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Jericho had already gone into the other room, but he returned shortly after, holding an empty glass. When he poked Lil, she first filled her own glass, before pouring some of the liquor she brought into his. When he was satisfied with his drink, Jericho slipped out of the room again.

Jarles stroked his moustache and exclaimed in surprise.

“It’s the first time I see you drinking!”

“When did we see each other so often?”

Lil gulped down the Qanyon and wiped her lips. A few moments later, Jarles also emptied his glass without leaving a single drop behind. Lil asked, refilling the two glasses.

“You have three from the Navy this time?”

“Aye.”

“What do you think?”

“They’re stupid.”

Lil’s expression faltered at the totally unexpected answer.

“What?”

“Complete idiots, all three of them were demoted to the central deck in a day… At first, I put them all on the front deck because they were from the Navy, but guess what?” 

“…”

“They can’t even tie the rigging properly… They’re just cleaning the deck for now. When the opportunity arises, I probably throw them into the sea or something. It won’t be a surprise if it turns out that they can’t even swim.”

“That’s not like the Navy at all.”

“I heard yours is a doctor.”

“You’re right, but…”

“…”

Lil tilted her head, sipping on her second glass.

“Aren’t you suspicious of the possibility of them being spies?”

“What? Those idiots are spies?”

Jarles, who was playing with the ends of his hair, snorted. The blatantly sarcastic Lil suspected him of being complacent.

“They can simply pretend to be stupid, Jarles.”

“I thought about that, too, but you don’t have to worry, Lil. We’ve always been watchful of them, along with the League’s leaders, so don’t think I’m complacent. The only thing to watch out for is their serious idiocy. They might break my lovely Rosanna’s bow sooner than later.”

“…”

Rosanna was the name of Jarles’ ship, named after one of his old flames. In any case, Lil could no longer dismiss his insight. Lil had been a captain from the start because she possessed a ship, but initially, the position of captain of a pirate ship was obtained by vote. To become a captain, one needed to be competent in politics as well as have a keen eye. Despite his occasionally petty side due to his hairstyle and moustache, Jarles was one of the most dignified captains.  

“Lil, you’re suspicious of that doctor, aren’t you?”

“Aye.”

“Why?”

“I ran into him in Amiaeng before he boarded the Bell Rock.”

Lil didn’t elaborate further, fearing that Ed would become a target. Jarles stared at her, while twisting his hair around his finger, waiting for an explanation. However, Lil silently emptied the glass instead of answering.

“You don’t like that coincidence?”

“Yeah. We bumped into each other twice.”

“Huh, whoever hears you would think that Amiaeng is as big as the Empire. Besides, that doctor, didn’t you say he got shot instead of you?”

“…”

“Except for when they’re detected, spies have to survive no matter what. And even if they die, they need to crawl their tongues to their fleet and report. That are spies.”

“…”

Jarles filled his glass.

“Lil. Having a keen eye doesn’t mean your eyes are only filled with doubt. You have to put doubt in one and trust in the other. Both eyes need to be open for them to function properly.”

“…”

While Jarles pointed alternately at his eyes, Lil glanced at his dark irises but eventually turned to her drink.

“Why are you so stubbornly keeping only one eye open?”

“…”

“I’ve seen your ship’s doctor today as we’ve been keeping an eye on him. I don’t know, but I’ve never seen anybody like that guy before. Every ship’s doctor was snooping around him, too.”

“…” 

“Hey, don’t abandon him.”

“…”

“Oh! Better yet, if you’re going to throw him away, give him to me.”

Lil chuckled.

“It doesn’t matter to me anymore. Would you like to make an offer to Ed tomorrow?”

“What?”

“I’m quitting the captaincy, Jarles.”

“What?!”

“I’ll go somewhere far away and make a living by ploughing the fields.”

While Jarles laughed as if he had heard a very humorous joke, Lil just kept drinking her liquor without joining his outburst. The laughter that had been thundering beside her eventually subsided and a few moments later, his movements stopped completely. After staying silent for a bit, Jarles jumped out of his seat and yelled towards the other side of the table.

“Hey, Anunchio!”

His voice was so loud that the other captains, who were hovering together with serious expressions, turned and paid attention to Jarles. While everyone was bewildered as to what was going on, Anunchio, sitting at the far end of the table, cautiously rose from his seat. Lil then poured the full content of the bottle down her throat.

“..?”

Jarles spoke, pointing at her head.

“Lil said he’s leaving the League?”

“…What?..”

“…The Black Whale?..”

As they all climbed to their feet in surprise, the table in the centre trembled. Lil put down the bottle and looked around to see five or six guys standing tall. Despite the menacing sight, Lil merely wiped the liquor drops that ran down her chin. 

“Aye. I’m done as captain.”

Lil slowly rose, looking at the men whose eyes were full of scepticism. Lil took a big breath and laid out the explanation she had been working on all day.

“I, Lil Schweiz, have miraculously survived because of my crew’s relentless act. While the crew of the Bell Rock may think they’ve been given a fair price, I’m ashamed to speak about it.”

“…”

Still, no one sat down. Lil raised her chin more proudly and continued.

“I know what the Captains of this esteemed League are thinking, that I’m taking advantage of this opportunity to run away like a coward when war is imminent? ‘That sly Lil Schweiz was a traitor after all. I knew it from the start! Didn’t I warn you to not let that ******* in?’ Probably something like that, am I right?”

“…”

No one objected, so Lil clenched her fists and spoke her words without hesitation.

“But what will my crew think of me if I stay? It would be said that someone who’s in debt of thirty lives is sitting in the captain’s seat. Everyone has only one life. That’s the unchangeable truth. So, who can bear me? I became a precedent. Someone apparently worth saving, whereas others were not. I shouldn’t be getting on any ship. I’ll have to disappear.”

“Lil. Don’t think like that…”

It was Jarles. He was constantly twisting his curly hair with uneasy movements.

“No. I’m leaving with the navigator. I have to show everyone that a life that sits on another’s life shouldn’t exist in the League.”

“Don’t be too hard on yourself. Isn’t it a pleasure for a Captain to see such loyalty from his crew? No matter how much is paid, this kind of loyalty can’t be bought with money. Now, why in the world are you thinking that you can’t accept the noble hearts of your crew?”

“…”

“Besides, those sailors made their own choice. Please reconsider, to ensure that their decision isn’t in vain.”

But Lil shook her head firmly.

“Since when has returning the captain’s position been so difficult? There will be a lot of people cheering just for me leaving this kitchen.”

“…At times like this, The League needs an experienced Captain rather than a newly elected one…”

A captain, standing on the right side of Jarles, cut in. Lil gave him a look. It was a man with a deformed nose bridge, bent to the right side of his face.

“Valtano. Thank you for your words, but there are more experienced sailors on the Bell Rock than I. I guarantee it.”

Lil then turned to Anunchio. His elderly eyes were fixed on her. Soon, the enormous old man, who appeared to be taller than Cesar, began to sink. Lil dropped her gaze to match his lowered eyes. Anunchio sat silently for a while and then slowly opened his mouth.

“The Black Whale is right. Everyone is so afraid of the future that they only want to see the approaching waves. But you should always look at the horizon to see if a storm is flying over. As Lil said, what happened sets a precedent. Don’t let loyalty cover your wrongdoing.”

“…I can’t believe such a coward was a Captain of the League!…”

The complaint came from the captain that followed Anunchio’s lead and sat down beside him. Two more men lowered themselves to their seats. Their reactions were predicted as it was a situation that could easily be misunderstood. But Lil didn’t want her name to be associated with a coward, so she devised a ruse to persuade them.

“It would be foolish for me to convince you not to think of me as a coward. Instead, I hope you recognize my sadness that I can no longer be with you and my crew. That way I can prove my sincerity and leave.”

Lil rummaged through the pocket of her pants and placed a golden certificate in front of him.