It was late into the night at Zeboim. The younger sibling island’s chilly weather was bringing in some sleet as well.
Swoooosh……
– Slam!
“Donna Corleone! That person has appeared again! S, Scaramuccia has appeared!” The door opened and a young man ran in before bowing in front of the Admiral.
The woman, who was seated on the highest seat in the room while looking over a document, nonchalantly looked down at him. His back underneath the thick leather coat rose and fell with his labored breathing. Emma Corleone could tell that this heavy breathing was from fear and not exhaustion.
It was pathetic.
“What is his objective?”
“E, excuse me?”
The middle-aged woman spoke in a blunt tone. Her subordinate didn’t dare raise his eyes and he nervously licked his lips. He needed to properly inform her about the situation, but his mind went blank and his limbs started shaking whenever he was in front of the signora. He was like this even after a year of serving her.
One of his seniors, who had seen the Empress of the continent from a distance, compared the presence of the two like this:
‘It felt like her Majesty would instantly cut me down if I did something evil. She is a swordswoman with an unbelievable spirit. On the other hand, our signora, she is someone who would throw anybody to be food for the demonic beasts if she doesn’t like them.’
“That man should have an objective.” The signora asked again. It was already the second time.
He might end up in the cold winter ocean if he did not answer. The subordinate quickly answered.
“Signora, Scaramuccia apparently does not answer even when someone talks to him. He simply beats them up. He used a bard’s guitar to knock a customer unconscious in a restaurant today. According to the victim, the man’s accent seemed to be that of someone from the Empire……”
“He entered the vassal state illegally?”
“That is one hypothesis, signora. However, he is so strong that even the city guards cannot handle him. They have failed to arrest him multiple times.”
“Then I guess we have to replace the city guards.”
The Admiral mumbled in a low voice. The subordinate gulped. It was hard to differentiate between her jokes and serious remarks.
– Click.
The woman opened a cigar box. One of the marines guarding her side quickly lit a cedar wick and offered it up.
Chhhhh, crack crack……
“Huu……”
Only the sound of the burning cigar and the heavy scent of smoke filled the room for a bit. The air turned hazy. The young subordinate did not dare to move and stayed bowed on the ground. He could not think about leaving the room before he had her permission.
After ten minutes that felt like eternity, the Admiral bit down on the cigar and slowly opened her mouth.
“The ones who were beat up were all thugs.”
“Y, yes, signora. However, looking at it from their point of view, they think that it is not right for a foreigner to pummel citizens of our vassal state like that…… Which is why they reported him.”
“……”
“Some of them feel wronged as well. They simply hit on pretty women as usual but some punk came over and attacked them.” The subordinate bit down on his tongue as he barely managed to explain.
Scaramuccia was a delinquent who only appeared in Zeboim starting three or four days ago. There was a simple reason he instantly got a nickname and became famous. This tall man with a large crow on his shoulder covered his eyes with a black mask, wore an expensive fur coat and an ebony cape, and used his unbelievable strength to cause chaos around the streets. Some claimed he was a villain who would be cursed and were begging the Admiral for her help. However, someone else testified that the man helped her child out of a dangerous situation.
Although Admiral Corleone was not officially a citizen of the vassal state, the commoners still came to her for help whenever they faced trouble. Unlike Seigneur Lorenzo or his eldest son, both people they were not likely to meet in their lifetime, the young lady was someone who always protected them. She was the MVP who avenged them and helped them recoup the debts owed to them.
“Signora, we do have to capture Scaramuccia. There may be copycats if he continues to run wild in the streets.”
The subordinate gathered up his courage to say that. The Admiral’s gaze sank down. She had seen hoodlums like this multiple times in her life.
‘A Vigilante Corp.’
Youngsters with a sense of justice were unable to control their hot-blooded natures and acted recklessly.
“Send the Captain of the City Guard. We have other problems if even the Captain is unable to capture this man.”
“……Yes ma’am.”
“And don’t inform my father. He is busy enough as is.”
“As you command.”
The man slowly got up. The spurs on the Admiral’s boots sparkled viciously.
“And what of that pirate ship?”
He flinched at the question. Now that he thought about it, there was that issue as well. The subordinate quickly bowed down on the ground again.
“That issue is not a part of my jurisdiction, but…… I heard that it is not moving at all, signora. It is not an issue of the anchor but the seabed under the ship is completely frozen. They are unable to move the ship at all.”
“Has the ice spread to the coastline?”
“No, signora.”
“Then why is that ship frozen?”
“That…… We also believe that it makes no sense, but…” He had nothing else to offer. The subordinate looked miserable as trouble happened in multiple locations at the same time. He was sure that the faces of his peers, who were outside waiting for their turn, were similar to his own.
A pirate ship had suddenly appeared on the shores of Zeboim a few days ago. However, it had no flag and it did not attack. The vassal state’s coast guard had tilted their heads at this unexplainable situation. Most pirates were handled by the Margrave at the north of the Empire and this was not the time for pirates to head down here to avoid the cold. Furthermore, they had searched the ship as soon as the ship docked, but they did not find much. There were blankets and signs of a fire, but no crew.
“There are talks of it being a ghost ship……”
‘Huuuuuu.’ The Admiral let out a long breath of smoke. The subordinate clenched his eyes shut.
Within the seas of the Empire and the vassal state, their signora was the one who was called the Master of the Ghost Ship. Talking about ghosts in front of someone who had gone in and out of the dangers of death for over twenty years? It was an extremely shabby excuse.
“Umm, the commoners have come up with the story because it was chilling how only the area around that ship has frozen.”
“That fool you mentioned earlier.”
“Excuse me? Do you mean Scaramuccia?” The subordinate slightly raised his head. The Admiral flicked the cigar in her left hand.
“Is it not his ship?”
“Ah……”
The man gasped like a fool before lowering his head.
Nobody had thought about that despite it being so easy to connect. The mysterious man and the ship had appeared only days of each other but they had not considered it because the issues of the city guards and the coast guard rarely overlapped.
The Admiral was aware of that as well. She continued to speak.
“Capture that Scaramuccia or scarabèo or whatnot and interrogate him about the pirate ship.”
“Yes, signora.”
“Once everything is resolved, burn the ship down. I don’t want to see the weaklings crying because they are scared of it.”
“As you command, signora,” he subordinate quickly answered.
Her tone was rough but the Admiral was worried about the residents being scared. Sailors believed that running into a ghost ship would lead to disaster. As their islands heavily relied on fishing and trade, basically nothing was scarier than shipwreck.
– Slam!
“Donna Corleone!”
Another subordinate ran in and bowed. Unlike the first subordinate, this person had a bright look on her face.
“Marquis François Duhem of Riester has left Admah and has arrived at the portal in Zeboim. He will arrive at the Estate in one hour.”
“That is welcomed news,” he Admiral answered.
The soldiers chuckled after hearing the joy in her voice. The second subordinate was all smiles as she added on.
“You will like the people he is with as well, signora. According to the message from Luchana, the little young master of the March has grown into a formidable handsome man. The young man who came as his guard knight is as elegant as a lily. The second young lady is now twenty years old and is strong and full of life, with people saying that just seeing her lifts their spirits.”
Laughter broke out in the room. The corners of the Signora’s lips slightly twitched.
The report did not end there.
“However, there are rumors of a great beauty being with them. A widower in a black veil that came as an attendant……”
“Ahem!”
“Hey there!”
The crowd reprimanded her for talking about a widower that way. Some were exchanging stealthy glances. The Admiral silently looked down at her subordinate.
The woman, to meet their expectations, used all sorts of hand and feet gestures as she explained.
“Apparently this unparalleled handsome man has golden hair that shines like the sun of Admah with white skin and pretty eyelashes. His lips are as desirable as ripe cherries. Some people saw his face after a mischievous seabird pulled off his veil and they caused all sorts of issues gathering at Villa Corleone after that.”
A portion of the group looked full of desire after hearing the explanation. The room was buzzing.
The Admiral spoke curtly. “I feel pity for his deceased wife.”
“Wahahaha!”
“Hahaha!”
They couldn’t tell whether she was joking or being serious, but everybody laughed as the Signora seemed to be in a decent mood. Despite all of these unexpected situations, she was about to get a second husband. This was an extremely great day.
“Send them in as soon as they are ready.”
“Yes, Signora!”
The subordinate respectfully bowed. The Admiral sucked on the cigar so much that her cheeks pushed in.
*
‘The two islands are this far apart but they are part of the same nation and called twin islands? If you compare it to Korea, it’s like considering Jeju Island and Incheon to be in the same neighborhood.’
Considering the distance, this was much farther than anything in Korea. The reason the vassal state was able to maintain the same culture in both islands was because of the ancient portal that connected the two islands together. I was once again amazed by the unbelievable setting of a fantasy world as I walked. Thankfully, I was not tired because I slept well after arriving at Zeboim.
‘I also rested for three days before that.’
“Right this way. Signore, Signora!”
Luchana, who we met at the portal four days ago, was our guide on this island. There was a new flower in the woman’s hair. Marquis François and Captain Hervé walked in the front with Maria and I behind them. Sir Johann was guarding us from the rear.
I looked out the window to take in the views of Zeboim.
‘Casa di Corleone,’ the Admiral’s home and office, was located right by the sparkling sea.
– Step, step
– Shaaaaaaaaaaa……
– Step step
The sounds of the waves mixed with the footsteps.
Unlike Admah, which was located south of Riester, Zeboim was to the east. It was closest to Christelle’s Sarnez Duchy if looking at it in a straight line. You would also reach Sérénité’s free city, Haas, if you set sails to the south. It was also cold here because it was as far up north as the Imperial Capital. I thought that it was the perfect weather to catch hypothermia when I got here through the portal last night. The late December ocean breeze cut at your skin.
“We are here. The Signora is so benevolent. She was willing to wait until the morning for you, Marquis, because she thought you would be tired after arriving so late at night,” Luchana jested while wearing a luxurious demonic beast fur coat.
I did my best not to get nervous as I looked up at the large wooden door. The splendid coat of arms of the House of Corleone was located top and center, resembling a Christmas ornament. Now that I thought about it, yesterday was Christmas. That day meant nothing in this world, but…
‘I guess I’m pretty relaxed now since I can have random thoughts like this.’
“Thank you. I will personally show my gratitude to the Admiral.” Marquis François answered elegantly while using his mace for support. He looked like a completely different person than what we were used to in the Empire.
Luchana nodded her head and pushed the door open.
– Click!
Creeeeeak……
I checked my veil one last time, thinking about Demy and Tithé who were still playing on the bed as well as our friends who were waiting for us back in Riester. I also thought about my family back home.
I should be able to safely arrive at the Imperial Palace if conversation went well here. Then I would be able to meet my teacher, clear my name, and survive once more. I may be able to return home one day as well.
“Please head on in.”
The woman spoke, almost in a whisper. We entered into the Admiral’s reception room. The room was dimly lit and I caught a strong scent of tobacco that I had not sniffed since transmigrating to this world. The curtains and lights ranged in size and shapes.
I frowned out of reflex.
The smell was overwhelming as I had no experience smoking, but this was so unfamiliar. The almost offensive displays of affection of the people here was an issue and it was hard to believe that this was also a part of the QNW world……
“Ah.”
I quietly gasped. ‘Maybe-’
“You are still just as beautiful, François Duhem.” I heard a voice as rough as sandpaper.
“Madam Corleone.”
The Marquis did his elegant Empire-styled greeting toward the woman seated on the highest seat.
My thoughts stopped for a moment. I felt like I made eye contact with her right before I urgently bowed.
“……”
Her sharp greyish-green eyes were half closed. I saw a large scar on her right cheek. The way she had her shirt buttons unbuttoned at the top was definitely in the way of the Corleone style but she had a white Imperial uniform draped over her shoulders. Her thick dreadlocks flowed down to the bottom of her back. There was a black hook where her right hand used to be.
‘The Hooked Sea Villainess.’
“We greet Admiral Emma Corleone.” We greeted her.
A low snort followed.
—
Translator’s Comments
Captain Hook’s lover???
