Reincarnation of a Hunter Chapter 25.2 - Each One’s Interest (3)

 

Evidence? What an easy task.

 

“I’ll make him confess.”

 

“Now?”

 

I immediately rose from my seat, drew the Soul Reaper, and strode confidently toward Marco in the defendant’s stand.

 

“Huh? Wh-what?”

 

Marco, caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, could only let out a dumbfounded sound. I pointed the sword at his throat.

 

“Ack! Wh-what are you doing?!”

 

“You’re Luca’s son, aren’t you? The Pirate King of Cagliari.”

 

“Th-that’s nonsense! I’m a respectable merchant of Catalonia!”

 

I lowered the sword.

 

“I already know everything. If you confess the truth, I’ll only confiscate your assets and spare your life.”

 

Cornered and facing execution, Marco bit the bait without hesitation. Well, he probably thought the pirates would come to rescue him as long as he stayed alive.

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes, I swear on my honor as a noble. So, be a man and proudly declare your father’s name.”

 

Whether out of sudden courage or recklessness, Marco shouted loudly.

 

“That’s right! I am the son of Luca, the ruler of Cagliari, and the great Pirate King!”

 

Marco had finally confessed.

 

The sighs and gasps of everyone watching the trial could be heard.

 

“As promised, I’ll forgive you and spare your life.”

 

“Thank you, Viscount Marseille! I won’t forget this kindness!”

 

Ignoring Marco’s absurd gratitude, I chuckled softly and returned to my seat.

 

‘I may have sheathed my sword, but the Marquis of Catalonia won’t let this slide.’

 

The Marquis abruptly rose from his seat, his face stiff.

 

The thought that a merchant he had been friendly with was actually a pirate must have filled him with rage and betrayal.

 

“Viscount Marcel, I must excuse myself first. It seems I must return to my domain immediately.”

 

“Yes, let’s have a meal together next time.”

 

Faced with the truth, the enraged Marquis of Catalonia dragged Marco away and returned to his lord’s ship. 

 

To anyone watching, it was clear he intended to take Marco back to Catalonia for execution.

 

‘This should be a good enough diversion, right?’

 

The Marquis of Catalonia might have realized I shifted the blame onto him. But he might also think I handed him the opportunity to execute Marco.

 

Of course, no matter what the Marquis thinks, Marco will die by his hand, and relations between Marcel and Catalonia will improve.

 

However, the crowd that had gathered to witness the execution grew angry and began shouting.

 

“What happened to the execution? Why did you bring the guillotine?”

 

“Execute someone, anyone!”

 

“Hey, cut off that lawyer’s head!”

 

Some even began hurling insults. The mood was turning sour. If this continued, my approval ratings might drop.

I urgently called for Raul, the head of security.

 

“Bring out the prisoners on death row immediately.”

 

“Are you going to hold an execution?”

 

“Yes. We need to calm the crowd.”

 

Unexpectedly, I found myself organizing a mass execution. For now, I planned to bring out the violent criminals caught in the act and put on an execution show.

 

Before the disappointed audience could disperse, I announced loudly, “Raise the guillotine onto the platform!”

 

The crowd cheered excitedly upon hearing my words.

 

“Woooh!”

 

The executioners standing around the guillotine encouraged applause and stirred up excitement by dancing with their blades.

 

Soon, Raul returned with the soldiers, bringing the condemned prisoners.

 

“We’ve brought them all.”

 

“Good. I’ll decide who gets executed.”

 

Taking these prisoners’ lives is my responsibility. I can’t pass it on to someone else.

 

Even if it sends me to hell, I’ll be the one going. I prioritized child-related criminals first, followed by murderers and robbers.

Since they were caught red-handed, the evidence and witnesses were undeniable.

 

The condemned prisoners, dragged to the guillotine, sobbed as I selected them.

 

“Waaah! Please spare me. Please…”

 

I looked at the prisoners and said, “Blame only me, the one who chose you.”

 

“Damn lord! Go to hell!”

 

“Sure. See you later.”

 

The first prisoner’s neck was placed in the guillotine, and the executioner shouted to the crowd,

 

“This man sexually assaulted two children! Should he die?”

 

“Kill him!”

 

“Behead him!”

 

As the crowd roared, the executioner grabbed the guillotine’s rope.

 

“The great people of Marseille’s domain have decided! Execution!”

 

He pulled the rope.

 

—Thunk

 

—Thud, roll

 

“Woooh! Long live Marseille! Long live the lord!”

 

Putting on an execution show just to placate the people.

 

This was the moment I booked a first-class seat on the hell-bound train.

 

⚔️

 

The Pirate King of Cagliari, Luca.

 

He led a fleet of 21 ships, heading to the port of Marseille to save his son, Marco. The ships were moving so fast that they rocked violently, exhausting the crew.

Luca’s flagship was no exception, but he demanded even more speed.

 

“Dammit! Can’t we go any faster? Overload the speed-enhancing magic tool!”

 

“Captain, calm down. Pushing harder could break the keel.”

 

Luca grabbed the captain by the collar.

 

“You! Would you say that if it were your son’s life on the line?!”

 

“S-sorry, Captain. I’ll push the speed to the limit.”

 

Just then, the lookout shouted, “A small sailboat is approaching!”

 

Everyone turned to look.

 

A single small boat was closing in at a terrifying speed—a speedboat forcibly fitted with expensive acceleration magic tools meant for larger ships.

 

Of course, only a pirate ship would have such modifications.

 

As the captain had said, the keel could break or capsize, so ordinary merchant ships do not tune their acceleration magic tools.

 

Luca recognized the ship.

“Isn’t that the ship we sent ahead to Marseille?”

 

“That’s correct. It seems they’ve rescued Young Master Marco.”

 

The approaching ship was the one that had carried the special task force to retrieve Marco.

 

All the pirate ships stopped to welcome it, and soon Luca’s flagship docked with the task force’s vessel.

 

“Marco! Marco! Your father’s here! Where are you?”

 

The Pirate King Luka leaped onto the small ship and shouted his son’s name.

 

But then—

 

“Boss, we’re sorry! The Marquis of Catalonia…”

 

Luca was enraged.

 

‘My son is dead?!’

 

—Clang!

Unable to contain his fury, Luca drew his sword and beheaded the flagship’s captain in an instant.

The flagship’s captain had changed in just one second.

 

Shocked, the crew quickly restrained Luca.

“Ah, Boss! Calm down!”

 

“How can I calm down when my only son is dead?!”

 

Hearing this, a task force member shouted, “No! Young Master Marco is alive!”

 

“What? Didn’t you say the Marquis of Catalonia killed him?”

 

“We never said he was killed! When we arrived in Marseille, the Count of Marseille had already forgiven and released him. But by then, the Marquis of Catalonia had already taken him to his territory.”

 

“…Oh, really?”

 

Luca looked down at the flagship’s captain.

 

It was now a headless corpse. Feeling awkward, he cleared his throat and changed the subject.

 

“Ahem! All ships, set sail for Catalonia! We’ll rescue Marco and burn their port to the ground!”

 

With his sword still dripping blood, he turned to the new captain and gave the order.

 

The newly promoted captain, who had been the first mate just a minute ago, widened his eyes in shock. He wanted to say something, but if he argued, the ship’s captain might change again right then.

 

He hurriedly urged the crew.

 

“To Catalonia! Prepare for battle!”

 

The new captain wondered if even half of these 22 ships would return, but the Pirate King Luka didn’t care about such things at all.