90.

Ro had imagined countless scenarios before meeting the temporary admiral. What desires drove this person? How should she persuade them? How close were they to the crown prince?

Rosetta had long been the captain of Toulon, meaning she was someone who routinely dealt with people and held authority over them as easily as eating a meal.

The pirate world was a small kingdom within a single vessel, operating under its own set of rules. The reason Toulon was one of the more popular pirate ships lay in its fair distribution of wealth and its principle of equality—even the captain was chosen by vote. Of course, no one daring enough to actually propose a vote for captain in Rosetta’s presence had ever surfaced.

Dominance was about balancing desire and fear. Pirates’ desires were generally simple: drinking rum to their heart’s content, eating rich food until full, and jingling gold coins in every pocket. Rosetta had always effortlessly provided all this through overwhelming strength and a clever first mate.

But nobles were different. They lived more complicated lives, with far more varied desires. Their way of thinking was utterly foreign to Ro.

Thus, Ro had mentally prepared thoroughly for this meeting, bracing herself not to be surprised by anything she might see. In her imagination, the temporary admiral always had a sleazy face, exuding the same unpleasant aura as the crown prince.

Was it because of this prejudice? When the office door opened and she faced an elderly man who looked fairly reasonable, her first emotion was one of awkward surprise.

“I had just heard word you were coming. Theodore.”

“Ah…….”

His long white beard, covering even his cheeks, looked like that of a seasoned seafarer. His eyes and forehead were deeply wrinkled from sun exposure, dotted with age spots. Judging by his face alone, he seemed far older than Admiral Montrosa.

He looked thoroughly irritable, yet she felt not the slightest trace of the eerie presence she usually sensed from the crown prince. Lea extended her hand for a handshake. But the old man deliberately turned his head away, pretending not to see it. Trying to assert dominance from the start? Ro twisted her lips bitterly and immediately got to the point.

“Since you know who I am, I’ll speak directly. Grant me permission to dispatch ships to search the Portmuth Archipelago.”

“That’s impossible.”

Ro had fully expected his refusal, so she countered before he even finished speaking.

“Why not?”

“We can’t afford to sacrifice the living for the sake of the dead.”

“The dead? That’s a harsh way to put it.”

“Admiral Montrosa was a seasoned veteran of the seas. If even he fell, sending your current ragtag crew would only result in the same fate.”

“So we’re supposed to cower in Syklyde out of fear of mere pirates?”

“Pirates, you say?”

Theodore chuckled unpleasantly. Then he opened a drawer and rummaged through it as if searching for something.

“You truly believe Admiral Montrosa fell to mere pirates? Is that really what you think?”

Ro disliked that he was casually using Cardier’s drawer, but when he pulled out a flat bundle of metal, she fell silent. She instantly recognized it as the military identification tag worn by Tilson’s navy personnel.

“You even know what this is……?”

“It’s the identification tag worn by Tilson’s navy. I see now.”

Ro cut Theodore off mid-sentence. This wasn’t a collection of trophies gathered one by one to boast martial exploits—every piece looked brand new. Either they were impeccably maintained, or… Ro narrowed her eyes.

“Where did you get these?”

“I searched the bodies washed ashore along the coast. Every single one carried this.”

“…….”

“Now do you understand? It wasn’t some petty pirates who attacked. It was Tilson’s navy that struck our fleet.”

Damn it. So this was the dangerous mission she was being sent on? Just a simple suppression operation? No matter how hard she tried to remain calm and unaffected, her limbs trembled and her heart pounded fiercely. If she ever saw Cardier again, she’d punch that smug face hard enough to settle the score. Ro raised her fan to cover her mouth, hiding her agitation.

“I understand the situation. Still, searching for the missing is necessary.”

“The crown prince foresaw all of this with profound insight. War will break out within weeks.”

“But…….”

Theodore continued coldly.

“Wasting manpower on searching for the missing will allow Tilson’s army to advance right to Esperanda’s doorstep.”

“So you’re saying we should just abandon the living?”

Theodore spoke soothingly.

“Living? It’s fine to hold hope, but that’s merely a noblewoman’s ignorance of the currents around the Portmuth Archipelago.”

Ro nearly scoffed openly. While the main stage of the Crimson Dawn was indeed the Bilvron Strait, their operations didn’t stop at Tilson’s outer waters. To pirates, borders meant nothing. The currents around the Portmuth Archipelago were indeed fierce, but there were plenty of islands—enough to provide suitable conditions for survival. She knew this well.

Ro unfolded the nautical chart she had brought and pointed as she continued.

“What if we start searching from the southeastern part of the archipelago? I’ve heard the currents are weaker there, so wreckage from sunken vessels tends to drift in that direction. I’m not asking for a large-scale operation. Just morally…….”

Theodore dropped his pretense of propriety and cut her off mid-sentence.

“Now I finally understand why the crown prince rushed the appointment. The young duchess is emotional, and the duchess herself is bedridden…….”

“Are you mocking me?”

“I’m stating facts. Even if a search party were formed, you couldn’t go with them.”

“Why not?”

“You want to hear it from my own mouth?”

Theodore’s gaze swept up and down the hem of her dress. It was a look meant solely to humiliate. Did she care? To her, who had endured every kind of scorn among pirates, it was nothing more than an itchy stare. Ro crossed her arms, casually crossed one leg over the other, and glared back defiantly.

“Let’s hear exactly what nonsense you’re about to spout.”

Spout… Shocked by her words, Theodore flushed red and snorted, growling like a beast.

“What woman dares speak of boarding a ship?”

Oh, Pontus, save me. Ro groaned as if in pain. She thought she’d left behind that tiresome, outdated mindset the day she stood atop every pirate’s head. To hear it again, right to her face—so stale it was practically rotting.

“Finished talking?”

“If you’re already here, let me finish. There’s no room on my ship for a noblewoman. My crew certainly won’t run around tending to your fussy needs!”

The angrier Ro became, the calmer she grew. When persuasion and dialogue failed, there was no other choice—only the logic of force.

Right now, she was the person receiving the most sympathy and praise in Syklyde. Even faking a faint on her way out of the naval headquarters would unleash a storm of criticism against the temporary admiral and the navy. But Theodore had crossed the line far too much for her to settle for just that.

Better to crush him now and be at peace forever. Ro swiftly settled her thoughts—true to her fiery nature—and casually brushed her ear, letting her earring drop to the floor. As she bent to pick it up, she smoothly retrieved the pistol strapped to her calf. She released the safety on the hammer and rotated the cylinder. A faint metallic click echoed—just loud enough for Ro, still crouched, to hear. The entire sequence happened in an instant.

If this man looked down on her for being a woman, then being threatened by someone who appeared the most feminine would be his greatest humiliation. Ro tightened her grip with her right hand and lightly braced herself against the table—seemingly steadying herself from dizziness. Just as she prepared to press the gun barrel against Theodore’s side, a voice rang out.

“Enough, enough!”

On the verge of unleashing her pent-up fury, Ro froze unnaturally. Turning her head, she saw a woman with her blonde hair tied up high, leaning against the doorway and watching them.

Theodore, who had been so composed moments ago, bowed deeply, his face pale as a sheet.

“Y-Your Highness, the Imperial Princess.”

Only then did Ro notice the woman wore hunting attire that fully exposed her legs. Indeed, it was the Second Imperial Princess. Ro quickly knelt and bowed as Louise had taught her.

“I greet Your Highness.”

“No need for formalities. Your argument could be heard all the way down the corridor.”

The woman slowly continued, studying their expressions.

“I couldn’t help but find your conversation quite interesting.”

“That’s….”

As Theodore opened his mouth to explain, the Imperial Princess gracefully raised her hand to stop him.

“From what I gathered, it seems you’re saying the navy lacks the personnel to form a search party. Is that correct?”

“That’s right.”

Theodore quickly replied. Ro clenched her teeth and added,

“If forming a search party is truly that difficult, then I suppose there’s no choice.”

At her words, Theodore’s suspicious gaze and the Imperial Princess’s intrigued look landed on her simultaneously. Ro calmly continued,

“I’ll go and search myself, even if I have to go alone. Just give me the departure permit.”