Chapter 395

The impact of free-falling hundreds of meters and crashing into the sea surface is something the human body can hardly endure. Even if one is wearing armor, it’s no different. In fact, the weight of the armor might make the impact even worse.

For that reason, the moment Cesare hit the water, he couldn’t even scream. Blood gushed from his entire body, and he was crushed like a bug hit by a hammer. It was a rather pitiful death for a master. He paid a heavy price for his hasty judgment.

Thanks to him absorbing most of the impact, I was able to enter the water relatively safely. Though my face did get smacked by the sudden surge of water.

Anyway, I submerged into the sea and began swimming vigorously, moving my limbs. I discarded the now-unnecessary chainmail armor into the depths.

With the king assassinated and the palace burned, the entire capital would be under emergency lockdown. I had to move through the sea, hiding my body, to reach the coast outside the capital without being spotted.

Swimming hundreds of meters underwater, escaping the capital through the late autumn night sea—what a brutal way to treat a person. If it weren’t for me, this operation would’ve been impossible from the start.

—

The escape itself went quite smoothly.

Underwater, no one could see what I was doing, so by spreading my life force like fins and stirring the water, my body shot forward effortlessly. Even a motorboat wouldn’t be as fast as I was now.

There was just one small issue I hadn’t considered: the fact that seawater contains salt.

“Damn, this is really salty.”

I had some wounds left on my body for dramatic effect, and the saltwater getting into them stung like crazy. I had torn my clothes to use as makeshift bandages, so the bleeding wasn’t severe, but there was no way to stop the seawater from seeping in.

Of course, I’ve experienced much worse pain before, so it wasn’t unbearable… but the irritation was unavoidable.

[You reap what you sow. You enjoyed torturing your enemies so much, and now you’ve reached the point where you’re torturing yourself.]

Hersela sneered in a tone that sounded like she was dying of laughter. Even though she must be feeling the pain too, seeing her mock me like this meant my current state must’ve been pretty amusing.

Anyway, after swimming until dawn, I finally managed to leave the capital and reach the planned rendezvous point.

From there, things went like clockwork.

I arrived at a new hideout, had my wounds treated by a priest waiting there, and then disguised myself as cargo to board a ship heading to the Empire. In a national emergency, this was much safer than crossing the border by land.

Eleonora was also safely rescued and would be heading to the Empire via a different route. Too bad, I would’ve liked to see her face at least once.

—

After leaving the port, I was free to move around the ship. I kept my hood and mask on just in case, but I could still enjoy the sea breeze and stroll on the deck.

Hersela, being a barbarian from the plains, seemed thrilled to be on a ship for the first time. For me, it was a familiar experience, so I wasn’t particularly excited.

We spent three days like that. Playing cards with agents in the cabin, smoking on the deck while watching the sea, or swinging my sword to send enemies to the depths.

The sea route wasn’t entirely safe. There were monsters lurking in the depths that hadn’t been exterminated, and pirates occasionally appeared, targeting ships disguised as merchant vessels.

Honestly, I never imagined pirates would show up. Who would pirate in waters infested with monsters? You’d need nine lives to pull that off.

But surprisingly, there were quite a few. Then again, bandits were also common in the mountains, even though monsters roamed there too.

“Hahaha! Merchants daring to sail without escorts? You’ve got guts! We’ll take that ship!”

“Any women?!” “Any booze?!”

The pirates gathered on the deck, waving their weapons and laughing. This was already the nth time. Their laughter, like kids receiving Christmas presents, was utterly disgusting.

I pulled the bowstring.

“If you resist, we’ll turn you all into fish food! Get ready to be slaves—”

*Thud!*

The pirate boss’s head snapped back. His shattered skull and brain matter scattered across the deck.

“What the—?!”

“The captain’s dead…?!”

The pirates who had been laughing moments ago crouched in terror.

Not that it would save them. My bow wasn’t powerful enough to pierce the deck, but if that’s the case, I’d just use my sword instead.

“Row faster! Avenge the captain!”

At the command of what seemed to be the first mate, the pirate ship began closing in quickly. In this world, naval battles were all about closing the distance and engaging in melee combat, as the demi-humans monopolized cannon technology.

They were no different. Judging by their movements, they planned to ram our ship with their prow and board us for a sword fight.

Of course, I had no intention of letting that happen. The agents from the Intelligence Department wouldn’t get hurt fighting pirates, but if the ship got damaged, it would be troublesome.

I slung my bow over my shoulder and drew the Black Iron Sword.

“Are you going, sir?”

The agent acting as the ship’s captain spoke to me in a casual tone, as if asking what I wanted for lunch. He didn’t seem the least bit concerned.

And for good reason. This wasn’t the first or second pirate ship I’d sunk.

“Yeah. Keep your distance. It won’t take long.”

I sprinted across the deck and leaped toward the pirate ship.

*Crash!* My body soared into the air. The part of the deck I kicked off from shattered, but it was just the upper deck, so it could be repaired later.

“He’s flying! A man is flying!”

“It’s a knight! Damn it, there’s a knight here!”

“Idiot! Knights can’t fly! That’s… that’s…!”

The pirates panicked as I flew toward them in a parabolic arc. Well, of course. These pirates, who only preyed on merchant ships, had never seen anything like this. Only a master could pull off such a feat.

Their deck was now right in front of me.

*Boom!*

With a deafening explosion, wooden fragments erupted like a fountain. The pirates stared in shock as I landed in their midst.

“Filthy pirates, did you enjoy your little pillaging? Judging by your faces, this isn’t your first time….”

I smiled as I scanned the pirates. Those who met my eyes flinched.

“…It’s time to close up shop.”

I gripped the Black Iron Sword and charged at the nearest pirate. A slaughter unfolded on the deck.

—

“Ahhh! Monster, it’s a monster! Run awaaay!”

“Damn it, damn it, damn iiiit!”

“Sea god! Please save us, sea god!”

I tore through the half-crazed pirates charging at me like cabbages, kicked those pissing themselves and screaming into oblivion, and fished out those who jumped into the sea, crushing them.

It was less of a battle and more of a chore. It didn’t take long for all the pirates to be reduced to chunks of meat.

Soon after confirming the pirates’ annihilation, the agents brought the ship closer and boarded. They looked a bit queasy at the sight of the pirates’ remains but quickly composed themselves and began searching the cabins. Meanwhile, I smoked on the deck.

The pirates had been at it for a while, so the cabins were stocked with a considerable amount of supplies and valuables. In the ship’s hold, several people were found, some not even clothed.

Merchants and civilians who had been captured by the pirates and nearly sold into slavery. They all looked half-dead, having endured unimaginable hardships.

Those in slightly better condition tearfully thanked us for saving them, but some of the women seemed to have completely lost their minds, unresponsive even when shaken.

“…What should we do with them? If we send them back to Panam, there’s a risk our movements will be exposed….”

One of the agents whispered to me. Since they were captured in Panam’s waters, they were likely all Panamese.

Normally, we’d send them back, but the fact that we were moving in secret made it complicated.

We couldn’t just silence them by force. That would make us no better than the pirates, and threats to keep quiet might not work.

So, this was the only way.

“Convince them to settle in the Empire. Distribute the loot from the pirates as settlement funds and support them until they’re properly settled.”

We had more than enough money, so sharing the spoils with them wasn’t an issue. It was their property, after all.

The only problem would be if they had families in Panam, but if we assured them that the Empire would take them in, they’d likely be persuaded.

“Yes. We’ll do as you command. They’ll surely be grateful for your mercy, Count.”

Well, I’m not sure if I’m merciful. But if you think so, then I guess I am.