The massive iron cannonball smashed straight into Frydam's head, caving it in. Then the projectile dragged his stretched neck along, slamming his head clean through the wall.
The ship's doctor's eyes bulged so wide they looked like boiled eggs. The grotesque scene seared itself into his memory forever.
"Wh—wh—what the hell was that?!" He stammered, unable even to form a full sentence.
The event shattered everything he believed in. As a man of science, he suddenly felt that his intelligence itself was a terrible mistake.
Then, Frydam's neck snapped back into place, his flattened face puffing up again like a balloon. His body twisted left, then right, before collapsing unconscious.
"Huh?" The ship's doctor took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. He looked around, seeing nothing but an ordinary boy lying on the bed.
He clapped his hands together, a look of sudden enlightenment dawning on his face. Nodding repeatedly, he patted his forehead. "Ah, so that's it. I've been overworking myself and started hallucinating. Whatever, let's just find a place to hide first."
Even though there was still a massive hole in the wall, he deliberately ignored it, convincing himself that his eyes had played tricks on him.
"Pirate attack! Pirate attack!" At that very moment, the lookout's desperate scream echoed across the ship.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Cannon fire roared through the air as the luxurious vessel was riddled with holes—but miraculously, it didn't sink.
Across the waves, a pirate ship was closing in. Standing at the bow was a stunning woman, her upper body clad only in a bikini, radiating both boldness and wild allure.
"You filthy dogs, charge and take everything!" she shouted, lifting a massive spiked mace high above her head.
The pirates behind her grinned viciously and hurled grappling hooks onto the other ship like bloodthirsty beasts long starved for flesh.
The female pirate bent her knees and leapt a full ten meters, landing squarely on the enemy deck. She slammed her mace down, shattering the planks beneath her with a thunderous crack.
"Anyone who dares resist… dies!" Her cold, commanding voice froze every sailor in place.
Their eyes turned toward the gaping hole in the deck, throats dry, unable to stop themselves from swallowing hard.
They didn't even have the courage to look her in the eye, let alone stand up and fight back.
"Hmph, worthless trash like you should just stay still." She sneered, lips curling in disdain, before striding deeper into the ship to search.
She hadn't gone far when she came across the plump noblewoman. Her brows furrowed, eyes full of scorn as she spat, "Where the hell did this glittering pig come from? Be smart and hand over all your jewelry, and maybe I'll let you live."
The noblewoman's forehead veins bulged with rage. She roared, "You filthy pirate! Dare you speak to me like that?! If you lay a finger on me, the navy will wipe you out instantly!"
"The navy? Pfft, hahaha—are you kidding me?" The pirate woman wiped tears of laughter from her eyes, then her expression turned predatory.
"You really think someone brave enough to sail as a pirate fears the navy? If I were afraid, I wouldn't be out here in the first place."
As she spoke, she slammed her mace into the wooden floor with a heavy thud. The fat noblewoman trembled, realizing her bluff had failed, though her pride still clung to the illusion of superiority.
Smack!
The mace came down hard on her head. The pirate woman rested the weapon on her shoulder and spat right in the noble's face.
"Stupid fool who doesn't know her place."
Without another word, she stripped every glittering ornament from the woman and stuffed them into her pouch before continuing her search for valuables.
As she passed the infirmary, the massive cannon hole in the wall caught her attention, and she instinctively peeked inside for a few seconds.
When her gaze landed on Frydam lying within, she froze mid-step. Stepping into the room, she examined him more closely—the handsome face stood out completely from the idiotic brutes she commanded.
Her fingers traced his cheek with intrigued amusement. A wicked grin spread across her lips as she let out a low, sinister chuckle.
"Heh heh heh, falling into my hands is your lucky day."
Without asking for permission, she slung him over her shoulder and walked off.
…
Frydam groggily opened his eyes, pressing a hand to his forehead, feeling the dull ache throbbing through his skull.
'My head hurts… what the hell hit me?' he thought, scanning his surroundings.
A sea breeze suddenly brushed past, refreshing his whole body... wait, his whole body? Why could he feel the wind everywhere?
He slipped under the blanket—only to realize he wasn't wearing a single piece of clothing. Worse yet, his waist ached faintly, as if he'd just gone through some intense… activity.
"Huh? Breathing?" He froze, then turned his head.
A voluptuous woman was sleeping soundly beside him, dressed in a thin, barely-there nightgown.
Frydam clapped his hands together, eyes lighting up as though he had just solved a grand mystery.
"I get it! She must've saved me, and since I didn't have any clothes, she covered me with her own blanket. I'm so smart."
The more he spoke, the more that explanation made sense to him. After all, for a naïve boy like him, reaching that conclusion was already impressive.
The beauty slowly opened her eyes, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. She leaned closer, her warm breath brushing against his ear, sending shivers down his spine.
"Awake already? Then shall we continue?"
"I'm awake, thank you for saving—huh?" Frydam bowed slightly in gratitude, then froze halfway through his words.
What exactly had he been doing before he passed out? He had no idea.
His handsome yet innocent face made the woman's cheeks flush with excitement.
"H-hey, you… What are you doing?" Frydam stammered, panic creeping into his voice.
He had no clue what she intended, but the way she looked at him was downright terrifying.
"Ha ha, relax, boy. Let me take you on a trip straight to heaven." Her sultry voice dripped with mischief.
Frydam shuddered, trying to escape, but her hand gripped him tightly, leaving him completely helpless.
"D-don't come any closer!" He shouted in despair.
Outside the cabin, the pirates were gossiping animatedly:
"Getting noticed by the captain is a blessing, so what's he screaming for?"
"Yeah, if the captain ever looked my way, I'd lose my damn mind with joy."
"Hmph, a weakling like you would never catch the captain's eye."
"But he's weak too."
"Are you as good-looking as him?"
…