a sincere smile and gently patted her head.
“Now, now.
No need to say things like that, Tia.
Besides, what Anne Bonny says is true.
Your father and she are nothing more than business acquaintances.
If you don’t believe me, ask the crew behind her,” Emilio explained, petting her hair.
But Tia ignored her father’s explanation.
She puffed out her cheeks, turned around, and began to stomp away.
After only five steps, she spun around and pointed a finger directly at Anne.
“Even if Father says so, that doesn’t mean I accept you as Tia’s friend!”
“Princess!
Wait, Princess!”
Those were the last words Tia shouted before rushing off.
Koharumaru and Anne felt pity for the exhausted maid chasing after her.
They looked at each other, not knowing how to react.
Once Tia was gone, Emilio suddenly bowed, begging for forgiveness on his daughter’s behalf.
“I’m sorry!
I’m sorry!
I’m sorry!”
“No need to worry, Emilio!
It’s not entirely your fault.”
“Even so, the shame is unbearable.”
Koharumaru glanced at the people watching the scene.
Most of the girls were whispering, accusing Anne of having an affair with Emilio, even though it wasn’t true.
Finally, Anne gave in.
“Tell you what.
I’m heading back to sea.
I’ll bring her a souvenir.
How about that?” Anne suggested.
“But—”
“I know it’s hard to accept.
But she’s just a child.
At her age, they need to be pampered, especially since you’re so busy with work.
It’s natural for her to crave more attention.”
Anne was right.
Children her age need love and attention.
Besides, one day they would grow up and start their own families, and the time spent with their parents would naturally dwindle.
Anne then turned to Koharumaru, who seemed to be seriously observing the ship.
“Seems like it would be interesting to have an extra crew member.”
“So?”
“You want to join my crew?
I’ll give you whatever you desire.
Why?
Because I’m a pirate!”
Koharumaru smirked.
The offer didn’t sound bad, and he was curious about life on the open sea.
After settling his affairs with Viscount Emilio, Anne introduced Koharumaru to the crew.
In the end, Koharumaru challenged the crew to a duel and defeated them all without sustaining a single scratch.
“How is this possible?
How—”
“I’ve been training since I was young.
Plus, I’m an otherworlder.”
The crew let out a collective sigh, while Anne’s eyebrows arched, her forehead creased in bewilderment.
Anne approached Koharumaru and whispered for him to meet her that night.
He accepted with pleasure.
Anne then walked away without another word.
The crew avoided Koharumaru’s gaze.
He closed his eyes, feeling the vibrations throughout his body.
He could sense his magic energy flowing.
Flames flickered deep within the ship.
Koharumaru began to explore the vessel alone.
“All Aboard!
Hoist the sails!” Anne shouted.
The crew obeyed immediately.
The sails unfurled, catching the wind as the ship sped forward.
The air felt cool, and the sound of seagulls filled the sky.
Koharumaru was mesmerized by the sea.
Small waves lapped against the hull, and he listened to the pirate chants echoing around him.
He didn’t understand the tradition, but he could feel their genuine joy.
Exhausted, Koharumaru decided to take a break, stretching his legs and closing his eyes for a moment.
When he woke that night, the moonlight was blindingly bright.
The waves had grown larger, and the wind howled incessantly.
Koharumaru stood up, intending to head inside, but a barrier suddenly materialized before his eyes.
“Looks like you’re finally awake…”
Koharumaru looked at Anne with caution.
She held two pistols and a sword, surrounded by a heavy pressure of magic.
He only had his kunai and couldn’t afford to buy weapons.
Furthermore, none of the crew were sleeping on deck except him.
It was completely unexpected.
“You want to fight me?”
“Of course!
If you want to join my crew, you have to fight me.
It’s a tradition, really.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then I’ll drop you into the sea alive.
If you win, I’ll welcome you as a new crew member and grant your request.
But if you lose, get ready, because the whales will be waiting to eat you alive.”
Koharumaru had no other choice.
He locked eyes with Anne, his gaze intense.
How did it end up like this?
Koharumaru thought to himself.
The woman with the eye patch smirked.