Episode 104
The Drowned Admiral, Francis Barbarossa, stood there.
He looked like a drowned rat.
Once a pirate and now the admiral of the continent’s most formidable fleet, Francis had never known noble birth. He was a sailor without even a family name, hailing from the seafaring islands of the Four Seas. With his unique charisma, he expanded his influence, excelling particularly in piracy—raiding enemies on the high seas.
Before long, Francis became a notorious outlaw feared by all nations, a terror on the ocean.
When the Empire launched its unification wars, they bestowed the surname Barbarossa upon the pirate Francis and appointed him admiral, entrusting him with command of the entire imperial fleet. Along with this came a privateering license, allowing him to legally plunder enemy ships.
As admiral, Barbarossa led the imperial fleet to victory against the so-called invincible fleet of the old Britannia Kingdom. This defeat was a direct blow that led to the kingdom’s downfall, and for his achievements, the once-pirate Barbarossa was elevated to one of the Empire’s three grand dukes, ruling over the Four Seas.
Saxony, Lancaster, Barbarossa.
Even after the Empire unified the continent, Barbarossa did not easily abandon his true calling. As both a grand duke of the Empire and a lawless pirate, he continued his raids. With his base on a sea island, not even the Empire dared to challenge him in the “world above water.” Thus, he earned the title of the Pirate Duke.
Some time later, the Pirate Duke Francis Barbarossa unexpectedly set sail with five ships beyond the eastern seas of the continent.
To witness the “end of the world” said to lie beyond the sea.
No one expected him to return alive. Even the Empire assumed the Pirate Duke had perished, falling off the edge of the world.
But Francis Barbarossa returned alive.
Of the five ships, four had sunk, leaving only the one he personally commanded.
He discovered the Eastern Continent beyond the sea of death and even went further, completing the “first circumnavigation of the world.” His exploits were adorned with countless tales, like the legend of how he struck a deal with a sea demon to gain immortality when his fleet was sinking in the “Devil’s Triangle.”
And now, standing before Dale was the embodiment of those legendary tales.
The Drowned Admiral, Francis Barbarossa.
Just as people said, always drenched like a rat caught in the rain.
“──How did you find my heart?”
The Drowned Admiral spoke, his voice heavy and oppressive, as if it could sink to the ocean floor at any moment.
“As I mentioned, that’s a trade secret.”
The City Master, wearing the mask of the “Laughing Man,” replied with a sly smile.
Simultaneously, the entire scene of the black market seemed to submerge.
Into the unfathomable depths of the ocean, into the darkness of the deep sea.
It wasn’t a metaphor. It felt as if they were truly underwater, suffocating.
‘The world of ideas…?!’
But it was unheard of for the Drowned Admiral to have any magical prowess. Let alone using that world as a “weapon.” There was no certainty, but instinctively, it felt different.
It wasn’t the familiar magic Dale knew, but something more alien and unknown.
”……I could drown you all in the abyss of the deep sea.”
The Drowned Admiral spoke from within the depths, as if conversing on land despite being underwater. ──No matter how much magic was overlaid with the power of ideas, it was impossible.
With seawater pouring into his throat, even maintaining consciousness was a struggle.
Then, suddenly.
Swoosh!
The scene flipped, and the suffocating sensation vanished. Everyone, including Dale, found themselves back on the marble floor of the black market.
“Gah, cough!”
Water spewed from his throat, and he was soaked like a drowned rat.
Even the City Master, wearing the “Laughing Man” mask, was no exception. The mask slipped off, revealing his true face beneath.
There were no notable scars or marks. He was a man with a vague, unremarkable appearance.
The Drowned Admiral, his coat of a soaked uniform billowing, grabbed the City Master by the throat.
“Gah, ugh…!”
The suffocating sensation was no different from having water poured down his throat.
“I’ll ask again.”
The Drowned Admiral continued.
“How did you find ‘that box,’ and where have you hidden it?”
In such a situation, no answer was expected. After a moment of intimidation, the Drowned Admiral tossed him aside, and the City Master regained his breath, smiling.
“Hah, hah! This is quite… Now I’m confused about whose hands the Duke’s heart is in.”
Adjusting his attire, he left the “Laughing Man” mask on the floor behind him.
“As I mentioned, the obsidian box containing the Duke’s heart will be traded according to the ‘black market’ procedures.”
Like an actor on stage, with an inscrutable smile.
“And once the trade is complete, no matter how much you strangle me, you won’t get an answer.”
”……Are you trying to threaten me?”
“I’m merely fulfilling my duties as an ‘auction intermediary.’”
The City Master extended his arm toward Dale, continuing.
“As I just mentioned, the starting bid for the auction is ‘one black chip.’”
Dale wasn’t the only participant in this auction.
Ray Eurys, Mikhail Lancaster. But the only one who emerged victorious in the Fight Club against them was the “Black Prince” of Saxony, and Dale held the privilege to instantly secure one of the black market’s items.
And the starting bid was just one chip.
“Would you like to use your privilege as the Fight Club winner?”
”…….”
After a moment of silence, Dale glanced sideways. The Drowned Admiral, exuding an overwhelming presence, was glaring at him.
“I’ll use the winner’s privilege.”
Dale spoke.
The starting bid of one black chip.
“Ah, an excellent decision.”
The City Master smiled, seemingly pleased.
“Then, for one chip, the Duke’s heart will go to Prince Dale…”
“No.”
At that moment, Dale interrupted the City Master. He pulled out a heavy pouch hidden within his black robe.
He named the price for the item he wished to secure on the spot.
“Eight hundred thirty-nine.”
“Oh.”
For the “Drowned Admiral’s heart,” which started at just one chip, Dale wagered everything he had. The City Master inhaled with interest.
Between Dale, the City Master, and the Drowned Admiral, the tension was palpable, ready to snap at any moment.
Ray Eurys, Mikhail Lancaster, and the assassins of the “Shadow Court” were mere extras on this stage.
“You insolent brat.”
The Drowned Admiral spoke in response to Dale’s words.
“Do you think you can buy my heart with such a trick?”
Each word carried the weight of sinking to the ocean’s depths.
“Surely, Your Excellency the Drowned Admiral knows well.”
But Dale wasn’t easily intimidated by his pressure.
“There’s no one in this world who would refuse a deal that holds the life of a powerful person in their hands.”
“And do you think you can get away with it, you brat?”
“Are you safe, Your Excellency?”
Dale asked calmly.
“If you so much as lay a finger on that box.”
The Drowned Admiral spoke.
“I guarantee that not even an ant in this city will be safe.”
With the threat of drowning everyone in the area.
As he said, the Drowned Admiral’s invincible fleet surrounded the waters of Guild City, and by now, his men would have landed and encircled the city.
“You still haven’t answered my question.”
But Dale continued undeterred.
“I’m asking if you, Your Excellency, are safe.”
”……Are you trying to threaten me, you brat?”
The Drowned Admiral asked.
At least it was clear that this man wasn’t a coward like Cardinal Nikolai, trembling for his own life.
Starting as a mere pirate, he soon became the king of the seas, commanding a fleet of pirates, defeating the invincible fleet of the Britannia Kingdom as the Empire’s admiral, and completing the first circumnavigation of the world, making a pact with a sea demon.
Such a figure wouldn’t tremble for his own life.
“The Duke would rather give up his life than succumb to such threats, wouldn’t he?”
“Then you must know that you’ll be joining him on that journey.”
“I’m not here to threaten the Duke’s life,” Dale replied calmly.
“Have you still not realized?”
“Realized what?”
“The Duke must have hidden the box ‘where no one could ever find it,’ deep in the ocean.”
Dale continued, “Yet, here it is, being auctioned off by this man,” he said, gesturing toward the city master. “I have no idea how he managed to find it.”
”…”
“But there’s one thing I can say for certain.”
“And what is that?”
“No matter where you hide it in this world, this man will find it, and the Duke will never be at ease.”
“You know well,” the Duke replied coldly. “I will never let that heart out of my sight again.”
“Oh, believe me, I’d love nothing more than to return the heart to you and leave in peace.”
“Then hand it over.”
Dale responded as if it were someone else’s problem. “But if I do, everyone here will end up as nothing more than drowned ghosts.”
“I might spare your life.”
“No,” Dale shook his head, his voice icy. “Now that I know the secret, the Duke would ‘never’ let me live.”
His voice was unwavering, without a hint of doubt. “And I have no intention of dying quietly.”
For a brief moment, a flicker of interest crossed the Duke’s face.
“So, I have a proposal.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“The deep sea couldn’t protect the Duke’s heart.”
”…”
“But I know a place that can safeguard both the Duke’s heart and my life.”
“And where might that be?” the Duke asked.
Dale answered, “The Abyss of Saxon.”