Chapter 13 (2/2)
「Big Boss. We can see the city! It's Schutzwald!」
A voice came from an underling who was watching.
「Schutzwald? What kind of city is it?」
「Well, it's a city under Kingdom's protection, it's main commodity is fishery and commerce. There are soldiers from the Kingdom a.s.signed there so the security is good」
「Are they fine with pirates?」
Since I had never anch.o.r.ed at a harbor, I don't know if they accept pirates.
I'm going to leave this to Barbarossa. They made me into Big Boss without my permission, so I think they shouldn't complain about me giving orders.
「Soldiers won't take a move unless a crazy situation occurs」
「On the other hand, if there are anyone running rampage, pirates will help the soldier? Pirates are important customers」
Claudia stretched her hand to reach the last cookie, but Adelle s.n.a.t.c.h it away in a heartbeat.
「Aaa!」
「First come first serve!」
The knight has no mercy.
「Anyway, please don't worry about it. Let them handle the slave children and the slave s.h.i.+p crews」
「That would be better. Even if we do a good deed. If you turn in the slave s.h.i.+p crews on them, there will be bounties」
「It's nice to have gold, but it's not nice to be targeted」
「Masaki would turn the tables on them, though. As far as I can see, that sword has more power than an artifact」
So Claudia could understand just by looking at it. Obviously, this is a good sword.
It's basically a boss weapon. The idea is to make players grind all day long for this weapon.
It's sad to think about a boss monster trying to stay alive from the hunters.
I'm the kind of person who would hunt them for days.
「If you understand, then don't spread the news about it」
「I know. Usually it's taboo to spread information about legendary smith or craftsman. In the worst case, we might get some bounties instead」
「Then I can rest easy」
Being targeted for a weapon is troublesome. I'm fine with it, but it's better not to cause any problem.
***
We got out of the 『Room』 and went out to the deck to look at the city.
There are a lot of s.h.i.+ps anch.o.r.ed, proving the richness of the trading port city.
There was a big s.h.i.+p that was different from the Empire's in the distance.
(Is that… a galleon?)
A dragon was drawn on the mast.
There are several of them. As far as I can see, there were no less than 10 s.h.i.+ps.
But the Empire is still specialized in abnormal naval strength.
(If their s.h.i.+ps came here, this city will fall as well)
Suddenly a small boat was headed to us. A soldier could be seen on board.
Roxas noticed it first, so he approached him and started talking.
「What are they talking about?」
「He asked if why we were carrying Empire's slave s.h.i.+p behind us」
Roxas helped the soldier to turn the s.h.i.+p around and Paddle used his wind magic to a.s.sist.
Separating the slave s.h.i.+p and brought it to the military.
As we wait for the slave s.h.i.+p to be released, we docked to a vacant berth and several soldiers came to us.
「Are you the pirates that rescued these slaves?」
A red soldier cried out.
His plate armor and s.h.i.+eld had the same dragon emblem as the galleon mast.
「Yes. That's right. I hope that you will take care of them from here… is that okay?」
「Of course. Those we can identify will be returned to their hometown. Those who became orphans are protected here under the name of the Kingdom」
The protection here includes the search for foster parents and simple work at some facilities, just like the previous world.
Most of maids and manservant comes from these facilities.
There are some underdeveloped areas in the kingdom and they might get sent there, at least they got wage and won't starve to death. These were what I heard from the soldier.
If they feel like it, they are allowed to go as adventurers.
But doing so will remove any protection provided by the Kingdom. The Kingdom doesn't protect adventurers.
「I understand. Please wait for them to get off」
「Do you have injured or sick people?」
「Everyone is healthy. We had healed their minor injuries」
「Really? I really appreciate it」
I didn't say how I healed them. I'd like to keep 【Healing Magic】 as confidential as possible.
We gave a small pouch to each slaves that leaving the s.h.i.+p.
The contents were freshly baked cookies and their recipe.
I also drawn the cooking method in case they couldn't read the letters.
Just think of them as souvenirs.
「Thank you very much! Big Boss-san!」
「Open the contents later. Don't sell them or get robbed」
「Un!!」
The children answered in cheerful tone and the adults lowered their head as they told us their appreciation.
I never thought that this will be one of the town specialties in the future.
***
As everyone got off the s.h.i.+p, Roxas and Paddle came back with soldier wearing a fine armor.
Is he one of the higher-ups?
The soldiers salutes him.
I felt a bit nervous, but let's keep it for ourselves.
Don't get intimidated.
「Are you the leader of this pirates, Masaki?」(TL: he ends with Masaki kane, I don't know if it's a honorifics or not)
「Yes, I am. I am Masaki, the Big Boss. And you are?」
「I am the leader of St. Gran Kingdom's Chivalric Order, Mark Alan. I'd like to thank you for releasing the slaves and capturing the slave s.h.i.+p」
The leader came. He may be quite a big-shot.
「Don't worry about it. I did this is because I dislike the Empire」
「But still, I heard that you are a pirate, but you really don't look like one. If I had to say, you have a very unusual air」
You can discover if someone is a pirate just by talking to them?
This guy is pretty sharp.
「You are right. Masaki is the one who rescued me who was caught by the Empire, Count Alan」(TL: 伯爵 means either count or earl. I go with count unless someone disagrees)
Adelle said it braggingly while descending from the s.h.i.+p.
「Adelhide!? You are safe… thank G.o.d… We thought that all hope is lost when the Valentine Kingdom was taken down by the Empire…」
So he really is a big-shot.
And my colleague got acquainted with this great man.
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