Chapter 63

Reincarnated as the Sword Emperor in the Sword Clan (63)

This was an incident that occurred eight years ago.

The golden age of the Aquamarine Adventurer Team.

The days when we explored numerous >Cracks< in the 5th Sea Region, returned with their treasures, and received cheers from all over Atlantis.

Not long after Francis turned eleven, a dark and ominous cloud began to loom over the seemingly endless success and glory of Aquamarine's voyages.

The starting point of this destruction originated from the >United Council<.

―Comrades, the >Cracks< in the 5th Sea Region are severely polluting the surrounding waters. While the continuous profits have increased, if we continue to ignore this, the entire Atlantis Sea Region might become a demonic realm. We need to form a united fleet to handle this.

Njord's words that day changed the expressions of all the council members in the >United Council<.

Among them, the one who reacted most negatively was Pablo, the leader of ‘Moby Dick’ and a member of the council.

―The pollution from the >Cracks< is under control. It was concluded that it won't become a demonic realm for at least 30 years, if not longer. I don't understand why we are revisiting a matter we already agreed on.

The other council members were also largely skeptical.

There was a reason for this.

The vast wealth of the Atlantis Maritime Union was mostly produced in the 4th and 5th Sea Regions. The large-scale marine resources and the interdimensional byproducts obtained from the >Cracks< were highly valuable, not just in the Magic Tower but on the mainland as well.

If Njord's proposal to seal all the >Cracks< in the 5th Sea Region were to be implemented, the continuous income would not only be cut off but the source of income itself would disappear.

―No! The pollution rate of the >Cracks< is faster and more severe than we anticipated! We need to prevent the demonic realm from forming! You all know this!

―I oppose it. I think your concerns are exaggerated. According to my own investigations, it is still safe for now.

The voting result in the council was 8 votes for Pablo and 3 votes for Njord. Two votes were abstained.

―Pablo! Please listen to me!

―Follow the rules of the >United Council<, Chairman Njord. You also signed the agreement.

―Let's vote again, just once more…!

Despite Njord's pleas, the >United Council< ultimately rejected the sealing operation in the 5th Sea Region and prohibited spreading the story outside the council.

They knew the influence of the Aquamarine Adventurer Team and the power of the people who could be moved by Njord's words and actions.

Thus, with his hands and feet tied, Njord and Aquamarine were left with only one option.

―The >United Council< intends to leave the erosion in the 5th Sea Region unchecked. They seem more interested in the byproducts pouring out of it than in protecting Atlantis.

The 6th Sea Region is expanding day by day. If the erosion in the 5th Sea Region, Aiolos, continues to progress, the Atlantis Sea will transform into an interdimensional environment in just a few years.

―We must take action.

The Aquamarine Adventurer Team.

Composed of strong individuals who could make a name for themselves across Atlantis, they were the pinnacle of the maritime union at the time, unmatched by anyone.

With ‘Elemental Knight’ Njord at the helm, Aquamarine began a full-scale assault on the 5th Sea Region.

On the 5th day, the >Kelpie's Wave Farm< was sealed.

On the 12th day, the >Mermaid Fishery< was sealed.

On the 18th day, the >Deep-sea Squid Nest< was sealed.

Due to the many tasks in the >United Council<, Njord had been a bit negligent in his adventures. However, the strength of Aquamarine, which had become two to three times more powerful in his absence, sealed the >Cracks< at intervals of less than a week.

It seemed that within half a year, the 5th Sea Region could be stabilized.

However.

―Chairman Njord! It's not too late. Return to the maritime union with the Aquamarine Adventurer Team immediately!

As the >Cracks< in the 5th Sea Region rapidly disappeared, the powerful figures who had lost their income were in an uproar.

To them, Njord's earlier words were nothing more than a delusion driven by a desire for glory, and Aquamarine's achievements were merely a disruption threatening their wealth and status.

Messengers and communications, attempts to persuade and intimidate, came to Njord in the 5th Sea Region almost daily.

―What a pity.

Njord was merely disappointed.

While Aquamarine's efforts had significantly delayed the demonic realm formation in the 5th Sea Region, if they didn't seal everything now, the problem would eventually resurface.

However, if he continued to ignore the maritime union's advice, not only would he be in danger, but his team members might also suffer or be harmed.

―Let's seal one more location and then return. The >Great Crack Caribdis<, if we seal that cursed hole, things should be fine for a while.

It was the most dangerous and largest >Crack< in the 5th Sea Region.

Typically, the monsters inside the >Cracks< cannot adapt to the external environment and only start to emerge and become active when the erosion is close to forming a demonic realm.

However, >Caribdis< was an exception.

Whether the internal environment of >Caribdis< was similar to the sea of this world, or the monsters inside had the resilience to survive in unsuitable conditions, frequent incidents of monstrous creatures, similar to but more terrifying than sea serpents, emerging from it were common.

―We are starting the assault on >Caribdis<. It will take at least ten days!

The deepest and most treacherous sea in Aiolos, the 5th Sea Region, saw the clash between the strongest adventurer team and the worst >Crack<.

The assault on >Caribdis< took a full fifteen days.

With three Transcendent-level strong individuals and one 7th Tier Mage, it was that difficult. If even one of them had been absent, it would have been a failure, or even a total annihilation.

However.

―…We are returning to our base. Victory for Aquamarine!

The strongest and best adventurer team, Aquamarine, successfully completed the assault without a single casualty.

The >Great Crack Caribdis< was completely sealed and disappeared from the 5th Sea Region. If left unchecked, it could have become a demonic realm within three years, a highly dangerous situation that was now eliminated.

Njord was satisfied with this.

He thought that his tasks were completed and that he needed to return to the union to calm down his angry friends.

―Captain! We are under attack! Unknown assailants are blocking Aquamarine's maritime route!

Exhausted, he faced the blades of those who came to kill him.

―They are strong! These guys are at least a B-rank adventurer team!

―The smooth movements of that ship… Could it be?! A-rank, Moby Dick! The white whale is coming! Prepare for battle!

―The power difference is too great! Our fatigue is also too high! If the battle continues, we will all die!

If Aquamarine had been in full strength, they could have escaped the encirclement with only a few casualties or inflicted significant damage on the enemy, creating a stalemate.

However, after the assault on >Caribdis<, they were in the worst condition, and they began to fall one by one to enemies they could have handled alone under normal circumstances.

Njord, in the end, said with tears of blood.

―Load the critically injured and non-combatants onto the ship. We will stay behind and hold off the enemy until they can escape.

Their ship, Aquamarine, was a masterpiece of magical engineering, specialized in high-speed navigation and protecting its passengers rather than direct combat.

If they could somehow hold off A-rank ships like Moby Dick, few other ships could catch up.

Moreover, with four Master-level strong individuals and key forces of Aquamarine fighting to the death, the tide of battle temporarily turned in their favor, despite the numerical disadvantage.

Francis, as always, saw the sturdy and large back of her father, and was then moved to the cargo hold, cradled in the arms of the battered Marian.

That was the last thing she remembered.

―…Miss. The captain and the team members, all of them.

Her father did not return.

The team members who had treated her like family also did not return.

The survivors of Aquamarine that day were only the two of them and a few critically injured members who were moved to the cabin.

* * *

"Thus, Aquamarine fell, and only Marian and I remained. Most of the surviving team members, having lost their families, comrades, and friends, found it difficult to recover."

“…Did >Bermuda< take any action?”

“No.”

Francis spoke calmly.

“If the captain and team members had returned alive, it might have been different, but they were not going to fight for the empty shell of Aquamarine. A few people suggested conspiracy theories, but they soon disappeared.”

It was a harsh and bitter reality for an 11-year-old girl. The name everyone once revered had fallen and been trampled, and no one came to help.

They either turned a cold eye or passed by with pity.

Francis realized.

The Atlantis and the sea that her father had loved so much had changed drastically from the era he had been part of.

The >United Council<, which should have guided the sea correctly, was already a breeding ground for corruption, and >Bermuda<, which should have protected the rights of adventurers, had become an organization focused on its own interests.

“Aquamarine, with only Marian and I left, could not meet the quota required to remain an A-rank adventurer team and was demoted to B-rank. Since then, we have lived as we do now.”

The performance of Aquamarine was so outstanding that it could maintain B-rank, otherwise, it would have been demoted to C-rank or lower.

Luciano's desire for Aquamarine was not without reason.

If this ship were properly utilized, it could easily maintain B-rank and even aspire to A-rank.

“Someday.”

Francis's calm eyes momentarily wavered, as if about to shed tears, but soon returned to a strong determination.

“I will find the traitors hiding in the >United Council< and avenge my father, and I will eliminate all the >Cracks< in the 5th Sea Region as my father intended. The reason I continue to operate under the name Aquamarine and hold the nominal position of captain is for this.”

“Do you think it's possible?”

“No! I have never even considered the possibility.”

Francis clenched her fists tightly in response to Leonard's question.

“I will do it! I have decided to dedicate my entire life to this. So, I will do it.”

Seeing her true resolve, Leonard was inwardly impressed.

Losing her revered father to a despicable conspiracy in her childhood, she did not let her revenge consume her but continued to move forward with a sense of justice.

It was not a mindset that a child under twenty could possess.

Even if the loss she experienced in her youth made her mature, it would not have been possible without a special seed.

‘A great talent. If the situation were not so bad, she would have already risen to prominence. In the era when the Oceano kingdom was still standing, she would have become a legendary queen.’

Leonard, who had seen many human characters, had only seen a few such talents.

Beyond their martial prowess or exceptional intellect, they were individuals who could draw others to them and lead them.

Francis's royal talent was that outstanding.

“Leonard.”

She carefully met his eyes.

“You are the second member of our Aquamarine. You are the first to hear the story from my mouth. However, you don't need to follow me just because you saved my life. A comrade formed in such a way would not stay with me in the fight against the >United Council< or >Bermuda<.”

So, Francis opened her heart.

“If Leonard chooses to follow me of his own will, I will give you the most exciting adventure!”

“Hmm?”

In front of Leonard, who looked up with a face saying, “Look at this?”, her sea-colored eyes shimmered beautifully.

Francis Ler von Oceano.

The last surviving member of the Oceano royal family extended her hand.

“Will you join me in turning this sea upside down?”

Leonard smiled at the invitation.

He also noticed that Francis's fingertips were trembling slightly.

“It sounds interesting.”

Leonard, taking her hand, said.

“Where do you plan to start?”

“First, I need to gather more members!”

Francis said with a brighter voice.

“I need to recruit more members!”