122 Vol. 2 pt. 59 Patch 10.0: Something Stupid (2/2)
Rock is the only girl actively participating in the current events by growling at Ull and standing next to Fenrir.
Ull frowns when he looks down at her and sees one of her legs still broken off. ”Sorry about that. I assure you that the man who did that to her has been punished. They know I don't tolerate cruelty towards animals, even if they are our enemies,” Ull explains. ”I also wish to apologize for the ear,” he says, looking at Fenrir's left ear that is still halved.
”It's fine. I get to match with her now,” Fenrir says. ”I guess you didn't send those guys after me?”
”Not at all. If I wanted to attack you, I would be honorable about it and challenge you in front of everybody. Those men who cowardly chased you into alleys are not worthy of serving me and have also been punished.”
”Can't say that I don't emphasize with that. You lead way more people than I ever did, and even I still had people misbehaving and acting behind my back.”
The air between them is tense and silence lingers in the air.
Fenrir takes a deep breath. ”Let's get to the point,” he says.
”Let us.”
”I'm not handing Nell over to you. If I have to fight you, I will.”
The conversation on the other side of the deck goes silent to listen in.
”You wish to fight for a dead woman? I assure you that I have no interest in her corpse,” Ull says.
”What?” Fenrir asks, blinking a couple of times and tilting his head like a confused dog.
”Am I mistaken? She was onboard The Steel Tiger, and going by the bodies floating in the water behind us, I am assuming that all onboard that vessel died. I collect the living, not the dead.”
Fenrir catches onto Ull's intentions as does Nell. That feeling of nervousness has been replaced by cautious gratitude.
”Yeah, I was too slow. Alexander killed her before I could save her,” Fenrir says, the smile on his face and tone of his voice sounding contradictory to his message.
”Just know that, should you happen to come across a similar girl someday, it would be wise to keep her hidden away from the public. Word would surely get back to me about a sighting of her, and then I would be pressed into taking action,” Ull explains.
”By the way, how'd you know to come after us?”
”We had a few… informants that were more than eager to give us the information we needed after some persuasion. They got done telling us about this new information right as I discovered that my trophy was stolen from me. It turns out that Alexander and his crew were infiltrators working for the Augus Empire, and they were trying to prevent an alliance from forming between Blackstache and I. Instead, they cemented the alliance and have riled up my forces for an invasion of the empire. I doubt they will have any coastal territory left by the end of the month.”
Ull's words send shivers down Fenrir's spine. It sounds like one epic war is going to happen, and Fenrir can't wait to hear how it plays out.
”I do not suppose you have any interest in serving me, wolf?” Ull asks. ”A man with your experience – you would be more useful than most of my commanders. I am sure your friend there would be happy to take you on as well. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated in the upcoming battles regardless of which of us you serve.”
”Sorry. I appreciate the offer, but I'm just playing this game for the fishing,” Fenrir answers.
”Is that why you commandeered the city's defenses to attack one of my ships, released a serpent, have destroyed two ships and killed all of their crews, and have threatened to attack me? I have also heard of some experiments involving fish at the scholars' office.”
Fenrir isn't sure whether he's more surprised that Ull knows about them hijacking one of the city's coastal cannons or more ashamed that word of his fishy experiments with Thelmes have reached him. ”What can I say? I keep on getting distracted.”
”Ryouta! You've got yourself some fine girls here,” Blackstache says, twirling his mustache while eyeing up Cassiel and Serra. ”This one looks a bit too young for you, though. I mean, I know you're one of those weebs, but I didn't think you were actually into little girls.”
”Oi,” Tabitha says, ”one, I ain't one of the deviants in his harem. Two, my hammer doesn't discriminate between ships, empire wimps, and old geezers with mustaches.”
Serra and Cassiel take the opportunity to go and stand near Fenrir. Rock stands between them and Blackstache now, growling at him whenever he starts checking them out.
Fenrir's eyes widen a bit when he hears giggling come from beneath the deck. Nell is supposed to be ”dead,” and dead people don't giggle.
He looks at Ull for his reaction.
Ull looks down at the floorboards. ”Liz says she'll miss you, Neha—Nell,” he says before looking back at Fenrir. ”Do not let her fall into the hands of anybody whom would take advantage of her. There are many like me, and many far worse, that would kill to have her. She may be a living person, but her character is an in-game asset worth more than some people make in years.”
”I'll make sure she stays free. If I was willing to challenge you, I'll be willing to challenge anybody else,” Fenrir answers.