Chapter 7: Captain and Navigator
As the huge warship approached, Lily steered the small boat, carrying Sag, and swiftly left the harbor.
Captain Rat was here, but his ship wasn't. It seemed that, to prevent any accidents, the warship hadn't docked at the harbor.
Now that the accident had happened, the warship could advance unimpeded and launch a cannon attack on them.
"Hey, this has nothing to do with you, right? Why are you going to sea?" Sag asked strangely.
This princess, after the king's death, should be the next queen. Why would she go to sea at this time?
Lily pursed her lips and said, "I killed a Marine Captain. I'll also be wanted... Besides, I can't let you bear this burden alone!"
Her tone was exceptionally firm, facing Sag. "This started because of me. I can't let you be the only one with a bounty. If there's a wanted poster, I'm willing to go to sea with you! I know navigation, I can read sea charts, I'm a navigator. Please take care of me from now on!"
Sag was stunned. "Navigator?"
...
The weather at sea was changeable and erratic. If one couldn't observe the sky and grasp the wind direction, it was easy to capsize in this sea.
*Crackling!*
Under the rain clouds struck by lightning, there was a violent storm. But beyond the storm, on the calm sea, a small boat drifted peacefully.
After escaping the cannon fire, they stopped here. Sag twitched the corners of his mouth, facing Lily, who seemed to have never been to sea before and was curiously observing the sea surface. "You really are a navigator..."
A princess who had been raised in the royal palace since childhood, who hadn't seen much of the world, could actually find the wind direction when sailing, and judge which areas of the sea would have heavy rain by the clouds, and actively avoid them.
She really did know navigation...
Hearing this, Lily raised her head and said proudly, "I've read many books on navigation, and I've dreamed of being a navigator since I was a child..."
But just as she said this, she suddenly froze, her pupils drifting away, and a picture inexplicably flashed through her mind.
...
"What do you want to do when you grow up?"
The still very young Lily sat on a strong arm, and after being asked, stared at the blue sea outside the window, giggling.
"Go to sea? Very good... But going to sea requires knowledge. Start learning now, and Lily will definitely become an excellent navigator."
Whose arm was that?
Forget it, she couldn't remember.
...
Lily shook her head, throwing away the chaotic thoughts, and continued: "In short, although I haven't experienced practical navigation, my theoretical knowledge is very rich. I can definitely become an excellent navigator and guarantee your course. Besides..."
She stood up, causing the small wooden boat to shake violently, and drew the ornate rapier from her waist. "I'm also a swordswoman. I have basic self-defense abilities. I won't drag you down!"
Sag looked at the corners of Lily's mouth, which she couldn't suppress from rising, and said strangely, "You seem very excited..."
"I, I'm not excited."
Lily's face suddenly blushed under Sag's gaze, and she sat down properly again. She held the wooden oar, took a deep breath, straightened her expression, and looked like she was very serious.
"I'm just a little interested in venturing out to sea," she said lightly.
Her eyes were practically sparkling, girl...
But it was understandable. A princess who had been raised in the royal palace since childhood, who didn't know anyone, would naturally yearn for the outside world.
The citizens of the Oykot Kingdom were rescued. Although the Celestial Tribute wouldn't change, at least they had a means of resistance, which also resolved her concern.
And this woman, let alone killing a captain, even if she hadn't killed him, with her unknown identity, even if she forcibly inherited the throne, she would just be a puppet of those nobles. It was better to go to sea.
She had studied navigation and swordsmanship since she was a child...
If she really wanted to be raised like a canary, where did this swordsmanship come from?
Sag knew very well that elite marines were all-rounders, with knowledge of both martial arts and swordsmanship. This woman's swordsmanship was probably taught by that Ennio...
That damned stepfather, had he even considered this?!
Sag sat on the boat, his elbows resting on his knees, his palms supporting his chin. He said, "I do need a navigator..."
Those who knew navigation were a rare resource at sea, no matter what. Even those who only knew a little would be kept on board.
Otherwise, relying on himself, he would become completely clueless after leaving the sea. Apart from identifying directions based on the sun, he was no different from a blind man.
Sag's words made Lily's pupils light up.
But before she could speak, Sag waved his hand and said, "But some things need to be said upfront. If you don't agree, then we should part ways early."
"First of all, I'm not going on a grand adventure playing pirate. I'm going to be a pirate. Piracy is a profession for me, and I'm a very professional person. I'll do everything pirates do. Do you have a problem with that?"
After causing such a big incident in the Oykot Kingdom, it would be a problem if he *didn't* get a bounty. Anyway, the bounty hunter career plan had failed. His next career could only be a pirate.
As for what pirates do...
"I have no problem!" Lily said firmly.
This surprised Sag a little. "Wait, I'm saying I'll do everything pirates do. Burning, killing, looting, I'll do it all."
"Yes, that's what pirates are!"
Lily stared into Sag's eyes. "I'm prepared!"
Sag asked strangely, "Why?"
"Because you said... you're not interested in poor people," Lily said solemnly.
Sag was stunned, looked at Lily for a while, and then laughed dumbly. "That's true..."
He took out the iron flask tied to his belt, took a sip of wine, and then threw it to the blonde girl in front of him.
"Then, let's get acquainted. Norton Sag, your captain."
Lily didn't hesitate, catching the flask and taking a big gulp. Even though the spicy taste made her face turn red, she still tried to swallow it. She wiped her mouth and said seriously:
"Biendetta Lily, your navigator!"
To their right was a violent storm with dark clouds.
To their left was a calm sea with clear skies.
On the small boat in the middle, the two looked at each other and smiled, announcing to this sea that a pirate crew with only two members... had been formed!
"Then, let me explain my plan!"
Sag said impatiently: "First, we need to recruit a large number of people, accumulate initial capital through robbery, and then find a place to settle down. Through time, we will achieve my great dream of becoming a wealthy landlord. Any problems?"
"Yes!"
Lily raised her hand and said, "Before fulfilling your 'great' dream, shouldn't we find a ship for robbery and navigation?"
A canoe was definitely not suitable for robbery. Let alone cannon fire, a big wave could capsize it.
"Also..."
*Gurgle—*
Lily's stomach growled, making her blush and lower her head, but she quickly raised it again.
Perhaps it was the boldness of joining a pirate crew for the first time, or perhaps it was the unrestrained feeling of taking a sip of the wine Sag had drunk, but Lily now abandoned the upbringing and etiquette of a royal and said very honestly:
"I'm hungry."
The canoe not only couldn't be used for robbery and navigation, it didn't even have food...