Chapter 76

“…It's difficult to talk about my grandmother. I've never met her.”

Amethus's eyes narrowed.

The jade-green pupils under his eyelids gleamed like sharp, blue blades.

It was a fierce look, as if smoke might rise from him.

“And I don't like talking about my family.”

The man with the jade-green eyes glared at Niko and placed his hand on the table.

He gripped it with so much force that the veins stood out, and his fingers pierced the table effortlessly, as if punching holes in pudding.

“It seems Professor Horaimos of the Imperial Academy didn't convey that information.”

“The news travels fast. It was only three days ago that I sent the documents.”

“The ears of the Special Operations Unit aren't as dull as the Legion Commander seems to think.”

Niko shook his head.

He was found out for investigating someone faster than the information he dug up reached him.

He seemed to have fallen back into the bad habit of underestimating young people.

“I am very grateful for your cooperation.”

His eyes were sharp.

They were a vivid, jade-green that seemed so keen they would cut you and make you bleed if you touched them.

“However, Legion Commander, I don't know why you'd want to investigate someone like me.”

“-Mm.”

A menacing aura dripped from Amethus's voice.

He looked so sharp and on edge that Niko was surprised he was capable of such an expression.

Realizing he had unintentionally touched a raw nerve, Niko stroked his chin.

“Do you know your grandmother's name?”

……. The jade-green eyes glared at him murderously.

Despite this clear display of anger, Niko felt compelled to keep pressing him.

A dreadful intensity, beyond what could be described as vicious, emanated from him.

But it was far from enough to make Niko Nereyades afraid.

“Almine Aretion. The most beautiful woman on Arete Island, no, in all of Hobel Bay. I personally considered her the most beautiful on the continent, and your grandfather agreed.”

“……”

“I'm sorry for talking about something you don't like.”

Niko apologized.

When the Whale of Hobel Bay apologized, Amethus couldn't help but accept it.

Most of all, the mention of his grandmother didn't seem malicious.

He was also intrigued that Niko seemed to know about his grandparents, whom he himself had never met.

“…You don't need to apologize, Legion Commander.”

“Is that so?”

The Whale of Hobel Bay smiled wryly.

His profound smile exuded a certain ease.

It was a kind of seasoned wisdom that a sharp sword could not easily contend with.

Amethus took a few breaths. With each breath, his anger subsided.

“But you see,”

As Niko scratched his chin, dried salt fell from his beard.

No matter how vicious Amethus’s intensity was, he was still young.

Compared to Emperor Continua or Deballo Debius, it was nothing more than a cat's hiss.

Or maybe a leopard cub's.

The old fisherman wore an uncharacteristically benevolent expression.

“Now that I know you are an Aretion, my goodwill is only natural, wouldn't you say?”

“……”

Amethus found it hard to accept Niko's smile, his benevolent eyes.

“So……”

His anger had not yet cooled from being touched on a sensitive point, and his mind was reeling with embarrassment and other emotions that were hard to name. His eyes darted about, utterly confused.

“I'm an Aretion, so why…?”

“Huh?”

Niko let out a dazed sound.

“You, you don't mean….”

It was a series of truly rare sights.

The Whale of Hobel Bay wearing a benevolent look, and now making a dazed sound.

If Kifkos or Gloriosus had seen it, they would have run away barefoot, thinking the sea might explode tomorrow.

“You don't know? You really don't know…?”

The Whale of Hobel Bay slowly moved his gaze and studied Amethus’s face, the face of the last Aretion. It was filled with nothing but questions and confusion.

“No, that can't be…!”

Niko Nereyades’s lips trembled.

“Didn't the First Imperial Prince, no, the future Majesty, tell you?”

“…Tell me what?”

“Ha… Ha, ha!”

The old fisherman slumped back.

He covered his face with his large hands and looked up at the sky.

He just couldn't, couldn't understand the work of the heavens.

The sound of him grinding his teeth was bone-chilling.

“He didn't tell you… He really didn't tell you, did he…”

Niko's eyes peeked through his fingers.

They were filled with clear contempt and rage.

If the subject of his emotion wasn't the Great Emperor's firstborn, he would have spewed out profanity right there and then.

He barely managed to hold back his disgust.

“…That's too much. It truly, truly is too much…”

He ground his teeth.

He couldn’t have known about the Aretion family.

He must have known very well what it would mean to Amethus.

And yet, he didn’t tell him?

And he still considered himself a friend?

The sheer disbelief was so great that he felt like his face would explode.

He almost wished it would.

“…What are you talking about?”

“I can't tell you.”

He answered Amethus’s confused question with finality.

He wanted to tell him.

But he couldn't. Power was a damn thing.

And Niko Nereyades, bound by that damn thing, was an even more damn old man.

“How could a dying old man comprehend the deep meaning behind the great Highness's silence?”

The sarcasm is thick.

It was aimed at no one more than Niko himself.

“In any case, welcome to Hobel Bay.”

“……”

Amethus couldn't bring himself to ask any more.

It was strange.

Amethus's family matters were the one being pried into, yet why was Niko the one who seemed angrier?

It was strange, yet it didn't feel strange.

Especially since his proud intuition was accepting it so naturally.

“…Yes, thank you again for your cooperation.”

The man with the jade-green eyes decided to forget what had just happened.

Private questions would only hinder him from chasing after Fifth Imperial Prince Zionis.

To Shion, it was a very unpleasant matter.

Ha.

Niko let out a short sigh.

He was a little taken aback.

He was so furious when his weak spot was touched, yet he quickly calmed himself down.

His age, twenty-five, was truly unbelievable.

“In the name of the Cordis 11th Legion Commander, Niko Nereyades, I will help you, and only you.”

“That's enough.”

“I thought so.”

He couldn't ask for the support of the Special Operations Unit.

Niko had no intention of allowing it.

Amethus had no complaints.

Because he was more than enough on his own.

“Listen, Amethus… Aretion.”

Niko uttered the name Aretion with difficulty.

Amethus also heard it with difficulty.

It was not an easy name.

This much, he could say.

The mumble slipped from his lips.

“You're still young. It's worth re-examining what you're sure of.”

“……”

“I'm not sure if you'll appreciate an old man's advice, but.”

He stood up.

There was no more need for conversation and they both had things to do.

“Go and get what you want.”

***

A ship in a terrible state arrived at Mekeros Port.

Its appearance was so shabby that the sailors were murmuring even during its entry.

Still, for a ship that was attacked by Niko Nereyades, its condition was decent.

As soon as the ship docked, Kifkos and his gang came tumbling out.

“We're alive!”

“We made it!”

Kifkos hugged Ofenia, his childhood friend and wife, and the other gang members embraced their lovers or wives, shedding tears.

The man with the sideburns, Gloriosus, also wanted to share the thrill of being alive but couldn't find anyone to share it with.

He was tempted to hug Shion, but the boy's blue eyes were too frightening to approach.

“We escaped from the Whale of Hobel Bay! It's a miracle!”

“Let's give thanks for life!”

“No, no time for that… We need to re-equip quickly and head to the Hanchamus Islands before they chase us again…”

The tough-looking men scurried about.

Kifkos hurriedly sent some of his subordinates to look for a new ship.

It would cost a lot of money to find a ship big enough to carry all of them, but it was fine.

Shion had paid them a massive sum for the Horem Amrita.

'Everyone's excited.'

Shion Pollinglight wiped his nose.

He pretended to be calm, but he felt like he was going to die.

‘The Heated Iron Bloodline’ was an Ars that left after-effects anyway.

But with the fatigue from the fight and the lingering effects of the Lahukala, he felt like he would vomit all his internal organs out through his nostrils at any moment.

'…Let's find a ship quickly and rest.'

He was only able to walk thanks to drinking a few bottles of Golden Medicine.

It might be boring to hear this over and over, but his body was eleven years old.

In fact, Shion himself was the most fed up with this.

I must bring down the Empire. For that, I have to make many preparations.

Power, plans, and time.

I can't leave out any of them.

So, I must go to the West soon, hurry!

So I can stop complaining about my eleven-year-old body!

'Still, I made it to Mekeros.'

This was the final step of the plan he had made at the end of the Succession War, upon leaving the capital Lutilium.

He had joined the Juet Acrobat Troupe and met the master of Lubeco Valley.

He would soon be able to say goodbye to the Empire.

Of course, he couldn't let his guard down until the very end and his body was as wrecked as always, but he couldn't help but feel a little excited.

“Mr. Kifkos.”

He called the man with the golden tooth.

“W-w-what is it, Mr. P-p-pasionus?”

He flinched at Shion's call and turned his head.

He had always been uneasy around him, but after seeing his fight with Niko, he was overly afraid.

Shion raised his tired mouth corners and spoke.

“I was thinking of saying our goodbyes. The plan was only to get to Mekeros, wasn't it?”

“What a pleasant thing to say for once! I'm grateful you chased away the Whale of Hobel Bay, but I was thinking it would be great if you disappeared now!”

'No, don't say that! That's not what I meant!'

Shion's eyes narrowed.

“It seems your thoughts and words have changed again.”

“You're still quick on the uptake, kid!”

'How could I be, Mr. Pasionus!'

The Regressor Prince was seriously considering hitting the annoying golden-toothed man. But he didn't. His desire to rest was too strong. He waved his hand at Kifkos.

“Go on. You have a lot to do.”

“No, I was joking. How can we let you go like this?”

Kifkos squinted.

“After all the help you've given us…”

The man smiled, and his gold tooth glinted.

“And you don't seem to be in a good condition either.”

His subordinates chuckled and approached Shion.

“So, what can I, Kifkos, do for you…”

Tsk.

Shion clicked his tongue.

He recalled that they were a gang that made a name for themselves in the free city of Sillemol.

He thought this might get annoying. Kifkos clenched his fist and shouted.

“Gloriosus!”

“Yes, boss!”

“You know what to do!”

“Of course.”

Gloriosus came closer, rubbing his wrist.

It was the place where Shion had broken it.

He recalled that their first meeting began with him breaking the sideburned man’s wrist.

Shion's blue eyes flashed menacingly.

“I will serve Mr. Pasionus wholeheartedly and then follow you to Hanchamus later!”

“Good, here's the hospitality money!”

“All this gold! I can take a little off the top?”

“What? Do you want to live as a one-armed man for the rest of your life?”

“Just kidding, hahahaha!”

“I wasn't, hahahaha!”

Kifkos and Gloriosus laughed foolishly.

All the gang members did.

Shion sighed wearily and Kifkos gave him a mischievous smile.

“What's wrong, Mr. Pasionus, you look nervous. Why is that?”

“Why do you think so?”

Shion snapped back.

“I was wondering if you were going to gang up and beat me since I'm not in my normal state.”

“Hahaha, am I crazy? To mess with the man who chased away the Whale of Hobel Bay. I just thought about it, just thought.”

“Would you have done it if I was too weak to even walk?”

“I'll answer that when you're too weak to even walk.”

“Hahaha, I should have pulled that gold tooth out.”

“But you didn't, did you?”

Kifkos winked at Shion.

He was a cunning man.

“I don't know where you're going, but Gloriosus will be helpful. That guy is a pro at smuggling too.”

“This Gloriosus, I have over four hundred drinking buddies in Mekeros. I used to be a navigator too.”

The sideburned man said proudly.

“Just tell us where you're going.”

“You guys are so… reliable, it doesn't suit you.”

'Doesn't suit us!' Shion lifted his head, listening to his sworn brother's grumbling.

The sky and the sea were just blue.

He didn't know what was beyond them, but he had to go.

Shion wanted that.

“Alright. Let's go.”

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