Chapter 62: If You Risk Your Life for Me
Most of the Shahit Pirates’ ships had burned and sunk.
The pirates who had charged forward to avenge their leader had all become fish food.
Those who had thrown down their weapons and surrendered were tied up and put on the remaining ships.
Under the watchful eyes of the Heavenly Wolf Clan, they would become laborers to clean up this area.
They would be forced into hard labor, but they would have to accept it.
This was their punishment for the evil deeds they had committed.
“Later, I’m thinking of putting them to work guarding this area.”
“That’s a good idea.”
Yustitia nodded as she listened to Sirius’s explanation.
“This area is good terrain for pirates to operate in. Even if the Shahit Pirates are gone, new ones will soon appear and start plundering.”
“Yes, it will be useful to keep those types in check.”
Even in the martial world…… when large bandits or rebels are suppressed,治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安public order would often worsen.
Such places are difficult for specific sects to manage continuously, so when a major figure in the greenwood disappears, the area becomes even more chaotic.
That said, it was impossible for the Martial Alliance to station personnel at every crossroads and manage them at all times…… so as long as they didn’t cause too much trouble, they tended to turn a blind eye.
However, Sirius had no intention of compromising in this life.
Whether they were bandits or rebels, he would subdue them all and manage them thoroughly.
“Anyway, it would be great if we could finish the cleanup quickly and leave.”
“Is there a reason for that?”
“It’s because of my older sister.”
Eustia said with a worried expression.
“My older sister’s health doesn’t seem to be very good. I want to get her to land quickly.”
“Ah……”
After hearing Eustia’s words, Sirius stroked his chin.
“I had completely forgotten. That’s why she’s been so quiet.”
“You really are a heartless person……”
Leticia, the second daughter of the Rigel family, was also accompanying them on this trip, but she had been lying in her cabin the entire time due to seasickness.
“I’ll examine her once.”
“Yes?”
Eustia looked at him with a dumbfounded expression.
“Were you a doctor?”
“Not a doctor, but I have some knowledge of medicine.”
Sirius headed to the cabin where Leticia was.
“Brother-in-law……?”
Leticia was lying in bed with a face drenched in sweat.
“It seems you’re very uncomfortable.”
“You can see that, can’t you……”
“Have you been like this since before?”
“No, I’ve never been like this before. That’s why I boarded the ship…….”
“I’ll examine you once.”
Sirius approached Leticia and grabbed her wrist.
“B, Brother-in-law, why are you suddenly grabbing my wrist…….”
“Just a moment.”
Sirius grabbed Leticia’s wrist in order to take her pulse.
Normally, if you train in martial arts, you will be able to take a basic pulse.
However…….
“Sirius, what’s wrong?”
Eustia, who was watching from the side, asked.
This was because Sirius’s expression had hardened.
“Is there a problem?”
“No…… It’s just seasickness.”
Encircling her thus, Sirius placed his hand on the inside of Leticia’s wrist.
And he pressed hard on the Neiguan point, two inches away from the inner wrist crease.
“Please bear with it for a moment.”
“Ugh…?”
The Neiguan point is a specific pressure point effective for motion sickness and nausea.
It would be more effective if he not only applied pressure but also infused his inner energy.
In fact, Leticia’s complexion began to improve right away.
“Huh? I feel a bit better for some reason…”
“You’ll feel better soon. Please rest.”
Having said that, Sirius left the cabin right away.
“Sirius, what did you just do?”
“I told you. I have some skills.”
“Even so…”
Eustia, who had followed him out, looked dubious.
“And why did your expression stiffen when you were holding her wrist earlier?”
“That’s…”
Sirius trailed off.
Eustia frowned at his appearance.
“Is there something seriously wrong with my sister?”
“No, that’s not it…”
After hesitating for a moment, he sighed and said,
“I think she might be pregnant.”
“….”
He had originally intended to apply pressure to other acupoints as well, but he only pressed the relatively safe Neiguan point, as it could affect the pregnancy.
The Neiguan point is also effective for morning sickness, so it should be fine.
“Then, the reason she suffered from severe motion sickness this time…”
“That’s probably the reason.”
“Hmm…”
They both looked nervous.
The fact itself was a blessing, but it reminded them of how Leticia had been pressuring them about their two-year plan.
“It’s not certain, so we should have the doctor at the Letiwood family mansion examine her when we get there.”
“I see. We need to confirm if she’s really pregnant…”
As they were having such a conversation in an awkward atmosphere.
Velid appeared from the other side of the corridor.
“Sirius, they say we’re going to the Shahit Order’s headquarters now. What are you going to do?”
“I’ll go too.”
He had to escape this awkward atmosphere quickly.
With that in mind, Sirius walked up to Velid.
“Oh, Sirius.”
While walking down the corridor, Velid whispered to Sirius.
“Congratulations.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“What?”
“You guys seemed so cold, I thought you didn’t get along. But you’re still close. Now that you’re a father, you should be more forgiving… Agh!”
“If you’re going to eavesdrop, do it properly, you idiot.”
Sirius smacked the back of Vellid’s head.
* * *
The main base of the Shahit bandits was a cave cleverly hidden between cliffs.
“Wow, how did this place stay hidden?”
Vellid, who had come with him, was amazed at how well the cave was hidden.
It was true that it would be difficult for an讨伐队 to catch them if they were hiding in a place like this.
“Let’s go in.”
Sirius led his men into the cave.
The inside of the cave was quite large.
The remnants of the bandits were still there, but they were quickly subdued.
“Vellid, take the loot they’ve gathered and move it outside. Call for more ships if you need to.”
“Eighteen thousand nine hundred and forty-eight… Got it!”
After giving instructions to Vellid, Sirius went deeper into the cave.
There was Shahit’s room there.
“……”
As if it was Shahit’s hobby, there were many weapons and armor on display.
Thinking that those should be taken outside as well, Sirius searched the interior.
And… he found a few letters.
“Berdian.”
Sirius spoke to Berdian, who was waiting near the entrance.
“Does the Southern Branch have close ties to the Flame Emperor?”
“Hoo…”
Berdian sighed.
“Yes. The Southern Branch is heavily influenced by the Flame Emperor. The leader of the Southern Branch is also a disciple of the Flame Emperor.”
“The magical flaming sword that Shahit used must have been a technique passed down from there.”
The letters that Shahit had been keeping were from an executive of the Southern Branch of the Alliance.
They were demanding payment, threatening Shahit by mentioning the Flame Emperor and the leader of the Southern Branch.
It seemed that Shahit had also been exploited by the Alliance.
“Just to let you know, I don’t know much about the Southern Branch either. So I can’t confirm anything further.”
“I’ve heard that before.”
The Southern Branch was said to be much larger than the Eastern Branch, and its structure was different.
Since the branches didn’t share information well, Berdian, who had been sent to the East as a disciple of the Poison King, didn’t know much about the South.
“But you also said that the Flame Emperor’s faction is hostile to the Poison King.”
“……”
“So even if you fight against the Flame Emperor’s faction, you won’t be betraying the Poison King.”
In any case, the Southern Branch would want to capture Berdian alive and use him as a weapon to牽制the Poison King.
From Berdian’s perspective, he had no choice but to stand on Sirius’s side and oppose the Southern Branch.
“So, please continue to cooperate, Berdian.”
“That’s why I said I don’t know much to cooperate with you…”
Berdian grumbled and turned his gaze away.
However, Sirius ignored him and asked another question.
“What kind of medicinal herb is the Crimson Blaze Grass?”
“……!”
Berdian flinched at the unexpected question.
“Why that…”
“I saw in the letter that they asked me to send them the Crimson Blaze Grass.”
Sirius said, pointing at the letter with his finger.
“The name itself is suspicious… Is this perhaps a herb with properties opposite to that of the White Ice Flower?”
“……”
Sirius had been searching for the White Ice Flower or similar herbs for a long time.
However, the Crimson Blaze Grass was a name he had never heard before.
“It says here that I should let them know immediately if I obtain even a small piece, as it is to be presented to the King of Flames.”
“Whew…”
In the end, Berdian sighed and nodded.
“Yes, the Crimson Blaze Grass is the herb that corresponds to the White Ice Flower. It has a fiery, hot energy.”
“I see.”
He had finally found it.
He had found the herb that could act as the extreme yang elixir.
“The King of Flames has been searching for the Crimson Blaze Grass for some time now. However, it is an even rarer herb than the White Ice Flower, so he probably hasn’t obtained it yet.”
“What does he need the Crimson Blaze Grass for?”
“I don’t know that much. His Majesty the Poison King would know.”
“Hmm…”
The King of Flames seems to be a master of flame magic… So he probably intends to use it in that way.
“Then we must find and secure the Crimson Blaze Grass before those Southern Branch bastards.”
“It’s a very rare herb, so it won’t be easy to find.”
“Wouldn’t it be a little easier if you helped me?”
“……”
Berdian pursed his lips and frowned.
Berdian, the Poison King’s disciple, is also knowledgeable about herbs.
Sirius didn’t even know what the Crimson Blaze Grass looked like, so Berdian’s help was essential.
“Oh, and.”
“What is it now?”
“This sword here.”
Sirius picked up a longsword.
It was the sword that seemed to be of the best quality among Shahit’s collection.
“The blade is slightly reddish. Why is that?”
“This is a rough iron sword processed in the Egret style.
“Rough iron sword?”
“It’s processed so that magical power flows well. It’s only made in the Egret workshop in the south… It’s the best quality.”
“The best quality…”
It seemed too small for Shahit to use and was just used as decoration, but it was just the right size for Sirius.
However, it was not perfect.
If a craftsman could make a sword of this level, wouldn’t they be able to make the sword that Sirius wanted?
“I’ve already ordered one from Schmitz in Entroville, but… I should also visit the Egret workshop once.”
Sirius picked up the red-glowing sword.
In the process of receiving Shahit’s great sword, the sword he had been using was slightly twisted.
It would be good to use this rough iron sword for a while.
“It would be better not to approach the Egret workshop carelessly.”
“Why is that?”
“The Egret workshop is connected to the Southern Branch of the Alliance.”
Hearing Verdiant’s voice, Sirius paused for a moment.
“You said you didn’t know much, but you were just being humble. You’re very knowledgeable.”
“Irritating…”
Verdiant turned his head with a frown.
“Anyway, shouldn’t you be more concerned about other things than that?”
“Other things?”
“The Retiud family. They’ll be here soon.”
The Retiud family.
A mid-level family that made up the Southern Alliance, Leticia was married to David Retiud, the second son of that family.
“The Retiud family has always been looking for an opportunity to take control of the Rigel family. They must think of you as an eyesore.”
That’s right.
The Retiud family dreamed of making Leticia the next head of the family and taking control of the Rigel family.
However, things changed with the appearance of Sirius.
“Lady Leticia may think of you as her brother’s husband and think of you kindly, but there’s no guarantee that the Retiud family will do the same.”
“….”
“They might even try to take your life. What are you going to do?”
To Verdiant’s question, Sirius replied calmly.
“If they try to take my life, I’ll welcome it.”
“What?”
“I’ll be able to figure out what kind of family the Retiud family is right away.”
It’s difficult to take action if the other side is hiding their true intentions and just waiting for an opportunity.
However, if they draw their sword first… it’s easy to draw your own sword as well.
“Don’t worry about it, Verdiant.”
“Sirius-nim, you…”
“Just because they’re a related family, doesn’t mean I’ll go easy on them.”
He wouldn’t show special consideration just because his wife’s older sister married into that family.
In my previous life, I had already experienced a great failure from considering my wife’s family.
I had no intention of making such a mistake again this time.
“Whether the Letius family extends a hand to me or a sword… we shall see.”
The fate of the Letius family.
They would decide it themselves.