MFLWTS 06

Chapter 6

While Kanoe and Jelly were dreaming of a big catch—and before Ian got hooked on their fishing line—holes were being poked one after another into their precious raft.

“Captain! We’ve located the fugitive target!”

The deck of the massive orca-shaped ship, Black Whale, was in utter chaos.

“The target was spotted about 2.7 kilometers southwest of our current position, aboard a small boat!”

The telescope lens flashed as it caught the morning sun.

From early dawn, navy forces under royal orders had been mobilized to track down a runaway criminal.

Still, even as they followed orders, the sailors couldn’t hide their confusion. Just yesterday, the very officer they trusted and followed had become a criminal overnight?

And not just anyone—but Admiral Ian Frederick, a man so diligent and honest he had been selected as “Outstanding Sailor of the Year” several times!

The reason for his sudden criminal status? Even more absurd.

He allegedly fell in love with a female convict he was transporting to prison.

“Move and I’ll shoot. I have a very scary special ability, you know.”

Dominic, the sailor manning the telescope, recalled how Kanoe had threatened him with those chilling words.

Honestly, there was no denying she was a stunning beauty. Her water-colored hair and deep lake-blue eyes were so mesmerizing, they stole your gaze in an instant.

To think his former superior, who used to look at women like sea urchins—warily—had fallen for a pretty face? It was shocking in many ways…

Regardless of the truth, one thing was undeniable:

“Captain! I’d like to volunteer for the operation to capture Kanoe Bluebell! Please grant me permission!”

Kanoe Bluebell had a talent for driving people mad.

“You think I’m so old I’ve gone deaf now? That’s the eleventh time I’ve heard that today!”

Admiral Markello dug a finger in his ear and pulled the kneeling sailor to his feet. Watching from nearby, Dominic let out a cold sigh.

‘And here’s another lunatic.’

His direct senior, Joel, had been hit square in the face with Kanoe’s water gun—and had been like this for days.

Perhaps it was guilt over letting her escape—or maybe her squirt gun attack had deeply bruised his pride.

“This mission is under royal command, remember? We’re operating jointly with the Royal Knights. You can’t act independently.”

“…Understood.”

“For now, focus on capturing Ian Frederick.”

Joel clenched his fist and grit his teeth. No subordinate wants to see their respected superior become a criminal. Having to be the one to arrest him? That must be heartbreaking.

“Hey, you—are you keeping watch properly?”

Dominic, understanding his senior’s pain, looked at Joel and turned back to his telescope.

“Yes, sir. The target remains approximately 2 kilometers southwest from our position…”

His hand trembled.

Something’s wrong?

He pulled away from the telescope and looked out at the wide ocean.

“Uh, sir? It’s not just me seeing this, right?”

“What now? What weird thing are you talking about?”

Joel snatched the telescope from him—and his expression twisted in disbelief.

“…The target is approaching.”

His shout sent shockwaves across the deck of the Black Whale.

“The target—Ian Frederick—is rapidly approaching the Black Whale!”

KUGUGUNG—!

Dark clouds rolled in under a sky that had been crystal clear just moments ago, thundering ominously.

Standing on deck, Admiral Markello instantly calmed the startled sailors.

“We’ve weathered plenty of storms, haven’t we?!”

Any sailor is bound to face storms at sea. Especially those who once sailed with the so-called Master of Storms.

They all recalled those fierce times—and calmly entered battle stance.

Markello clicked his tongue, scanning the now-silent deck.

“Figures. So much for clocking in at 9 a.m. today.”

He had given Ian a two-hour head start out of old loyalty. That should’ve been enough time to cross into foreign waters.

So why was he lurking around a small harbor town?

Did he never intend to run in the first place?

“…Captain, there are ears everywhere.”

“So what? They’ll just chalk it up to the ramblings of a senile old man about to retire.”

As waves rose and the wind howled, Markello clung to the railing and shouted:

“What do you think you’re doing here?!”

His thunderous voice made Ian look up. The little rowboat beneath him was eerily calm, as if sitting in the eye of the storm.

“Of course. If you were planning to surrender quietly, you wouldn’t have stirred up a storm!”

Ian didn’t reply.

Or rather—he couldn’t.

A tiny boat in front of a massive warship—his voice would be lost in the wind.

“Captain! Not everyone’s got a voice like yours!”

That was his aide, Charles, pointing out the obvious—that Ian’s voice wouldn’t carry. He tugged at the admiral’s arm.

“Hah! Isn’t this exactly what we’ve got sonar for? Sonar officer! Pick up Ian Frederick’s voice, stat!”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

“…It’s not really meant for this, though…”

Markello, his aide, and the sonar officer all stood poised like it was standard procedure. Ian quietly raised his gaze.

Above them, the sky looked almost painted—darkened only in the patch above the ship. He had used his ability just within range of the Black Whale.

“…Not yet.”

Ian hesitated before speaking.

“Amplifying Ian Frederick’s voice now!”

His words soon echoed across the storm-tossed sea.

Sigh. This is why he didn’t want to talk.

Running a hand through his rain-soaked hair, Ian replied clearly:

“I haven’t decided where I’m going yet.”

“…Weren’t you off to see your lover?”

“…Well.”

Recalling his current situation, Ian slowly nodded.

His lips curled into a faint smile.

“If I show up dragging a bunch of sailors behind me, won’t that make things difficult for her?”

“Hah!”

Markello scoffed. Typical lovesick fool.

Satisfied with his excuse, Ian continued his thoughts in silence.

If freedom had never been an option, he wouldn’t have even dared dream of it.

But now that he had it, it flopped in his hands like a freshly caught fish. He needed time to figure out what to do.

Where to go. What to do.

Everything had to be decided—not by anyone else—but by him.

“I’m sorry, Captain. But I need to buy myself some time.”

“You mean, to give your beloved time to run while you fight us off?”

“No, of course not. I have no intention of fighting.”

Markello raised a grizzled eyebrow.

“Then how about surrendering peacefully? I get sore all over if I push myself too hard.”

“Even a herring will flail for its life in front of an orca’s teeth.”

Amused by the joke, Markello let out a loud laugh—then suddenly snapped his head up.

The storm still raged. Lightning flashed as thunder rolled. The navy stood alert, ready to dive into the sea at a word.

‘So that’s why he’s going along with this charade…’

He swallowed a dry laugh as he finally accepted the absurdity unfolding before him.

“Lower…”

He spun around and shouted:

“Lower the anchor! Take down the sails—now!”

The winds roared.

Standing calmly in the eye of the storm, Ian quietly controlled the wind.

“That bastard’s planning to blow this entire ship away!”

Was that even possible?

Dominic dropped his telescope and ran to help with the anchor, eyes wide in shock.

He had seen plenty of Ian’s powers up close—raising storms from clear skies, calming violent tempests.

But to blow away a battleship?

“C-Captain! It’s no use! The ship’s out of control!”

“Damn it! So he never planned to fight—but to drive us away!”

And what’s worse—he had kindly given them time to prepare for the storm.

Some lingering sentiment, perhaps?

Yet Ian never wavered.

Markello looked stunned—completely outmaneuvered.

“All crew, take shelter inside! Hah, we’re the ones losing face now!”

A massive wave pushed the battleship away. It was powerful enough to shift the sea’s currents.

Dominic, inside the cabin clutching at furniture to keep it from falling, thought to himself:

‘He really is terrifying…’

To think someone with that kind of monstrous power was captured by a woman named Kanoe Bluebell.

What kind of person was she?

“Achoo!”

Sitting on the raft, peeling fish scales, Kanoe suddenly sneezed.

“Master, are you catching a cold?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

Kanoe rubbed her ticklish nose.

Surrounded by the endless sea, she had no idea that rumors about her were growing by the day.