Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 56

Chapter 56: Augustus Family Treasure!
Freni gazed thoughtfully at Ryan, her voice gentle but laced with a firm undertone, “It is rather unrealistic to expect a promotion in your professional path in the near future. However, acquiring more unique and powerful artifacts can significantly enhance your combat prowess.”

Ryan nodded in agreement, his gaze drifting across the deck of the ship, his brow furrowing with curiosity. “Lady Freni, this vessel we are aboard?”

He had been eager to broach this subject for a while.

“It’s the naval cruiser formerly known as the ‘White Dove’, a level 5 sailing ship. It has been rechristened the ‘Black Rose’,” Freni explained, her eyes reflecting the ship’s new purpose. “With this ship, our journey to the Whirlpool Islands will be considerably shortened’ to merely about a week.”

“As for the vessel previously bearing the name ‘Black Rose’, I’ve had to forsake it. Time presses upon us with urgency as we must hasten to the Whirlpool Islands. There simply wasn’t enough time to attend to such matters. We had no choice but to let it drift away, abandoned to the mercy of the seas.”

“I understand,” Ryan murmured, a twinge of regret shadowing his features. He knew well the value of a three-masted sailing ship; even sold at a reduced price to the Purple Onyx Chamber of Commerce, it could fetch a handsome sum of 10,000 pounds. But sometimes, necessity dictated harsh sacrifices.

Surveying the deck further, Ryan queried, “And the navy crew, Lady Freni, where are they now?”

“They are temporarily confined in the lower cabin,” Freni replied with calm authority. “After a period of reorientation and training, they will be integrated into our crew.”

Ryan nodded, his expression neutral. To him, whether navy or pirates, they were merely hands needed to man the ship, their roles interchangeable under the duress of survival.

“For these men, there is no dishonor in serving under our command, and the psychological strain is minimal. After all, we do not require them to engage in heinous acts.”

After a brief pause, Ryan spoke again, “Lady Freni, I shall take my leave now. The recent skirmishes have given me much to ponder over the ‘Storm Combat Techniques’. I wish to refine my skills as much as I can before we reach the Whirlpool Islands.”

“Of course, proceed,” Freni acknowledged with a slight nod. As Ryan turned to leave, she hesitated, then added, “Mr. Ryan, before you go, there is an apology I owe you.”

“Each Black Knight serves as a living beacon,” Freni began, her voice tinged with a grave certainty. “Now that one has discovered us, it signals that our presence is known among their ranks.”

She paused, her gaze piercing as she continued, “In the future, their pursuit will intensify. The next one who comes will not be a novice like today’s adversary. Expect someone far more formidable, perhaps even a seasoned Black Knight, and possibly more than one.”

Her expression softened slightly as she added, “And because of my actions, it is highly likely that you, too, are now marked by the Black Knights… For that, I am truly sorry.”

Her voice hardened as she spoke of her foes, “These vile minions, they will one day face retribution for their deeds.”

Ryan responded with a dismissive wave of his hand, not bothering to turn around. “It’s alright. It’s just another hunt. I still bear the Blood Mark, and I need no Black Knight to remind me of my fate.”

As Ryan’s silhouette merged with the shadows of the night, Freni slowly withdrew her gaze. She turned to the knightly figure standing beside her, her tone both gentle and firm. “Cecilia, return to your quarters and rest. You must be at your best to continue your duties.”

Freni’s directive left Cecilia with a silent nod of acknowledgment.

As she made her way back, Cecilia cast a lingering glance in the direction Ryan had taken. Despite her reluctance, she recognized that for the time being, she could no longer be the sole protector of Lady Freni. This newcomer, Ryan, might well be their next beacon of hope.

Her footsteps echoed faintly before fading into the silence of the night, leaving Cecilia alone by the bulwark. She lowered her gaze to the moonlit waters, her lips set in a determined line.

“I must grow stronger,” she murmured to herself.

…

Hours later, Ryan returned to his new quarters.

After a thorough wash and changing into fresh clothes, he repurposed a wooden box to house the [Nameless Ship Sculpture]. Lying on his wooden bed, he held the [Bloody Flintlock] and [Energy Resistance Ring] in his hands, his thoughts adrift. Though Freni had not explicitly stated it, Ryan understood the grim reality: with Freni’s current capabilities, overcoming the Moon Wolf was a daunting, perhaps impossible, task.

Indeed, the Moon Wolf ranks among the most formidable and elusive creatures of the second tier, a challenge far surpassing the capabilities of a mere [First Level Scholar] like Freni.

Nevertheless, the vital essence of the Moon Wolf remains indispensable.

While Ryan was uncertain how Freni intended to bolster her powers before they reached the Whirlpool Islands, he knew his own role was clear: he must fortify his strength at all costs.

Facing upcoming adversities, whether it was repelling an imminent attack or hunting down the Moon Wolf, required enhanced capabilities.

To this end, the two artifacts he possessed, the [Bloody Flintlock] and the [Energy Resistance Ring], would be invaluable tonight. The [Bloody Flintlock] would compensate for his lack of long-range weaponry, while the [Energy Resistance Ring], complemented by the “Attribute Resistance lv.1” from the [Trophy: Electric Needle], would increase his endurance and error margin against foes wielding similar energy attacks.

However, this newfound arsenal made the bespoke hand crossbow, currently under construction by the master smith at the Copper Hammer, seem somewhat superfluous. The irony that he had unexpectedly acquired the [Bloody Flintlock] was not lost on him.

Still, the hand crossbow wasn’t entirely redundant. The [Bloody Flintlock], potent as it was, demanded a high price: each use sapped one-tenth of his blood, a cost not shared by the hand crossbow.

Ryan mused on the similar blood cost of using the [Black Eclipse Ring], a wry smile flickering at the edge of his lips. He joked to himself about becoming a walking blood bank.

With a shake of his head, dismissing further thoughts, he settled down on his bed.

As the wall clock struck midnight, marking the hour as “0,” Ryan murmured to himself with a hint of resolve, “To the hunting grounds, let the night’s journey commence!”

In the dimly lit captain’s quarters, Freni sat alone, her gaze fixed intently on a palm-sized wooden box cradled in her hands. The flickering candlelight cast a soft glow on her delicate features, accentuating the uncertainty and conflict evident in her eyes.

This box, a relic passed down through generations of the Augustus family, was both her greatest inheritance and the reason for her relentless persecution by those she deemed “despicable.” Yet, its true purpose remained a mystery, even to her ancestors who had held it before her.

Freni recalled her father’s solemn words, his voice echoing in her memory as if he were still beside her. “Freni… open this box only in your direst need… It contains both hope and a curse…”

The gravity of her current plight felt every bit a moment of such desperation. She needed a power, a strength that was beyond her current grasp, and this mysterious artifact was her last beacon of hope.

Resolving herself, Freni drew a small dagger and pricked her index finger. Drops of blood, as rich as rubies, fell onto the box, a key unlocking its ancient seal, as only the blood of an Augustus could.

As her blood made contact, the box began to glow with a gentle luminescence. It slowly unfolded itself, revealing a detailed sculpture reminiscent of a ship’s bow. Before Freni could lean in for a closer examination, the glow intensified, pulling her consciousness towards it, enveloping her in a blinding light.

Time lost meaning as she was transported beyond the physical confines of her ship. When her vision cleared, she found herself standing in an expansive, stark white space. The only feature in this void was a peculiar cube at the center.

Freni’s curiosity piqued as she approached the cube. Suddenly, a hissing sound of electrical currents filled the air, and one face of the cube lit up, displaying an image of a raft moored on the shore of a desolate island.