Kneeling on the deck with eyes shut tight, he opened them to see a pirate captain stepping onto the ship via a plank. The man had a handsome, striking face, but wore a mischievous smile.
"Are you the captain of this ship?"
Johanneus, laying down the sword at his side as a symbol of surrender, shook his head.
"The captain perished during combat. I am Johanneus, the third officer."
Drake's expression darkened upon hearing that.
Third officer? With skills like that? And the rest of the crew followed his command…?
Suspicious, Drake examined him carefully. Then he noticed the brand of slavery burned into Johanneus's forehead.
"…A slave, huh? I suppose you've been sailing longer than anyone else on board?"
Resigned, Johanneus nodded.
"Yes. I've been on ships since I was four. I recently paid off my debt and became a third officer."
While the two spoke, Michael jumped down from Marcus's back, landing cleanly on the deck. Thanks to years of physical training and inner energy cultivation, he had surpassed human limitations and could do such feats with ease.
Just before his landing, he bent his knees slightly to avoid smashing through the deck, then approached Drake.
"It's been a while, Drake."
Drake, having already sensed Michael's presence from the shadow cast on the ship, greeted him with a wide smile.
"An honor to see you again, my lord. I hope you've received all the gifts I've been sending?"
"Yes, you've done wonderfully. I'm always grateful. If there's anything you want, name it. If it's within reason, I'll grant it."
Drake's eyes lit up at the praise, and he pointed toward Johanneus, who was still kneeling on the deck.
"May I take this one as my subordinate? He's a former slave, so the Kingdom probably won't claim him, and he seems quite capable. I'd like to train him."
Startled by the sudden suggestion, Johanneus looked up in shock.
"He… wants me as a subordinate?"
Radiant Holy Kingdom, Papal Palace.
Pope Allegro III, the 180th pope of the Radiant Holy Kingdom, was so consumed with fury that even his beard trembled.
He sat curled up in a luxurious chair in the Grand Hall of the Papal Palace, staring up at the magnificent ceiling, struggling to suppress the rage boiling within him.
Even the breathtaking ceiling could not easily soothe his anger. Allegro III took deep breaths as he gazed up at the ceiling adorned with the glory of his ancestors.
The great dome overhead was covered with sacred mosaics made of 99% pure gold tiles and gemstones. When sunlight filtered through the windows, it appeared as if divine light itself was descending upon the hall.
The walls, made of pristine white marble, were lined with intricate statues of saints.
On any other day, just the sight of these treasures, seized from across the world, would have been enough to calm him.
His eyes, burning with anger, swept over the precious artifacts he usually cherished so deeply. The Grand Hall was steeped in timeless beauty and authority.
The treasures adorning the hall were more than just ornaments—they were proof of the Radiant Holy Kingdom's power and glory.
The marble walls were inlaid with gold leaf panels and jeweled decorations, crafted with exquisite detail by artisans brought from all corners of the world.
Each panel depicted vivid scenes from mythology and history, glittering with emeralds, rubies, and sapphires that caught the light and shimmered brilliantly.
On one wall, exotic relics seized from other lands were on display—massive golden urns, silks embroidered with intricate patterns, and ancient books that had withstood the passage of centuries.
Some of these relics even emanated a mystical aura, enhanced by magical power.
At the center of it all stood a Holy Grail radiating overwhelming presence.
Crafted entirely from pure gold, its surface was engraved with elaborate scenes from myth, and its rim was set with the largest diamond in the world.
The Grail was not only a sacred symbol but also undeniable proof that the world's wealth and power had converged upon the Radiant Holy Kingdom.
Yet today, none of these treasures could bring the pope comfort.
In his fury, Allegro III gripped the golden armrest of his throne so tightly that the finely carved grapevines etched into it let out a faint creak.
"What? Another one of our kingdom's cargo ships has vanished? How can such nonsense be possible?"
His rage flared even more because the ship in question had been carrying a full load of jewels mined from the colonies.
But the news so far was only the tip of the iceberg.
Cardinal Jacopo, who had been watching the pope's flushed face with calm composure, hesitated before delivering the most crucial part of the report.
"Your Holiness, please—calm yourself for a moment."
Unable to endure any longer, Allegro III roared.
"How much longer do you expect me to remain calm? When we first learned of the missing ship, we should have dispatched the Sacred Sea Knights by papal decree!"
Cardinal Jacopo lowered his head silently.
As the hidden strength of the Papal Palace, the Sacred Sea Knights could not be exposed so lightly.
That was why he had opposed their deployment—but now, the pope was blaming him.
And on top of that, he now had to deliver even worse news…
"Heaven has truly abandoned me," Jacopo thought bitterly. His position as the pope's right hand, carefully cultivated over the years, was now teetering on the edge of collapse.
The familiar air of the Grand Hall now felt heavier than ever.
The once-pure marble walls seemed to cast ominous shadows, and even the smiles of the angels in the sacred mosaics appeared to mock him.
Still, he had no choice but to speak. With a heavy sigh, Jacopo continued the report.
"There is more. The captain of the missing cargo ship… is said to be Cardinal Siegfried's son."
Just the thought of Cardinal Siegfried—stubborn, arrogant, and unyielding—made it hard to breathe.
Allegro III sank helplessly into his chair.
Now, his face was filled not with rage, but with despair.
Siegfried was already a member of the opposition. If he found out that his illegitimate son had gone missing in the icy sea, he would surely become even more vehement in his opposition to the papacy.
What on earth was he supposed to do now?