"Everything is cleared?"
"Yes, the spirit channelling showed the locations where they'd stored the money, and the password to their anonymous bank accounts. It'll all be taken out tomorrow. Any spiritual imprints in the area are cleared, so there should be little results from divination."
"Any signs of Mandated Punishers?"
"Not yet, it was just sounds of shooting. I doubt they will get involved from the get-go. Since this guy is not a known pirate, even if he does cash in their bounty, it shouldn't be a problem for him. By the time they receive these people's body, it'll be hard to figure out anything, if much."
"Good. You can leave then."
I saw a blurred sight, as my consciousness slowly returned. As I sat up with effort, the fiery haired lady turned towards me.
As she was walking towards me, I realised I was sitting under the forest canopy, probably somewhere close to the outskirts of Bayam where the fight had happened. Pushing myself back, I leaned my back on the tree I was laid against as the woman approached me.
"You seem better?"
As she reached me, she asked, looking down at my probably ashen face. As I looked up at her, I had to make an active effort to not open my mouth wide. Even though she had completely toned down her charm, for the sake of half conscious me, Blizzard Maiden Eleanor was a sight to behold.
She had fiery orange hair that cascaded down her back, presently tied in a ponytail. She had fair skin, the shade of pale sand; her face that was clear of any blemishes or imperfection was structured by high cheekbones, giving her the look of someone who came from a high noble family. At the centre of her face was a softly curved, proportional nose that looked symmetrical and refined; surrounding it on both sides above her cheeks were crimson eyes, like that of an albino rabbit.
I had to deliberately make myself blink, to prevent myself from further falling into the passive charm of a demoness who was naturally beautiful.
"All thanks to you."
I replied with a small smile.
She took another step towards me, and crouched down, now looking at me while being at the same level.
"Respectful, aren't you?"
She said with a grin. Shaking her head, she continued.
"I didn't do much, I just needed to supervise the clean-up and make sure the people of Pilsey Island got their money back. As for the rest, that is for the ship. You can go and cash in their bounty, though, since that is your right."
I nodded in response, but before I could think of anything to say, she continued.
"You did quite good for a Sequence 9 who'd only learned to shoot a month ago. How far is your digestion?"
"I- I think I have completely digested the potion. After I killed Bacardi, I felt something metaphysical shatter inside me, and I felt like I could truly understand my powers now, use them without thought."
As I described the feeling, the woman's expression in front me changed in interesting ways. First, it was astonishment, and her beautiful red eyes widened quite drastically, but then it was covered by an impassive face, as if she was trying to hide strong feelings. Then, her lips curved up into a smile that seemed genuine and slightly proud.
"I can't help but be really overjoyed at the fact that I recommended you to captain, or you'd just stay a weak rope puller, unrecognized for your talents. Even still... that is some incredulous rate. I wonder if it was because of the missions you had done before?"
The lady seemed to be in deep thought for a few moments, and I didn't dare interrupt. A moment later, her eyes focused on me again.
"Regardless, it's all good. Captain would be happy."
As she said so, she slightly ruffled my cheek long hair with her palm, like a proud senior or elder sister who'd found their junior doing really well at a game they'd taught them.
As I felt her touch, I shivered a little before some warmth finally grazed my cheek. She dragged her index finger across my cheek, before putting it on the tip of my nose.
Looking at me with a teasing smile, she said:
"If you digest the Instigator potion in the next one and a half month, I might give you a special reward."
I felt a chill down my spine, as I heard her words. Eleanor was a Sequence 6 Demoness of Pleasure, the First Mate of Black Death. Her nickname among the pirates and across the seas was Blizzard Maiden. Even though she had features that looked farthest from a blizzard, she was known for freezing her enemies and leaving numerous ice shards embedded in their corpses.
At present, she was looking at me with a mischievous grin, as if she was playing a fascinating game.
"I'll do my best. I can't make any unrealistic promises, though."
She took her finger off my nose, now crossing her arms below her plentiful breasts that were covered in her shirt and dark blue coat. She giggled like an innocent girl as she said:
"That's some humility you have. Don't worry though, even if you take two months, I'd still reward you. Your instigation skills don't seem great so far, so you'd definitely have to work to digest that potion."
"I won't disappoint you, I hope."
I said with a relieved smile. This whole time, I was searching Lorenzo's memories to figure out how this fiery lady worked, and from all that I had remembered, she seemed really nice on pretty much all occasions. He'd met her on Black Death when he'd come to the ship as the Fifth Ship's Captain's assistant.
For some reason, she had paid attention to dear Lorenzo, and gave him some test missions, before recommending him to the Captain as a boatswain for the Black Death.
So far, she hadn't shown any sketchy behaviour towards me, except the unexpected attention I had gotten from her.
"Good, I hope so as well. Now, if you can stand up, you'd find the bodies of your two victims are already packed and sent to our contact, who'd let you get the bounty. You can go and cash it in tomorrow at the Amyris Leaf Bar. Strongman Ozil there is Mithor King's subordinate, he has connections that'll let you get the bounty. This way, you'd also stay anonymous unless you deliberately go out and flaunt your name."
As she finished speaking, she stood up, and held her hand down towards me.
Taking it, I stood up too. Even though I had exhausted pretty much all of my spirituality, and been harmed, it seems like I was given some kind of medicine while I was asleep.
"Alright then, can you walk your way to the inn? Or you'd like me to walk you home?" she teased.
At this point, I wasn't even surprised that she knew where I was checking in at.
"I will be okay, don't worry about it."
"Good, good. Once you cash in, go to Pilsey Island and get back to the ship. Then we'll leave."
As I found my bearing, I found myself able to stand and move without much problem.
"Thank you, again, for tonight. I'll see you at the ship, Madam Eleanor." I said with a daring wink.
"Heh, cheeky, aren't you? Alright then, it's a farewell."
As she said so, the beautiful lady disappeared from my sight.
Even though our conversation seemed quite casual, it wasn't something too special. Eleanor had that outgoing personality where she would try to tease you. Lorenzo had slowly, and only slightly, gotten used to it, only responding in a complementary way sometimes.
Shaking my head, I started walking towards the city. After about two hours of walking and blending in shadows wherever needed, I finally entered my room at the inn. I had taken some effort to hide the damage done to my clothes, for which I had to tie my overcoat around my pantaloons. I looked like a tired man who'd returned from a long walk. I asked the receptionist to send a meal to my room, and headed upstairs.
I stripped off my clothes just as I entered the room, and took a long shower.
By the time I came out, a hot meal was waiting for me at the table. Not caring about manners, I stuffed myself full, drank a lot of water, and fell asleep.