Unmoor — Chapter 1 (Part 1)

1.

The Disheptator Pirate Crew.

The Millard family’s greatest headache. A wretched creature who wasn’t satisfied with killing his own mother at birth and went on to devour his father as he grew up. Those were the kinds of labels that usually clung to Astric, and he never made any particular effort to deny the long chain of epithets trailing behind him.

It was true that his mother had died after enduring a brutal labor. It was also true that his father had been buried in the deep, quiet grave known as the sea. That didn’t mean he hadn’t mourned their deaths. He simply had never truly felt lonely. Perhaps it was because he wasn’t completely without family.

If one counted an uncle who seized the position of family head with the twisted justification that his late elder brother, who had closed his eyes in regret, would have wanted him to fulfill his duties as an uncle so as not to burden a child. Or a cousin who twisted his face strangely whenever he saw Astric, only to throw punches and spew abuse later. If those people were considered family, then that was that.

“Astric, you’re coming home later and later. Have you taken an interest in swordsmanship?”

Astric, who had been swinging swords late into the evening with people he got along with fairly well before hurrying back into the mansion, flinched at the sound of his uncle Willian’s voice.

Of all times, why now? If Willian discovered that he had developed an interest in swordsmanship, it would obviously become troublesome. Under the pretext of worrying about him as an uncle, he would surely try to suppress him.

Astric lowered his head, his face stiff.

“I’m sorry, Uncle.”

Willian stared at Astric with a cold gaze before lifting the corner of his mouth.

“Everything in moderation, moderation. You only have one body, after all. Wouldn’t it be terrible if you pushed yourself too hard and came back one day seriously injured?”

The words were spoken with a gentle smile, but there were barbs hidden within them. It was a veiled threat not to create even the smallest issue that others might notice, nothing worth paying attention to. Astric’s brow twitched. His uncle had a remarkable talent for casually spewing venom wrapped in pleasant-sounding words.

Did one have to be that shameless to steal the position of family head from one’s nephew. The more he mulled it over, the more bitter his mouth felt, but he couldn’t bare his teeth just yet.

Keeping his expression calm, Astric replied,

“I apologize for worrying you when you must already be busy, Uncle. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

“Good. I’m glad you understand. You must be tired after rolling around in the dirt like a wild colt. I have nothing more to say, so go on inside.”

Willian’s voice, as he spoke words of consideration, was soft, but his eyes were not. They were cold, like frost settling in winter. It was a clear warning.

“…Yes. Then I’ll take my leave.”

Astric bowed and went up the stairs. Once he disappeared, Willian, left alone in the empty corridor, erased even the faint smile that had lingered on his lips.

He already knew. Reports had had come in long ago that Astric was wandering outside under the guise of socializing with other young nobles while learning swordsmanship. This was his territory. Did he really seem like someone without eyes or ears.

The only thing he had been pondering was how to deal with it. Whether to pretend to be an ignorant uncle and let it pass, or to use it as an excuse to completely cut down whatever shoots Astric was trying to grow. Until now, he had watched quietly, intending to use him in the marriage market if needed, but now there wasn’t even time for that.

The central nobles and the Emperor had begun to question his position and legitimacy, citing the atrocities committed by the infamous Disheptator pirate crew in the eastern seas. Willian’s gaze darkened.

‘They were happy to gorge themselves every time I bribed them, and now they want to wash their hands clean?’

It seemed they had realized they were being used and were now bringing up Astric, the original heir, to insult him and squeeze out even more. He couldn’t allow that to happen.

In this relationship, the one holding the upper hand had to be him, not them. Why else had he allowed the Disheptator pirates to grow in power all this time? Their role didn’t end with making the people of the Empire and the central nobility uneasy. They were never meant to be mere one-off villains.

If the entire Empire was to rejoice at the pirates’ downfall and regard the Millard family as great for destroying them, even recognizing them as a meritorious house, then the pirates needed to commit even more heinous acts and expand their influence further. Only then, at the right moment, could he grant them a miserable and humiliating end.

Just then, a way to decorate that finale even more satisfyingly came to mind. A method that would solidify his shaken position, dispose of Astric cleanly, and even drag his dead brother Jemar into disgrace along with him.

First, it would be best to send Astric to the pirate crew. The boy had good instincts, so even if he sensed something rotten, he would still be forced to go. Willian would personally provide him with a justification he couldn’t refuse. For that, it seemed wise to send a letter in advance.

‘I never thought I’d end up using those verminous pirates like this.’

Their relationship was tied together by money, making it sturdier than most, but trusting pirates was another matter entirely. Still, since they were the type to go mad and come running at the sight of gold, he was confident he could handle them.

‘The day the praise for Jemar finally ends isn’t far off.’

Having been compared to him countless times since childhood, Willian felt nauseated just hearing words associated with Jemar. But the thought of trampling the reputation Jemar had built by using his son made a tune slip from his lips. With a shallow smile hanging on his face, Willian glanced toward the noisy upper floor and headed to his study.

Meanwhile, the moment Astric reached the upper floor, he came face to face with Kenny, Willian’s son, and his cousin, who had clearly been waiting for him. Kenny looked down at Astric with a posture far more slovenly than usual.

“I heard about what Father said. But I really don’t get it. How dare someone like you pick up a sword? It’s ridiculous.”

Kenny mocked him with a sneer.

“Quit that swordplay that doesn’t suit you and head to the capital. Why not become some noble’s plaything instead? With a face like yours, all it’d take is warming a few beds, and they’d be shoving gold bars into your hands. Wouldn’t that be way better than marrying the Marquis of Cannellin’s eldest daughter?”

As he continued, the right corner of Kenny’s mouth twisted upward.

“If you’re lucky, you might even end up as the kept lover of some sodomite noble. You already have a decent candidate, don’t you? Viscount Hoffman. I hear that bastard’s been desperate to get you into his bed. What do you think? Want me to arrange a meeting?”

Despite the stream of vulgar taunts, Astric showed no reaction. He simply went into his room and locked the door.

A moment later, the sound of Kenny pounding on the door echoed through the hall.

“You worthless piece of trash. Who do you think you are, ignoring me? After my father and I were kind enough to pick you up and raise you when you’re good for nothing.”

“Shut up and get lost from my door.”

“…Fine. Then this is a good chance to properly fix that rotten attitude of yours.”

Muttering darkly, Kenny rattled the locked handle several times before kicking the door hard. The noise was loud enough to make the entire corridor ring. Astric frowned and went to sit at his desk, ignoring Kenny’s shouting as he pulled a sheet of paper from the drawer.

Kenny slammed his fist against the door once more.

“Just you wait until you step outside. That’s when I’ll really beat that arrogance out of you.”

After delivering the warning in a low voice, Kenny finally left. Since this kind of behavior was nothing new, Astric calmly dipped his quill into the ink and began to organize what he needed to do, and what would be good to do, on paper.

He also wrote down various points, such as how to prepare for a forced marriage with his fiancée and what efforts he would need to make to reclaim the position of family head. As he sorted through his tasks, his thoughts drifted to his fiancée, Mercia.

If things went wrong, they might end up holding a marriage neither of them wanted simply because they were engaged. Would Mercia truly be fine with that.

In noble society, marriages for the benefit of one’s family were common, but Astric still felt resistance. Mercia, a child of the Marquis of Cannellin, was already living the life she wanted, and if not for marrying him, she would undoubtedly continue on a satisfying path.

“…Who is worrying about whom right now.”

The thought made him let out a hollow laugh. Before worrying about Mercia, he should have been worrying about his own future. His tomorrow wasn’t even guaranteed, so who was he to worry about someone else.

Unlike Mercia, whose freedom and power were secure, the one who would be ruined if the marriage didn’t happen was him. He could be killed quietly by Willian, or, just as Kenny had said, end up living by warming nobles’ beds.

“…Ha.”

In noble society, marriage was business, politics, and a mechanism of cooperation all at once. And rather than disposing of him outright, Willian wanted to use him to form ties with Cannellin, a central marquisate. It made sense. Though Cannellin was based in the capital, it conducted business with both eastern and western houses, granting it relatively free access to maritime routes.

On top of that, Willian’s ambitions went far beyond the steady income earned from his position as Eastern Admiral. He wanted to build wealth through commerce and, eventually, grasp the kind of authority wielded by the central nobility. As a marriage match, Cannellin could not have been more ideal. No matter how much Astric racked his brain, he couldn’t come up with a convincing reason that would benefit Willian enough to break off the engagement.

So was he truly going to be dragged along with this engagement, inevitably pushed all the way to marriage in the end? Astric pressed his fingers firmly against his eyelids and tilted his head back. Why was he so powerless? What had he been clinging so desperately to the Millard family for all this time?

Was it because he had foolishly believed, without a shred of doubt, that Willian would keep his promises? How stupid.

He couldn’t afford to sit by and do nothing anymore. No matter what, he had to carry on his father’s will, the will to one day pass his position on to him. He wanted to protect the last trace his father had left behind. If he lost even that, then he…

He had to drive out Willian, who was trying to secure a foothold in politics rather than the sea. For the sake of his father, who had fallen honorably as an admiral in the quiet depths of the ocean, he had to.

Just then, the voices of servants drifted in from outside the door.

“Martini, this is perfect timing. Is it really true that the Eastern Navy’s operating budget is getting cut? Nancy said she heard it from you.”

“Oh my, lower your voice. If the young master hears you, we’ll be in serious trouble.”

Sensing that they were discussing something important, Astric set down his quill and listened closely.

“Oh, sorry. Anyway, is it true? Is that why the Marquis was so furious earlier? Well… getting a letter like that out of the blue would make anyone angry. Still, it’s the Eastern Navy we’re talking about.”

“Getting angry won’t change anything. It was decided by His Majesty the Emperor and the central nobles and simply handed down to him. And honestly, the Eastern Navy’s prestige has been faded for a long time now.”

“True enough. People say it’s a position barely held together with bribes, so what authority could it possibly have? If the former Marquis were still alive, things wouldn’t be this bad.”

“Well… that’s true.”

Even after that, the servants continued in hushed, serious tones, speculating about what the Emperor might want and what kind of reputation Willian had among the people of the territory as an admiral.

“Oh, right. Did you hear about that?”

“Hear what?”

“This is a secret, so keep it to yourself. Yesterday, I went to the kitchen and overheard something… Apparently, the Marquis is secretly in contact with Disheptator. It’s not confirmed, but it seems there’s a witness.”

“W-What? Oh my god, is that true?”

“Shh, keep your voice down.”

“Ah, right. Sorry, sorry. I was just so shocked I forgot. We should go somewhere else to talk about this. I’m scared someone might overhear.”

After that, it seemed they moved away, and the area outside Astric’s door fell quiet. Astric’s expression grew grave as he processed what he had overheard.

‘So Willian might actually be colluding with the pirates?’

If what the servants said was true, it was a serious crime. If this rumor were to reach the Emperor’s ears, the entire family could be pushed to the brink of collapse. And if the Emperor’s mood soured and he decided to pin them with treason…

Astric squeezed his eyes shut.

After hearing that, there was no way he could remain still. It would be better to strike first and bring down Willian before he himself was accused of treason and destroyed. After pacing back and forth around the room several times, Astric seemed to steel himself and sat down at his desk, pulling out paper and a quill.

He pressed hard as he wrote on the fine-quality paper, then sealed it firmly with wax. Since the letter was addressed to Mercia, he didn’t forget to lightly scent the page. Taking a short, steadying breath, Astric gazed out the window and waited for dusk.

Slipping out of the mansion without anyone noticing, Astric headed straight for the post office. After sending off the letter addressed to Mercia Cannellin, he made his way toward a dim back alley behind the market district.

Secrets tended to circulate in back alleys. If he lingered there, he was bound to hear something worthwhile. Alternatively, he could try contacting one of the information brokers rumored to operate in the area to find out what had passed between Willian and the pirate crew.

The problem was that meeting an information broker was dangerous, and the price would never be light. On top of that, Astric had difficulty accessing personal funds. It was safer to spend time in the back-alley taverns, casually picking up bits and pieces of conversation.

Pulling his hood low, Astric stepped into a run-down tavern that looked on the verge of collapse. Just as expected, all manner of rumors and whispered secrets were being exchanged inside.

“Serves Swain right. Running up tabs like that.”

“What are you talking about? Oh, Swain? I heard he went through hell after failing to pay off his debts this time.”

“So you know about it?”

“Of course. Someone I know was hired by Jesse and helped trash Swain’s shop.”

“Tell me more.”

There were stories about petty incidents around the neighborhood.

“What? Is that really true? That fake visco… no, K actually did that to Johan?”

“Yeah. Leoni said she saw it while passing by.”

“That’s insane. The viscount’s nothing but a demon wearing human skin. Ever since those people took over, this territory’s gone straight to hell.”

“Poor Johan… Can he even walk properly? I should go check on him soon.”

Voices criticizing Willian, who ruled the territory, and his son Kenny mixed freely into the din. This shabby tavern served as a stage where information and rumors flowed among those who passed through the main streets of the domain.

Astric took the most secluded seat, ordered a glass of rum, and listened. If he stayed here long enough, the information he wanted was bound to surface.

It was a crude method, but it seemed better than risking his life to pay an information broker. Besides, this way, he could test his luck.

That was when he heard it.

“By the way, did you hear that story?”

“What story?”

“Hah… this one’s a bit delicate. You can’t go blabbing about it anywhere. This stays between us. Well, you see…”

The middle-aged man with a scruffy beard sitting diagonally across from Astric set his glass down, glanced around to check their surroundings, and lowered his voice.

“Have you heard the story about W being in contact with Disheptator?”

“What? What are you talking about? Who’s in contact with who?”

“Disheptator, you mean those pirate bastards? You’re saying W’s been secretly working with them?”

The men with him couldn’t hide their shock.

“Hah! What kind of nonsense is that? It doesn’t make any sense at all.”

“I wish what I heard was a lie too.”

“Then where did this story come from? Is the source reliable?”

“Yeah. A friend of mine lives near Crimson Harbor, and it seems he saw something.”

Crimson Harbor was a place where Disheptator’s pirate ships docked frequently, as well as a settlement where many pirates lived. If someone living nearby had witnessed something, the story carried considerable weight.

Astric took a sip of his rum and listened closely. If he could find decisive proof that Willian was colluding with Disheptator, the current situation would undoubtedly tilt in his favor.

But that was all the man had to say. No additional details followed, nothing that would help in actually gathering evidence. Rather than proof, the man and his companions focused on criticizing Willian, calling him a foolish and incompetent admiral.

“Things were better back when the former Marquis was alive. Ever since his unfortunate passing, it feels like the East has been declining.”

“Well, there’s still the legitimate heir, isn’t there? He’s being crushed under the fake ones’ power and can’t do his job yet, though.”

“Hah, you call that power? It’s nothing but stubborn greed. If his nephew’s already old enough to know better, he should step aside. Instead, he’s clinging on without any ability, and now both the territory and the sea are a complete mess.”

The man raised his voice as he slammed his glass down loudly.

“Do you have any idea how cocky those pirate bastards have gotten? Seeing them swagger around like that is something no one in the old Eastern seas could’ve ever imagined!”

The more Astric listened, the more bitter the rum tasted. Rolling the liquor around his mouth for no reason, he eventually set the glass down and quietly left the tavern. He couldn’t bring himself to sit still after hearing the voices of the people of the territory.

He had to do something. Something like securing decisive proof that Willian was colluding with Disheptator. Perhaps that evidence was still somewhere in the house.

Given how sharp and cautious Willian was, there was a good chance he had hidden the evidence somewhere in his office. Completely destroying it would carry risks, and with Willian’s personality, it seemed more likely that he had concealed it rather than erased it entirely. Especially since his partner was a pirate crew, he would need leverage to keep them under control.

For now, it seemed best to return home. Astric adjusted the hood pulled low over his head and headed back to the mansion.

---

Despite holding the position of admiral, Willian rarely left the mansion. Astric couldn’t understand why there was so much work that had to be handled at home rather than at sea.

Well, it was obvious enough. His true aim was likely to flaunt a respectable title and play at being a refined noble.

Willian may have known how to envy Astric’s father, but his actual abilities didn’t even reach the man’s heels. Standing before the navy would never be easy for him, so naturally he devoted himself to businesses he could manage elegantly from behind a desk. Astric couldn’t understand a man who cared more about making money than protecting the sea, yet it was precisely that obsession that was about to work in his favor.

Once a month, Willian reliably left the mansion. It was the day of a regular meeting where he discussed business with other eastern nobles. By sheer luck, the timing aligned perfectly.

Since these gatherings were usually held at the grand Antreon Ducal House, Willian would bustle about from the crack of dawn on meeting days. Matching that schedule, Astric woke early and pressed his ear to the door, listening closely to Willian and the servants’ movements.

“Sophia, the Marquis is looking for the new coat he had made.”

“Got it. I’ll bring it right away.”

“What about the carriage?”

“It’s already prepared.”

“Alright. I’ll let the Marquis know.”

“Honestly, every month is chaos. Still, once this is over, we can sleep more. Just hang in there a bit longer.”

The servants’ voices gradually faded. They seemed busy helping Willian prepare, but if the carriage was ready, it meant he would be leaving soon. Suppressing a series of yawns, Astric kept listening intently.

Before long, he heard the servants loudly seeing Willian off. The heavy sound of the door closing followed, then the servants exchanging words of relief as they headed back to their quarters. Only after all of that did Astric quietly slip out of his room.

He scanned the silent second-floor corridor, then carefully made his way downstairs. Voices drifted in from the kitchen where servants were preparing breakfast, but it was far enough from Willian’s office that it shouldn’t pose a problem.

Moving cautiously, Astric prepared excuses in case he ran into a servant who hadn’t gone back yet. On any other day, he wouldn’t have spared Willian’s office a glance, but today it felt indescribably urgent.

When he finally reached the office door, Astric took a short breath and turned the handle. He slipped through the opening and closed the door tightly behind him.

The office had originally belonged to Astric’s father, Jemar. But after Willian had renovated it under the excuse of clearing out the old, not a trace of the past remained.

Astric had spent much of his childhood in his father’s office, so the complete transformation left a bitter taste in his mouth. That was why he had never willingly set foot here after the renovation.

Now, staring at an office that felt nothing like his memories, Astric swept his gaze over it coolly before striding toward the desk. Hoping the evidence was close, he rummaged through the desk drawers and even the bookshelves, but found nothing.

“…Ha.”

He had thought Willian might relax his guard inside his own office, but perhaps because of Astric’s presence, the man had hidden things more carefully. As Astric scanned the room in disappointment, one object caught his eye.

‘…What’s that? A safe?’

Between two bookshelves stood a tall object shaped like a cabinet. There was a small ring at its center that looked like it could be opened and closed, clearly meant for storing something.

Swallowing dryly, Astric approached the object he assumed was a safe and carefully pulled the ring.

“…Just as I thought.”

The door didn’t open. It only shifted slightly. Lowering his head to inspect it more closely, he spotted a small hole beneath the ring. As expected, it was indeed a safe.

Given Willian’s cautious nature, the key was surely on his person. There was no point wasting time wrestling with it. Astric turned away without hesitation and left the office.

After safely returning to his room, Astric locked the door and sat on the bed, letting out a breath. Without tangible evidence, forcing Willian out of the position of family head according to his original plan was impossible. Unless he gathered proof himself.

‘Wait. I can just find the evidence myself.’

Astric’s expression hardened as he thought it through. There was a way, after all. If he gathered the proof personally, that would solve everything. The problem was that the method would be difficult.

To collect evidence directly, Astric would either have to extract information from Willian’s closest aides or make contact with the pirate crew themselves. The former was practically impossible.

Willian’s inner circle treated Astric like vermin, something that needed to be uprooted immediately. Even if he somehow managed to get close to them, there was no guarantee Willian shared anything important with them.

That left only one option.

Contacting the pirates.

In other words, infiltrating the pirate crew.

It wasn’t a choice he liked, but he couldn’t afford to waste any more time. If he stayed like this, he would either be handed over to the Cannellin Marquisate like property or quietly killed without anyone noticing.

Rather than being disposed of at Willian’s whim, he would move of his own accord and struggle with everything he had, whether it led to life or death.

He had nothing left to lose and nowhere left to retreat.

Having made his decision, Astric stood up and began preparing with quick efficiency. First, he needed to gather information about the Disheptator pirate crew. Knowing what kind of men he would be dealing with was essential to preparing countermeasures.

Changing into the shabbiest clothes he could find and slinging a bag over his shoulder, Astric opened the door. Just as he stepped out, his wrist was seized by a hand that had been waiting outside.

“So you finally decided to come out.”

Kenny greeted Astric in a sinister voice. As usual, when Astric showed no particular reaction, Kenny’s anger flared, only for him to quickly rein it in and compose his expression. Kenny’s uncharacteristically restrained attitude left Astric feeling more baffled than anything else.

Had he changed overnight or something?

“I told you yesterday that I’d personally fix that rotten habit of yours. You remember, right?”

The preamble was unnecessarily long. Instead of answering, Astric turned his head away in clear annoyance. Kenny didn’t lose his temper this time either. He simply tightened his grip around Astric’s wrist.

Born with the same large build as Willian, Kenny’s grip was powerful. He looked as though he might snap Astric’s wrist clean in two. Astric glared back at him.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m trying to give you something called ‘education,’ tailored to a worm’s eye level.”

His tone was gentle, as if he were doing something noble. Was he trying to imitate Willian for once? It only made him more repulsive. Frowning, Astric twisted his wrist, trying to break free.

But the wrist trapped in that large hand didn’t budge an inch. Waiting for the brief moment Kenny’s grip loosened to readjust, Astric suddenly jerked his arm back with all his strength, then looked up at him in open provocation.

Perhaps he hadn’t expected that to work. Kenny’s amber eyes, so eerily similar to his father’s, flashed coldly as he released Astric’s wrist and grabbed him by the collar instead.

“…Ugh.”

“You’ve never listened since we were kids. I hated that about you, so I made sure to hit you harder. And every time, that insolent look in your eyes, like you were staring at an insect, pissed me off.”

“S-so?”

The hand gripping his collar tightened. Kenny stared at Astric with eyes full of craving and hesitation.

“No matter how many degrading things I said to break you down, to crush that arrogant, upright attitude like you were the only noble in the world, it never worked.”

Kenny’s voice was unnervingly calm. Too calm for him. It felt like the sea before a storm, deceptively still. A sense of dread crept in like fog.

“So I started wondering. How could I make you submit completely and keep you under me? How could I make those insolent eyes of yours see me as an equal, then obey?”

A smile spread across Kenny’s lips.

“And yesterday, I finally got my answer.”

His other hand slowly traced down Astric’s pale cheek. The filthy sensation made Astric’s body flinch.

Kenny continued in a damp, sticky voice.

“Astric. You knew, didn’t you?”

“Knew what.”

“The way I’ve been looking at you all this time.”

Astric barely managed to keep his composure as he met Kenny’s gaze. Those amber eyes glistened with something grotesque. Eyes that had always looked at him with hostility and disgust were now clouded and warped. Kenny seemed to realize something himself and muttered hoarsely.

“Yeah. You knew after all. And you still never said anything. How unbelievably arrogant.”

“You’re insane… you bastard.”

“But that’s fine. I figured it out before it was too late.”

“Get lost, you sick fuck.”

Astric tried to shove him away with his free hand, but it was caught by the same hand that had been stroking his cheek. Kenny pushed him straight into Astric’s room and slammed him against the wall. Pressed so close to him, locked in his furious stare, Astric felt a sharp, unpleasant chill coil low in his gut.

“Ah. That look. That exact look.”

Kenny stared straight into Astric’s eyes, eyes filled with hatred and contempt, and twisted his lips upward. Astric’s disgust only seemed to excite him further.

“That’s it. That look of yours is what set me off. You’re the one who made me like this. You’re the one who touched me first, Astric.”

Kenny’s hand moved to Astric’s tunic. The cheap, coarse garment was something only commoners would wear, poorly made and rough to the touch. No noble would wear something like this unless he wanted his family disgraced. Was he planning something foolish?

Running away to some remote mountain village no one could find, perhaps.

The thought alone made Kenny’s brow crease.

Now that he finally understood the true nature of the emotions storming inside him, he couldn’t allow Astric to escape.

“Get off me!”

Ignoring Astric’s resistance, Kenny roughly hiked up his tunic. After a few clumsy tugs, the fabric rolled up to his chest, exposing the pale, soft skin beneath.

A white, slender abdomen, lean but lightly toned. Kenny’s gaze raked over Astric’s body hungrily.

“Did you know?”

He swallowed thickly before continuing.

“When I said you should become a noble’s whore, I wasn’t joking.”

“You son of a… get away from me! Get off!”

“The truth is, without even realizing it, I wanted to be the first one to make you my whore.”

The hand gripping Astric’s collar slid lower, reaching for his stomach.

In that instant, Astric drove his knee hard into Kenny’s groin and shoved him away.

“Ghk!”

Kenny released him with a strangled cry, clutching himself as he doubled over. Astric quickly straightened his disheveled clothes, then glared down at Kenny, who could barely stand, before dragging him out into the corridor.

Even then, Kenny remained pale, both hands clamped between his legs. He muttered threats, promises of revenge, claims that he’d be merciful if Astric apologized now. Astric ignored every word.

After slamming his door shut and locking it firmly, Astric stuffed the wallet and keys he’d snatched from Kenny into his pocket. Without sparing him a single glance or word, he left the mansion behind.

It was a place that inflicted a nauseating sense of helplessness right up until the end. He didn’t even want to imagine what would have happened if he’d let his guard down for a second. The shock and revulsion lingered, especially because he had never imagined being overpowered by Kenny like that. It felt like ants were crawling all over his skin.

The thought that he had nearly been helpless even against Kenny made him wonder whether he could really infiltrate a pirate crew and survive. Still, reminding himself of his goal, he forced his resolve to harden. Astric squeezed his eyes shut once, erased the image of Kenny trying to violate him from his mind, and kept walking.

After drifting from one back-alley tavern to another, gathering information about Disheptator, Astric headed toward an inn where cargo wagons were lined up. Recruiting new members for Disheptator was handled by one of their men, a pirate named Perig, who was said to drink regularly at the Courtney Tavern inside Crimson Harbor.

That meant the fastest way into Disheptator was to make contact with Perig.

But such chances didn’t come often. Disheptator only docked at Crimson Harbor two or three times a year.

Fortunately, as if fate itself were on Astric’s side, the crew was docked there right now.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. No, it was an opportunity he absolutely could not afford to miss.

“Are you heading to Crimson Harbor?”

The driver frowned when Astric named his destination. He swept his gaze up and down Astric’s shabby appearance, then replied with a knowing, indifferent tone.

“Two gold. There aren’t many carriages heading that way, so the fare’s a bit steep.”

It was expensive, but there were very few carriages that went anywhere near Crimson Harbor, leaving him with no real alternative.

“Seat’s there. It’s cramped, but it’s not a long trip. If you don’t like it, take another carriage.”

The driver gestured toward a corner of the cargo bed, bare and uncovered by so much as a scrap of cloth. If they hit a rough stretch of road, his backside was going to suffer badly, but it wasn’t as if he was in any position to be picky.

Letting out a sigh, Astric handed over one gold, half the total fare, as a deposit and climbed into the corner of the cargo bed piled high with feed for the horses and goods meant for sale. Not long after, the carriage lurched forward at the driver’s shout.

“…Ugh.”

How many minutes had passed since they set off. The carriage bounced so violently that Astric could barely keep his senses straight. The thought of enduring this for several hours all the way to Crimson Harbor made his head spin.

Still, he couldn’t exactly hire a better carriage just for his own comfort. Heading into a pirate den while drawing suspicion would be asking for trouble.

If he wanted to blend in naturally among pirates, he needed to start looking the part now. Even as his head knocked against the carriage walls, Astric was busy constructing a backstory to tell the pirates.

‘My mother died giving birth to me, and my father… was killed by the navy at sea. They never even recovered his body. That should be enough, right. Or does it need to be more tragic to sound convincing. Is it even possible to make it more tragic than this?’

Aside from saying his father was killed by the navy, none of it was a lie. He had once considered the possibility that his father had been done in by Willian, but without any proof, it had remained nothing more than suspicion.

While Astric’s thoughts spiraled endlessly, the carriage continued to race down the dirt road, fast and rough. After about an hour, perhaps he had grown accustomed to the pain, because the sensation in his backside dulled somewhat. Instead, the hazy clouds of dust kicked up by the wheels began slamming straight into his face.

“Ugh…”

He had willingly stepped onto this path of hardship to resemble pirates more closely, but did it really have to be this miserable. Astric rubbed at his stinging eyes, gritty with dust, and sighed.

After several more hours, the carriage finally ground to a halt. Astric glanced up at the sky, where the sun had begun to tilt westward, then shakily stood, brushing dust from his hair.

The experience had been intense enough to leave his head spinning. At least he hadn’t disgraced himself by throwing up.

“Alright, we’re here. Pay the rest.”

Astric handed over the remaining fare to the driver, who held out his palm, then slung his bag over his shoulder and turned away. As he did, the driver, adjusting the reins, called out after him.

“Be careful. If you mess around at the harbor without knowing anything, you’ll get yourself in serious trouble. Then again, anyone with sense wouldn’t have set foot in a place like that to begin with.”

It wasn’t particularly helpful advice, but Astric accepted it with a nod.

The carriage had stopped some distance from the entrance to Crimson Harbor. Going any deeper was probably a burden even for the driver. For a moment, Astric wondered if he should have just taken a regular carriage, but it was better for his peace of mind to believe he’d avoided the suspicion of any unseen watchers.

On trembling legs, Astric trudged forward, brushing the dust from his clothes and hair.

He hadn’t expected to arrive just past midday, but the carriage really had moved quickly. Perig was said to appear at the Courtney Tavern mostly in the evening, so it would be best to find a nearby inn and rest until then.

More than resting, though, he desperately wanted to soak in warm water and wash away all this damn dust.

As he walked in search of an inn, Astric noticed something odd. Despite it being just past noon, the harbor was strangely quiet. Even if pirates were scarce, civilians should have been preparing goods or ships. With that thought lingering, his eyes landed on an inn.

Spotting a wooden sign reading ‘Hanna’s Inn,’ Astric didn’t hesitate and stepped inside. He didn’t have the luxury to compare facilities or shop around. All he wanted was to wash up and rest, and he wanted it now.

Physically and mentally, he was at his limit.

Contrary to its worn exterior, the inside of the inn was fairly clean. A staff member noticed Astric standing near the entrance and approached him.

“Welcome. How many guests?”

“Just one.”

“We have a single room available. Would that be alright?”

“Yes.”

Following the staff member upstairs, Astric saw a corridor bathed in warm sunlight, with guest rooms lining both sides. For an inn situated in the heart of a pirate haven, it felt surprisingly cozy and comfortable. After guiding him into the room, the staff member asked politely,

“Is the room to your liking?”

“Yes.”

The room was bright, free of insects, and the bedding was clean enough to be considered good quality. He hadn’t expected to get such a decent room. He must have gotten lucky.

“What about meals?”

“I’ll eat.”

“Then we’ll provide breakfast and dinner. How many days will you be staying?”

Astric hesitated at the staff member’s question. Since he had no idea how things would turn out yet, he couldn’t give an exact number of days. After thinking it over with a serious expression, he replied,

“Would it be alright if I extended my stay one day at a time? I’ll pay the fee daily, of course.”

“Yes, that’s perfectly fine. It’s fifty silver per day. Here’s your key. Oh, shall I prepare the bathwater first?”

“Ah, yes. Please do.”

Once the staff member left the room, Astric began unpacking. He took the clothes out of his bag and arranged them roughly on the table, then pulled out the sheet of paper containing information on Disheptator.

He had bought information on the pirates before getting on the carriage. Almost being assaulted by Kenny had been a disaster, but at least he’d managed to secure some starting funds, which made it a twisted sort of luck.

Since this was a place crawling with pirates, he needed to be careful about everything he did. If the pirates discovered he was carrying this paper, it would spell trouble.

Astric debated where to hide it and decided, for the moment, to slip it under the bedsheet. After tucking the paper beneath the sheet, he smoothed the blanket over it to make everything look flat. Even so, an uneasy feeling lingered.

It would be better to keep it on him after all. In the end, Astric pulled the paper back out from under the sheet and tucked it into his clothes.

Just then, the staff member returned and knocked on the door.

“The bathwater is ready. Would you like to use it now?”

“Yes, I’ll be there shortly.”

After answering, Astric hid the documents among his clothes, left the room, and locked the door securely before heading to the bath.

“You can put your laundry in the basket inside.”

“Thank you.”

With a brief word of thanks, Astric stepped into the bathing area. Steam rose thickly from a tub filled with warm water. He carefully placed his change of clothes and the papers on a wooden stool to the side, undressed, and tossed his dust-covered clothes into the basket before sinking straight into the tub.

“…Ha.”

As the almost-hot water wrapped around his body, the fatigue that had built up over the day seemed to melt away all at once. It was barely past noon, yet it felt as though he were already ending the day. That alone said how long and exhausting today had been. Astric leaned back against the tub, tilting his head and closing his eyes halfway.

What if he had lived a quiet, peaceful life like this, simply as the heir of the Millard family. At the very least, he wouldn’t be doing something as dangerous as infiltrating a nest of pirates.