Chapter 77 – Episode 77 (Interlude)- The Captain’s Younger Brother Who Longs for Revenge

“The pope recognized that scum as emperor.”

An office in a manor house.
The woman with short blue hair crumpled the letter she held in her hand as if she didn’t want to look at it, then threw it on the floor.

“I guess they acknowledged it as a condition of safe delivery of the hostages.”

The woman’s face, arms folded under her breasts, was full of anger.
I understand the reason, but the woman couldn’t control the bubbling emotions.

“The damn pope. What kind of bullshit is this when you’ve previously argued that ‘the country of pirates is unacceptable’?”

The person who sent the letter to the woman was 〈 Serpent 〉.
Perpone, nicknamed 〈 Serpent 〉, sent it.
The woman must take down her grid for her revenge, and Perpone for her own survival.
Because of this common purpose, the two are now allies.

Therefore, the fact that the enemy to be overthrown was recognized as the monarch of a country could not be overlooked.

“Don’t force yourself even a little. What do you mean by lowering your tail right away?”

The grid built the country.
It was announced to the whole world that the Beastman Alliance had been destroyed and the Desire Empire had been established on their site.
A messenger was dispatched to all the islands to inform them of this fact.

To think that a mere pirate or slobber founded a country?
There have been several such attempts so far, but all have failed.
Even if they were built, there were numerous cases where they could not control their desires and self-destructed.

People thought that the same would be true of the Desire Empire founded by Grid.

I could tell by looking at the proclamation that Grid sent through the telecommunications office right away.

[Inform everyone in the world.]

[I, Grid, will start a war to conquer this world.]

[Those who want to save their lives, kneel before me right now and surrender.]

[For those who do not surrender, only ruthless oppression awaits.]

[Don’t misunderstand that the kingdom will protect you forever.]

[Don’t misunderstand that the Holy Kingdom will always be your breakwater.]

[I will make you bitterly regret not obeying this grid.]

[You guys have no hope, so crawl on your own.]

… Because it was written that way.
Who will recognize this country when its ambitions are blatantly displayed in this way?
Who would bow their heads in favor of a country where only the words plunder and slaughter come to mind?
Everyone will risk their lives to destroy it.

“This is like giving him wings…”

As it should be, right now the lords are watching the situation.
Will you stand on the side of the first princess in the capital, or will you stick to the sudden appearance of a tyrant named Grid?

To the extent that this hesitation occurs, the Desire Empire is expanding its power at a rapid pace.

The lords who looked down on them as pirates and used mercenaries to invade the empire lost their lives.
The territories were turned into slaves, and the land they lived on was reduced to ashes.
An imperial fortress was built on the site of the ashes.

Many adventurers who infiltrated the empire with Perpone’s support thinking it was a simple hunt also lost their lives.
Some of them survived, but most of them were unable to return to their hometowns and became children of tyrants.

Pirates prioritize fulfilling their desires rather than unity.
If you can fulfill your desires, you can easily defeat them because they are wicked people who even kill close friends.
Even if you don’t have to form a subjugation party, you can defeat the pirates enough.
Everyone thought so.

Everyone realized too late that the idea was wrong.
The pirates were united and were desperate to defend their territory.
If they invaded the country they had established, they immediately retaliated and trampled the enemy thoroughly.
While stepping on it, it gradually expanded its power.
Among the pirate nations that have appeared in history, no one has ever been so attached to their country, and because there was none, no one could have imagined that the Desire Empire would be so strong.

To date, the Desire Empire has conquered 60 islands.
It continues to advance to take control of all the islands in the southwest.
There was not a single lord who could stop this advance.
There are only a handful of lords who are raised as seeds to produce soldiers along with the people of the territory.

Even knowing this fact, the kingdom could not respond.
With the civil war still in full swing, there was no time to worry about pirates.
They just gave orders like, ‘It’s difficult to send troops or supplies from this side, so let’s solve it on our own on the spot.’
The situation was such that the lords had no choice but to worry.

There is no way to stop the empire, and the kingdom that should help them is sucking their fingers.
No matter how many princesses there are, it might be the answer to leave them alone like this.
It might be to her advantage to abandon her princess and join the tyrant.
Such a disturbing thought was creeping up among the lords.

In the meantime, it was recognized as a country by Seongguk.
It has been recognized that it is not a heretical country, so even if you have a relationship, you will not be accused of being a heretic.
It was as if the foundation had been prepared for him to stick to Grid without even noticing.
Perhaps, flying insects attached to Grid might have appeared right away.

A woman with black hair had no such thoughts at all.

“This side hasn’t gathered properly yet, but if the surrendering lords come out…”
“I have no choice but to come out.”

Suin replied to the woman’s words.
She was leaning against the back of her chair where the woman was sitting.

“Now that the danger of being branded as a heretic has disappeared, there will surely be lords who will try to stick to Grid. It’s the world’s logic to change the lord you’ve been serving for your own comfort.”

Her hair was white, and her eyes were sky blue.
She was wearing the same hanbok as Sua, and her color was white like her hair.

A nine-tailed fox reminiscent of a snow woman,
Seolhwa replied that there was no choice.

“So, please stop your fever. Will it change into something that never happened?”
“You don’t look angry!”

At the words of the story, the woman screamed out loud.

“How can you stay still when that bastard goes back to her will?”
“Then are you going to fight?”

Seolhwa asked.

“Are you going to raise an army even now to get back your older sister Cardian, to avenge her dead parents? With only a handful of troops?”

The woman wanted revenge.
Brainwashing her own idol, her older sister, into her slave,
I sincerely wanted to kill Grid, the scum that insulted her father’s body and even killed her mother.

Cardian’s younger brother, Arwen, really wanted to do that.

She would like to, but she couldn’t put her words into her mouth that she would raise her army.
She only gritted her teeth in resentment.

“…Shit.”

Arwen knew too well.
The difference between the enemy’s power and his own power is so wide that it is impossible to make up for it.

Currently, Arwen’s forces are only enough to fill 2,000 even if he forcibly requisitions the territories.
He has only 5 ships.

On the other hand, the enemy Grid possessed a minimum of 8,000 and a maximum of 10,000 troops.
The total number of ships is 44 including 4 flagships and 40 escort ships.
This is the number confirmed, and to make matters worse, the force continues to grow in real time.

It was a difference too hopeless to speak of revenge.

“So we have to use a different method.”

Seolhwa hugged Arwen.
He snuggled up as if it were said to be his property.

“I showed you. The means to defeat Grid.”
“It’s black light.”

Black light.
A drug Arwen made using a recipe he found in his father’s treasure house.
It had the ridiculous effect of turning a weak human into a violent monster.

It was Arwen who made the black light to defeat Grid, but he had no choice but to hesitate to use it.

Is it really possible to turn into a monster?
If possible, you should experiment to prove it, but who are you going to sacrifice?
If you try and fail, if you die in vain, your revenge will end.
I don’t want to sacrifice anyone, but maybe it’s good.

After much deliberation, Arwen eventually decided to become a test subject himself.
This is your revenge anyway.
For he cannot entrust his vengeance to others.

When I made that decision, Seolhwa appeared.

“It was definitely great. When I heard your report, I was able to sleep with my legs stretched out.”

Give yourself a black light.
I will show you that the effect of black light is proven.
Just as you want to kill Grid, you hate Grid.
Since each has the same purpose, wouldn’t it be nice to try it once?
Fortunately, there are useful test subjects among the number of people.
She wants to get revenge on Grid too, so she will definitely accept it.
If you, the center of the alliance, change, it will be a big deal, so why take the risk?

After much thought, Arwen accepted Seolhwa’s proposal and was able to see the desired result.

‘Although I lost…’

She could tell that it worked for him.
She also knew that she could turn unanswered wire into scrap metal.
I was able to confirm the hope that I could win.

Although there are too many materials to make black ore, and they are not easy to obtain, there is a good chance if you can get the right amount.
Perpone also said she would somehow find the ingredients, so I should be able to make it.

Arwen was very grateful for her story to tell of this miracle,

‘By the way, how did he know that I had black light?’

At the same time, I wondered.

‘It’s a fact that only I and Perpone knew about making black ore…’

Did Perpone tell you by any chance?
Or rather, did this nine-tailed fox know Perpone?
Can you hold hands with 〈 Venomous Snake 〉 who condoned the beastmen’s hunting?

And…

“I’m frustrated, so can you let me go? I’m choking.”
“Ah, sorry. I wanted to try it…”

She’s obviously the same age as he is, so why does she consider herself like her daughter?
Why are you being so friendly? The more he sold, the more Arwen’s head filled with her doubts.

She’s overflowing, but she’s chosen not to bother with that for now.
Extermination of that demon is the top priority now.

“Then, I’ll go to the North Sea.”

Saying so, Seolhwa headed for the door.

“I’ll go and convince the queen.”
“Is that possible? There’s no guarantee that the queen will join her as an ally…”

Arwen is currently gathering allies.

A person who has a grudge against Grid.
He wants to protect his land from the grid.
Arwen was gathering those who, like himself, were hurt or threatened by the Grid.

The reason Seolhwa goes to the North Sea is to gather allies.

Right now, the allied power is not even close.
At least she was the only one who could fight Grid on an equal footing.
If she attracts the woman, she’ll be able to stand up to the guy.
For that reason, Arwen was thinking of going to the North Sea.

But, will a woman who has no grudge against Grid really follow our words?
Even if you read Grid’s proclamation.

“It’s possible.”

Seolhwa answered confidently.

“I have a way.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I have the means to listen to me.”

Saying that, Seolhwa opened the door.

“Don’t attack like an idiot. Black ore or iron wire. Do it after one of the two is completed. That’s why it’s a bit tricky.”

After saying that, Seol-hwa closed the door and left.

“…Whoa.”

Arwen tilted her head back.

“Father, mother…”

Watch me. I will avenge myself and get her sister back.
I’ll tell him what the price for crossing our family line is.
I will decapitate him and present it at the graves of the two of you.

So give me strength. Give me the strength to defeat that demon.
Arwen prayed her heartily.

At the same time,

A flower bud fell out of a potted plant by the window.
Originally there were three, but they all fell off and the last bud remained.