Bab 12: XII. Oath of Loyalty

Ox Rein and his group roasted Swan over the fire.

Any normal person would know, no matter how high their alcohol tolerance, consuming that much would fry their brain if it didn't kill them.

Ox had once been a general in the Mirror Sea Alliance, famed among the Merfolk for his bravery, and even before his disgrace, he had been a figure of note, further augmented by his racial talents, and there were few in Beima Duchy who could outdrink him.

With his Thief constitution, all enhanced for Stealth, Swan was practically begging for death.

But as he was roasted, his temper flared, and he grabbed the basin and chugged.

In those excruciatingly long twenty seconds, as Swan drank half, he started to falter, his hands trembling as he held the wooden basin, and his throat turned a bloody red as if scorched by fire.

"That's about enough."

Fen stopped Swan.

Swan, however, ignored him and continued drinking fiercely.

Ox watched calmly and even gained a new respect for Swan.

"Good! Tough!"

Rein, fearing Swan wouldn't die drinking, continued to roast him.

Liszt saw things spiraling out of control, worried about a disaster if they didn't ease off now, cursing the situation as if blessings were provoking turmoil.

"The Thieves Guild on the East Shore is capturing the Tiger-man alive, and it has to be Swan."

Liszt suddenly said, giving Fen the face he was due.

Everyone present looked at him; their expressions showed no surprise, only that their suspicions were confirmed.

Liszt forcefully snatched the basin, now two-thirds empty, from Swan's hand, starting to chug himself but craftily spilled most of it, barely half a cup likely entered his stomach before he quickly inverted the basin to cover it, thus ending this round of drinking.

Fen's expression finally eased, but Swan was nearly unconscious, much like Archer, silent and collapsed in his chair, stubbornly enduring.

"I see," Ox shifted his tone. "We all know the origins of the many here on the ship, and knowing so, we know how to deal with each. As for the ship gunner, indeed, he was a homeless man with no legal issues, very clean."

"I thank you for that."

Morison smiled, uglier than crying, while eating a grilled lamb leg and watching the drama unfold.

Ox continued, "It's only been two months, and the Thief Guild has clues, having turned the East Shore upside down, and now we are just talking about it, isn't it a bit late? There has to be an explanation."

"Well said."

Rein clapped his hands in approval.

"We can't break the rules."

Wolman solemnly agreed.

Liszt was silent for a while then said, "The explanation is, Fen, you tell them."

Fen picked up two bags and slammed them heavily on the table, "The explanation is, Swan stole a highly valuable treasure from the Thief Guild and has agreed to show it. During this time, he wanted to see if he could trust us to withstand the Thief Guild's assassins. I'll speak plainly, if you see what Swan stole, you're stuck with the Black Sail until death because it's too precious and can bring disaster. Anyone who wants out, we'd have to kill."

With that statement...

Even the usually irreverent Shadi and Mika had a menacing look in their eyes.

Suddenly, the entire room reeked of gunpowder, ready to explode at the slightest provocation.

Even Ox was somewhat stunned. The Black Sail Pirates had plundered everything, even stealing the wedding gifts intended for the minister's son in Beima Duchy. Could Fen really have taken things this far?

"Damn..."

Rein held his forehead, knowing that tonight would be intense—but he hadn't expected it to go this far.

Liszt knew every crew member's mind like the back of his hand, knowing that none would leave. They were stubborn as eczema, not easily shaken off. He said, "Anyone who wants to leave can still do so. Fen and I have discussed it; all public funds can be used as severance pay. Including what's in our personal pouches, we've got over a hundred Golden Dragons. We'll divide it among anyone who wants to leave."

Liszt had made his point clear.

With over three hundred Golden Dragons, one could buy a small official position in the Beima Duchy, mix into the ranks of the Baron, an honor, nonetheless, and get a salary that could help them recover their investment.

"Is all this necessary?" Haywood tried to make peace. Without the Black Sail, his identity as a Demon was unlivable. "After all these years, living through life and death together, since Swan has brought out the artifact, it should be considered turning over a new leaf."

Fen tapped the table with two fingers, dismissing Haywood's words and adding, "This is no longer about the Oath of Loyalty. This thing must not see the light of day, not a single piece of information can get out—so even the Thief Guild is keeping it under wraps; even those thieves who came after Swan probably don't know what Swan stole."

Liszt chimed in, "We've all heard of the Thief Guild's reputation: drugging women and turning them into addicts, running brothels, or breaking the limbs of the elderly and children and throwing them on the streets to beg. The lowest of the low, they don't shy away from swindling, kidnapping, murder, and even political assassinations. Their influence spreads across various domains and multiple countries, not an exaggeration to call them one of the strongest organizations in the underworld, and they will now stop at nothing to get to us."

After a moment of intense, oppressing silence,

"Who on this ship isn't already a wanted man, gambling with their life? Who would fear being hunted down?"

Ox, not a man to shy away from trouble, having accepted the situation, sat down. If that thing was so valuable that it could save Swan's life, then there was nothing more to say.

"What treasure is it, let's have a look. Who here is afraid of dying?"

Wolman's tone carried a hint of aggression, a first since he'd been on board.

A drowsy Archer, also inebriated, fumbled with his words, "Who are you trying to scare? Bring it out and let us have a look."

Liszt scanned the eager faces around him, Rein, Shadi, and others licking their lips in anticipation.

"This is an established law of the Black Sail Pirate Group, from now on, any officer who wishes to leave will be hunted down by others. This rule is now firmly in place," Liszt continued, "Fen, display the artifact. Let everyone take a good look. Morison, keep an eye out."

Despite Liszt's conviction that no one would abandon ship, he took precautions and had Morison maintain order, knowing well the ragtag bunch of fugitives from all over the world might succumb to greed and attempt a sole possession.

"Ah, some precious treasure causing such a stir—if what you bring out doesn't meet everyone's expectations, First Officer, you might not live it down."

Standing up, Morison, aware that no one aboard was lacking in skill—except, of course, the tool, Haywood—solemnly placed his hand on his whip blade.

Swan was completely drunk, sprawled over the table and snoring, all while Fen held the fort.

With a light chuckle, Fen began to tell a far-fetched story of ancient history.

"A legend states that two thousand years ago, the Overlord who completely conquered the Western Continent and ended the dark chaotic times, wore the Emperor's Crown at his coronation ceremony, its base made of Holy Radiance Platinum, with a chain pendant refining all the Immortal diamonds in the world, while also ornamented with twenty-four priceless gemstones that were masterpieces of the Divine Craftsman."

Fen picked up one of the bags and released two diamonds, shining brilliantly.

Even in a room lit only by oil lamps, these two stones radiated breathtaking splendor—one displaying an endless lushness of the Qunqing Mountain Range almost dizzying in its verdant green, the other pulsing with a captivating deep blue like the heart of the sea, as if crafted by a Divine Craftsman. The myriad faceted surfaces refracted and swirled with brilliance, almost like a Curse Artifact, possessing some irresistible grand Magic Power, capturing the soul and making it impossible to look away.

"Two of the twenty-four, right here."

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