C501
After filling his stomach, Cale asked Ron.
"Is the atmosphere on the island worse than I thought?"
While pouring lemon tea into the cup, Ron replied.
"The island inhabitants are feeling the food shortage, young master."
Island 16.
The Guardian General Perry and the navy troops following her were excellent. That was likely why they were included in the 17 islands.
"Young master. Island 16 is the largest among the islands located on the route to the Central Sea."
Therefore, it had the largest population of the nearby islands.
"But this island lacks sufficient land to be self-sufficient in food."
It was an island suitable for building a defensive fortress or a military port, but the soil condition was not fit for agriculture.
"For that reason, Island 16 used to get its food mainly through outside merchants. But due to the increase in pirates, the flow of merchants came to an abrupt halt."
And that wasn't all.
"Furthermore, the residents of the island cannot go out fishing by boat. Because the pirates kidnap the islanders for human trafficking."
Witira, who had been listening, intervened.
"They are on the verge of starvation."
She nodded her head.
"So I suppose they are trying to open a path for food supply again through a large pirate eradication operation."
Witira could understand to a certain extent the reason why General Perry of Island 16 had made that decision.
"But-"
However, her expression turned strange.
"Will it be possible with just that? The atmosphere of the island-"
General Perry.
The atmosphere of the island that Witira had perceived while they headed to the central castle where she resided was not just hunger, but-
"Mmm."
When she couldn't continue speaking.
"Terror."
The Heavenly Demon spat out a word and said no more.
“……."
Witira also closed her mouth tightly.
On the faces of the islanders, there was definitely terror or fear.
Clack.
At that moment, Alberu, putting down his teacup, spoke.
"Even if they carry out a large pirate eradication operation, it will be temporary."
Until the war within the Navy Union ends.
This chaos will intensify.
"No matter how big Island 16 is, the scale of this navy won't be able to cope with the gradually increasing pirates."
While the other generals fight for power, the pirates, seeking prey, will wreak havoc everywhere.
Perhaps there are even generals who recruit such pirates under their command.
"The residents of Island 16 rely on General Perry's determination and courage, but they must be anxious."
The food is decreasing.
If they go out to sea, they could die.
In such a situation, clinging to the pride of being guardians, protectors.
"They will become increasingly anxious and increasingly fearful."
Alberu was now looking at the warships that had moved away like tiny dots in the distance.
"General Perry must know it too. That things cannot go on like this."
Then the answer was obvious.
"If it were me, tonight. I would try something."
"Your Highness."
Cale asked slyly.
"What would you try?"
Chuckle.
Alberu let out a listless laugh and then leaned back against the back of the chair. Then, tapping the armrest with his fingers, he said:
"Attack Island 19 to completely control the entrance, or-"
Tap. Tap.
"-go look for allies, of course."
Tap tap.
"But since you can't attack Island 19 in a sea full of countless pirates other than them, wouldn't she go look for allies?"
"Oh."
Cale let out an exclamation of admiration and then asked again.
"General Perry would do that. But, what about you? What would you do?"
Although Alberu had said what he would do tonight, when Cale asked the same question again, Alberu sketched a slight smile and replied freshly.
"The moment the Great General fell."
Not now, but at that moment, when the Great General fell.
In that moment, full of chaos.
Quickly and swiftly.
"I would take control of Island 19 immediately."
Eliminating the enemy with the highest danger level.
"And I would take complete control of the entrance to the Central Sea."
The Heavenly Demon told Alberu, who had spoken up to that point:
"If you do that, you will immediately appear to have betrayed the Great General and involved yourself in the power struggle."
To that, Cale asked:
"And you?"
"As long as you kill the leader, everything collapses."
The Heavenly Demon replied with a bored expression and then turned his head as if he had lost interest.
'...What a bloody guy.'
For Cale, this guy, the Heavenly Demon, was the bloodiest.
At that moment, Raon, eating a cookie that Ron had given him, asked:
"Human, what would the Human do?"
Cale, seeing Raon's cheeks, which were now eating well again (no, better than before) and were very full, opened his mouth.
"I-"
Kwaaaaaaang-
A distant boom came faintly from outside the window.
"Seems like they are fighting."
It seemed that, as Alberu said, the large eradication operation had begun.
Cale, looking at the sea where the sun was setting, waited for news from Archie.
“……."
“……."
But the sun set and, before he noticed, it was night.
“……."
“……."
The ships that had gone out to eradicate pirate ships were returning one by one.
“……."
“……."
Time passed even more.
When approximately half of the warships returned.
When about 2 hours seemed to have passed.
"...Human."
Raon asked carefully.
"How far did Archie go?"
Right.
Archie wasn't coming back.
'Didn't I clearly tell him to only figure out the situation?'
What is this guy doing?
The moment Cale, Alberu, and Witira, the three who knew Archie's character, looked at each other and exchanged glances.
"A ship is approaching."
At the words of Choi Han, who was sitting on the windowsill keeping watch outside, Cale looked toward the south port.
"¡!"
Raon, looking as well, shouted:
"The ships are all wrecked!"
"And not just one or two!"
At the moment when half of the ships hadn't returned yet.
Many ships returned at once.
"It's serious."
As Alberu said, the condition of those ships was serious.
"But there are still some missing."
Also, their number was insufficient to complete the other half.
Deng deng deng-!
Lights began to turn on all over the island, starting from the south port.
Creeak.
Ron opened the room door, looked successively at the quiet hallway where they were staying, and the floor below and above, and then spoke.
"The castle is noisy."
Choi Han continued.
"It's General Perry."
General Perry could be seen running toward the south port outside the castle.
The urgency imbued in her expression.
Also, the ships returning wrecked.
And the ships not returning yet.
"Let's go."
Cale rose from his seat.
"It's Island 19."
At Alberu's words, Cale nodded his head.
The only one who could have done that to General Perry's navy was the Shark of Island 19.
Also.
"It seems the Shark has gotten solid backing."
"It would be troublesome if Island 16 falls."
While Alberu and Cale headed toward the south port, where General Perry was running to.
From behind, Raon asked cheerfully:
"But, where did Archie go?"
Right.
Cale had no idea where or what Archie would be doing.
Because he was a too peculiar guy.
And those feeling confusion in this situation now were the small group of officers and sailors who had stayed on Island 16.
"What is going on?!"
"No, this is too much...! Did Island 19 deploy all its strength? Even in a large pirate eradication operation, would they use all their strength?"
"This is like declaring war!"
"More than that, we must assess the damage to our forces!"
But they fell silent upon seeing General Perry, who was moving ahead with quick steps before them.
She went up first onto a practically wrecked ship that had arrived at the coast.
"Sniff... General!"
There, a sailor with a deep wound on the ship crawled toward her and shouted.
"You...!"
Perry knew him.
It couldn't be otherwise.
'Ebo!'
He was the closest confidant of her younger brother, Ebo.
Also, this was Ebo's ship.
That was why, although it was half-destroyed, it had arrived here first.
And Perry, recognizing this ship, had no choice but to run hurriedly.
"Ge-General! Vice Chief Ebo has been captured!"
General Perry's face turned pale.
"Shark appeared!"
Shark, leader of Island 19 and a sort of boss of the pirates in this area.
That guy had taken her brother.
"The enemy knew about today's large eradication operation!"
Indeed, there was a spy on Island 16.
And-
"The Shark aimed precisely at Vice Chief Ebo's ship!"
The Shark's target was Ebo, her younger brother.
'Did he know he was going to meet with the 7th General?'
No. That was an absolute secret that only my younger brother and I knew.
Even the crew, we planned to inform them when the eradication was about to end, to move in secret.
'Then-'
There is only one answer.
'It is because of me.'
Shark is now trying to get me out of the island.
Surely there is some conspiracy behind it.
That cunning guy Shark only acts when he is sure.
So he must have completed all preparations.
'And I-'
Although half of the warships had returned...
"General!"
A subordinate reported urgently next.
"They say pirate ships are flocking toward Island 19! Flags of bosses from various pirate islands are also seen!"
Night.
Kidnapping her younger brother Ebo.
Shark of Island 19, who even attracted numerous surrounding pirate islands.
"Does he plan to finish off Island 16?"
General Perry's face hardened.
Ebo. Her younger brother was also carrying a letter for the 7th General.
'What should I do?'
When a black fog clouded Perry's mind.
"Ge-General."
Along with the stunned voice of a subordinate, came a kind voice.
"Is there anything we can help with?"
She turned around.
There were Cale Henituse and his group.
Cale said to General Perry in a kind tone:
"We are very good at destroying pirates."
That was true.
And at that moment.
Another person who was also good at destroying pirates was lost in thought.
"Kahahaha! Now that I captured Perry's brother, that crazy woman will have no choice but to come out to sea!"
On top of a very large ship.
The pirate leader Shark of Island 19 was looking down and laughing loudly to his heart's content.
"Umph, umph!"
On the deck where his gaze rested, Ebo, gravely injured, struggled while tightly bound.
Also, his confidants looked at Shark with rage.
"Kahahaha!"
But Shark was just happy.
At that moment, a subordinate approached hurriedly carrying a video communication device.
"Captain!"
"...What? Captain?"
"Ah, General!"
"Correct! Kahahaha!"
Now I am a general!
Shark, when he couldn't contain his joy.
"They say the 3rd General's henchmen will also arrive soon!"
"Really?"
Kahahahaha!
Hearing that his secret letter, so long awaited, to completely devour Island 16 would soon be completed, Shark couldn't contain his joy.
"Keke. This Shark will swallow this entire sea today!"
Waaaaah-!
General! General!
The pirates around Shark cheered and laughed at that scene.
"Silence!"
But soon everyone closed their mouths at Shark's voice.
Unlike other pirates, there was a certain framework of discipline for the pirates of Island 19.
It was the result of Shark's intention, who wanted to form something similar to a navy to face Island 16.
A small composure infused into the wild nature of the pirates.
A smile widened on Shark's lips.
His pupils darkened deeply.
That appearance was precisely that of someone named Shark, who had taken control of Island 19.
He said to his subordinates:
"Still, we must not lower our guard. Right?"
Instead of answering, the pirates showed smiles that did not hide their ferocity.
At that scene, the face of Ebo, General Perry's younger brother, darkened.
And-
"Kekeke. Let's destroy all of Island 16's ships! We will throw them as food for the sea!"
Waaaaaah-
Waaaaaah--
Beneath the huge ship.
Above the surface of the sea, Archie, who had stealthily poked his head out, was reflecting.
This huge ship full of guys shouting "Destroy them!".
"Do I destroy them?"
Somehow he wanted to destroy this ship.
Those damn pirates make me angry. I just want to beat them up.
But remembering Cale's words to only observe the situation, Archie reflected.
'Ah, seriously! Do I destroy them? Or not?'
While he reflected, Archie followed Shark's ship.
The dark night sea.
No one noticed the killer whale under the surface.
And the killer whale, suppressing the desire to destroy the ship immediately, for now only followed it.
'Ha. I have become much kinder and increased my patience. Later, if Young Master Cale says it's okay to destroy it, I will destroy it immediately! Keke!'
Archie felt proud of his personal growth on one hand.
Swoosh-
Shark's ship cut through the water.
"Human, we are going too!"
Swoosh-
The fog ship also headed toward the night sea again.
