Merissa, the captain, explained to us the significance of the Ether Point Core. It generates the power needed for the whole ship to operate. I am still racking my brains though on how does that works. I guess it is something like the captain who saw that blueprints would understand.

“Captain…what’s the significance of telling this to us…?”

“You guys are now an important part of our crew so I see no harm doing that. Also, this kind of thing is common among us pirates.”

“We really didn’t concede to this… by the way captain…”

“Aye?”

“You said something about ranking earlier…but, what rank you?”

“Hmm…I think I always vary from rank one to rank three for the last fifty years. I think last year, I am the rank two.”

“Eh?! Rank two?! Wait, wait…! Rank two?! What are the criteria?”

“Hahaha! You’re getting riled up, huh?”

“No… I really didn’t think that you are that high in the rankings…”

“Well, things that, how many we killed or how much treasure we’ve gathered or how we discovered more frontier island out there but, the one that determines that is this game.”

“You’re expecting us to fight along with you against those seventy-four ships?!”

“Nah! We’re almost half way, to be honest. We needed additional members because we lost some from those battles. We’ve already defeated sixteen ships. If I recall correctly, there are only eight ships left.”

“Phew…”

“But ships that were eliminated could assist or still join the fray so expect no rest from attacks.”

“Ehh…”

That’s troublesome…

And they are doing this for a long time. But the most troublesome is that how she treats us as permanent crew. She can only hear things she wanted to hear…

But I’ll admit, it sounds fun. I bet I could enjoy this if I don’t have anything else to do.

“Ether, huh…”

“What’s wrong newbie…?”

“We have names, you know. I’m Asagao, the girl with blond hair is Casablanca and the girl with silver hair is Hibiscus. If we are your important crew then you better remember our names.”

“True. Then, Gao, Ca and Cus.”

“That’s pretty terrible of you, to be honest.”

“Then, what about the name of this bird at the top my head?”

“Uwaah! T-That’s Emby, Captain!”

Hibiscus immediately retrieves Emby from Captain’s head and hugs him in her chest as she hurriedly and nervously told her the bird brain’s name. Merissa just made a long glance at Emby and smirk.

“It’s kind of warm in a good way. Well, there aren’t many precautions towards this Ether Point Core, just don’t fiddle with it out of curiosity. We don’t this ship sinking right?”

After captain’s warning, she led us outside, towards the deck.

I just can’t figure it out how does this pirate game’s going to work. And this ship, I don’t have any clue on how it will fight with other ships. I don’t see and barrels of gun or cannon anywhere.

Are they going to battle with magic or they will try to invade each ship manually and have the crew surrender with brute force?

This ship won’t be popping out any drills or become bigger, right?

As my thoughts led astray by those questions, I find myself in the deck already and standing in front of the captain.

If the ether technologies are involved, then the captain will be excited if she found out more about them.

“Gao, what’s on your mind?”

“Gao, huh…”

“It sounds good, so why not?”

“Haa… Then, captain, this whole thing reminds me of a ruin I explored a while back. It has some machinery and technologies left behind by the ethers. They are also fully functional and there some blueprints laying around in their facility…”

“…”

“Captain?”

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I can tell her more about what Ichirou told me but I rather keep that as a secret since he is close to the man who gave him those limbs, the spiritech.

From what I said, Captain is solidly petrified in the place where she is standing while looking at me with widened eyes.

In an instant, my shoulder is grabbed and captain pulls closer to my face.

“Gao, what you told me, is it true?!”

“W-wait! Too close!”

“GAO, IS IT TRUE?!”

“T-T-T-T-Time out!”

“Gao, you may have given me a new goal! That’s it!”

“Hmmm?”

“After the Pirate Game, we will explore that ruins together Gao! And then, we will be the most powerful pirates and we will be hailed as the Emperor of the Sea!”

What did she just said?

Hey, I can’t have that! I really need to voice out my thoughts!

I want to see Senya and learn various things from her and hear answers to my questions. I have to get back to the Astlan Castle after that.

I want to…visit Milin and Master too as soon as possible…

And on top of that, Nil might just be there around the corner, watching us.

Oh yeah, we also promised Ichirou that we will be back before it gets dark!

“Captain, no, Merissa!”

“What is it all of the sudden? I am envisioning our rise at the top!”

“We can’t go with you! You suddenly pushed us into this ship even though we don’t want to. We still have things we need to do, that involve battling the devils! We do not know how much time do we have but I fear that there will be something dangerous will happen!”

“Gao…Is that so…?”

“Yes. I have to tell you upfront since you seemed like ignoring me earlier but, there are people waiting for us.”

“Hmm, yes. It is as you said. I was just so excited that I started ignoring everything around me. Kidnapping isn’t our forte too. Incidentally, how old are you three?”

“These twins are both twelve years old and I am nine years old.”

“A-Asagao…aren’t you already twent--! Hya!”

Before Casablanca could blurt my real age, I lightly brush my finger to her thigh to interrupt her. She already got the message and didn’t open her mouth again.

“Eh…?! That young?!”

“Is there a problem?”

“By gods, yes!”

“How?”

“I assumed that because Ca and Cus are elves, they are somewhat beyond a hundred because that how it usually is together with you!”

“Um…how is that a problem?”

“By a legal treaty signed up by each pirate, there are certain ages of each race in which we could only recruit!”

“Really? How civilized.”

“We can only recruit humans over twenty years old and above. For elves, we can recruit them at the age of fifty, the same for the dwarves. Since we need stronger dragon kins, we only recruit those who are over one hundred. For demons, we need at least forty years old.”

“Why do you pirates implemented such treaty?”

“It’s for eligibility purposes in which certain race can exert their full potential! Looks can really be deceiving…”

“You’re the one the one to talk about that when you look like around our age. Who implanted such rule anyway?”

“Who knows…? Since you guys are underage, I guess I don’t have a choice but to return you to the shore.”

“Thank you.”

I really feel bad about it but it can’t be helped.

We can’t stick around here and get caught up with another battle. The ether technologies that they adapted are intriguing but I have to put if off for now and focus on what’s ahead of us.

I look at the twins and they have the face of discontent.

I am sorry to ruin their enjoyment. I do wish to stick longer here and see how everything will turn out but, I don’t want to make Ichirou worry.

“Ferd, turn the ship around! We will be returning these little girls here!”

“Aye, captain!

As she said that towards the man in the place that looks like a control ship, the man called Ferd with four horn which I guess a dragon spins the steering wheel.

Or so what should happen.

BAM!

“Waah?!”

“Enemy?!

“It’s shaking and swaying, Hibiscus!”

“Ahh! Now that I think about, Casablanca, I feel sick!”

An explosion suddenly occurs that it shook the whole ship. Casablanca is fine and was able to hold onto a railing but Hibiscus, even though she also held into something, got sick from the ship swaying too much.

She just realized that she easily gets seasick?

Anyway, something just attacked us and this is not a good sign.

“Captain, what happened?

“An enemy attack! It’s a battle! It’s a war! It’s on!”

“Eh…Eh…?!”

“Hold on tight to your heart and keep your undies check because you might wet them!!”

“How about taking us back?!”

“All hands, prepare for battle!”

This is getting out of hand!

She immediately forgot our talk and started ignoring me again!

“Ferd, what’s the situation?”

“Captain, the Ship Veriny fired their artillery cannon to us from a distance of fifty miles. How should we respond?”

“What are the damages?!”

“It hit our left flank, the wood covering that serves as camouflage receives a huge damage. The overall hull isn’t even scratched.”

“Good! Turn our ship towards them at full speed!”

“Yes! All hands to your post, man the deck”

The busy bodies started running around the place and we just sat in one corner so we won’t get in the way. Meanwhile, Hibiscus is throwing up while Casablanca gives her back a good rubbing. Emby worriedly helps us he comfort Hibiscus’ head.

The ship suddenly turns toward the enemy and immediately sailed at a speed incomparable from earlier.

BOOM!

Another attack landed on our ship but it didn’t explode because there was something that blocked it. An unseen shield that took all of the explosion but it still manages to shake the whole ship.

“Captain, we will be in contact with them at three, two, one and… they are now in our range!”

“Good! Now, release all of our firearms and return the favor!”

As Merissa shouted that, the enemy ship starts firing huge lasers and stuff!

At the same time, our ship starts shedding woods all over the place! It’s like it’s getting torn apart but it’s not!

I really can’t explain it well!

As our speed didn’t cease to decelerate, we then slam the opposing ship!

Hibiscus almost fell to the sea if Casablanca and I weren't able to hold her by the waist!

BAM!

Merissa immediately runs towards the tip of the ship. On the other ship, another girl with dragons features, three horns, light brown hair and astounding curvaceous body also did the same step her left foot up on the tip of their own ship.

“Look what the salty wind brought here, Airene of the dumbass land! Fuck off now and I will forgive you!”

“Look what this shorty is talking about?! Who the fuck told you that you own the sea, you dreamer!”

“Huuuuuh?! A sore loser like you who have been fucked over many times dare to speak high, huh?!”

“Coming from a retard that even though high in rankings, is still short, huh?!”

They are provoking each other…

And such profane words…please stop…Casablanca and Hibiscus are hearing all of that.

They are even flipping the bird at each other…

“Asagao…what are they doing? What does that hand sign mean?”

“It’s not good for kids like you. Don’t you dare try copying that! If Priscilla saw you doing that, you will be bent for hell I’m telling you.”

“O-Okay…”

Casablanca slowly turns her head away from the two after asking me and gesturing her to turn around and ignore them. She continues rubbing Hibiscus’ back as she is still nauseous.

“You’re really asking for it! Aim the cannons! We will blast their faces off!”

As Merissa shouts that again towards the busy crew, the ship suddenly vibrates as hatches from each side opens.

At first, I thought that it is one of those black cannons that common ships used where they load it with power and cannon balls.

I am dearly mistaken…

“Captain, charging has finished!”

“Fire their face off!”

“Aye!”

The cannons…turret…or more likely…aren’t those…

“All hands, set up a shield and prepare for a counter attack! Plasma Cannon 3.67 type is coming!”

Ordered by the opposing ship…

They immediately move back to get away from a point blank attack.

“Ferd, fire!”

“Fire!!!”

The huge cannon on each side of the ship…

Releases a red bright light with statics and such towards our enemy…

The attack is so strong that our ship moves backward. The laser is so big that I bet it could delete a whole mansion.

I can only mutter to myself…

“That’s absurd…”