C11 The Conclusion of the Hijacking of the Merchant Ship

As the old adage wisely notes, "Even thieves have their code," and this holds true on the Strange World Continent as well. Even the most notorious Pirate Kings who ruled the seas adhered to certain unwritten laws.

The "Victoriamaria" was ambushed by pirates, but thanks to the swift intervention of Prince Ostar and the arrival of the two Pirate Queens, Liana and Belrose, leading their respective fleets, the situation was resolved satisfactorily before it could escalate further.

The Pirate Leader "Bald Dragon" Basile emerged as the biggest loser, suffering a crushing defeat. Recognizing that they were all pirates, despite the tensions between pirates and privateers, Queens Liana and Belrose, considering the greater good, decided not to demand Basile's head.

After all, Basile was a notorious Pirate Leader, and taking his life would have been a grave provocation, potentially sparking a full-blown war between pirates and privateers—a conflict with no true winners, only outsiders reaping the benefits.

Basile's reputation allowed him a narrow escape, but his underlings weren't so lucky; they had to face the consequences. In line with the Pirate Queens' consensus, a number of Basile's pirates equivalent to the slain crew of the "Victoriamaria" were to be executed as a form of restitution—a life for a life.

The pirates swiftly executed an equal number of Basile's men on the spot, settling the blood debt. Basile raised no objections; after all, those executed were just expendable pawns, and he could easily recruit more, thereby reducing the number of shares in the plunder.

But life wasn't the only currency owed; monetary compensation was also due. Of the loot plundered by the pirates, only twenty percent was kept, with the remaining eighty percent surrendered as reparations to the pirates and the victimized merchant ship.

The pirates claimed forty percent of this as compensation, while the remaining sixty percent was allocated to the "Victoriamaria" to compensate the bereaved families of the slain crew and sailors, with Captain Aristotle responsible for a significant portion of this payout.

On top of the reparations and restitution, Prince Ostar intervened, demanding the unconditional release of all hostages held by the pirates—not only those recently taken from the "Victoriamaria," but also those from previous captures involving other merchant and cargo ships.

This request was admittedly a bit much, as there was considerable debate over whether hostages could be considered property. Initially, Pirate Queens Liana and Belrose were quite hesitant, fearing that the pirates might reject the terms and spark an unnecessary quarrel.

Yet the pirate leader, known as "Bald Dragon" Basile, had already been thoroughly intimidated by Ostar and his companions, lacking any courage to haggle. He promptly agreed to the demands, unconditionally releasing all captives and handing them over to the "Victoria Maria" for safe return to the Human Clan Continent, without even demanding a ransom.

The Pirate Queens Liana and Belrose were momentarily perplexed by this unexpected turn of events. They couldn't fathom why Basile had so abruptly altered his stance, unlike the obstinate character they were familiar with, who would typically stall and deny. Unaware of the scene where Ostar's accompanying maidservant, Chris, had intervened, they remained clueless about the true source of the towering, muscular Basile's fear.

In the end, it appeared that the conflict had reached a rather satisfactory conclusion. The "Bald Dragon" Basile, now compensated, retreated with his band of pirates aboard their joint fleet, looking rather sheepish. After such a resounding defeat, it was likely that the pirate chieftain wouldn't dare to venture out to sea and cause trouble for at least a fortnight, haunted by a significant psychological shadow. Ostar had decided to spare the bald brute for the time being, as the prince had stumbled upon more intriguing pursuits.

The fleets of the Pirate Queens Liana and Belrose did not vacate the vicinity of the incident. In a gesture of contrition for their delayed response, they offered the victimized "Victoria Maria" a double escort service, ensuring its safe passage to the Middle Continent as an act of atonement.

Upon departure, with the formidable escort of the two Pirate Queens' main fleets, the merchant ship was now an unlikely target for any marauders, including those belonging to other Pirate Kings.

Seizing the moment, Ostar discreetly disclosed his royal lineage and extended an invitation to the Pirate Queens to join him in his quarters for a strategic discussion. It appeared they were on the cusp of delving into confidential affairs. Initially, Liana and Belrose were somewhat reluctant, especially considering Prince Ostar's previously gentlemanly and forthright demeanor.

However, they were well aware of the Third Prince of the Oberiske Empire. The political power backing Prince Ostar was formidable. Considering various factors, the two Pirate Queens ultimately kept their appointment and individually visited Prince Ostar's opulent quarters aboard the "Victoria" for the clandestine meeting.

"Liana, Belrose, there's no need to be tense. I'm here to discuss business with you," he assured them.

"Lord Ostia, you're an imperial prince with profound political influence in the West Continent. What business could you possibly have with us, pirates adrift on the seas?" they questioned.

"Lord Ostia, we've accepted tribute and protection money from your nation's merchant and cargo ships, but we've never resorted to violence or murder," they added.

"Don't fret over it. I'm not here to interrogate criminals. I simply have some daring proposals and ideas I'd like to share with you. Unlike my brothers, I'm unconcerned with whether you're pirates or nobles," Ostar explained.

At the start of the secret meeting, Liana and Belrose were visibly tense, their expressions uneasy. They feared Prince Ostar had come to exact retribution or to settle scores. Despite their reign as Pirate Kings over the four seas, they understood the age-old adage of the Strange World Continent: commoners do not battle with officials.

Aware of the fearsome political might behind the Third Prince, the two Pirate Queens knew they were in no position to decline his summons. From the outset, their attendance at the secret meeting was inevitable.

In his luxurious room, Prince Ostar had resumed his casual demeanor, dressed only in black boxer shorts, sitting relaxed on the floor. Ostar was seated cross-legged while Chris knelt behind him, extending her small hands to massage his shoulders with her delicate touch, allowing the prince a moment of reprieve. Chris was clad in the same peach-colored, provocatively sheer bikini, and had Ostar not expressly forbidden it, she would have leaned in to massage his back with her ample curves.

Yulia and Sofia knelt on either side of Prince Ostar, tenderly massaging his arms. They wore their attire from before the incident: Yulia in a black, strappy bikini that balanced allure and sensuality, and Sofia in a gold, cut-out bikini, intricately woven from golden threads, radiating opulence.

The two Pirate Queens, Liana and Belrose, sat side by side before Ostar. Initially, they had been impressed by Prince Ostia, believing him to be an Imperial Prince of the highest status and political pedigree, surrounded by guards and maidservants whose beauty defied the norm. Whether it was a simple misunderstanding or the subtle influence of the atmosphere, the two gradually eased their tension, a stark contrast to their initial nervousness upon arrival.

"The Crimson Queen" Liana and "The Golden Queen" Belrose were true to their reputations, donning daring attire that included ultra-short pleated skirts. While seated, Ostar had a clear view of their undergarments, though the Pirate Queens seemed oblivious to their exposure.

Liana's bustier was a vibrant peach red, matched by her undergarments, while Belrose's attire followed suit with both her bustier and undergarments in pure black. Both queens favored a monochromatic style.

A blush tinted the cheeks of Liana and Belrose, unlike Chris and the other two maids who sat with legs neatly together, bodies leaning forward in a poised and alluring posture. The Pirate Queens, however, couldn't emulate such a stance. Their ample busts, well beyond a D-cup, dwarfed the C-cup size of Chris and her companions, making the proud and chest-forward position too challenging. Instead, they opted for a more conventional sitting posture, which inadvertently gave Ostar the perfect angle to glimpse their undergarments.

Had Liana and Belrose not kept their weapons close at hand, Ostar might have struggled to contain the dark urges lurking within him, tempted to mete out his own form of "justice" on the spot.

The figures of the two Pirate Queens were explosively curvaceous, their allure to men undeniable. Unlike Chris, who belonged to a different race, they were confirmed to be of mixed Human Clan heritage, a tempting treat readily available for enjoyment at any moment.

Ostar was no paragon of virtue; he couldn't deny the excitement coursing through him. Thankfully, his cross-legged posture concealed his inner turmoil, and none of the five stunning young women in the room suspected that he was on the verge of losing control.

Liana's voice was delicate and sweet, while Belrose's was gentle and refined. Without their pirate attire, it would be impossible to associate them with the fearsome title of Pirate Queen. Ostar remembered he had pressing matters to attend to and had to forcefully quell his impulses. Now was not the time for action.

The two Pirate Queens were still guarded around him, their hearts unopened. If he were to force the issue, he would be no better than the perverse gentleman, the Seventh Prince Oser, who never coerced girls into doing anything against their will.

"Liana, Belrose, I will soon be assuming the role of lord in the Bloomfield Region. Subsequently, I plan to establish a unique maritime trade route and would like to employ your fleets for assistance."

"Your Majesty, my pirates are not for hire. I acknowledge your generous offer with thanks."

"Lord Ostia, my crew is much like Miss Liana's—they don't take kindly to being under someone's thumb. I appreciate your offer, though."

"Cough, cough, Liana, Belrose, this isn't about recruitment or surrender. Hear me out. How would you like to be legal pirates? I intend to issue official letters of marque in my capacity as lord, legitimizing your plundering activities."

Prince Ostar employed a methodical approach to persuade them, drawing on the medieval European strategy once used by the British Kingdom to counter the formidable naval fleet of the Bullfighting Kingdom—issuing legal maritime clearance to pirates loyal to him, encouraging them to raid the merchant and cargo ships of enemy forces.

This novel approach to cooperation piqued Liana and Belrose's interest. They had been ready to take their leave, but now they decided to stay and listen a little longer.

At that moment, the two beautiful Pirate Queens were unaware that Ostar needed more than just their pirate fleets; he was after their very beings, everything about them.

By the time they realized the full extent of his intentions, it was too late. They were already aboard his ship and in his bed, with no chance for regret. They were bound to him, as the sheets had been rolled and jumping ship was no longer an option.

"I accept your proposal. I will negotiate a ceasefire with Miss Belrose."

"I accept as well. I assure you there will be no future conflicts with Miss Liana's fleet."

"That's great. Over the next few days, I'll go over the specifics of our cooperation plan and other details with you."