30 minutes later, The Valkyrie, Eastern 2nd Sea
~Kellan Bellona’s Perspective~
I stand at the bow of my frigate, the Valkyrie. The workers run around, preparing the ship to leave.
The woman left at dawn. I feel disgust at the idea that we, as the elite, must rely on those who put the laws into their own hands.
My advisors believe that the Shining Pirates will kill the contact. I don’t agree. I believe that they will try and protect the baron. Without that man, how will their preparations continue?
Of course, we can never be too cautious. But I believe that we need to be aggressive and end the Underworld before its rot spreads any further.
I recall the black-haired boy I dueled. I feel my face burn from the humiliation I had experienced at the Academy. I wonder if I will run into him again? This time, I’ll show that commoner his place.
“Sir,” says a soldier. “We’re ready.”
I turn to him.
“Then what are you waiting for?” I ask. “Set sail immediately!”
The lowlifes scurry to obey my commands as we set sail to the Fortress of Gold.
~Arianna’s Perspective~
“How long will you be gone?” I ask Cassius.
“Don’t know,” he responds. “But it’s extremely important that I leave now.”
I watch my friend jump onto the ship. He turns to me.
“Tell Castor the plan’s changed. We need to attack Sage as soon as possible. Tell him he’s in command for now.”
I gape at him.
“What do you mean? You’re the one who proposed it to Averill.”
“We’ve been compromised. One of the captains is ferreting information to the Emerald Skulls. How do you think Sage knew where our scouts were despite the fact that they took every single precaution possible? We need to take Altavista before the traitor compromises the plan any further. Hit them where it hurts. Eliminate the traitor and convince Averill to commence the attack immediately.”
“Who is it then?”
Cassius sighs.
“Captain Evergarde.”
I nod.
“Understood captain.”
I run back to the ship as Cassius prepares to carry out his mission.
End of Chapter XXIV