Chapter 2
“A Lucky Day”
“You’re with the Ortez Trading Company, right?! Your young master’s life is in my hands. Hand over everything you’ve got!”
Astrid was in a great mood.
The Ortez Trading Company wasn’t just a big fish—it was a whale.
Her restraint over the past few days, carefully observing the trade ship schedules, had paid off.
The young man she took hostage didn’t seem strong enough to resist her either.
Astrid rolled her eyes, scanning the deck to count heads. About twenty crewmembers were visible. Based on the ship’s size, maybe ten more were inside. Doable.
Around five or six quick-handed crewmembers had already loaded muskets and were aiming them at her.
“You’d probably hit the young master before me, you know?”
She lightly scraped the knife along Florian’s neck, mockingly.
She could see the tension stiffen the men holding the firing stance.
Though he was snugly nestled in her arms, Florian was actually bigger than her. If she wanted, she could really use him as a shield.
And in the damp sea air, misfires were common with muskets—she didn’t find them all that threatening.
“Thinking of shooting? That’s mean~ Don’t you think so too, young master?”
Astrid teased, whispering playfully into his ear.
They were close enough that she could even hear him swallow nervously.
“Help me out, yeah? I’m not really into tormenting people for long.”
She tapped his chest twice with her left hand. A heavy voice, thick with tension, came out of the man.
“Guns… down. Do what she says, for now.”
“Thanks for the cooperation~”
The moment the gun barrels dropped, Astrid pulled out a brass whistle from her pocket and blew hard.
A sharp signal echoed across the water—and from behind a reef off the side, a small galley rowed swiftly into view.
Three grappling hooks flew and latched onto the hull, and within moments, seven burly pirates climbed aboard.
They moved fast—five spread out across the deck, dividing the crew into manageable groups, while two grabbed a sailor and descended below deck.
Soon, they’d come back up with sacks full of pricey tea leaves, rare dyes—anything worth money.
Still hugging her precious hostage, Astrid swept her gaze across the deck again.
Though the crew still outnumbered them, they no longer looked like they planned to fight back. Was it because she had the young master hostage?
Yet, unlike moments ago when she felt euphoric, a wave of unease struck her.
They were too calm. For people being attacked by pirates, there was too little panic.
Were they just used to being robbed? No… they looked like people with backup. Even the hostage, while clearly afraid, was oddly composed.
Once doubt set in, the feeling wouldn’t go away. Things were going too smoothly.
Just as that thought struck her, two ships entered the edge of her vision.
“Shit.”
The moment her instincts screamed, she groped Florian’s waist and snatched his spyglass, raising it to her eye.
Flags fluttering boldly. Tricorn hats. Blue uniforms.
Navy.
“Navy incoming! Are they not here yet?! Hurry up and get ready to pull out!”
Astrid shouted toward the ship’s interior. But for some reason, the crew that should’ve returned by now hadn’t shown up.
The navy ships were at full sail, rapidly closing the distance.
So that’s why they were so calm…!
As soon as the imperial flag came into view, murmurs swept through the once-passive crew.
“Damn it, damn it…”
Cursing, Astrid dragged her hostage backward toward the stern. If caught pirating red-handed, execution was guaranteed.
The best-case scenario now was that her crewmates came back up with loot and they escaped quickly in the galley—taking the hostage with them.
BOOM—
But that fragile hope was shattered.
One navy ship didn’t slow. It rammed their galley with its ram.
The small, cute galley—Astrid’s pride and joy—wobbled helplessly under the impact, unable to withstand the sheer weight difference.
That crashing sound seemed to signal a shift. The Ortez crew, who had been sitting quietly, jumped up and charged the pirates.
“Are you crazy?! I’ve got a hostage! A hostage!”
Astrid shook Florian by the neck, but the staff, now sensing the tide turning, didn’t stop. Only Florian coughed weakly.
Chaos erupted on the deck.
Meanwhile, the navy ships pulled up to the merchant ship and lowered gangplanks.
Muskets and sabers drawn, navy soldiers stormed the deck. The pirates resisted fiercely, but they were outnumbered and outgunned.
Still gripping Florian tightly, Astrid slipped through the chaos, heading for a more secluded spot.
At this point, the hostage was her only lifeline.
She crept up the stairs to the poop deck, hiding behind some stacked barrels.
“Haah… I’m screwed, seriously…”
“Looks that way.”
A snide voice answered her mutter.
“Quiet, young master.”
“You’d be better off surrendering. Being caught with a hostage won’t end well.”
“I’ll figure it out.”
Florian shrugged, saying no more.
Even if she held onto him, at best it might spare her from immediate execution. Astrid strained her ears toward the deck.
Screams, clashing sabers, muskets—surprisingly, many were firing properly despite the damp.
And then, footsteps. Coming up the stairs.
They’re here.
Astrid tightened her grip on both Florian and the dagger. She hoped foolishly that they’d overlook her.
But she was too conspicuous—a woman with flaming red hair on a ship.
If I’m going to be spotted, I might as well show myself first.
Astrid sprang up with the hostage in tow.
“Stop! One more step and he dies!”
“…!”
The sharp glint of the dagger at Florian’s throat made the navy soldier freeze. Judging by the uniform, he was an officer.
But he only hesitated briefly—then lifted his musket and aimed at her.
“Piracy in imperial waters is punishable by immediate execution, miss.”
“Even if he gets caught in the crossfire?”
“……”
Astrid wasn’t the only one rattled by the gun’s aim.
Florian swallowed hard, too. All he could hope for was that the officer was a genius sharpshooter who could hit only her without touching him.
Silence fell. The musket didn’t lower. Astrid’s hand tightened on the dagger.
From the sounds below, it seemed the deck battle was nearly finished. The officer slowly pulled back the trigger.
The tension was knife-edge.
Click.
A dull sound.
“Yes!”
It was a misfire.
Shouting triumphantly, Astrid shoved Florian aside and lunged at the officer with her dagger.
If she could stop him from drawing his saber, she might still have a chance.
More navy soldiers would be here soon—she had to take care of this one now.
She darted in, slashed the leather loop on his belt, and flung his sheathed saber far away.
Then she swung her dagger with force.
Clang!
But the officer raised his musket sideways, blocking the blade with the barrel.
Reloading a musket took time. With a blade swinging in your face, there was no such luxury.
No time to think—just act.
“That useless musket! It misfired! What’re you gonna do with that?!”
Astrid shouted, high on adrenaline.
She saw his eyes flick toward the saber lying on the ground.
Each time he tried to move toward it, she kicked it farther away.
Thud.
But this time, the saber rolled toward Florian.
Florian seized the moment, grabbing it and drawing the blade with trembling arms.
Astrid turned in shock.
But she shouldn’t have taken her eyes off her real opponent.
“Did you say this musket was useless?”
A cold, dangerous voice whispered in her ear.
She instinctively slashed behind her with the dagger and jumped back.
But he had already adjusted his grip—he wasn’t holding the musket by the stock, but by the barrel.
Which meant—
“It also makes an excellent blunt weapon.”
The silver-inlaid stock traced a graceful arc in the air.
WHACK!
Astrid took a direct hit to the head and collapsed, unconscious.
