TLSP 02

Chapter 02

“This is the Ortiz Merchant Company, right?! Your young master’s life is in my hands! Hand over everything you’ve got!”

Astrid was in an excellent mood.

The Ortiz Merchant Company was a huge catch among huge catches.

All those days spent refraining from plunder and carefully observing the schedules of passing merchant ships had paid off.

And the young man she had taken hostage did not look remotely strong enough to resist her.

Astrid rolled her eyes across the deck, counting the employees. Around twenty were visible. Considering the size of the ship, there were probably at most ten more below deck.

Manageable.

In the meantime, five or six quick-handed crewmen had already loaded muskets and aimed them at Astrid.

“You’re more likely to hit your young master than me, you know?”

Mockingly, Astrid lightly dragged the dagger’s edge across Florian’s throat.

She could see the men with their guns raised stiffen with tension.

Though Florian was tucked snugly in her arms, he was still larger than she was, meaning she could genuinely use him as a shield if necessary.

Besides, muskets frequently misfired at sea because of the moisture, so they did not feel especially threatening.

“You’re seriously thinking about shooting? That’s so cruel~. Don’t you think so too, young master?”

Astrid whispered playfully into his ear.

They were pressed so tightly together that she could even hear the hostage swallow nervously.

“Just cooperate a little. I’m not really into tormenting people for long.”

Astrid tapped lightly against his chest with her left hand, and the man finally spoke in a voice heavy with tension.

“Lower the guns… For now, do as this person says.”

“Thank you for your cooperation~.”

The moment the gun barrels lowered, Astrid pulled a brass whistle from her pocket and blew it loudly.

At the sharp signal, a small galley rapidly rowed out from behind the nearby reefs.

Three grappling hooks flew through the air and latched onto the hull, and within moments seven rough-looking men had climbed aboard.

They split up efficiently. Five spread across the deck, dividing the crew into groups, while two dragged a crewman below deck toward the cargo hold.

Soon enough, they would come back carrying leather sacks stuffed with valuable tea leaves, expensive dyes, and whatever else could be sold for a fortune.

Still clutching her precious hostage, Astrid scanned the deck once more.

The crew greatly outnumbered the pirates, yet none of them seemed willing to resist anymore. Perhaps taking the young master hostage had truly worked.

And yet, unlike earlier when excitement had filled her, a sudden sense of unease crept over her.

Both the hostage and the crew seemed far too calm for people under pirate attack.

Had they been robbed before?

No… more than that, they looked like people who had something to rely on.

The hostage was definitely frightened, but he was far too composed for someone with no intention of resisting.

Once suspicion began to creep in, she could no longer shake the feeling that things were going too smoothly.

And then—

At the edge of Astrid’s vision, two sailing ships appeared.

“Damn it!”

The ominous feeling became reality.

Astrid quickly searched Florian’s waist, snatched away his telescope, and raised it to her eye.

Proudly waving flags.

Tricorn hats.

Blue uniforms.

The navy.

“It’s the navy! Are they not done yet? Hurry up and prepare to retreat!”

Astrid shouted toward the inside of the ship. For some reason, the idiots who should have emerged by now were nowhere to be seen.

The navy ships surged forward at full speed with all sails unfurled.

‘So that’s why they were acting so calm…!’

The moment the naval flags became visible, murmurs spread among the previously quiet crewmen.

“Damn it, damn it…”

Cursing, Astrid dragged her hostage backward toward the stern.

If she were caught in the act of piracy, losing her head was guaranteed.

The only remotely hopeful scenario now was for those slow idiots to emerge with the valuables so they could throw the hostage onto the galley and flee immediately.

Crash—

But then came the sound that utterly destroyed her hopes.

The advancing naval ship did not slow down at all as it rammed straight into the galley with its reinforced prow.

Astrid and her companions’ tiny little galley tilted violently, unable to withstand the overwhelming difference in size.

As though the collision itself had become a signal to attack, the merchant company employees who had been sitting quietly suddenly leapt to their feet and charged the pirates.

“Are you insane?! There’s a hostage! A hostage!”

Astrid shook Florian by the neck as she shouted, but the employees, clearly convinced the tide had already turned, did not stop.

Only Florian coughed pitifully.

In an instant, the deck descended into chaos.

Meanwhile, the two naval ships pulled tightly alongside the merchant vessel and lowered boarding bridges.

Naval soldiers armed with muskets and sabers stormed across onto the ship.

The pirates fought back desperately, but the numerical disadvantage would only continue to grow worse.

Still tightly clutching Florian, Astrid slipped away from the center of the conflict and crept toward a secluded corner.

At this point, the hostage was her lifeline.

Slowly and carefully, she climbed the stairs unnoticed and hid behind a row of barrels on the aft deck.

“Ha… I’m screwed. Completely…”

“Seems that way.”

An annoyingly calm response answered her muttering.

“Young master, try to stay quiet.”

“You should surrender. Better that than getting caught while holding a hostage.”

“I’ll handle it myself.”

Florian merely shrugged and fell silent.

If she kept hold of this spoiled young master, she might at least avoid immediate execution.

Thinking that, Astrid listened carefully to the sounds from the deck below.

Piercing screams.

The clash of sabers.

The repeated firing of muskets somehow managing not to misfire.

And then—

Footsteps climbing the stairs.

So they had come.

Astrid tightened her grip on both her dagger and Florian.

She entertained the foolish hope that whoever it was might pass without noticing her, but she was far too conspicuous for that.

A red-haired woman aboard the ship.

If discovery was inevitable, perhaps it was better to reveal herself first.

Astrid abruptly stood, still gripping the hostage tightly.

“Stop! Take one more step and I can’t guarantee this man’s life.”

“…!”

The gleaming dagger pressed against Florian’s throat seemed effective, because the navy officer halted.

Judging from his uniform, he appeared to be an officer.

But only for a moment.

Soon the barrel of his musket pointed directly at Astrid.

“Acts of piracy within imperial waters are punishable by immediate execution, miss.”

“So you’re saying you don’t care if he gets hit too?”

“……”

Astrid was not the only one disturbed by the direction of the gun.

Florian also swallowed nervously.

At this point, all he could do was hope the officer was such a genius marksman that the bullet would somehow strike only the irritating woman attached to his back.

Silence stretched briefly.

The musket remained aimed.

Astrid tightened her grip on the dagger.

The chaos on the central deck seemed nearly resolved now.

Slowly, the officer’s finger tightened on the trigger.

The tension felt so taut it might snap at any second.

Click.

But the sound that followed was utterly anticlimactic.

“Yes!”

A misfire.

Astrid shouted triumphantly, hurled Florian aside, and charged the officer with her dagger drawn.

If she could just stop him from drawing his saber, she thought she still had a decent chance.

Once the fighting on deck fully ended, more navy soldiers would swarm this way.

She had to deal with this officer before that happened.

Astrid rushed forward, sliced through the leather strap attaching the saber sheath to his belt, and kicked the sheathed saber far away.

Then she immediately swung her dagger in a wide arc.

Clang!

But the officer raised his musket horizontally and blocked the dagger with the barrel.

Reloading a musket took time.

And in a situation where a dagger was dancing inches from his face, there was no opportunity to reload.

No—she would not even allow him the leisure to think about reloading.

Determined, Astrid pressed the officer relentlessly.

“That worthless musket! A misfired musket! What can you possibly do with that?!”

Excitement surged through her as she shouted.

She could clearly see the officer’s gaze flicking toward his saber lying across the deck.

Every time he tried to overpower her and move closer to it, Astrid spitefully kicked the saber farther away.

Tap.

But this time, she kicked it in the wrong direction.

While focused on fighting the officer, she accidentally sent the saber sliding toward the young master.

Florian did not miss the opportunity.

He grabbed the saber and, with trembling arms, pulled it from its sheath.

Startled, Astrid turned her head toward him.

A mistake.

She should never have taken her eyes off the true threat in front of her.

“That worthless musket, you said?”

A threatening low voice brushed past her ear.

Instinctively, Astrid swung her dagger while retreating.

But the officer had already adjusted his grip, holding the musket by the barrel with both hands instead of at the stock.

Unlike her dagger, the musket had superior reach.

“Muskets also make excellent blunt weapons.”

The beautifully crafted silver-and-metal buttstock carved an elegant arc through the air.

Thud!

Struck hard in the head, Astrid lost consciousness and collapsed.