Failure’s Road to the Pirate King

As the massive warship approached, Lily steered the small boat, carrying Sage swiftly away from the port.

The Rat Colonel was here, but his ship wasn't. It seemed the warship hadn't docked at the port to prevent any unexpected incidents.

Now that the incident had occurred, the warship could advance directly and launch an attack on them.

"Hey, this has nothing to do with you, why are you going out to sea?" Sage asked curiously.

This princess, after the king's death, should be the next queen. Why was she going out to sea at a time like this? Lily pursed her lips and said, "I killed the Navy Colonel, I'll be wanted too. Besides, I can't let you bear this burden alone!"

Her tone was unusually firm as she faced Sage, "This all started because of me. I can't let you bear the bounty alone. If we're going to be wanted, I'm willing to go to sea with you! I know navigation, I can read sea charts, I'm a navigator. Please take care of me in the future!"

Sage was stunned for a moment, "A navigator?"

...

The weather at sea is changeable and unpredictable. If one can't observe the sky and master the wind direction, it's easy to capsize in this vast ocean.

Crack! Boom!

Under the storm clouds struck by chaotic lightning was a fierce wind and rain, but outside this stormy area, a small boat floated peacefully on the sea surface.

After escaping from the bombardment, they stopped here. Sage twitched the corner of his mouth and said to Lily, who seemed to have never been out to sea before and was now curiously observing the sea surface:

"You really are a navigator, huh."

A princess raised in the palace since childhood, who hadn't seen much of the world, yet when setting sail, she could accurately find the wind direction and judge which sea areas would have storms by observing the clouds, actively avoiding them.

She really does understand navigation. Hearing this, Lily raised her head proudly and said, "I've read many books on navigation, and I've had the dream of becoming a navigator since I was little."

But as soon as she said this, she suddenly paused, her pupils drifting away, a strange image flashing through her mind.

...

"What do you want to do when you grow up?"

A very young Lily sat on a strong arm, and after being asked, she stared at the blue sea outside the window, giggling.

"Go to sea? That's great. But to go to sea, you need knowledge. Let's start learning now. Lily will surely become an excellent navigator."

Who was the owner of that arm? Never mind, she couldn't remember clearly.

...

Lily shook her head, throwing away those chaotic thoughts, and continued, "Anyway, although I haven't had practical experience, my theoretical knowledge is very rich. I can definitely become an excellent navigator and ensure your course. Besides that."

She stood up, causing the small wooden boat to shake violently for a moment, and drew the elegant thin sword from her waist, "I'm also a swordsman. I have basic self-defense skills, I won't be a burden to you!"

Sage looked at Lily's irrepressible smile and asked curiously, "You seem very excited."

"I'm, I'm not excited." 

Lily, being stared at by Sage, suddenly blushed a little, then sat up straight again. She gripped the wooden oar, took a deep breath, composed her expression, putting on a very serious look.

"I'm just a little interested in exploring the sea," she said calmly.

Her eyes were practically shining. But it was understandable. A princess who had been kept in the palace since childhood, not knowing anyone, naturally yearned for the outside world.

The citizens of the Oikot Kingdom had been saved. Although the heavenly gold wouldn't change, at least they had a means of resistance now, which also resolved her inner conflict.

Moreover, this woman, let alone killing a colonel, even if she hadn't, with her identity unknown to anyone, even if she forcibly inherited the throne, she would be nothing more than a puppet of those nobles. It was better to go to sea.

Learning navigation and swordsmanship since childhood. If they really wanted to keep her as a caged bird, where did this swordsmanship come from? Sage knew that elite navy personnel were well-rounded, versed in both physical combat and swordsmanship. This woman's swordsmanship was probably taught by that Ennio. Damn that dead father, did he consider even this?!

Sage sat cross-legged on the boat, his elbow resting on his knee, palm supporting his chin, and said, "I do indeed need a navigator."

Those with navigation knowledge were rare resources at sea, no matter what. Even those who only knew a little would be kept on board.

Otherwise, relying on himself, once out at sea he'd be completely clueless, no different from a blind man except for determining direction by the sun's position.

Sage's words made Lily's pupils brighten.

But before she could speak, Sage waved his hand and said, "But there are some things that need to be said early. If you don't agree, we'd better part ways sooner rather than later."

"First, I'm not going to play house or have a grand adventure at sea. I'm going to be a pirate. Piracy is a profession for me, and I'm very professional. I'll do everything pirates do. Do you have any problem with that?"

After doing such a big thing in the Oikot Kingdom, it would be strange if they weren't wanted. Anyway, the bounty hunter career plan had failed, so the next career could only be a pirate.

As for what pirates do... "I have no problem!" Lily said decisively.

This surprised Sage, "No, I mean I'll do everything pirates do, burning, killing, looting, I'll do it all."

"Yes, that's what pirates do!"

Lily stared into Sage's eyes, "I'm prepared for it!"

Sage asked curiously, "Why?"

"Because you said you're not interested in poor people," Lily said solemnly.

Sage was stunned, looked at Lily for a while, then laughed, "Indeed."

He took out the iron flask tied to his belt, took a sip of alcohol, then threw it to the blonde wavy-haired girl in front of him.

"Well then, let me introduce myself. Norton Sage, your captain."

Lily didn't stand on ceremony. She caught the flask and took a gulp. Although the spicy taste made her face turn red, she still managed to swallow it. She wiped the corner of her mouth and said seriously, "Biendetta Lily, your navigator!"

On the right was a fierce storm with clouds obscuring the sky.

On the left was calm seas and clear skies for miles.

In the middle, on the small boat, the two smiled at each other, announcing to this vast sea that a pirate crew of only two members... had been formed!

"Now, let me tell you about my plan!" Sage said eagerly. "First, we need to recruit a lot of people, accumulate initial capital through robbery, then find a territory to settle down. After accumulating over time, we can achieve my great dream of becoming a wealthy landowner. Any problems?"

"Yes!" 

Lily raised her hand and said, "Before achieving your 'great' dream, don't we need to find a ship for robbery and navigation?"

A canoe certainly couldn't be used for robbery. Forget about cannonballs, even a big wave could capsize it.

"Also..."

Gurgle—

Lily's stomach made a rumbling sound, making her blush and lower her head, but she quickly raised it again.

Perhaps it was the excitement of just joining a pirate crew, or the boldness from just drinking from Sage's flask, but Lily now cast aside her royal upbringing and etiquette. She honestly said, "I'm hungry."

Not only was the canoe unsuitable for robbery and navigation, it didn't even have any food.