Chapter 317 - A Ruthless Way of Selling a Favor
The day after we heard about the suspicious man who washed up on the fishing village shore, we sprang into action.
Whether it was pirate business or anything else, we were ready for anything. None of us thought things would go smoothly, and we expected more of the same on our journey ahead.
Our original plan was to take care of the pirates just before the Brenark Kingdom's invasion. We hadn’t been told the exact date of the invasion, and it could vary depending on the situation.
So, we made our own judgment and moved according to our own plans.
From the information gathered by our members and their reconnaissance, it seemed that the armed forces scattered throughout the former Retnark were lax in their maritime vigilance. This was likely due to the strong control of the pirates, which made an invasion from the sea unlikely. They were also busy restraining each other and preparing for the Brenark Kingdom, leaving them with few resources to allocate to the coast.
Considering the current situation, we concluded that our actions against the pirates would not provoke the armed forces in the former Retnark, and thus would not affect the Brenark Kingdom's invasion.
We could move a bit earlier than planned, and there was a new reason for us to do so.
We had just returned from the south, but we were setting sail again. This time, only the Combat Support Unit would stay behind, while the Intelligence Bureau would join us.
Our destination was a secret base once managed by the Retnark Kingdom’s military, an island called Breastflow Island. I recalled hearing the name before, and it was quite far out to sea, which added the unpleasant possibility of large magical beasts.
With a slight sense of weariness, I rocked on the ship and chatted with Siegrune before bedtime. We restrained ourselves from drinking and settled for a fragrant tea to calm our restless spirits.
"I never expected the pirates to turn on each other. It’s a common story, but this time it’s surprisingly unexpected."
"Yes, given that they were former military with strict hierarchy and discipline, they managed to hold it together until now. It’s tragic that they ended up fighting over a reward and killing a woman, leading to a split. Silly, but that’s how things fall apart, I suppose."
"Perhaps the discontent had been simmering beneath the surface, but it’s a tough call whether it’s good or bad that it surfaced just before our negotiation."
"If they had split before we arrived, they would have had disagreements elsewhere. Let’s just think of it as a good outcome."
It was better to think of it positively. After all, it was a good thing to have eliminated a particularly corrupt element before it could cause more harm.
"You’re right. Besides, I would have refused any negotiation involving a woman’s murder, let alone a pregnant woman’s."
"Even with a significant grudge, that’s going too far."
From the pirate we interrogated, we couldn’t get the specific details of the incident. If it was a calculated move, I couldn’t say, but if it was just out of spite, it spoke volumes about their character.
Regardless, now that they’ve split, there’s no going back. We could only proceed by bringing one side over.
"It doesn’t seem to be a false alarm, but perhaps we should have brought the one we found in the village."
The pirate we found in the village was under our custody in the hideout. We had promised to heal his injuries if the operation was successful.
"We had no choice. The captain told us not to bring any unsettling elements on board. We’d also need to station a guard, which would only be a hindrance."
"I see. Still, it’s a good thing the pirates are fighting each other, but we need to make sure no ships are lost."
"Absolutely."
According to the information, a rebellion had broken out within the secret base, and the fighting had started. If the situation hadn’t changed, the pirates would be inside the fortified base, not on the ships.
Approaching by boat to avoid being attacked from both sides, we planned to land secretly and assess the situation before negotiating with the rebel faction. We had a good reason to side with the group that had been betrayed, especially after hearing that a pregnant woman was killed.
"General and Colonel. I hope there are no further complications."
The leader of the rebel faction is called 'General,' and the one who betrayed and killed the pregnant woman is called 'Colonel.' Their names come from their former military ranks, but that’s all there is to it.
"The situation has changed, but the negotiation will be handled by Siegrune and Rosabel-san. Valeria and I will stay in communication range and immediately capture Colonel when the opportunity arises."
"Creating that opportunity will be the first challenge."
"True, but if we help them, it should leave a good impression. I think this turn of events isn’t bad."
I had always expected the negotiation to be difficult, and showing our strength was part of the plan. However, I hadn’t anticipated that we’d have to take down half of them, and I wasn’t counting on a crude plan working out. In the end, we had to adapt on the fly.
The next morning, we approached within about ten kilometers of our destination. We would wait here on our main ship.
The secret base was still too far for my wide-area magical perception to detect, and I hoped they were still there. We would approach by boat and check from there.
It was a clear morning, not ideal for an ambush. But we couldn’t afford to waste time, so we had to hurry.
We left a small team to guard the main ship, and the rest set out fully equipped, not in diving gear. It felt reassuring to be in our usual gear.
"Let me have some fun, I haven’t had a good brawl in a while!"
The old lady seemed to be enjoying herself, her mood lifted by the boat ride.
"Please, don’t overdo it. What will we do if you collapse?"
"Don’t worry, I won’t be a burden."
Valeria and I reluctantly responded to her playful remarks, but Rosabel-san seemed content.
"Ha ha, no matter what, I’ll protect you."
"I’m counting on you, Siegrune. Let’s see if my magical perception can reach them soon."
We shifted from our playful mood to focus on the direction ahead. There were several small islands in the distance, but we couldn’t see beyond the horizon.
"I see—this is Shinogami. I’ve spotted the military base on the island, and there are many magical reactions. They are here."
I could feel the morale of our team rise.
"Approaching from the west side would be best. Follow my boat."
I cut off the transmission and instructed the helmsman to make a wide turn.
We took a wide route to the west side of the island, which was uninhabited. As we approached, we saw a steep cliff. It was a natural stronghold, and the lack of vigilance on the west side made sense.
There were few magical traps to detect, probably because the pirates were fighting each other and couldn’t fully utilize the base’s facilities.
Everyone on the boats looked up at the cliff, wondering if they would have to climb it.
Our trained members could manage the climb, but we had an easier way.
"I’ll go ahead to secure the area and set up some ropes. Everyone can follow up. Valeria and Rosabel-san, hold on to me."
My sister figure clung to me tightly, and the old lady, though suspicious, was carried over my shoulder without question.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, I kicked off the ‘footholds’ and gracefully reached the top of the cliff. There was a rocky area at the top, and beyond it, a forest spread out.
"You scared me! You could have warned me."
"Rosabel-san, you’d find it tough to climb on your own, right? Valeria, check the surroundings. There are a few magical devices in the forest."
"Yes, I’ll go look."
I set up iron spikes on the cliff edge and attached long ropes to them, lowering them down. This allowed everyone to climb up one by one.
"Onee-sama, I’ve destroyed several magical devices in the forest. There were also traps, so be cautious."
"Non-magical traps? As expected of a military facility."
This part of the cliff was likely filled with traps. I warned the team to be careful.
"The real challenge starts from here. We can’t identify who’s who with magical reactions alone. Let’s scout the area first."
"The Intelligence Bureau will act as scouts. We’ll provide updates and send reinforcements as needed."
"Understood. Remember, they are former military, and this is a fortified secret base. Don’t underestimate them."
The scouts nodded and vanished, their movements silent. The island was large, probably several kilometers around. We could narrow down the search area with magical reactions, so we didn’t need to search aimlessly. We had a sense of where to start.
It was morning, and there were no signs of battle, and few people were moving around.
Operating in the open during daylight and in enemy territory made the task challenging, but the Intelligence Bureau members were capable of gathering the necessary information discreetly. It would be to our advantage if our presence remained unknown.
"Once we locate General and Colonel and assess the battle situation, we can move. However, there are more of them than we thought. While it’s clear that the forces are split, the numbers are substantial."
"Combining both factions, there must be hundreds. While not all are combatants, it’s a large base."
The large number of people was good. The worst scenario would be if the pirates had almost wiped each other out. Even if we didn’t know exactly how many we could recruit, having more would be better.
"Let’s do our best, then."
We waited, receiving occasional reports from the scouts.
Eventually, the pirates started fighting each other, and the island became quite noisy. The central area of the island was like an open training ground, and the fighting was concentrated there.
"—This is Heidi. We have a broad overview of both factions. It seems the northern side is Colonel’s faction, and the southern side is General’s."
The Intelligence Bureau was doing a great job gathering information. We needed more detailed information, so we continued to wait. The head of the scouts nodded.
"This is Siegrune. Heidi, keep it up. Should we start positioning the combat teams?"
"No, wait. The fighting is intensifying, so we plan to capture one member from each faction and interrogate them. I’ll report back after a quick interrogation."
"Understood."
While gathering information would help us assess the situation, there were many things we wouldn’t know unless we asked. It was an effective strategy if we could execute it.
After some time, we received the results of the interrogation and additional information from the scouts. We learned a lot.
"We should side with General as per our original plan."
"Colonel seems more skilled in combat, but we can’t recruit someone who betrays so easily."
The reason for the split was trivial. As expected, it was a dispute over the division of spoils.
General’s pirate group started with a former naval unit, and Colonel’s unit joined later.
Initially, they worked well together, but cracks began to form. Colonel was dissatisfied with receiving the same reward as General’s unit, despite his unit’s contributions.
It’s natural for pirates to be greedy when they’re making a fortune. Indeed, it wasn’t a significant reason.
"General’s side is overwhelmingly dominant. Colonel’s side has many injured and low morale. Initially, the rebels had the upper hand, but their healers and better use of the base’s facilities have turned the tide. General will likely win in a few days."
"If Heidi’s assessment is accurate, we’re out of luck. Yukari-dono, our plan was to assist General and ensure his victory, but it doesn’t seem necessary now."
"Indeed. The best scenario would have been to help General in a desperate situation and gain a significant favor. That would have made the negotiation easier."
Wait a moment.
"Onee-sama?"
"Alright, we’ll side with Colonel for now!"
Everyone was surprised by the sudden change in plan, but the intelligent members quickly understood my intentions. They might have suggested it if I hadn’t.
"I’ve been waiting for this! It’s the strong-arm persuasion tactic, isn’t it?"
"Everyone, our presence must remain unknown to both pirate factions. Be extra cautious."
"That’s what I thought. You’re ruthless, President."
"This is getting interesting."
"What do you mean?"
"It’s simple. It’s more beneficial for us if General is in a bind. We’ll secretly put him in a tight spot and then help him, making the favor seem greater. This is getting more exciting."
That’s the idea. If you’re dissatisfied with a situation, change it. Any means are acceptable.
After all, we’re villains.