Ironclad Shark Gets Da☆zed! (23)
The South Sea, a wonderful place.
When the pirates, jolted awake in the middle of the night and thinking Harrison Port's navy had launched a surprise attack, hurriedly prepared for battle, their hearts in their throats, they learned that their ship had merely been rammed through with two holes by a passing Ironclad Shark for no reason at all.
Along with a Giant Clam, incidentally.
The feeling was truly quite wonderful.
Quite a few pirates cursed as they patched up the hull, reinforced the warning measures, and restored the Living Wood Ship's fishing-net tentacles. Others were troubled, worried that this might be a sign their hiding place had been discovered.
But more than anything, they felt like they had been played by fish.
Even now, Captain Andor Linye was still somewhat dazed.
After directing the repairs and returning to his seat, the Elf pirate was still mulling over such baffling questions as, "Why would a Giant Clam act in concert with an Ironclad Shark?" and "Just how did a Giant Clam move together with an Ironclad Shark?"
"Did it push it with its head, or carry it in its mouth? Neither makes sense. Could the clam and the Ironclad Shark have fused together? An Ironclad Clam? A Shell Shark?"
Unable to figure it out no matter how he racked his brains, Andor returned to the captain's cabin and finally decided to give up. "Forget it. Bring me my communicator. I need to report the situation to the boss."
Before long, a crewman brought over the crystal-panel-shaped communicator, and Andor picked up a pen.
"The ship was rammed by a shark. Both the armor and vessel require repairs. The operation may be delayed. My apologies."
A dozen seconds later, Patrick's reply appeared on the crystal panel.