4 Chapter 4: Explosive Betrayal

Chapter 4: Explosive Betrayal

Pirates... 

They were always treated mercilessly. It was believed that these pirates were the physical form of greed, the epitome of plunderers.

Many believed that the anti-pirate federation were the good guys, as they hunted the pirates. 

But regardless of such thoughts, there were an equal number of people who supported pirates. 

Rotten apples were on both sides. Power corrupts one's heart. This was a universal law which didn't see whether you were from anti pirate federation or a pirate 

But the common villages of civilians who favoured the cops were more in number. They believed everything that the Anti-Pirate Federation decided and everything was based on what information they would give.

On such an ordinary day, the news about Shawn, the great conqueror of the West and the God's Lackey, was deemed as a criminal. 

Eric was currently holding Shiro in his hands as he ran as fast as he could, with his sister and the nanny.

Information couldn't easily spread through the seas, especially if it was just a rumour. But this sure did. Due to the recent development of communication using sea-gulls, it was possible now. And that's what exactly happened with the rumour related to Shiro saying that he was the great conqueror's son. 

Eric gritted his teeth. From the corner of his eyes, he looked at his sister who was gasping for breath. Seeing her sorry state was like an arrow piercing his heart. 

"B-brother..." She could hardly speak.

"Sissy... don't worry, we are almost there...", He reassured her. 

Eric in advance has asked one of his most trusted friends to prepare a ship, a durable one which was easily concealed while the voyager. Currently, they were rushing to that particular ship.

Eric as a successful pirate had a lot of connections. Though he was quite humble about it. 

Currently, this great pirate was feeling a sense of despair as he looked at his sister.

"I... I can't anymore...", She was barely able to walk. In her peak condition, she would easily be able to take on three men head to head, hand to hand. However, right now she was far from her peak, injured, exhausted and moreover low level of energy due to giving birth. 

Seeing that she almost collapsed Eric handed Shiro to the nanny and then carried his sister in his arms. They then continued their mad dash. 

"Just a bit more!!!" Eric reassured himself and his companions. Finally after what felt like an eternity they had reached the ship.

Instantly he spotted his friend on board. Seeing this, without much hesitation, Eric climbed the ship. 

The Nanny too with a great amount of difficulty managed to climb the ship. At that second she noticed that Eric's face looked somewhat pale. This forced her to adjust her angle as she walked further and then looked beneath. And the moment she did even her face went pale. 

Near the ship were three high officials of anti pirate federation. Two of them possessed 3 sea shell stars on each side of their shoulder while the one in the middle possessed four. 

Moreover, they had the Arbiter tattoo. The two lower-ranking arbiters had tattoos on their wrist. One was blue while the other was white, with both of them appearing to be complicated. 

The third one in the middle was apparently a high-ranking Arbiter with extremely complicated tattoos in both his pupils. 

"Damn it... those pricks!!!", Eric seemed angry.

He immediately placed Ria down and was about to rush to prevent them from attacking Ria. However, at that second she grabbed his hands. 

"Don't... don't go...", her eyes were teary. Eric felt as if his insides were twisting when he saw her dry lips, pale face and blood-red teary eyes. It was as if... as if she could die at any given second.

"Okay...", he just said that and rushed towards the mast of the sea to raise the sail but quickly noticed the cannons. Moreover, they were high-pressurized explosive cannons. 

"Damn it!!!"

Though this ship was supposed to be durable, Eric knew the strength of these kinds of cannons. Cursing under his breath, he quickly made a decision. 

"I won't let anyone die...", he looked towards Ria and then towards Kylle who was standing beside him.

"Kylle... all on you."

Kylle. He knew that she was a talented woman and managed Shawn's ship when she was younger. She managed the Red Skull ship in her prime, managing such a ship to her would be as easy as batting an eye.

"Alright... but what about you...?", she asked worriedly. 

"Someone has to stay behind to prevent them from following you all...", he said in a determined voice. 

"No wait... you...", She stopped not continuing her words. After all, she knew how stubborn of a person this man was. A young man like him who was just 21 years old could be very stubborn.

Eric on the other hand quietly removed his locket and put it up on Shiro. A final gift to his beloved nephew. He quickly handed the baby to Kylle and said "Don't worry... Unless I kill the Gods, I won't die."

"And take care of her." As he said these words he looked at his sister who fell unconscious. This possibly was the last time he would see her.

Finally, he looked at his friend Veno who was quiet all this time. 

Immediately he jumped off of the ship. Veno, seeing this couldn't help but sigh helplessly. He then with a back flip jumped from the ship too. One of the cannon balls was shot towards him, but the black ball akin to a bomb instantly disintegrated without making much fuss. Just a few embers erupted but that was it. The next second Eric landed on the land, while commanding wind internally. On the other hand, Veno landed too. 

Wind instantly engulfed him increasing his speed. 

"GO!"

Kylle immediately set the ship to sail which moved at quite a fast pace. 

The salty spray whipped at Eric's face, stinging his eyes as he surged forward, a blur of desperate movement. Wind whooshed past him, condensed into twin blades that sliced through the air with a chilling hum. Veno had flanked him, a whirlwind of fists and fury crashing into the low-ranking Arbiters. 

The low-ranking arbiters loaded up the cannons crazily with an adequate amount of explosives while screaming loudly, but their panicked shouts were quickly cut short.

Across the chaotic scene, the High Arbiter, a mountain of a man with a cruel, shadowed face, slammed his fist against the ground. The earth obeyed, rearing up in a jagged wall to intercept Eric's wind blades. The force of the impact shuddered through Eric, but he pressed on. The wall strained, then crumbled, dust exploding outwards.

A surge of satisfaction flickered across Eric's face, quickly replaced by a jolt of terror. The dust particles swirled, coalescing into a massive boulder that hurtled towards Veno. Veno, just finishing off an Arbiter with a brutal elbow strike, hadn't noticed the deadly projectile.

"Veno!" Eric's scream was ripped from his lungs as the boulder slammed into his friend, sending him flying in a sickening arc. Veno's body disappeared beneath the churning waves with a heavy splash.

Eric saw this however didn't rush towards Veno. His friend was not that weak. He will manage to get back up.

Eric, with a surge of adrenaline, propelled himself towards the High Arbiter.

'Sneaky...' 

The Arbiter, a cruel smirk twisting his lips, didn't even flinch. The ground beneath Eric erupted in a nightmarish display of spikes, piercing his foot and arm. Blood welled, slick and hot. Eric gritted his teeth. Gathering all the energy, he screamed. Wind swirled around him, the spikes dissolving into dust with a hiss.

Eric was freed, but his balance was broken. Before he could regain his footing, the Arbiter lashed out, his fingers finding their mark with a sickening crunch across Eric's eye. A searing pain exploded in his head, the world blurring at the edges. Blood splattered as a painful grunt escaped Eric's mouth. 

'Ugh, if not for that, I would have already-', Eric gritted his teeth.

The Arbiter didn't relent. A flurry of blows rained down on Eric - chest, stomach, head. Each hit felt like a hammer against an anvil, shattering his bones. 

Indeed he was worthy of being a high-ranking Arbiter. Seeing that Eric was still holding onto his life dearly like a roach the Arbiter created a stone hammer and slammed it down on Eric. Many of his bones were crushed as a result. 

"Pesky bastard!", the big fat man spit on his face.

Though Eric was still in a lot of pain, a smile appeared on his face. He was indeed successful in protecting them. 

'By now, even if they try to catch up, with Kylle on board, they can definitely escape.'

But at that moment his left eye widened as he heard what the Arbiter said. 

"Veno, get your lazy butt over here!" boomed a voice.

"Yes, sir."

From the water emerged Veno, not battered and broken, but whole and eerily calm. He strode towards the Arbiter, a chilling obedience in his eyes.

"Veno?" Eric rasped, a cough hacking up blood. "What..."

Eric was completely shocked to see his own friend who helped them a while ago, was standing in front of the official.

Veno turned, his face devoid of any warmth or recognition. A cold smile stretched across his lips.

"This friend of yours," he said, his voice smooth and sickeningly familiar, "had a little surprise for you."

Veno gestured towards the distant horizon.

"Let's see some fireworks."

As Giras said these words, he grabbed Eric's hair pulling him upwards and forcing him to see the Sea. 

By now only the outline of the ship could be seen.

"Veno, do it."

"Yes sir..."

"Wha-"

BOOM

"Haha, that's wonderful!", Giras said this while laughing. 

Eric's left eye widened to such an extent that blood overflowed from it. Veno... This was his most trusted man, so much so that he was the one who managed more than half of the crew. 

Yet today...

Indeed, as the saying goes. Betrayal could come from anyone and everyone. 

"Ah... Haha..." A dry chuckle escaped Eric's lips. Perhaps, all this time he was like a monkey in the circus performing for these Arbiters. The thin light of hope he held onto believing that Veno would never betray him...

Well, he had the answer.