Looking toward the sound, Dunn saw Annie glaring furiously at Green. Green knelt on one knee with his head lowered, saying nothing. A bright red handprint was clearly visible on his face.
Dunn froze at the sight.
"How dare you act on your own!" Annie stared at Green through gritted teeth, wanting nothing more than to kill him.
Green had told Annie everything that had happened in the ruins-only what he had witnessed, of course-including how his momentary hesitation had put Dunn in danger.
Upon hearing Green's account, Annie had instantly become like an enraged lioness and slapped him hard across the face. For it to leave such a clear handprint despite Green's stamina being as high as 15 showed just how much force she had used.
Annie was beside herself. The rapport she had finally built with Dunn over these past days had been sent straight back to square one by Green's momentary lapse in judgment. If Green hadn't been a loyal retainer her family had raised for him since childhood, she would have drawn her blade and cut him down right then...
When she noticed Dunn looking over, Annie could only steel herself and say, "I'm sorry, Dunn. Green really went too far this time. I promise it won't happen again."
Dunn initially looked puzzled at Annie's words, then understood. "Don't worry about it. Besides, if Green hadn't desperately held out at the end, I probably wouldn't have survived either. At most, let's call those two things even."
How could they possibly be even! Annie wanted to protest, but after thinking it over, she could only lapse into an awkward silence. If Green hadn't pulled that stunt, saving Dunn in there would surely have brought the two sides closer together.
At that thought, Annie shot Green another fierce glare.
The entire room fell silent. Because of what Green had done, Annie was considering how to compensate Dunn and make amends, while Dunn hadn't taken the matter to heart at all. As Dunn had said, Green's loyalty lay with Annie, not him.
Dunn's thoughts were entirely on their rich haul, while the others were even less willing to speak casually after the earlier tension.
Only a knock at the door broke the awkward atmosphere in the room.
"Come in!"
With Dunn's permission, a man in a raincoat pushed open the door and entered. It was Hans.
"How did it go, Hans?" Dunn immediately perked up when he saw who it was.
"Sorry, Captain. Something unexpected happened. The [White Shark] and the [Flying Fish] sank." Even Hans's usually composed face showed a trace of embarrassment.
When Dunn had left Hans to guard the ship, he had told him to seize the other ships if an opportunity arose. Whatever their reasons, none of the others could possibly have had enough resources to leave class holders behind to guard their ships.
With Hans and the other five, along with a group of ordinary pirates, taking the other ships by surprise should have posed no problem.
Yet something had actually gone wrong. Dunn looked a little surprised. "What happened?"
"It was Grant's sharks. One of them was demonized. For some reason, it suddenly went berserk, and we had no choice but to open fire with the cannons. Between it and our cannon fire, the [White Shark] and the [Flying Fish] sank."
Dunn nodded after hearing Hans's explanation, not particularly concerned. They were only two ships. If they had sunk, so be it. Compared with their enormous haul this time, the two ships were nothing.
Besides, even if Dunn really had that many ships, he didn't have enough trustworthy, capable people to assign to them.
At present, the only two subordinates who showed any leadership potential were Hans and Lewis, and Lewis still fell a little short.
As for Annie, as their only [Navigator], she would have to stay by his side. Green was Annie's guard, so he couldn't be assigned elsewhere either.
After a moment's thought, Dunn began issuing orders. "Lewis, take a few men and bring Hawkins to find the prisoners. See how many are willing to join us."
"No problem, Captain."
"Rest assured, Captain. I can't guarantee anything else, but all my former men will definitely join you."
"Hans!" Dunn turned to Hans. "I'll need you to put in some extra work. Take more men and find the [Angry Whale]'s ship."
"Understood."
Soon, everyone who had received orders filed out, leaving only Dunn, Annie, and Green in the room.
Dunn took out the haul from the ruins and placed it on the table, immediately drawing Annie's attention.
Annie's eyes lit up at the exquisite crown. With her knowledge and perception, she easily confirmed that it was a fine item with transcendent powers.
"Is this what you got from the ruins?"
Seeing Annie's gaze, Dunn chuckled. "It's a sea treasure. It can slightly alter the weather within an area. The longer it lasts, the stronger the effect."
Annie grew excited at his words, then thought of something. "The storm outside is its doing?"
"Yes, but..." Dunn paused briefly and laid his hand on the case containing the potions. "By comparison, this is the real prize!"
Under Annie's puzzled gaze, Dunn opened the case.
In an instant, blue and purple light shone together, illuminating the small room.
Looking at the potions inside, Annie first gazed at their brilliant glow in slight fascination. Then, when she realized what they were, her breathing quickened.
"Th-these are attr... attribute potions!" The intense shock made Annie stumble over her words.
Snap!
Dunn shut the case, bringing Annie back to her senses. She reluctantly withdrew her gaze.
Then she looked at Dunn with burning eyes. "Six potions. You only need the three Perception Attribute Potions, right? Then those three Intelligence Attribute Potions..."
Even with Annie's extremely high standing in her family, the resources they had given her included only a single Agility Attribute Potion. Seeing those three Intelligence Attribute Potions now, she grew a little carried away.
Dunn clearly had a melee class and had no need for the intelligence attribute at all, at least before reaching Legendary. As for after becoming Legendary, one's level determined one's needs. By then, even drinking attribute potions like water would be no problem.
"That's right. I don't have any use for these Intelligence Attribute Potions for now. What should I do with them?" Dunn put on a troubled expression.
Already carried away, Annie failed to notice Dunn's teasing tone. She gritted her teeth and struck a seductive pose. "Dunn, darling~ How about giving these Intelligence Attribute Potions to little old me~?"
Her cloyingly sweet tone gave Dunn goosebumps all over.
Before you continue