"Ah, greetings! Captain Julie, the leader of the Blood Emerald," said a familiar voice, it was Captain John Belladonna, He welcomed Julie aboard the ship.

Having arrived at the ship named Mary Georgina, Belladonna's vessel, Julie entered with confidence, instantly capturing the attention of the curious crew.

Although Capitain Belladonna was known for their flamboyant and indulgent ways, it was different when it came to Captain Rogers. He ordered his crew to disperse and escorted Julie to his cabin.

"Pay no mind to the disorder; make yourself at home in my humble abode," Belladonna remarked.

Julie viewed Belladonna as a peacock, and the cabin mirrored this perception. The space was adorned with an abundance of gold, even the flowers were crafted from a blend of copper and silver, while various precious stones adorned the trinkets.

"Are ye still tryin t’ compensate for somethin’, Captain?" Julie playfully teased.

Julie seated herself while Belladora stood before her, leaning on the desk and handing her a newspaper. It happened to be a newspaper from the kingdom of Rowdilian, which surprised Julie.

"Ah didn't know that this newspaper was still in circulation," she commented.

"Take a close look here, my beautiful one," Belladonna commanded in a seductive tone, pointing to an article of interest.

Immediately, Julie's attention was piqued as she read about the impending execution of Captain Redbeard on the front page of the newspaper.

"But ‘tis is dated three weeks ago," Julie exclaimed.

"That means you have two more months to capture him, my precious Emerald," Belladonna reassured her. "But fear not, my love, I have assembled a team for the task, and..."

Interrupting him, Julie stood up sternly. "No, it must be me, Belladone."

Belladone circled around Julie, placing a magnificent emerald necklace around her neck. "I understand, my love, it's a gift for your birthday," Belladonna whispered, embracing Julie.

And continued "Who was the boy?" he inquired, reminiscent of how Aiden had held her.

"Boy?" Julie questioned Belladonna, concern evident in her voice. "Do ye wish t’ be subjected t’ the same punishment as ‘im?"

"If it is what my blood emerald’s desires, I must accept any punishment," Belladonna responded, lowering her gaze towards Julie's neck.

Julie pushed him away slightly.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Belladonna approached as if about to kiss her, cornering her between the table and himself.

"Do you recall our promise, Captain?" Belladonna whispered.

Julie bumped into the table and a picture frame that fell to the floor.

There, on the floor, lay a portrait featuring a younger Howarding standing alongside a little version of Belladonna and Julie, side by side.

"You still possess that painting," Julie noted.

"I must say, I am a man who stays true to his feelings," he replied, not once averting his gaze from Julie, as he held a strand of her hair.

"During our next encounter, Belladonna when ye lay eyes on me once again, ah shall fulfill mah end of the agreement, and we shall spend the night together."

Belladonna's hand dropped eagerly. "And I highly doubt the captain will ever abandon me after that."

"ah never have, dear peacock. ahm a person of mah word," Julie declared as she departed with the newspaper.

***

In the meantime, a few kilometers away, Julie's other boats, known as Blood Emerald, patiently awaited her arrival. The dense fog blurred the surroundings, shrouding the dark night. Unbeknownst to anyone, an unidentified boat approached the unsuspecting crew of Julie's vessel.

Swiftly and efficiently, the intruders boarded the ship, easily overpowering Vice Captain Marques to prevent him from alerting the rest of the fleet. The distance and the thick fog worked to their advantage, masking their presence from the other ships.

They made their way on board, apprehending the pirates and seizing whatever they could, mercilessly eliminating those who resisted their capture. One by one, they infiltrated the cabins, in search of Captain Julie, whose head carried a hefty bounty of over 2 million.

Howarding, sensing the commotion, quickly released Aiden from his cell and concealed him within a small storage room. Alas, their efforts were in vain, as they were soon discovered. Howarding attempted to defend Aiden and himself, but the assailant, mocking his age, effortlessly incapacitated him with a single blow to the abdomen. The Marines then approached the boy, who watched them intently from his hiding spot.

Crouching on the ground like a wild beast, Aiden found himself at a loss for what to do. Yet, his instinct for survival drove him forward. Julie had promised she would return, and he had to endure it all. Suddenly, his attention was drawn to a loose piece of wood nearby, and he swiftly reached for it. However, before he could react, two men entered the room, striking him in the back with a sword, sending him crashing to the ground.

"Bring the torch," one of the men commanded.

"Hahaha, I can't believe it," another stammered, filled with surprise. "That wretched beast is still alive!"

They seemed to recognize Aiden, and in that moment, a chill ran down his spine as he looked at their uniforms. His heart pounded within his chest, and a wave of anger washed over him, dredging up a series of memories.

"For a fleeting moment, he remembered himself dressed in the same uniform, aboard a ship, a voice calling out to him: 'Commander Maximilian? We are ready.' And then, the memory of his betrayal by those same men flooded his mind."

Aiden stood frozen. It wasn't that he didn't want to move, but rather that he questioned who he truly was. Were these memories real?

One of the men then drew his weapon and, placing a bullet behind it, spoke

“I kept this one for you, my Commander Maximilian”

That confirmed his memories. However, such confirmation held no relevance, as within a distance shorter than two meters, death awaited him.

Without hesitation, the individual dressed in the marine’s uniform squeezed the trigger, resulting in a deafening discharge. Suddenly, a curtain of darkness enveloped his consciousness, and all sensation ceased.