Legacy's Wake

Caught in the narrow confines of Yipsiv's hideout, Nathaniel stepped forward to confront his former ally. They regarded each other with a tension that hinted at unresolved animosities.

"Ah, Nathaniel, I always valued you as a comrade in our gun-slinging days. We trod the same path, fought with the same ferocity, but everythin' we did together only led to a tragic symphony of blood, hatred, and violence... partner."

Nathaniel remained still, maintaining his characteristic composure.

"I no longer consider you a partner. You ruined that by signing that contract. Now you're hiding in this dark hole, letting people gamble their lives away. Have you even noticed that the marine officers have landed on your island?"

Yipsiv simply laughed and stood up, the three women beside him rising in unison.

"Nathaniel, do you think I'm intimidated by some lackeys from the marine force? I have an army, soldiers all under my command. And most importantly, I have my three most trusted companions, these lovely young ladies who would do anythin' I order..."

He glanced at the three women, taking a drag from his cigarette and leaning forward, hands resting on his belt. "Ain't that right, Parthena, Celosia, and Viessa?"

The women confirmed this by boldly proclaiming the truth aloud. Their loyalty to him was unwavering, and remarkably, they hadn't even been brainwashed.

"These three managed to survive the death roulette, so I decided to push their luck even further by testin' them out in a duel. Who woulda thought, Nathaniel, that these young women would display such impressive combat skills? Their luck is extraordinary, almost surpassin' my own."

Nathaniel observed the three women, each clad in a differently colored uniform.

He opened his palm and said, "Does everything you do now revolve around some wheel of luck? You never used to gamble this much, and now you're forcing children and others to stake their lives on a 50/50 chance. In the Vast Expanse, gambling is more illegal than sailing the seas as a pirate..."

"But beyond that, you've become a trifecta of lawlessness—a pirate, a gambler, and someone who coerces others into thinking they can win an inaccurate gamble. In the end, they just fall and dread this world. How many people have died because of the gambling dens you've created on Bloomsque Hazard?"

Yipsiv had become far more villainous than he had been in the past. His addiction to gambling and his indifferent attitude towards people's lives had truly corrupted his personality, and Nathaniel could see all the horrendous changes that years of gambling had wrought, making him much colder.

"Nathaniel... My dear friend, Nathan... People change; they grow warmer, colder, or sometimes both," Yipsiv said, adjusting the belt around his waist as he began to pace.

"Do you remember the S.F.A.? We had an entire town to ourselves, and the agency led by the higher-ups was growing stronger and more intelligent. But then the marine force showed up and launched an attack..."

Yipsiv waved his hand dismissively as he continued. "Our lives were destroyed—our people, many children, even the leaders suffered a disaster. You, me, even the Yasuda family..."

Nathaniel stood firm, maintaining his composure as he listened to Yipsiv's words. "We were living in prosperity, and now we've been reduced to what? A scattered group of strays spread across the Western and Eastern seas..."

Yipsiv paused mid-stroll, turning his entire body to face Nathaniel.

"It's time for us, the former members of the S.F.A., to take action and make the marines pay. Our allies' flower symbols—what were they for? To scatter and end the lives of those innocent Yasuda members... We might not be as popular or strong as the Yasuda family that got wiped out, but we're part of the same agency, same legacy. We fight together; we're supposed to help each other and reclaim what was once ours. Don't you agree, Nathaniel?"

Yipsiv grinned and laughed quietly as he grabbed his revolver.

"Don't you want to rebuild the new S.F.A.? You lived there just like I did, just like the Yasuda family did. How can you not care about what happened years ago? What kind of agent are you? One who walks an unknown path and cares little for his own kind?"

Yipsiv adjusted his cowboy hat, unable to contain his impatience.

"Nathaniel, the rose-marked and the peony-marked agents were meant to be the successors of the new S.F.A., but where are they now? Both have vanished without a trace..."

Nathaniel opened his suitcase, revealing his cherished violin, and carefully extracted a folded piece of paper from within.

"I guess you haven't been as observant as you thought, Yipsiv," he said, his voice steady as he unfurled the paper and presented it to Yipsiv. The document was a news article accompanied by a bounty poster.

"The rose-marked agent didn't disappear as you assumed. She's been staying with the Phoenix Pirates, venturing out under their protection. Two years ago, the marines intended to throw the rose-marked agent into the depths of the Forbidden Chain, hoping to finally eliminate the last surviving member of the Yasuda family..."

Nathaniel's voice grew more intense as he continued, planting a seed of revelation in Yipsiv's mind.

"But fate had other plans. The rose-marked agent found refuge and trust among the Phoenix Pirates, a group of individuals who genuinely cared for her well-being. These companions weren't just allies; they became her new family. The Phoenix Pirates embraced her as one of their own, shielding her from the dangers that lurked everywhere. They saved her life..."

Nathaniel took a moment to let his words sink in before continuing, his tone now almost lecturing.

"The rose-marked agent, though safe, is far from forgotten by the marines. Her wanted poster has been updated, and she still holds a staggering bounty of 400,000,000 bolts on her head. Keep in mind, this isn't just a number; it's a testament to her importance and the threat she represents to the marines, including the Phoenix Pirates."

Nathaniel fixed his gaze on Yipsiv, his eyes full of conviction.

Astonished by Nathaniel's revelation, Yipsiv's eyes trembled with frustration.

"She found a home with a random pirate crew?! How could she place her trust in those merciless fools? I don't care if the S.F.A. supports or despises pirates, but the Yasuda family, bein' undervalued on a pirate ship, is a disgrace to their legacy! Their symbol stands for so much more! If she's really with them, then I'll find her and bring her back to our side!"

To be continued...