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After finally cleaning the deck, Ethan and Arthur had no choice but to throw the bodies of the dead sailors into the sea. Keeping the corpses aboard wasn't an option. In this weather, disease could spread in just a few days, and while Ethan had learned to make basic potions for minor illnesses, plagues were far beyond his ability to handle.

"Born to the sea, returned to the sea," Ethan murmured.

To ensure the bodies didn't float back to the surface, Ethan tied them together with ropes and weighted them down with heavy chains before sending them overboard.

"Maybe one day, I'll end up sinking to the bottom of the sea like this," Arthur said quietly.

It was the first time Arthur had seen so many dead, and most of them had fallen by his own hand. The experience stirred complicated emotions within him, and he couldn't help but voice his thoughts.

Ethan, on the other hand, was more pragmatic. "That's not guaranteed. If we cross paths with the wrong enemies, they might chop us into pieces and toss us into the sea, or they might grind us into dust and leave no bodies at all."

The stark bluntness of his response caught Arthur off guard, but Ethan wasn't interested in sugarcoating reality. He had no illusions about the kind of people who inhabited this world.

"Let's focus," Ethan continued, brushing off the morbid topic. "We've cleaned up. Now it's time to get moving. Over the next few days, we'll take stock of what we have and figure out how to maximize our current capabilities."

Arthur, still caught up in his thoughts, looked at Ethan curiously. "Is State Island really that dangerous? Are there going to be a lot of enemies? Isn't it a safe place?"

Ethan gave a dry chuckle. "Safe? Not really. Especially for two people like us. You're young, we're traveling alone, and we've got a large ship loaded with supplies. That kind of thing attracts attention. Greedy eyes are going to notice, and there'll be plenty of people who'll want to try their luck."

He paused, recalling Sean's earlier actions. "Think about it—Sean targeted us even before knowing who we were. Why? Because he saw our ship was heavily loaded, guessed we were carrying valuable goods, and decided to attack. Add our weapons and armor into the mix, and he didn't hesitate to go straight for the kill. People here don't have much in the way of morals. If they want something, they'll take it—simple as that."

Arthur frowned. "And the island? What about security there?"

Ethan's expression grew thoughtful. "There's some measure of law on State Island, or at least enough to keep things from devolving into chaos. When I was there last, people kept themselves in check—mostly. But I wouldn't call it 'safe.' And even if it's safer than open water, we can't count on it."

He gestured at Arthur. "That's why we're organizing ourselves—not just for defense, but to prepare for what's ahead."

Arthur tilted his head, confused. "You mean to say… we're not just defending ourselves?"

A sharp glint appeared in Ethan's eyes. "Exactly. This time, we're the ones picking a fight."

Arthur blinked, surprised. His impression of Ethan up until now was someone focused on survival, someone careful and pragmatic. But this? This was something else.

Ethan continued, his tone firm. "I'm not the type to let things fester. This idea of waiting years to settle a grudge, it's nonsense. If someone threatens us, we deal with it now. No games, no delays."

Arthur hesitated. "But is it really necessary? If they come after us again, we'll handle it. There's no need to hunt them down first."

Ethan's gaze hardened, and his voice dropped, colder now. "You're thinking like someone who's never been harassed relentlessly by enemies. Let me tell you something, if we let Keno get away without consequences, he'll come back, stronger and better prepared. Even if he doesn't pose a real threat, he'll still make our lives difficult, constantly showing up to cause problems. Why let him have the chance? If you can crush a threat completely, you do it. End of story."

Arthur fell silent, mulling over Ethan's words.

Ethan, meanwhile, was already thinking ahead. "The supplies we brought back are more than enough to keep us well-stocked on the island for a while. You'll need that time to work on a few things, starting with the language."

Arthur grimaced, realizing the truth in Ethan's words. His struggles with the local language were a constant obstacle, making communication difficult in every situation.

Ethan nodded. "Exactly. State Island's the best place for you to learn. It's also the information hub of the Sea of Calm. Everything we need to know is there—maps, trade routes, rumors, intelligence. If we want to plan our next move, we'll need time to collect and process all of that. No more flying blind."

His tone sharpened. "And while we're there, we wait. Quietly. Because Keno will come back. And when he does, we'll make sure he doesn't leave again."

Arthur shifted uncomfortably. This wasn't the kind of calculated strategy he was used to. In his mind, fighting was meant to be straightforward—a clash of strength, skill, and honor. This felt more ruthless, almost vindictive.

"Is it really necessary to go that far?" he asked, his voice uncertain. "If he shows up again, we can just deal with him then. We're strong enough to handle him, right?"

Ethan immediately shook his head, waving his hands emphatically to underline his denial of Arthur's suggestion.

"Absolutely not! Your way of thinking is completely wrong! You need to understand something very clearly—showing mercy to an enemy is cruelty to yourself."

"Is that really the case?" Arthur frowned, still feeling Ethan's stance was overly harsh and unnecessary.

Looking at the young King Arthur, Ethan realized he'd need to explain his reasoning in a way the boy could truly grasp. He decided to put it in the simplest terms possible.

"You might think I'm being too extreme," Ethan began, his tone steady but firm. "But in reality, this approach is the smartest and safest choice."

Arthur hesitated, unsure but listening closely.

"Let's start with this," Ethan continued. "Do you think Keno is a good person?"

Arthur shook his head decisively. "No. Not at all. He's no better than Sean, maybe even worse. A man like him, robbing ships and terrorizing people at sea, can't possibly be called good."

"Exactly," Ethan agreed, nodding. "And do you think someone like him will just give up after this?"

"No," Arthur replied without hesitation. "He doesn't seem like the kind of man who would let it go."

"So then, it's safe to assume he'll come after us again," Ethan said, watching as Arthur slowly began piecing it together.

Arthur nodded reluctantly.

"And if we know that a confrontation is inevitable," Ethan pressed, "why would we wait for him to strike on his terms? Why not deal with him on our own terms instead?"

Arthur frowned, his youthful idealism struggling against the logic of Ethan's argument.

He was still young, and while he'd been taught the basics of leadership and strategy, his worldview hadn't fully developed. Under Merlin's guidance, he might have grown into an optimistic, idealistic king—a shining beacon of hope. But Ethan wasn't Merlin, and he didn't believe naivety and idealism were enough to prepare Arthur for the harsh realities of rulership.

A good king could be kind, even inspiring, but too much optimism and trust in others could lead to disaster.

"Kindness is a strength," Ethan thought, "but naivety is a weakness."

Ethan decided to shift his approach. "Arthur, I want you to think about this from another angle. Let's say you're in Keno's position. If someone defeated you and left you alive, wouldn't you do anything—anything—to get revenge on them if you were that kind of person?"

Arthur paused, unsure, but eventually nodded. "I guess so. If I were… like him."

"Now imagine this," Ethan said, his tone more serious. "You return to your world someday, and you face a similar situation. You let an enemy go because you think they'll leave you alone. But instead, they come back, not to attack you directly, but to hurt the people you care about—your parents, your wife, maybe even your children. What would you do then?"

Arthur's expression tightened, his jaw clenching as Ethan's words sank in.

"Remember," Ethan added, "not everyone fights with honor. Enemies like Keno don't care about chivalry. They'll use whatever methods they can to make you suffer, even if it means targeting innocent people."

Arthur remained silent, his brow furrowed in thought. He understood now what Ethan was trying to say. If he let Keno live, the risk wasn't just to himself, it was to everyone around him.

"So, to prevent things from spiraling out of control," Ethan concluded, "the smartest move is to eliminate the threat completely before it has the chance to grow."

Arthur nodded slowly, finally grasping the weight of Ethan's argument.

"You're right," Arthur admitted. "It's better to end it now."

Ethan let out a small breath of relief. Arthur was sharp enough to understand, but Ethan still felt his own communication skills had grown rusty from years of isolation. Thankfully, Arthur had the intelligence to follow his reasoning.

"So how long are we staying on State Island?" Arthur asked.

Ethan smiled faintly, though there was a cold edge to it. "As long as it takes. I don't like the idea of someone like Keno lurking out there, waiting for the right moment to strike. I don't sleep well with that kind of danger hanging over my head."

Arthur shuddered slightly at Ethan's expression, realizing just how determined his companion was. He made a mental note: Don't ever get on Ethan's bad side.

At the same time, Arthur couldn't help but feel sorry for Keno. The man had made a critical mistake in crossing Ethan, and now his fate was sealed.

Ethan's plan was simple. Keno might have escaped today, but he wouldn't stay hidden for long. Even if he avoided returning to State Island immediately, he'd eventually have to dock there to repair his ship and resupply. That moment would be Keno's last.

"So," Ethan said quietly, staring out at the horizon, "one way or another, this ends with Keno dead."

***

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