CH 172

Chapter 172 – The End of the Hunt

After storing all the treasure in the hidden room, we returned to O’Connor and the others who were being held hostage.

“Is everyone alright?”

“Yeah, somehow. Where are the pirates?”

“About ten of them are alive to give up information later. They’re bleeding, but I think one or two will live long enough until we can get them to the guards.”

According to O’Connor and the bodyguards, all but ten of the hostages had joined the enemy side as soon as the pirates had boarded the freighter.

I’ve heard that story somewhere. I shook my head in disgust.

“Were they taken in, blackmailed, or manipulated by the pirates…?”

“No, there was no time for that. There was no sign of sanity. The crew and guests came together quickly, despite the urgency of the recruitment. They must have been in on it from the beginning. I have a vague idea who was behind it.”

“Your business rival?”

There was a case like that at Sarz’s, wasn’t there? I don’t know the details because I didn’t hear about it until the end.

“No. This time, the ship was not for my personal business but for emergency transportation requested by the southern lords. The port of departure is the southern territory, and the cargo is a donation to the central territory. It is not the trading company that benefits from its failure. It’s the rival lords.”

“Huh? What’s that? Are the lords hostile to each other in the Republic?”

Well, considering the power struggle in a noble society, it’s not particularly surprising.

“Hmm? You are not from the Republic?”

“Well, yes. I used to be a merchant of the kingdom. Now I’m an adventurer.”

“We’re in the middle of our seasonal labor. What is the extent of the rivalry between the lords? Enough to raise an army in public?”

“Yes. The bordering empires have been quiet lately for some reason. In fact, it seems as if conflicts between territories are likely to start first.”

“Judging from the way things have been going, it seems that it has already begun, hasn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s right. The southern territory where Lafan is located has been developing rapidly recently. In the eyes of the North and the East, it is an emerging power that threatens their vested interests.”

“For those who want to see the downfall of the southern territories, the pirates are a blessing in disguise.”

“…No, it’s not a blessing in disguise; it’s actually a military expedition in disguise. The merchants have long whispered that the increase in the number of pirates off the southern territories is due to the lords of the north and east pulling strings behind the scenes.”

So they are like the privateers of medieval Europe. Pirates are recognized by nobles and kings as a foreign power that plunders for the national interest.

“For some reason, most of the passengers on this cargo ship were from the northern territories. If they disappear with the ship, the northern lords will demand compensation for the damage done to their own people.”

“So he will be able to enjoy the benefits twice. That’s smart.”

“Three times, to be precise. Supplies, reparations, and actual profit. Even so, the trade between the south and the center will be disrupted, and the reputation of the rulers will be damaged. Also, the North and the East would be able to check the Central Territories and, in turn, the State Council. If the two coastal territories refuse to cooperate, it will hinder the Republic’s foreign trade and shipping.”

I looked at Myrril, and she gave a small nod.

“That’s enough of that kind of thing,” she said. I agree with her.

I’m not interested in political battles or economic wars. I didn’t come all the way to the Republic for that kind of thing. If I had to deal with that, it would have ruined my winter vacation.

“If we could get our supplies back, we’d be more than grateful. In exchange, I’d like you to testify against the lords of the Southern Territories…”

“No.”

“Not a chance.”

“Eh?”

“I’m sorry, but it’s none of our business. We’ll get the pirate treasure, do some shopping in Lafan, and go back to Sarz.”

“Oh, no… without that cargo, there is no point in us surviving.”

“I’ll give you guys your stuff back. If you give me a list of the cargo or something, I’ll hand it over to you after we get back to Lafan. But other than that, we won’t help you.”

“But…”

“If you have a problem with that, this is where it ends.”

At that moment, the pirates, tied up behind their backs and threatened by Tig and Louis, walked out of the hidden room. Almost all of them were limping; their faces contorted in pain.

“End, you say…? No way.”

“If something gets in the way, it must be eliminated. If they are talking about something that is not there, it will only add unnecessary trouble, won’t it?”

Myrril pulled out a gun and pointed it at O’Connor.

“Hiii!”

A shot rang out, and the pirate survivor, who had been holding a bow behind a rock overhead, tumbled to the ground. The hostages froze.

“You didn’t see anything, did you? You did not see their faces, their identities, what they did, how they did it, nothing. Do you understand?”

O’Connor and the others nodded their heads frantically.

“If you can keep a secret, we’ll get you as far as Lafan.”

“Just remember. If you make a mistake on your promise, you will be in for a world of misfortune.”