After Alon had the treasure appraised by Alexion, he boarded the ship heading toward the Last Archipelago, the base of the Sea Wolves, following Radan.

“We’re departing.”

Evan, watching the moving ship, spoke after a while.

“You seem quite relaxed.”

Unlike a few days ago, it appeared that he wasn’t experiencing seasickness, as his expression didn’t change much from when he was on land.

“It’s all thanks to her.”

Evan turned his gaze subtly to Penia. A little distance away from them, Penia, looking notably better than before, was seen talking with Felin about something.

“…Impressive. She managed to create a potion that neutralizes seasickness in just three days.”

“I heard it stimulates a certain area of the magic flow, temporarily making one unable to feel seasick, but I honestly have no idea how it works.”

Listening to Evan, Alon once again admired Penia’s genius. He knew all too well that this kind of magic wasn’t something one could easily create just because it was inconvenient.

“Could she be talented not only in magic but also in alchemy?”

Alon looked at Penia with a hint of envy.

‘If only my body possessed even half of Penia’s talent… no, I’d settle for just half the capacity of her mana core.’

Alon clicked his tongue and was about to say something to Penia, but when he met her eyes, he awkwardly smiled and waved at her for a moment.

“Oh, by the way, why is the Deputy Tower Master here? When you think about it, there’s really no need for her to come along, is there?”

Evan asked, shifting his gaze.

“I asked her to come.”

“…The Count, you did?”

“Yes, she might be helpful in the battles to come.”

‘Well, I have already unlocked all the relics just in case, but still…’

Alon replied with that thought, and Evan nodded with a “Hmm” sound.

“But it’s strange.”

“What is?”

“The Deputy Tower Master. Doesn’t she seem to follow your orders too well? She’s incredibly kind compared to what I’ve heard about her personality.”

“…That’s true.”

“And even now, it’s the same. In fact, there’s no real benefit for her, so there’s no need for her to join this battle, is there?”

Alon nodded at Evan’s remark.

“You’re not wrong.”

Indeed, she originally had no reason to participate here.

Although investigating the mermen was somewhat related, there was no need for her to conduct research amidst such a dangerous war.

‘In fact, I thought the chances of her coming were slim… but she accepted it so readily…’

Alon recalled yesterday’s conversation as he watched Penia waving her hand.

“Deputy Tower Master, would you accompany us to tomorrow’s battle?”

“To the battle, together?”

“Yes, of course, considering the difference in strength, it shouldn’t be dangerous. Still, it’s better to have additional reserves. Didn’t you say you were investigating the mermen?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I heard that the Sea Wolves are related to the mermen, so there might be a lot to investigate if you go. What do you think? You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.”

“I-I’ll go.”

“…Are you sure?”

“Yes, yes, absolutely…!”

Alon recalled Penia vigorously nodding her head.

“But, what exactly happened that made the Deputy Tower Master follow you so obediently?”

Alon made a peculiar expression in response to Evan’s continued questioning.

‘I don’t really know either.’

Thinking about it, despite having known her for several years, Alon still couldn’t figure out why Penia was so compliant with him.

From Alon’s perspective, however, this relationship was not a disadvantage.

More than anything, after several years, this bond had naturally solidified, making it a bit awkward to question it now.

That’s why he hadn’t paid much attention to it.

‘…Still, should I subtly ask her once?’

Alon thought this, as he still didn’t understand why she was so devoted to him.

By the time he was having such thoughts, the Pirate Lords, who controlled the other six archipelagos under Radan’s command and were steering the ship alongside Radan’s ship White Moon, were clicking their tongues in displeasure at the sight of Alon.

Luna Bloodsail, the ruler of the 2nd Archipelago.

Sabina Ghostcrown, the ruler of the 3rd Archipelago.

Tarik Thundercrush, the ruler of the 4th Archipelago.

Garrett Deathsea, the ruler of the 5th Archipelago.

Jackal Darksteel, the ruler of the 6th Archipelago.

All of them were loyal to Radan, leading the armies of their respective islands, and they were all looking at Alon with discomfort.

“Tch, what on earth does the boss see in that noble brat to be so protective of him?”

Red-haired Luna Bloodsail, the ruler of the 2nd Archipelago, muttered, prompting Tarik Thundercrush, the green-haired ruler of the 4th Archipelago, to speak up.

“Reckless talk is not good, but I agree with you. Honestly, I’m not fond of him either.”

“…”

“I agree as well—”

“Same here.”

Sabina Ghostcrown, who remained silent, nodded in agreement, as did Garrett Deathsea and Jackal Darksteel.

While they hadn’t shown any signs during their gathering to attack the last archipelago, their discontent had greatly intensified in Radan’s absence.

It made sense, as the pirates were dissatisfied with Count Palatio, who had suddenly joined their ranks and earned Radan’s favor.

Of course, even though rumors spread among the islands, making it clear that Count Palatio might not be just any noble brat, the pirates still saw them as mere rumors.

“Isn’t that all made up?”

Like others Alon had encountered, the pirates present were not convinced by the tales about him.

After all, they themselves possessed considerable skill.

“Isn’t that guy said to be only around the 3rd or 4th magical rank?”

One of the Pirate Lords, the only mage among them, Sabina, was asked. She, who had been silent, nodded.

“Yes, at most, that’s about right. Even being generous, his mana level is between the 2nd and 3rd ranks.”

“…Tch, why does the boss favor someone like that?”

Luna Bloodsail grumbled, still unable to comprehend.

At that moment, Tarik Thundercrush, who had been silently observing Count Palatio, spoke up.

“Don’t judge by appearances alone. If rumors have spread that much, he might be hiding some trump cards.”

“But even then, he’s only at the 3rd or 4th rank, right?”

“There could be more to it. Given how many rumors follow him around, it’s unlikely to be just a few.”

Tarik’s words made Bloodsail look at him skeptically before responding.

“It doesn’t seem like you believe in the Count that much yourself.”

Tarik remained silent.

In truth, while he was talking as if he was defending Count Palatio, he himself wasn’t free from doubt.

Contrary to the rumors, Count Palatio didn’t appear impressive.

But judging someone solely by their outward appearance was foolish.

So, Tarik, without responding to Bloodsail’s remark, simply continued to observe Count Palatio.

Even in his eyes, there was a faint sense of distrust, just like the other pirates.

####

Another person who distrusted—or, more accurately, was puzzled by—Count Palatio was Felin Crysinne.

Having grown up researching magic in the Blue Tower, he wasn’t familiar with rumors, but he knew enough about the tales of Count Palatio.

Moreover, he had even witnessed her sister, Penia Crysinne, who was unmatched and unrivaled, fawning over him.

Yet, the confusion persisted.

People usually believed what they saw, and Count Palatio appeared weak—Felin could perceive that clearly.

However, the reactions of those around him were different from what he saw.

Her esteemed sister, Penia Crysinne, was still fawning over him.

The mages returning from the Magic Society were praising Count Palatio as remarkable.

It was a highly contradictory situation, where what he saw and the reactions of others didn’t align.

‘What’s really going on…?’

Felin was at the point of feeling confused as he watched Count Palatio.

“Sea Wolves!!”

At the sudden shout, Felin snapped back to attention and looked forward.

And then, he saw it.

Silhouetted against the twilight, dozens of pirate ships blocking the path of the White Moon, which was heading toward the Last Archipelago.

“Prepare for battle—!”

Luna Bloodsail, the ruler of the 2nd Archipelago, who had been wearing a leisurely expression just moments before, shouted out.

“Prepare for battle!”

The command, passed from mouth to mouth like an echo, quickly spread among the pirates.

At this moment, everyone, including Radan, saw something.

It was Tertogan, standing at the center of the deck on all the ships.

And, as if he had prepared for this moment, he suddenly snapped his fingers.

“A trap?!”

“Merfolk…!”

The other Pirate Lords frowned as soon as they saw this, suspecting that they might have fallen into a trap, and their faces grew tense.

Strangely, however, nothing seemed to happen after Tertogan snapped his fingers.

Just as the pirates began to express confusion—

Screeech~!

The sound came from the Sea Wolves side.

A scream.

And not just one scream—multiple screams that left Radan and the Pirate Lords baffled.

Then, in the next moment…

They saw it.

On the numerous pirate ships of the Sea Wolves, a massacre or rather, devouring.

Radan.

The Pirate Lords.

The pirates.

Count Palatio and Evan.

Even Penia and Felin—all of them stood dumbfounded as they watched.

On the Sea Wolves’s ship, countless pirates were being eaten by the merfolk.

Their heads were bitten off as they screamed.

Their limbs were torn apart as they struggled.

Those who jumped overboard left behind bloody foam.

It was truly a brutal scene of slaughter.

And to the people in White Moon, it looked like sudden infighting had broken out.

The sea turned into a blood-red ocean amid the horrific feast.

Just moments ago, Tertogan had been smiling, but as soon as the pirates he led were dead, he eagerly declared,

“Finally!!!”

With a twisted grin, he raised an object.

At that moment,

Crunch!

His body began to transform.

Crash~!

“The ship—the ship’s—!”

The merfolk, who had devoured the Sea Wolves’ pirates, swarmed toward the White Moon’s ship in an instant.

And then,

Crash~!!!

The ships began to sink.

####

“Aaaah~!”

“Here, the ship is sinking here!”

“Do something, do something!”

Felin’s eyes took in a scene of utter chaos.

Ships that were struck were beginning to sink, pirates were scrambling desperately.

Crunch!

Above and below the sea, fierce battles were raging.

As merfolk’s teeth tore off pirates’ arms, swords stabbed into merfolk in return, claiming their lives.

In the midst of this chaotic situation, Felin frowned.

Although it was his first experience in battle, his training as a mage helped him maintain a thread of rationality, but the current battle situation didn’t look promising.

Felin’s gaze shifted underwater.

Amidst the red blood, dozens of merfolk corpses were rising from the sea and falling back.

It was due to Radan’s combat skills, which were close to divine.

With a single sweep of his trident, he sent water columns soaring, and with a single throw, he shattered the merfolk. His power was truly extraordinary.

Likewise, the Pirate Lords, who were mercilessly slaughtering the merfolk climbing onto the deck, were strong, though not to Radan’s level.

But even so, the battle remained unfavorable.

‘There are just too many…!’

Felin gritted his teeth.

Despite the man known as the Sea King demonstrating an unbelievable display of divine power, the ship continued to sink.

This meant that an overwhelming number of merfolk had swarmed in, a number even Radan’s astonishing abilities couldn’t manage.

Of course, given enough time, Radan and the Pirate Lords were strong enough to annihilate all the merfolk, but unfortunately, there wasn’t much time allowed at sea.

And then.

Not long after.

“It—it’s sinking!”

As feared, the merfolk must have done something beneath the ship; even Radan’s vessel tilted sharply, and as Felin felt the ship begin to capsize, he squeezed his eyes shut.

“Frigid Abyss.”

He heard a low voice.

And suddenly—

Everything stopped.

“…?”

And then—

‘Cold?’

Feeling a chilling sensation fill his lungs, Felin cautiously opened his tightly shut eyes.

And he saw it.

Beneath the collapsing ship, a vast expanse of ice.

Felin stared blankly at the sight.

But it wasn’t just him.

The pirates who had been screaming moments before.

The Pirate Lords who had been slaughtering the merfolk.

They were all witnessing the scene.

The ice that started around the ship spread across the sea.

The merfolk leaping toward the ship froze in mid-air.

The sinking ship became encased in ice.

The blood-red sea solidified into a frozen ocean.

And then.

Amidst it all stood a man silhouetted against the twilight.

He wore a dark coat, his left hand wreathed in gray and dark magic.

With an expression devoid of any emotion, as if unaffected by the situation, he fixed his gaze upon the grotesquely transforming Tertogan—

It was Count Palatio.

Standing tall and dignified upon the frozen sea of blood.