*Ahaaaa*
The cannibal's agonized scream reverberated across the small island. Once more, I pressed my interrogation:
"So, ready to talk now?"
Huff, huff
He struggled to catch his breath, his mouth slowly opening.
"How can someone like you, a snowflake drifter, commit such acts?"
"I'm not familiar with the term 'drifter,' but if you mean people from Earth, don't associate me with them. Unlike many on Earth, I've ended lives and inflicted pain on numerous occasions, much like I'm doing to you now. And I have been doing this kind of thing even before I arrived in this world."
Only half of that is true, it's true that I have killed people before but I have never tortured before, back then I feel sickened when I see some of my comrades torture someone for information but I know that it's something we must do In order to survive or else we will die because of people like them it's either them or us. But strangely I don't feel something like that now, If anything I kind of feel good seeing people like him getting the justice he deserves.
"So, we can do this the easy way or we can do this the way you are familiar with"
I threatened him and I twisted the dagger that was still inside his leg, blood started to gush out from his wound.
*Ahaaaa*
He gave another loud scream.
*Huff Huff*
"Al-alright, I will talk. So please st-stop it"
People like him are all the same they enjoy torturing and playing with people's life, but if someone did the same thing to them they will break very easily and start to beg for their life. But if you show them mercy they will continue to do the same without any remorse.
"Quit wasting my time and start talking, my patience wearing thin," I commanded
"Al-alright. The reason we feigned ignorance of your language is because we recognized you as drifters."
"What? How do you know that? Explain it now," I pressed, determined.
"T-that's simple. Drifters like you exude a constant state of confusion when entering our world. You're often too trusting, too naive, falling for anything and everything. It makes you easy prey for the likes of us."
"Then what happened to everyone?"
"We typically consume the men. As for the women, some become... entertainment for us, while the rest are sold into slavery, along with the children."
"Why resort to cannibalism? And does this mean everyone here is a cannibal?"
"N-no, only outcasts like us resort to it – pirates and wanted people"
"But even as outcasts, why resort to something as horrific as cannibalism?"
"Heh… You're speaking like a true drifter now. Can you imagine our reality? People like us can't just buy food like others can. I'm not sure how it is in your world, but here, 90% of the landscape is swallowed by water. And if that weren't dire enough, various monstrous creatures roam freely," he continued.
"Getting food is a struggle enough even for regular folks. But for us, those banned from entering towns or cities, we're left with no choice but to consume whatever's available – even if it means turning to our own kind for survival."
His words hung heavily in the air, offering a glimpse into the harshness of their existence and the desperation that drove their actions.
Hmm… I do remember reading about something similar in Captain Francis's Diary. Does that mean this world is indeed mostly covered by water?
"And what happened to the people who arrived with me?"
"I've already explained. We consume most of the men. As for the women, some endured as 'playthings,' and some met their demise. Others were sold into slavery and a few we've kept for later use. Don't worry, we've refrained from harming those who remain alive. The uncertainty of our sea voyage led us to preserve them for future needs. As for the children, as I mentioned, we sold all of them. They hold no value for us."
He says these horrible this like it's very normal. These people sicken me to my core, I thought I saw all kinds of people back on earth but these people are on a whole another level.
"Where can I locate the survivors?"
"We've confined them within a metal cage on this island. Head a bit further northeast to find them," he reveals.
Well, I already knew that some people are still alive because I saw them from NS Scorpion but I was not sure about the exact location until now.
"Tell me, which is the largest nearby city or settlement where regular people live? Don't even think about lying to me," I pressed.
Once more, I twisted the dagger, a stark reminder that his cooperation was imperative, and his situation could worsen if he continued to resist.
*Ahaaaa*
Another piercing scream tore through the air, and he resumed speaking, "St-stop it! I already assured you of my cooperation, so why subject me to this?"
Watching him, I couldn't help but note the irony of his labeling me a monster while he himself had perpetrated atrocities, such as those against Captain Alex and John. The grim satisfaction I derived from his agony felt strangely justified in this context.
"Well, I can't just accept everything you say, as you said people from our world are naive and will believe everyone you guys say very easily, so I just have to make sure you are telling the truth.", I continued
"Now answer my question Where is the nearby normal human civilization?"
"If you want the nearest town then it's Port Aurora, it's the biggest human port city"
Port Aurora? I remember seeing that on Captain Francis's dairy, but I didn't know it was close by. And something else bothers me what does he mean by 'Human' port city?
"What do you mean by 'Human' port city", I questioned him again.
"We-well I don't know how it's in your world but humans are not the only ones who live in this world. There are other races as well"
"Wait by other races do you mean by races like Elves and Dwarves?"
"I don't know what Elves and Dwarves are but the races I am talking about are Avians, Volcarians,Glacians, and even monstrous Mermen and there is even that mysterious Nagas but no one actually knows anything about them"
So what are these races exactly? I know what a mermaid is and If I remember correctly Nagas are half people and half snakes right as for the other the only clues I have are their name, Avains by the name of it, it looks like it has something to do with birds.
As for the other two Volcarians and Glacians only thing I can think of is volcano and glacier means ice, other than that I have no clue.
"Then what are you guys doing on this deserted island?"
"This island is called Mermaid's Veil. Since it's very close to the monstrous Mermen domain, people usually avoid it. Only fools, adventurers, or drifters come to this island, except us."
"Is that how you guys find out that we are drifters?"
"Aye. As for the adventurers, they are usually strong and smart, so they can easily find out about us or kill a few of us and escape. And the fools, they at least know about this world, unlike drifters who are weak, naive, and clueless about this world."
"What do you know about these monstrous mermen?"
"Nothing much. All we know is that they hate us and will chase us and kill us no matter what it takes."
"I actually met those monstrous mermen. They were very hard to deal with. It was very hard to escape from them."
"You escaped from those monsters? Heh… you must either have the devil's luck or you are much stronger than you look, or maybe a bit of both. There are not many people who encounter those monstrous mermen and live to tell the tale."
"So, how many more people are there in your little crew other than the people who were on this island?"
"Well, we are just a small group, but we are part of a much bigger organization called the Bloodbeard Pirates. It's one of the biggest pirate organizations, along with the Cursed Harpoon and Crimson Skulls."
"What will happen if they find out that your crew got wiped out?"
"Heh… what else? They will come after your neck and will not rest until you are dead. Well, since I am kind-hearted, I will let you live if you let me and my companions go. Beg for mercy and give us all your weapons and that weird boat, if not, well, you will have to live the rest of your life in fear."
Hmm... I don't know if I can believe what he says. There's no way for them to find out about me if no one from their group survived. Is he perhaps thinking that, since I am one of those naive 'drifters,' I will let him and his two companions live?
If I am naive, then he is an idiot. I already told him not to compare me with other people from Earth because, unlike them, I have killed a lot, and I am even torturing him right now. Well, compared to what he does to people, this is nothing but child's play.
For now, let's leave him be and meet with the other survivors.