Chapter 80
I was appalled by Mary-san's thoughtless actions.
In that respect, Captain Maurice had been cautious. He had disguised his identity and met with me directly, trying to determine what kind of person I was. He had not immediately leaped at the tempting offer of becoming deputy director of the Port Authority, either.
Even such careful actions offered no guarantee of success. That was the harshness of the world. Mary-san was not cautious enough.
"For one thing, you..."
"Shut up!"
As I tried to continue speaking, Mary-san's hand reached for the coat stand in the corner of the room. Her long coat and sword hung there. She seized the sword and drew it in one motion, then reached out with her left hand, grabbed me by the collar, and pointed the blade at me.
"W-wait—"
The masked sailor who had been listening from behind me stepped forward to stop Mary-san. But Mary-san did not withdraw the blade.
"Oh? Are you going to kill me? What happened to your plan to ransom me as a hostage?"
Even with a blade pointed at me, I did not back down. Instead, I smiled.
"Do you think you won't be killed?"
"No, quite the opposite. I am certain that I will be killed."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
Mary-san contorted her face, unable to understand what I meant.
"You're going to rendezvous with the pirates of the Vaal Archipelago. But when you do, I'm sure they'll order you to kill me. That way, they won't have to get their own hands dirty."
"That can't..."
"Can you say that with certainty?"
Mary-san fell silent at my question.
The motives of various countries and factions were entangled in this incident.
Hameil Kingdom's goal was to obstruct the Lionel Kingdom's maritime expansion. To that end, it intended to worsen relations between the Lionel Kingdom and Merka Island and disrupt trade through piracy. Mary-san's goal, meanwhile, was to rebuild declining Merka Island. She had abducted me so that she could place the island under Hameil Kingdom's protection.
Those were the aims of the two parties. But the Vaal Archipelago, which had acted as an intermediary between Hameil Kingdom and Mary-san, had somewhat different interests.
"I understand that you want to rebuild Merka Island. But do you think the people of the Vaal Archipelago will be happy to see Merka Island regain its strength?"
Mary-san did not answer my question.
The Vaal Archipelago had to obey the wishes of its patron, Hameil Kingdom. But it did not want to stand on the front lines by antagonizing the Lionel Kingdom. At the same time, it could hardly be pleased to see Merka Island expand its influence. In that case, there was only one course of action.
"They'll have you kill me, then cut ties with you afterward. Merka Island will oppose the Lionel Kingdom and be destroyed. Then the Vaal Archipelago's pirates will attack the Lionel Kingdom's ships. That's their optimal solution."
I spread my hands and explained the situation logically.
Mary-san kept hold of me without lowering her sword. Her eyes were bloodshot as she found herself cornered. She might lose control in her anger and slash me.
"Don't..."
The masked sailor tried to stop her. Just then, someone knocked on the captain's cabin door. It was Ann's voice; she had left only moments earlier.
"Captain Mary. A ship belonging to Bohn of the Vaal Archipelago has arrived."
Hearing those words, I smiled.
"Oh my, it seems the time has come to see whether my prediction was right."
"If Bohn doesn't tell me to kill you, I'll kill you myself!"
Mary-san roughly released me and lowered the sword she had been pointing at me.
"In that case, I'll offer you my head. But if my prediction is correct, they'll have you kill me and then kill all of you as well to destroy the evidence."
I laughed as I explained my prediction. If Mary-san and I were both killed, all that would remain was the fact that people from Merka Island had abducted me. The truth would be buried, and the breach between Merka Island and the Lionel Kingdom would become permanent.
"You'd better have your armed sailors gather on deck."
When I warned her, Mary-san frowned.
"...Ann. Tell everyone to arm themselves and stand by on deck."
Though she hesitated, Mary-san issued the order through the door.