| 030 | Calm Before The Storm

The white-haired dragoness, Laplace, gazed at the metallic warships of the United Navy with clear amazement. She was a bit curious about how Abraham's force managed to capture the merchant ship, but with these weapons of war before her.

The truth was obvious. 

Pinguis Ara was conquered through sheer firepower. 

Laplace slowly turned her eyes to the Fleet Admiral of the United Navy, Abraham Shepherd, with a curious gaze, wanting to know more about the United Navy.

Abraham merely grinned when her eyes laid down upon him and calmly explained some information about the United Navy, which the dragoness carefully explained.

"The United Navy is a modern naval force consisting of several unique fleets and technologies. Compared to this sea, we might seem alien, even to the humanity you loathe."

"After all, you must have felt it right? The great differences between us and them." He stated with confidence as though he uttered a fact.

Laplace only smiled at his statement and nodded in response. There was a substantial difference between the humans of the United Navy and the humans of Europa. 

But the differences between the two humanity remained questioned. Even Abraham didn't know the answer, but a conjecture was already made inside his head.

And it was a disappointing one.

At any rate, with Laplace's confirmation, he continued his explanation.

"Our values are simple and that is the freedom of all sapient-life."

"Stemming from that value is the banning of slavery and the enforcement of maritime security for the freedom of anyone to safely navigate the seas."

"It might sound arrogant to outsiders, but it is our value and that is something that must never change. Otherwise, the United Navy will be no more."

Abraham asserted the values of the United Navy which every naval personnel proudly uphold. It was a part of their identity that must never be abandoned.

"I see… Somewhat of a strange idea that I never thought of, but it makes sense." Laplace was undergoing enlightenment. 

For someone who was always exposed to the violence of the olden era, getting introduced to the values that needed a thousand years to be completely born was quite an intriguing affair to go through.

"Doesn't your rebellion involve acquiring freedom from the enslavers in the colonies?" Abraham raised an eyebrow as her statement confused him even though he understood it a bit.

"Correct, we fought for freedom, but not for all. Only for us and our kind. Because of that, some of our species also enslaved humans." Laplace shook her head and felt disappointed.

The idea was there, but it wasn't something easy to realize. 

In the lake of hatred where everything was painted in blood, the idea of your enemies' kind being treated the same as you were revolting.

"That is understandable. When you are in a precarious situation, it will be hard to prioritize others who aren't connected to you in any way." Abraham understood the sentiment of priority. 

It wasn't something foreign to him or anyone in his world. Even the United Navy will have the same sentiments for those they protect and those outside of their influence.

If given the option to save others or themselves, the United Navy will pick their own and then the others.

"But to think that the beastfolk could enslave other humans." Abraham was somewhat surprised by this fact. He thought that the beastfolk were at the bottom of the food chain, but it looked like he was wrong once again.

"While most of the Ferus Sea are occupied by the colonizers of Europa and the other continents, there are some under control by beastfolk-controlled nations."

"However, those nations tended to be closed-off and vicious even to their own kind. One can consider them barbaric, but they were my former allies nonetheless."

Laplace explained the reasons why such a thing could be possible. Though… There was something in her words that brought Abraham's attention.

It was the fact that she considered them as her former allies, which meant the burning of the bridges between the two.

Something must have happened for that to occur.

"You have given me a lot of information, Laplace. I am extremely grateful for it. I'll try my best to return you to your rebel forces." Abraham wanted to have an ally as it was impossible to handle the world alone.

But when he uttered of her rebel forces, Laplace's face seemed to wallow in sorrow, hatred, and deep melancholy. 

Abraham noticed it clearly and wondered whether or not something had happened to her rebel forces. But he didn't dare to question it as it wasn't the time.

They barely met and didn't have time to understand each other deeper yet, so it was better to bid on his patience and wait for her to open up.

Before the two could continue their deepening discussion, a radio operator walked over to the two and issued a report to the Fleet Admiral.

"Mission Report, Fleet Admiral." The radio operator saluted and awaited further instructions from the highest of command.

Abraham turned his eyes away from the radio operator and expressed his enjoyment of their discussion.

"It was an interesting conversation, Laplace. I'll be taking my bid with my subordinate here. I hope we can continue our discussion later." 

"I have the same thoughts, Abraham." A playful smile was on Laplace's face, making Abraham unknowingly shiver. It was like being stared down by a predator.

Anyhow, Abraham swiftly parted from Laplace and headed to the corner railings with the radio operator for the upcoming mission report. It looks like his subordinates have completed it with ease.

"I'll start with the Mission Report, Sir." The radio operator announced and Abraham nodded in agreement.

The radio operator soon started his long report about the rescue mission of the prisoners of war. Most were captured with ease, but some resisted and were promptly taken down.

Abraham wasn't against their execution since they were the ones who dared to resist his personnel. Besides, hostilities weren't taken well on the decks of UN Ships.

The radio operator also mentioned the transfer of prisoners of war to the UNS Guardian of the High Seas where they will be kept during the entirety of the maritime-security mission.

Other than that, the precise number of war prisoners was about 86 men. A rather low number, but it was already a barely manageable one. 

Amongst the prisoners of war, there were also captured high-ranking officers, which might have confidential information about their opponents.

All in all, the information reported by the radio operator was extremely useful in providing a depth and image of their situation.

As the radio operator continued his report, Abraham felt satisfied by the results and silently glanced at the dragoness who appeared to be observing the boundless horizon.

With his jet-black eyes on her, Abraham uttered a question to his precious partner.

"Systema, is she listening to my conversation?" He couldn't help but wonder whether or not Laplace could hear them from a distance.

Systema's response didn't delay and a mechanical ring resounded in Abraham's mind.

*Ding!*

| The individual, Laplace, is listening to our conversation Fleet Admiral. |

"How?" He raised his eyebrows as it was hard to believe that someone could be hearing them from afar.

| Judging from her body language and movements, I have deduced that she's lovingly listening to your conversation like how one would listen to a radio. |

| How the target manages to do that is unknown… |

Abraham shook his head when he heard of Systema's words and looked at the dragoness with deepening interest. A smile emerged on his face as his conversation with the radio operator concluded.

After the report, the radio operator returned to do his job after giving a salute while Abraham went back to the gathering of Marines in the main deck.

He stood before them as though he was about to give an announcement, which he was going to do.

"The UNS Light Bringer is finished cleaning things up. It's time for the hostages to be extracted from the merchant ship."

"They must be fully extracted in 10 minutes. I want us out of here quickly." Abraham announced and ordered his men for the extraction of the hostages.

He and the Marines had been dwelling on this ship for far too long. They needed to leave the merchant vessel and continue tracing the route given by Systema for the completion of the maritime security mission. 

"Affirmative, Sir!" 2nd Lieutenant Campbell shouted and saluted to him. The Marines also did the same and accepted his orders without questions.

With that, the extraction or evacuation of the hostages was underway. Several zodiacs were being filled with beastfolks and delivered to the UNS Guardian of the High Seas.

Meanwhile, Abraham walked towards the wooden railings and carefully observed the dazed dragoness.

"The scenery must be captivating." He calmly muttered and stood beside her, watching the same horizon as the white-haired dragoness.

Hearing his words, Laplace got out of her trance and glimpsed at the handsome middle-aged man beside her. A pleasant smile formed on her face as she responded.

"It is enchanting…"

Following her response was silence, the two never uttered a single word while looking over the same beautiful scenery.

But such silence was soon broken when Laplace spoke to Abraham in a soothing voice.

"Apologies for eavesdropping in your conversation, Abraham." She seems to have proactively apologized for listening to his discussion with the radio operator. 

"It's just something I can't help. I can hear everything around me with ease, distances don't matter." But then, Laplace just dropped a bomb out of nowhere.

Abraham could only look at her with an astounded expression.