Voyage Of The Villainess

"There is nothing... I could give you in exchange... for saving my life. But I gave you my deepest gratitude." Maru said between the lines as he wolfed down the food Rein gave him.

"Hmm...It's alright." Rein said. "And one more thing. Our captain wants to talk with you." 

"Your captain?" 

On cue, Malaya entered the room, trailing behind her was Iris. 

'Blue hair...and eyes.' Now that Maru noticed, Rein also had the same looks but it was not as vibrant as the girl who entered.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir Maru." Malaya greeted as soon as she entered.

"Meet the captain of our ship, Lady Malaya."

'Captain...' Malaya thought in surprise. 'When did I become the captain here?' Though she was surprised it didn't show a bit to her calm smiling face. 

'I guess that would be a given since I owe this ship.'

"I-I..." panicked filled Maru's face.

"It's alright," Malaya said. "No need to stand up."

"You must presume by now, as to why I'm here right?"

"Yes," Maru said as he calmed down. "I am one of the sailors belonging to the Greenery Corp."

"Greenery Corp?" Both Malaya and Rein exchanged glances. 

'I see now I know why his name was familiar.'

"You are Maru, the son of Krenu, owner of the Greenery corps who went missing two years ago?"

"Two-two years?!" Maru exclaimed in huge shock. He let go of the plate he was holding, crashing it to the ground. "We have been missing for two years! Not just two weeks!"

  Everyone in the room remained quiet at his outburst.

Two years ago, it became quite a topic in the academy how a sailing ship coming from the Northern continent never returned. Though, it was not common for stories of ships to go missing or get destroyed due to the unpredictableness of the sea voyages. But since it came from the North carrying an important gift for the peace treaty to the empire of Hacien and Northern Kingdom Alliance.

But the Emperor just let go of the matter when the alliance send another gift. He understand quite well, that sea voyages could really be dangerous. They just gave their condolences to the lost ship, who everyone believe got destroyed in some storm. 

"Yes, it's been two years..." Malaya said. 

"Then the peace treaty..." Maru clung to the strange red stone ring on his hand.

"It was successful," Malaya replied. "The Northern Alliance send another gift as soon as possible they heard about your tragedy."

"I see..." Maru's voice was solemn. "I'm glad to know that."

A heavy silence filled the air. "Sir Maru, that's all I want to ask for now. You should rest more for now." Malaya stood up and went outside.

Everyone also followed her, completely reading the atmosphere.

As soon as they went out... Maru clutched both hands to his face. Then he grabbed his hair full of dread.

['Your company was chosen to represent the whole alliance. If you succeeded, we will provide more funds to all the people your company supported."

"It would be a great honor for us, your majesty!" The joyous cheers of everyone in the Greenery resounded.

"You should bring this ring to the Emperor of Hacien at all cost."

'Maru. You must escape here! Bring this ring no matter what to the Empire of Hacien!']

"The sacrifice of everyone just to let me live..."

"Two-two years... Just what just everyone sacrifices their lives for?" His heart filled with so much dread and anxiety.

Malaya who remained outside the door started to walk away. 

"How is he?" Iris asked. 

"Worst." Malaya said with a sigh. "I still don't know what happened, but it must have been a great shock to him."

"But to think he thought he was just missing for two weeks." Iris narrowed her eyes for contemplation.

"Milady." Rein called out to them. "I have my suspicion."

"He was reeking with dark magic when I got him." Elred interrupted as soon as he walked towards them.

"Dark magic?" Malaya asked.

"Particularly the ring he was clinging. Though it is faint it has some dark magic on it now." Rein added.

"If I'm correct, that should be the item they will gift the emperor seeing how he clings to it, as all his life depended on it."

"I think so too," Malaya replied to Iris. 

"Then if that's the case, why is such an item needed to be gifted to the emperor?"

"There are only two things for that. One," Iris raised her index finger. "The Alliance wants some harm to be done to the emperor which is really obvious. "Two, the alliance for some reason wants their group dead or be in harm."

"Is-is that true?!" They all turned their heads when they heard Maru's trembling voice. 

Maru slumped on the ground, feeling all lost. "We thought that the alliance would finally listen to our pleas if we do this..." he gritted his teeth. "Those bastards!!!" he punched the ground creating a small hole in it.

And everyone was surprised once again looking at the hole he caused.

"Um...everyone..." Rhyme suddenly ran towards them. "Look!" He pointed out unto something with trembling hands.

That's when they noticed that the once clear blue skies became the color blood.

"What on earth again?!" Iris exclaimed.

"Ha. Hahaha!" Malaya glanced back to Maru who was now laughing with some craziness in his eyes. "Everything is all gone now. And I'm trapped once again here!"

The red ring on his hand was glowing brightly as black energy was surging out from it one by one. The wind grew stronger as well. 

"Oh no no no sh*t!" Iris started to head to the sail. Malaya's eyes also widened in at the approaching horror at their ship. 

"Everyone quick! Lower down the sails of Bituins!" Malaya yelled. "Rhyme tried to divert the ship as far as you can! And Dorris, start a wide range of teleportation!"

Everyone moved without a moment of time to waste. In just a few meters away, a huge whirlwind was approaching their ship at a fast rate!

"I'm going to die now! Hahaha!" the crazed laughter of Maru boomed.

'Crap.. I'm planning to save this in the Red Current but I don't think, Bituins with her state would stand a chance if that thing hit us.'

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