As the Blumarine Jackson drew closer to the eye of the storm, Lina's voice grew steadier, firmer.
"This is the most crucial moment everyone, stay calm!"
Moria's shadow writhed in the howling wind, but he still forced out his signature laugh.
"Hey-heh-heh… no problem, leave it to me!"
The nearer they sailed to the storm's eye, the more Lina seemed to change.
Ritter felt she had transformed into a true pirate matriarch. This wasn't a navigator this was the leader of a band of outlaws.
Her voice rang out boldly, each command delivered with an authority that brooked no refusal.
"Moria, quit slacking off! If you don't keep the ship steady, Perona might just end up admiring Enel more at least he's got perfect control of his body."
Her words carried no curse, yet pierced like daggers.
Moria's shadow instantly pressed tighter against the ship's hull, working harder to stabilize it against the violent sea.
Enel, meanwhile, puffed himself up smugly.
"Enel, your lightning control is decent, but not flawless. Put in more effort or I'll let Laboon take over. He looks pretty capable too."
"Wha—?!" Enel nearly choked. How could he be compared to a whale? Outraged, he ramped up his lightning, and the surrounding currents did, in fact, settle under his intensified control.
Watching all this, Tesoro silently admired Lina. She didn't just command she knew exactly how to prod each crewmate into giving their best. Her leadership was strict, but her judgment inspired genuine trust. Getting both Moria and Enel to obey in such a short time was no easy feat.
"In the storm's eye, follow my instructions, Captain. No slacking. Please."
Stella couldn't help but laugh softly. At this moment Lina looked like a stern matron one of those uncompromising, authoritative heads of the household.
Ritter chuckled and let blood-mist dance at his fingertips. "Lina, you really do have some skill."
Her smile was faint, but her gaze remained resolute. "Captain, I'm not joking. If we want to survive on these seas, we need a navigator who truly knows the waters."
Ritter nodded. He wasn't bothered in fact, he found it reassuring. A navigator without weight in their words was useless. The more authority a navigator had, the more professional they were.
When the Blumarine Jackson finally broke through the eye of the storm and returned to calm waters, the atmosphere onboard lightened immediately. By the time the Dawn Phoenix followed through, Lina had reverted to the shy girl fiddling with the hem of her skirt.
Everyone, however, now understood the true value of a skilled navigator.
Before Lina, when they had braved the storm's eye, Moria, Enel, and Tesoro had nearly collapsed from the strain. This time, they emerged laughing, barely exhausted.
Leaning against the rail, Tesoro stared at the distant outline of an island, his chest filled with quiet admiration.
"Lina," he said softly as he approached her, "you were truly remarkable."
Ritter teased from nearby, "So, are you finally going to tell us your request? But I'll warn you now if it's about becoming captain, the answer's no."
He bent down to meet her eyes. "So, who do you want us to kill?"
To Ritter, the question was casual. Whoever she named dead or alive wouldn't matter. He had butchered Celestial Dragons as easily as pigs.
Lina lowered her head, her voice barely audible. "The head of G-44 Branch… 'Blood Shark' Horn."
Though soft, her words carried a chill. "My sister… on her fourteenth birthday…"
Her nails dug into her palms. "Horn said she was a good substitute for a mermaid slave. They branded her with hot irons… just to test her cries… to see if they'd fetch a higher price."
The deck fell silent. Even the air grew colder.
Stella pulled Lina into her arms. She could feel Lina trembling with fury, but chose not to use her ability to suppress her emotions. Some pains should be faced together.
Ritter's smile vanished. The Celestial Dragons were vile enough but the dogs beneath them were often just as monstrous.
"Already done." Tesoro's golden ring shimmered, reflecting the coordinates on an eternal log pose. "Still lounging in his den."
Ritter returned Lina's rapier to her belt. Blood mist coalesced around the hilt, blooming into a crimson rose.
"Lead the way, Miss Navigator."
He clasped her hand around the weapon. "This time, you'll chart your own course for vengeance."
Tesoro glanced at Ritter, a grin tugging at his lips. This was what a captain should look like.
When the Blumarine Jackson sailed into the waters of G-44 Branch, the sky turned a deep, blood-red.
Ritter stepped aside, letting Lina take the lead.
No longer the timid girl hiding behind her skirt, she stood proud the true Queen of the Storm.
Her long hair whipped in the wind, her rapier Startrail gleaming with icy light. Her voice rang low and clear:
"Horn, crawl out and die."
The sight of the naval base made Ritter shake his head in disbelief. He had thought the Blumarine Jackson was impressive, but this base was practically defenseless. They hadn't even noticed until he was nearly on their doorstep.
"What are you lot even doing here?" he muttered. No wonder rats like that so-called Captain Mouse weren't exceptions in the Marines.
"Report! The Blood Dawn Pirates are here!"
"Panic? At a time ?!" Horn kicked the messenger to the ground, his face pale. "Why would that lunatic come here? I—"
Blood mist surged across the base like a tide, draining the strength from every Marine in an instant.
Ritter sighed at the pathetic display. He had only released a fraction of his power, and the entire branch was already on the verge of collapse. Had he not held back, they'd have melted into nothing.
For such a dramatic request, and with Celestial Dragons tied into the story, Ritter had expected a far more formidable foe. But this? This was child's play.
Still just wiping them out wouldn't satisfy him. He wanted to see what his navigator would do.
Enel floated above on thunderclouds, lightning dancing at his fingertips. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡~𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚~𝙣𝙚𝙩
"Mortal insects… are you prepared to face divine judgment?"
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