Chapter 169
Chapter 169
Yan and his companions journeyed by train. They could have used the badges from the Transportation Bureau to travel through the gates directly to a station near Armenia, but…
“Why rush about upon land after so long at sea?” The Pirate Empress refused the swift passage. She had never ridden the rails and yearned for the experience before returning to the ocean’s embrace. Yan, with no urgency pressing upon him, readily agreed to her wish.
The Pirate Empress, with eyes wide with wonder, boarded the train and, like a child, was captivated by the world speeding past the window. “Even the swiftest ship cannot match this thrill atop the boundless sea,” she thought, enchanted.
“Wow! What is that?”
“That, my lady, is the Imperial City of Avalon, home to His Majesty the Emperor. It’s the cleanest and most advanced city in the empire, nay, the continent.”
“Ah, so this is the famed Avalon? Truly worthy of its title as the foremost city of the continent. And what’s that over there?”
“That’s ice cream, a frozen treat made from milk and a few other ingredients.”
Cruel, quite unexpectedly, became the dedicated guide to sate the Empress’s curiosity. It was an odd role for him, considering his usual demeanor, but the hope of learning even a sliver of swordsmanship from her had him playing the part with zeal.
Yan watched the Pirate Empress with an indescribable sentiment. Who would see her as the ‘Mother of All Pirates’? Her eyes sparkled with the sights of the empire, much like a country soul first stepping into the capital.
Just then, a few knights, suspicious of the group, approached for an inspection.
“May we see your identification, please?”
The Empress’s attire, quite unlike the empire’s norm, had drawn their attention. Yan turned to her with a look of sudden realization.
“Hmm?”
She didn’t seem displeased; instead, she gestured to Yan to handle the situation quickly.
Yan produced a badge from his belongings and presented it to the knights. Their eyes widened, and with a snap to attention, they saluted.
“This, this is! Our apologies, Executor!”
“May your journey be pleasant!”
It had been a while since Yan had used his Executor’s badge. His status meant the knights had no cause to question the Pirate Empress further, and they promptly left the train car.
The Empress shrugged nonchalantly and turned to Yan.
“Why do you look at me so strangely?”
“You are… more open-minded than I expected.”
He couldn’t dare call the Pirate Empress tame.
At Yan’s words, she chuckled softly.
“It’s only natural for them. I don’t take offense to people doing their jobs.”
Cruel watched her with fascination.
“I’ve always felt it, but for a pirate, you’re too kind.”
Her hearty laughter filled the train car as they exchanged stories, making their way to Armenia.
* * *
Kasa had been so buried in paperwork and various duties recently that he hadn’t had a proper rest for weeks.
From selling artificial elixirs to managing his domain, to experimenting with making clothes and armor from leftover monster carcasses, the tasks were endless…
With work meant for dozens clinging to him alone, sleep was a luxury he couldn’t afford.
As Kasa staggered through the village center, the residents recognized him and waved cheerfully.
“Lord Kasa!”
“Why didn’t you come when we said we’d treat you right? The other knights came and had a grand time.”
“Lord Kasa, try some of this fruit. It’s ripened to perfection.”
Despite his exhaustion, Kasa smiled at the warm welcome from the villagers.
It was this very energy that fueled him to work without rest.
Initially, it was to prove his worth to Yan, but as time passed, he saw the transformation of his domain and the flourishing lives of its people, which gave him a sense of purpose.
‘Someday… I’ll stand proud as the lord of Ifrain.’
Shaking his head, Kasa banished the stray thoughts.
Now wasn’t the time for dreams of an uncertain future.
He had to find merchants for the artificial elixirs, research uses for the monster carcasses…
“Sigh, the work is as high as a mountain.”
Kasa shook his head and continued on his way.
Suddenly, a commotion arose at the village entrance.
“What’s that?”
Curious, Kasa walked towards the noise and saw a familiar figure.
“Yan!”
The lord of the domain had returned.
Kasa pushed through the crowd gathered to welcome the lord and made his way inside.
Yan was there with Cruel and an unfamiliar middle-aged woman.
Yan caught sight of Kasa and waved with a grin.
“Wow, I didn’t know a person could get so thin.”
Kasa looked a mess.
His handsome face was lost to fatigue, transformed into that of a haggard recluse.
His cheeks were hollow, and dark circles reached his cheekbones, a testament to his hard work.
He managed a weak smile at Yan’s joke.
“If you’re here, take over the work quickly. I feel like I’m dying.”
“Come on, it seems like you’re suited for this. Keep at it a bit longer.”
“Suited my foot… If I could turn back time, I’d rather switch to being a knight.”
“Really? Want to switch even now?”
Yan asked with wide eyes, to which Kasa punched his shoulder lightly.
“Can’t I even make a joke?”
“Ha-ha, oh man, look at me. This lady here is Pirate Empress Mei Valentine. Say hello.”
Kasa’s eyes widened at Yan’s introduction.
Then he whispered to Yan with a shocked expression.
“Hey! What are you doing bringing the Empire’s Five Evils here? Want to be dragged away for treason?!”
The Pirate Empress chuckled beside them.
“I can hear you.”
“Yikes!”
Kasa hastily stepped back and bowed deeply.
“My apologies, Pirate Empress! But what brings you here…”
Yan answered for her.
“She’s here for a break and some business. Don’t worry about it and get back to work. If you have something to report, bring it this afternoon.”
With Yan’s direction, Kasa nodded and quickly disappeared.
Yan, guiding the Pirate Empress, met many along the way.
Lorena and Charl, Valdes training hard, and Lia watching him fondly.
And the knights-in-training, hauling monsters.
Not to mention the villagers who greeted them almost reverently.
Yan and the Pirate Empress entered the mansion used as the lord’s castle.
Creak. Thud!
Inside, there was someone he hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Wow~ It feels like forever since I’ve seen you.”
It was Bella, whom he hadn’t seen since the mining village days.
“You can say that again. I’ve been swamped.”
“Excuses, excuses.”
She glanced at Yan, then bowed politely to the Pirate Empress.
“Pleased to meet you, Pirate Empress! I heard you were looking for someone. Our organization’s network may not cover the entire empire, but it’s not lacking, so please trust us!”
The Pirate Empress looked at Yan with newfound respect.
“You’re more capable than I thought, lord.”
“It’s nothing. After finding my lost family, I just wanted to create a place for us to stay, and it turned out like this.”
The Pirate Empress’s eyes widened in surprise.
She hadn’t expected him to carry a burden similar to her own.
“Have you also lost your family?”
“Yes, when I was very young. But now, I’ve almost found them.”
“Hmm, that’s good to hear. I need to find mine quickly too.”
“I’ll do my best to find them as soon as possible.”
Yan pulled out a sheet of paper and a quill, continuing the conversation.
“Now, please tell me everything about your son. No detail is too small.”
The Pirate Empress leaned back in her chair, her eyes clouding over with memories as she began to recount the past.
It had been twelve years since she lost her son.
He had disappeared during a festival in a small southern domain.
She pressed her forehead, frustration evident.
“I told him I’d be right back… and then I was caught by the lord of that domain.”
Back then, she was just an ordinary woman, unable to resist the lord’s power.
Her only option had been to flee, and in the chaos, she lost her son.
“I went back to look for him countless times, but I never found him.”
With a heavy sigh, she described her son’s appearance, recalling every detail.
He had a complexion similar to hers, and he was bigger than other children his age.
Bella wrote down every word the Pirate Empress said, then tucked the notes away.
Yan watched her and asked,
“Do you think you can find him?”
“I can’t be certain… but with the boss’s connections, we might have a chance.”
Yan nodded solemnly at her words.
That’s when it happened.
Bang!
Someone burst through the door.
“Yan, I heard you were back.”
It was Roman, who had been living in the forest with the monsters alongside the other knights.
He entered the mansion with a disgruntled face and demanded,
“Did you forget your promise that following you would mean facing every battle? This time you went to the south with only Cruel, didn’t you?”
Yan sighed at Roman’s impertinence in front of the Pirate Empress.
He promised Roman more than enough battles to satisfy him before he could finally send him away.
“I’ll trust you. But if you break your promise again, contract or not, I’m out of here.”
Roman, clearly fed up, threatened Yan before storming out of the mansion.
After the storm passed, Yan shook his head and turned to the Pirate Empress.
“I apologize. That guy… he doesn’t see anything when he’s like this…”
Yan stopped mid-sentence.
The Pirate Empress was staring intently at Roman’s retreating figure.
“Ah, ah…”
Her eyes trembled fiercely, uncharacteristic of someone of her stature.
Yan had a sudden realization.
‘Promises are important!’
He remembered how furious Roman had been when a promise was broken long ago.
And the description of the Pirate Empress’s son…
It fit Roman perfectly.
Yan hesitated before speaking.
“Perhaps…”
The Pirate Empress shook her head, cutting him off.
“He’s doing well, that’s enough. It wouldn’t be good for him to see me now.”
But how could anyone believe her words when tears streamed down her cheeks?
Yan remained silent, watching the Pirate Empress.
Her trembling hands and the way she looked after Roman were heartbreakingly pitiful.
‘It’s not my place to interfere.’
What happens next is up to the Pirate Empress.
Yan stood up and said,
“Please use this house while you’re in the domain. Let’s go, Bella.”
“Ah… Yes.”
As Yan and Bella left the mansion, the Pirate Empress finally let out a ragged breath.
She clutched her chest and began to cry.
“Sob, he’s been doing well. That’s truly… truly a relief.”
It was the first tear she shed since she set sail to find her son.
