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Chapter 45
“Headquarters will meet us halfway down the coastal road. So get ready to equip your personal armors right away.”
The squad members, who had come out of the cathedral, immediately got into the cars at Leto’s order.
“Is it really okay to bring out personal armors outside of headquarters?”
Sergeant Logan Mitas, seated in the back of Leto’s red car, unfastened the watch from his wrist as he asked.
The one who answered wasn’t Leto, but Colonel Ice.
“The pirates must’ve appeared somewhere not far from the cathedral, out at sea.”
“Ah…”
At those words, Logan frowned.
“That cathedral is practically right by the sea, and the civilians were gravely injured there. To go all the way back to headquarters and then return would be…”
“Yeah. A waste of time.”
Noah said, pulling off her earrings.
Colonel Ice nodded in agreement.
“But waiting around doing nothing isn’t a good option either.”
If pirates appeared and the navy just stood in front of the cathedral until weapons arrived, it would only erode people’s trust.
“In situations like this, putting on a show is important too.”
By showing they were moving busily to protect something, they reassured the people. Leto giving loud commands in front of the wedding guests earlier had been part of that same performance.
“So meeting headquarters halfway is the best option.”
After finishing the explanation, Noah removed her wedding ring and placed it in the car’s glove compartment. She also took Ice and Logan’s valuables and stored them.
Then she quickly stripped off her stockings and other unnecessary garments beneath her dress.
“G-goodness…!”
“I-I saw nothing!”
Colonel Ice and Logan both snapped their eyes shut.
“…Ah.”
Veins bulged on the back of Leto’s hand gripping the wheel.
“Those bastards… I’ll kill them all…!”
A sorrowful sigh escaped between his lips.
“…General.”
Noah gave him a sharp look.
“We’re on duty. Keep personal and public matters separate.”
“Sweetheart, do I look like I can do that right now?”
Though he spoke as if grieving, Leto was angrier than ever.
“I didn’t get to give you the vow’s kiss. No declaration of marriage, either. If you think about it, we’re not even married yet.”
“Whatever else happens, those pirates won’t see tomorrow.”
Logan, sensing a dangerous aura, foresaw the pirates’ gruesome fate. Colonel Ice silently agreed.
Noah, however, just let Leto’s whining roll off her back.
She slipped her hands under her skirt again. As she bent awkwardly, the curves of her body outlined by the mermaid dress were revealed.
Leto felt like crying.
“Ah, damn it…” Noah cursed.
“Darling, that’s exactly how I feel.”
“This dress is unbearable!”
She had tried tugging at it to rip, but eventually gave up, irritated. A famous designer’s work wouldn’t tear from a little force.
“Hhhuuu…!”
Leto’s furious shoulders swelled and twitched like those of a raging bull.
“I could help you out of it with my mouth…”
“Just hold it! I’ll wear it again after the mission!”
Finally, Noah snapped at him.
“Really? You’ll really wear it again?”
“So stop whining. You’re already plenty cute.”
“…Mmm.”
“When we get back, I’ll even show you that string trick. Deal?”
“String trick?”
“Something Ami and Celine gave me as a gift. It’s like a stretchy sweater.”
Even married, Noah was still an excellent officer—expert at handling her unnecessarily sly, whiny superior.
‘But wait…’
‘Wasn’t that conversation just now… kind of incredible?’
Logan and Colonel Ice, who had overheard everything from the back, decided to pretend they hadn’t.
Five minutes later, their car met another military vehicle coming from the opposite direction.
“General!”
A pink-haired soldier saluted as she got out.
“Corporal Madella Sana reporting! I’ve brought the thirteen personal armors and weapons as ordered—oh my! Captain, you look absolutely stunning!”
Spotting Noah in her wedding dress, Madella nearly jumped in place.
“I wanted to go to the wedding too! But of all times, I had duty today!”
“Thanks, Madella.”
Noah gave a regretful smile—it wasn’t the time for that.
Snapping back to focus, Madella continued.
“I also brought the Captain’s and lieutenants’ ship uniforms and boots. You can change in the military vehicle trunk tent.”
“Well done!”
“Thanks. The shoes were getting uncomfortable.”
While Noah, Ami, and Celine changed behind the trunk tent, Madella relayed headquarters’ message to Leto.
“Intelligence from the 8th Fleet. At Sharp Coast, 5.6 nautical miles south of Kaur Point, a medium fishing boat has been hijacked by pirates.”
“…”
Leto’s expression hardened for a brief moment, then he asked calmly,
“The culprits?”
“‘Fingers.’ Shika Rius has appeared.”
“So he’s finally stuck his neck out to be chopped.”
Equipping his personal armor over his suit, Leto smirked coldly.
“So he survived after all.”
Noah emerged quickly dressed in uniform, hair tied back. Her soldier’s face, still touched with bridal makeup, looked fierce.
Leto stared at her briefly, entranced, then let out a bitter laugh.
“I thought you had sunk and become fish food.”
Earlier this spring—
The navy had launched a massive operation to sweep the southern seas of pirates.
The most troublesome group had been none other than “Fingers,” captained by Shika Rius.
They had earned the name because every time they raided, they left victims with mutilated fingers. Their cruelty was notorious, never hesitating in their crimes.
At the sight of their flag—a skull crossed out with fingers like scissors—fishing boats would abandon even their nets and flee.
“Most pirate gangs are made up of impoverished imperial commoners. But those bastards are hardened criminals and fugitives from the start.”
Leto explained to the squad, who were now equipped and waiting.
“This spring, we thought we had wiped Fingers out.”
But it hadn’t been so.
“The spring sea must not have liked them much either.”
The fact that Shika’s body hadn’t been found then had now come back to haunt them.
“This time, we’ll make sure to capture him.”
A grim determination spread across the squad’s faces.
The biting tension radiated from every soldier—they were ready to subdue the enemy.
“During suppression, unavoidable killings will be forgiven. Even if you bring me only their heads, you must bring back proof that you’ve subdued them!”
“Yes, sir!”
With disciplined shouts, thirteen soldiers set sail.
Though their return after months was tragic news, one small relief was that no hostages had yet been killed.
“Killing them right away isn’t any fun.”
Shika Rius, leader of the pirates, muttered as he looked at the fishermen bound in ropes.
Surrounded, bruised, many couldn’t even open their eyes.
“Does hijacking one fishing boat even make us money?”
“What… what do you want from us?”
The fishing boat’s captain asked as steadily as he could. It was the best way not to provoke the brutal pirate.
“As you said, this boat has nothing of value. No catch yet, not even one fish…”
“You think I don’t know that?”
Shika suddenly leaned in, grinning, baring his teeth.
The captain was struck speechless by the madman’s lifeless eyes and insane smile.
“Take a good look.”
Shika held out his hand to the captain’s face. His right hand was missing a finger.
“I really loved my index finger, you know?”
“…”
It was revolting to hear with a clear mind.
“But that damned…”
Suddenly enraged mid-boast, Shika began stomping the captain mercilessly.
“Captain!”
“What did he ever do to you!”
The fishermen cried out, but the pirate’s savage kicks continued.
“That crazy bastard! That damned lunatic!”
At last, breathless, Shika stopped. The captain lay groaning, his face bleeding under the pirate’s rough boots.
“The Hero of Adlavor? The peerless genius?”
Shika screamed, thrusting his mutilated right hand toward the bound men.
“That bastard did this! He ruined my most beautiful finger, my precious index! That mad dog of a bastard did this to me!”
“…”
“…”
With eyes rolling back, drooling as he raved, he was terrifying to behold.
But just as suddenly, Shika grew calm. And he laughed.
“…It’s actually not a bad plan.”
He sat down again and revealed their scheme.
“We’ll use you as hostages.”
When the navy arrived, they would demand ransom. If refused, they’d slaughter the hostages in front of them.
“The ransom will be carried by that bitch who married the mad dog.”
Alone, unarmed.
“When she comes aboard, waiting inside will be—”
But Shika froze mid-sentence.
The fishermen, who had instinctively shut their eyes, cracked them open.
“…?”
They expected another sudden fit of violence. But nothing came.
“…Huh?”
A bearded middle-aged fisherman blinked in confusion.
Shika’s right hand clearly had four fingers a moment ago.
“…Three?”
Somehow, without anyone noticing, another finger was gone.
As Shika stared dumbly at his own hand, a massive shadow loomed behind him.
“…Aaagh! Aaaaagh!”
Kerk!
Too late, Shika screamed in pain as a giant hand seized his throat.
The owner of the shadow.
“If I’d known we’d meet again like this, I would’ve told you.”
Leto whispered in his ear.
“That before you die, you should wash your neck clean.”
At the same time, massive pillars of water rose skyward, encircling the fishing boat.
