The ship had barely cleared the outer docks.
Land was still close enough to see movement on shore.
Too close to relax.
Kevin kept one hand on the helm, the other adjusting sail tension.
Carina stood near the side railing, watching the island shrink behind them.
"…We're not out yet."
Kevin nodded slightly.
"…Correct."
The wind shifted.
Not naturally.
It pushed against their direction.
Kevin narrowed his eyes.
"…Intentional movement."
Carina frowned.
"…What does that mean?"
Kevin didn't answer immediately.
He was already adjusting course.
"…Something is moving to intercept."
From the edge of the horizon—
A ship appeared.
Then another.
Not merchant.
Not neutral.
Fast.
Direct.
Organized.
Carina stiffened slightly.
"…That doesn't look good."
Kevin replied calmly.
"…No."
The ships were approaching in a wide formation.
Cutting off escape routes from both sides.
"…They planned this."
The lead ship became clearer.
Dark hull.
Reinforced front.
Armed deck.
Not random pirates.
A coordinated crew.
Carina lowered her voice.
"…We didn't even do anything here."
Kevin responded.
"…We existed here."
The ships closed distance quickly.
No warning shots yet.
Just pressure.
Kevin adjusted sails slightly.
Testing angles.
But every direction was narrowing.
"…Surrounding pattern."
Carina looked around.
"…So we're trapped?"
Kevin answered.
"…Not yet."
The lead ship finally fired a single cannon.
Not to hit.
But to warn.
BOOM—
Water exploded ahead of their ship.
Carina flinched.
"…Okay, that's definitely a threat."
Kevin stayed calm.
"…They want control, not destruction."
A voice shouted from the lead ship.
"Drop your cargo and you'll leave alive!"
Carina looked at Kevin.
"…Same as last time?"
Kevin nodded.
"…Same structure. Different crew."
The surrounding ships tightened formation.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Cutting wind advantage.
Blocking exit lines.
Kevin observed silently.
"…They're experienced."
Carina frowned.
"…So what now?"
Kevin didn't answer immediately.
He studied spacing.
Distance between ships.
Wave direction.
Wind shift timing.
"…We move through the weakest gap."
Carina blinked.
"…There is a gap?"
Kevin pointed slightly with his eyes.
"…There."
Between two escort ships.
Slightly wider spacing due to wave alignment.
Another cannon fired.
Closer this time.
Kevin immediately shifted the helm.
Not away.
Forward-left.
Carina grabbed the railing.
"…We're going toward them?!"
Kevin replied.
"…Not toward. Through."
The ship accelerated slightly using wind angle.
Heading directly into the narrowing gap.
The pirate crew reacted instantly.
"Stop them!"
Ships began adjusting too late.
Carina watched closely.
"…This is insane."
Kevin replied.
"…This is timing."
They entered the gap.
Narrow.
Tight.
Controlled.
Cannons fired again.
But angle was wrong.
Water exploded behind them.
The ship slipped through.
Just barely.
Carina exhaled sharply.
"…We actually got through that?"
Kevin didn't respond.
He adjusted sails again immediately.
"…Not finished."
Behind them—
The pirates regrouped quickly.
Angry now.
No longer testing.
They began pursuit.
Carina turned slightly.
"…They're following."
Kevin nodded.
"…Yes."
One ship broke formation faster than the others.
Lead pursuer.
Closing distance quickly.
Carina frowned.
"…That one's fast."
Kevin replied.
"…Heavier crew. Better engine power."
The chase began properly now.
Sea cutting under pressure.
Wind resistance increasing.
Kevin adjusted course repeatedly.
Always using wave direction.
Never straight.
Carina held on tightly.
"…So we're running again?"
Kevin answered.
"…We are moving."
The pursuer fired a warning shot.
Then another.
Closer each time.
Kevin remained focused.
"…They are impatient."
Carina looked at him.
"…Is that good?"
Kevin replied.
"…It creates mistakes."
The pursuing ship began overextending slightly.
Trying to close distance too fast.
Kevin noticed immediately.
"…Now."
He shifted course sharply into a diagonal wave path.
The ship gained sudden speed boost from current alignment.
Carina blinked.
"…What did you do?"
Kevin replied.
"…Used the sea."
Distance began increasing.
Slowly.
Then faster.
The pursuing ship corrected too late.
Carina leaned back slightly.
"…So we got away again?"
Kevin nodded.
"…For now."
The ships behind eventually slowed.
Not giving up.
But abandoning chase range.
Kevin didn't relax.
Not yet.
He continued sailing for another hour before stabilizing course.
Only then—
He spoke.
"…They will remember us."
Carina sighed.
"…Everyone seems to remember us."
Kevin replied.
"…That is normal on the sea."
The island was now far behind them.
Only open water ahead again.
Carina sat down slowly.
"…We really can't stay anywhere peacefully, huh?"
Kevin adjusted sails.
"…Peace is temporary."
Then added.
"…Movement is not."
The ship continued forward.
Carrying both of them deeper into the sea.
Now marked.
Now noticed.
But still alive.