Ⅱ
Outside Pult Harbor, in the Einhaas Fief.
A band of River Pirates hid among the riverside reeds. Chewing on a dried loach, Fitz gazed enviously at the concealed camp in the distance-he knew perfectly well that it was the Red Knights' temporary camp, filled not only with famous River Pirates, but also with roasted meat and fine wine.
"I wonder if they glaze that meat with honey?"
As Fitz spoke, he could not help swallowing.
Then a chorus of swallowing rose around him.
Several River Pirates stared at the half-eaten dried loach in Fitz's mouth and frantically gulped down water, hoping a full stomach would help them forget their hunger for a while.
The sight made Nishimi, the River Pirates' leader, frown.
Instinctively, Nishimi wanted to scold his men.
But a moment later, the River Pirate leader closed his mouth.
He had remembered his current circumstances.
He was no longer the leader of a hundred River Pirates.
At present, the six men before him were all he had.
Including himself, there were only seven of them.
For River Pirates, their numbers could scarcely have been smaller. But Nishimi was not discouraged. He believed that once this job succeeded, he would soon be able to assemble another crew, and every man would have a musket. Then he would have room to maneuver even against those nobles.
As for Kemal the Slaughterer, who had reduced him to this state?
Just you wait!
I'll cut off your head!
Until you die, I refuse to die!
The thought of that unexpected encounter filled Nishimi with fury.
He had spotted the target first, and he had followed the rules, handing over a third of the cargo.
And what had happened?
That bastard Slaughterer had not only broken the rules, but after accepting his cargo,