Chapter 7: The Captain and the Navigator
Chapter 7: The Captain and the Navigator
As the massive warship loomed closer, Lily skillfully steered her small boat, carrying Sage away from the port at breakneck speed.
The presence of Colonel Mouse in these parts suggested that he anticipated some unforeseen event, and thus, the warship had not docked at the port.
Now that the unforeseen had occurred, the warship could sail straight ahead and bombard the area.
"Hey, what's this got to do with you? Why are you going to sea?" Sage asked, puzzled.
This princess, with the king dead, should be the next queen. Why would she go to sea at a time like this?
Lily pursed her lips and said, "I killed the naval colonel, and I will be wanted too. I won't let you bear this calamity alone!"
Her tone was unusually firm as she faced Sage. "The trouble started because of me, and I won't let you face the bounty alone. If they're going to put a price on our heads, I'm willing to go to sea with you! I know navigation and how to read nautical charts. I'm a navigator, and I ask for your guidance from now on!"
Sage was taken aback for a moment. "A navigator?"
...
The weather at sea was fickle and unpredictable. If one couldn't observe the sky and grasp the wind direction, it would be easy to capsize in these vast waters.
Crash! Boom!
Amid the chaotic lightning and thundering rain clouds was a fierce storm, but beyond this chaos, in a distant part of the sea, a small boat drifted peacefully on the surface.
After escaping the bombardment, they had stopped here. Sage tugged at the corner of his mouth and addressed Lily, who seemed unaccustomed to the open sea but was now curiously observing the waters.
"So, you really are a navigator."
This princess, raised in the royal palace since childhood and not having experienced much of the outside world, had managed to find the right wind direction when they set sail. Moreover, she could tell from the clouds which areas would experience heavy rainfall and actively avoided them.
She really knew her way around the sea.
Upon hearing this, Lily lifted her head proudly and said, "I've read a lot of books on navigation, and I've always dreamed of becoming a navigator since I was little."
However, as soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly paused, her eyes drifting away as a strange scene flashed through her mind.
...
"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
A very young Lily sat on a strong and sturdy arm, gazing out at the azure sea beyond the window after being asked this question, her face lit up with a giggle.
"Go to sea? That's wonderful. But to go to sea, you need knowledge. Start learning now, and I'm sure you'll become an excellent navigator, Lily."
Who did that arm belong to?
Never mind, she couldn't quite remember.
...
Lily shook her head to clear her jumbled thoughts and continued, "Anyway, although I lack practical experience, I have a wealth of theoretical knowledge, and I'm sure I can be an excellent navigator and ensure our course. Besides..."
She stood up, causing the little wooden boat to rock violently, and drew a gorgeous rapier from her waist. "I'm also a swordsman, so I can take care of myself, and I won't hold you back!"
Sage noticed the smile that Lily was trying to suppress and asked curiously, "You seem pretty excited."
"I, I'm not excited," Lily stuttered, her face suddenly turning red under Sage's gaze. She straightened herself and gripped the wooden oar, taking a deep breath to compose herself, her expression now one of seriousness.
"I'm just a little interested in venturing out to sea," she said calmly.
Her eyes were sparkling with curiosity, a true adventurer. It was understandable that a princess confined to the royal palace, unknown to the outside world, would yearn for exploration.
The citizens of the Eucott Kingdom were saved, even if the sky remained unchanged. At least now they had a means to fight back, and Lily's heart was eased.
Moreover, this woman, regardless of whether she had killed the colonel or not, would have been nothing more than a puppet queen controlled by those nobles if she had forcefully ascended the throne without anyone recognizing her. It was better to set sail and leave all that behind.
Having studied navigation and swordsmanship from a young age, she must have learned the latter from Ennio. That damned father of hers had thought of everything!
Sage sat cross-legged on the boat, his elbow resting on his knee and his chin propped up by his hand. "I could really use a navigator," he said.
Those with knowledge of the sea were a rare commodity, and anyone with even a basic understanding would be invaluable on a ship.
Otherwise, he'd be as good as blind out at sea, relying solely on the sun for direction.
Sage's words lit up Lily's eyes.
But before she could speak, he waved his hand and said, "However, there are some things we should get straight right now. If you don't agree, it's better we part ways sooner rather than later."
"First, I'm not out here to play some game of make-believe as a pirate. Being a pirate is a profession to me, and I take my professions seriously. I will do whatever it takes to be a pirate, including burning, killing, looting, and plundering. Do you have a problem with that?"
After causing such a stir in the Eucott Kingdom, anyone without a bounty on their head would be the strange one. Since his plan to become a bounty hunter had failed, the next best option was to become a pirate.
And what did pirates do?
"I have no problem with that!" Lily replied firmly.
This seemed to surprise Sage a little. "No, I mean I will burn, kill, loot, and plunder. Do you have a problem with that?" he clarified.
"Yes, that's what pirates do!"
Lily looked directly into Sage's eyes. "I understand!"
Sage found this reaction odd. "Why?"
"Because you said you're not interested in the poor," Lily replied solemnly.
Sage was taken aback for a moment as he studied her. Then he smiled wryly and said, "That's true."
He untied the iron flask from his belt, took a swig, and then offered it to the blonde, wavy-haired girl.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Norton Sage, your captain."
Lily didn't hesitate to grab the flask and take a gulp, despite the spicy liquor causing her face to flush. She wiped her mouth and said seriously, "I'm Bindeta Lily, your navigator!"
On the right, there was chaos—stormy weather with dark clouds and howling winds.
On the left, it was calm and peaceful, with clear skies as far as the eye could see.
In the middle of it all, on their small boat, the two shared a smile, announcing to the vast ocean the formation of a pirate crew—a crew that, for now, consisted of just the two of them!
"Now, let me tell you my plan!" Sage said eagerly. "First, we'll recruit a large group of people and accumulate some capital through plundering. Then we'll find a base of operations and, over time, work towards fulfilling my grand dream of becoming a wealthy landlord. Any questions?"
"Yes!"
Lily raised her hand. "Before we get to your 'grand' dream, don't we need to find a ship for our plundering and navigation?"
A canoe was definitely not suitable for piracy, let alone navigating the high seas. One big wave would be enough to capsize it.
"Also..."
Gurgle...
Lily's stomach rumbled, causing her to lower her head in embarrassment, but she quickly looked up again.
Perhaps it was the thrill of joining a pirate crew, or the boldness that came from sharing a drink with Sage, but Lily momentarily set aside her royal upbringing and manners, honestly admitting, "I'm hungry."
Not only was the canoe unsuitable for their endeavors, but they also had no food.
(End of Chapter)
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