🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 4
“If this is truly the truth…”
Harold’s eyes—once filled with indifference—had now completely changed.
“Piip, piiii— piiip!”
“The White Shark bastards are so pissed they’d stick their faces in a shallow dish and die!”
“Pi, piiip…! (I didn’t say that!)”
There were a few mistranslations, but this orca scholar was more capable than expected.
So he really is a properly educated overseas graduate.
Dahlia held out a tiny paw toward the scholar.
Tarik, the scholar, looked briefly startled—but soon smiled gently and shook Dahlia’s hand up and down.
“Daxton.”
“Yes, Lord.”
“Form an elite raiding force… cough, I mean. An elite investigation unit composed of the fastest and strongest.”
“As you command.”
Daxton quickly left the office.
The scholar followed behind him, leaving only Harold and Dahlia in the room.
Dahlia fidgeted nervously, glancing around.
Harold stared down at the tiny creature with a thoughtful expression.
“If everything you’ve given me is true…”
“…Pi, pii? (Y-yes?)”
“I will grant you a great reward.”
Dahlia’s bright blue eyes sparkled.
A reward!
Then it could ask to stay here for ten days—no, even half a month.
Or maybe even request escort all the way to where the sea otter beastmen lived.
Then it could meet Grandma again!
Grandma, just wait a little longer!
Dahlia happily placed her paws on her round cheeks.
The Next Morning
At dawn the next day, the orca expedition unit returned victoriously.
“Good heavens, what are all those?”
“They’re pearls! All of them! I heard our lord found the White Shark distribution hub and completely wiped it out!”
“Incredible. As expected of our lord!”
The clan members praised Harold in unison.
Cheering filled the air as the returning fleet headed straight toward the manor.
“We’re back, Lord.”
“Good work, Kaidek.”
Harold, who had been waiting in the office, stood up abruptly to greet the captain of the raiding force.
“So at last, we’ve landed a solid blow.”
Harold looked more satisfied than ever.
“That’s right. They never imagined their base would be discovered, so they left only minimal guards. Our side suffered almost no losses. This is truly a decisive victory.”
Not only that—they had gained massive spoils.
Enough high-grade pearls to rebuild several destroyed ships and still have plenty left over.
“By the way, how did you obtain such confidential White Shark intelligence? That island hidden in the Redbell Strait wasn’t even marked on any map.”
At Kaidek’s question, Harold stroked his chin.
Not long ago, he had thought the useless thing his eldest son brought in was nothing but a nuisance…
“Seems like a useful little rice cake rolled into our hands.”
“…Pardon? Rice cake?”
“Don’t worry about the details. The White Shark beasts will surely be sharpening their blades after this incident. Strengthen security in preparation for retaliation.”
“Yes, sir. As you command.”
After Kaidek left, the orca lord slowly examined the chest full of treasures.
Not only the rare pearls, but other jewels the enemy had been distributing were also mixed in.
Just looking at it filled one with satisfaction.
And imagining the White Sharks’ faces after losing their base made his mouth curl upward.
“Daxton.”
“Yes, Lord.”
“We’ll hold a grand feast tonight.”
The Baby Sea Otter Blinked
The manor was unusually chaotic.
“Piip, piiip? (W-what’s going on?)”
“I don’t know. Grandpa said everyone has to gather. Ugh, so annoying.”
Sandio, also summoned without explanation, grumbled.
“Idiot. Obviously it’s because the raiding force returned at dawn. Pay attention to family matters.”
“If I’m an idiot, then you’re an octopus head!”
“Thanks for the compliment. Octopuses are actually very smart. Much smarter than you.”
Sandio immediately threw a punch, but Ennio dodged effortlessly.
“Piip… piiip… (Sigh… stop fighting.)”
These black orca brothers never went a single day without arguing.
As Dahlia sighed, a sharp gaze landed on it.
Ennio.
“Why is that seal following us?”
“Grandpa told me to bring it too.”
“So it’s finally time to throw it out.”
At those words, Dahlia’s face went pale.
No way… did I do something wrong?! No, impossible.
Dahlia had grown up for over ten years among White Shark beastmen.
Specifically, within the direct Shakid family.
“Lord, as requested, we have established an undetectable distribution network from the orca fools. If you look at this map…”
“S-s-sorry…!”
“You can’t even mop properly? Useless trash. No wonder your parents abandoned you.”
Mopping floors, garbage disposal, kitchen work—everything was assigned to Dahlia.
To them, Dahlia was less than trash.
White Shark beastmen treated Dahlia in two ways:
Either as if it didn’t exist… or by tormenting it.
Those who ignored it freely exchanged confidential information in its presence.
After all, Dahlia would never leave that place alive.
The ones who bullied it… strangely, they were still useful.
Running errands meant it could still pick up information.
The reason Dahlia clung to information was simple.
If it ever returned to its sea otter clan family, it might be helpful.
But in the end…
I’m already dead.
As Dahlia’s expression darkened, Sandio suddenly shouted.
“It’s your fault I’m upset!”
“Not my problem.”
Ennio brushed past them.
“Seriously, he has the worst personality. Let’s go.”
Sandio grabbed Dahlia’s hand and dragged it forward, scattering those thoughts away.
The Grand Hall
The orca manor’s grand hall was packed.
Long tables stretched across the red carpet, covered in food and alcohol.
Harold stood at the head of the table.
“As you all know, our orca clan has long been at war with the White Sharks.”
Countless battles had taken place across the Emerald Coast.
“At times, we’ve lost brothers and family more precious than life itself.”
The dead could not be counted.
“Those cunning bastards have recently gained favor with royalty, but that will only last a moment.”
Harold lifted a glass.
“As of this dawn, we struck their base. A victory years in the making!”
“WOOOAAAH! LORD HAROLD!”
“OUR LORD IS THE BEST!”
“DAMN SHARKS—SERVES THEM RIGHT!”
The hall shook with cheers.
Dahlia let out a shaky breath.
Phew… it really worked out.
No matter how much information one had, it was useless without power to act.
In that sense, it was truly luck.
That Dahlia had met the orca clan in this vast ocean.
No other race could have executed this plan.
As strong, vicious, and infamous as the White Sharks themselves.
If only sea otter beastmen had sharp teeth or combat strength too…
All they had was the ability to crack shells with stones—nothing more.
Sea otters were weak.
“Now then, the one who contributed most to this raid is—”
Someone poked Dahlia’s side.
“Pipi.”
“…Piip? (Huh?)”
“The old man’s calling you.”
Dahlia snapped back to reality.
All the orcas were looking in the same direction.
At Dahlia.
“Come forward, young seal.”
Its small heart began to pound.
Cold sweat formed under all those piercing gazes.
“Come on up.”
Harold ordered firmly.
Behind him, something hidden under a curtain came into view.
Dahlia had a bad feeling about what it was.
Still trembling, it wiped its sweaty paws and walked forward.
The stares felt sharper than shark teeth.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the shark… I present to you the dumbest-looking sea otter beastman in the world!”
“Hahaha! Look at that tiny tail!”
“From now on, we will release this sea otter into the tank and begin a hunting competition among our young White Sharks!”
“Let’s see how long it lasts! Place your bets!”
Memories of its past life made crowded places terrifying.
Being in the corner was fine—but standing in front of everyone…
Scary.
Dahlia clenched its fists tightly.
The orca clan was just as infamous as the White Sharks.
Maybe they’re going to bet on me too…
Dahlia reached Harold.
“I prepared this for you.”
“…Piip? (W-what?)”
“You should see it yourself.”
Harold handed the curtain string to Dahlia.
“Count down with us!”
The orcas grew excited.
All eyes focused on the trembling child.
“Three!”
“Two!!”
“One!!”
There was no escaping it now.
With resignation, Dahlia pulled the string hard.
