"Damn…" Abraham quietly muttered under his breath while gazing upon the horrific scene of corpses scattered throughout the wooden deck of the merchant vessel. It wasn't worse than he imagined, but more grounded instead.
As he stepped into the main deck where the cold corpses lay, the middle-aged man carefully observed the results of his actions with scrutiny and disappointment.
He was the one who ordered their execution, and now that they were dead, they didn't seem that much different. They didn't look like the evil monsters he imagined them to be.
'I guess this is what makes humans… human. A monster doesn't have to be hideous or be an abomination. They might look nothing more than a human.'
This was the truth that Abraham discovered. Death wasn't as special as he had previously thought. Everyone dies the same, with their lifeless corpse in or on the ground.
'Should I be disappointed?' Abraham thought while squinting his eyes. He crouched before one of the corpses and saw the expression it made before its demise.
Horror, fear, and despair.
He should have been regretting the decisions he had picked by now. But in his heart, there was no regret. Only the eerie tranquil as if his choice was paramount.
Was he becoming the monster that he was disgusted by? Abraham couldn't find the answer to this question, but perhaps in the future, he'll find one.
For now, the only thing he could do was make the choices that were for the best of himself and the United Navy.
'Why am I having philosophical thoughts since I became the Fleet Admiral?' Abraham shook his head in annoyance. It must have been the books he had read in the office.
"Clean the corpses up and throw them overboard. Lead me to the captain of this ship." He coldly ordered the Marines, who followed his words without any hesitation.
One of them appeared to have prepared a mop as if expecting the order. This made Abraham wonder whether or not these crayon-eaten men were making fun of him.
Though, he merely shook his head and appreciated their efficiency in the matter.
While the Marines cleansed the bloodied main deck of the merchant's vessel, Abraham was led by one of the Marines into the captain's cabin where the slave-trading captain was held.
As they stepped into the cabin through its cracked wooden doors, they saw the captain tied on a luxurious wooden chair with 2nd Lieutenant Campbell beside him.
The Marine gave way for the Fleet Admiral and stepped aside. On the other hand, Abraham walked forward with his steps echoing throughout the cabin.
Captain Crassus, who was beaten up by the 2nd Lieutenant, looked at the Fleet Admiral and started screaming in fear.
"I can't understand what you're saying! Why are you doing this to me!?"
Abraham raised an eyebrow with interest in his eyes. It appears that the 2nd Lieutenant did a good job giving the captain a lesson, though it looks like the interrogation wasn't working.
"Apologies, Sir. None of us understand what he's talking about, and maybe vice versa." Campbell glanced at the captain while saluting to the Fleet Admiral.
Abraham merely nodded at the 2nd Lieutenant and responded.
"Language barriers are a problem, but fortunately, I can understand most of their languages." His proficiency in otherworldly languages wasn't something he was intent on hiding.
It would be better if his subordinates knew of his capabilities so that they wouldn't preemptively dispose of possible intel because of language barriers.
"I see… As expected of the Fleet Admiral, I'll be in your guidance in the interrogation." Campbell smiled at Abraham, revealing his ivory teeth.
To think this was the guy that executed the slave-trading sailors.
Abraham shook his head and felt his palms cold despite it being covered by the finest of gloves. He stood in front of the tied captain and maintained his icy expression.
"I am Fleet Admiral Abraham Shepherd of the United Navy." He introduced himself to the captain and slowly took out a black revolver from his holster.
Abraham placed it beside the tied captain of the merchant vessel and remembered the teachings of his beloved partner, Systema.
When dealing with captured enemies, he mustn't reveal a trace of weakness and converse with them calmly. He must also subtly announce their fates if they don't cooperate.
He didn't know if putting a revolver beside the captured enemy would do the job. But it was the only way he knew to subtly declare their unfortunate fates.
"How about you introduce yourself?" The middle-aged man smiled at the captured captain who gaped at him with undisguised horror. It was quite something for a man to look at you with such a provoking gaze. It made him feel a strange emotion.
Anyhow, regardless of his sadistic thoughts, Abraham patiently waited for the captain's response. After all, he had all the time in the world to wait.
Captain Crassus gazed at the somewhat handsome Fleet Admiral and muttered in his ragged breath.
"It doesn't matter if I introduce myself. You won't be able to understand me to begin with." He seemed to grumble in annoyance though it was laced with fear.
Abraham lightly chuckled at the response of the ugly bastard. But it soon disappeared as a threatening voice escaped his lips.
"It looks like we are in understanding with each other. I hope you respond properly, or else." Abraham held the revolver and waved it beside the captain's head.
Crassus immediately realized what had happened and looked at the middle-aged man in deep shock. He was dumbfounded as it was beyond his expectations for someone who could understand him to appear.
"You-" The captain stopped when he saw the icy gaze of the Fleet Admiral. The man before him wanted answers, so he could only gulp and respond with dread.
"I-I am Captain Crassus of Pinguis Arca, a humble businessman."
Crassus's introduction made Abraham want to rip the bastard's throat. He didn't know if human trafficking was something humble in this world, but to have the gal to say it in front of him.
Fortunately, he controlled his emotions well and his outward appearance didn't change in the eyes of the pitiful captain.
"A humble businessman, huh? Well, well, let's talk about your presumed merchandise, humble businessman." Abraham's words were shrouded in sarcastic disgust.
"How many people are you planning to sell and where are you selling them?" He asked a vital question to the captured captain of Pinguis Arca.
Crassus was a bit hesitant after hearing the words of the Fleet Admiral. But with the revolver beside his head, the captain stopped hesitating and answered truthfully.
"We planned to sell 130 slaves into the Colonial Dominion of Terra."
Abraham raised an eyebrow, remembering the 127 slaves recorded by Systema. That meant that 3 slaves died before they got rescued by the United Navy.
"Colonial Dominion of Terra… Do you have a map of it?" The middle-aged man inquired once again, gazing directly into the eyes of the fearful captain.
"Ye-Yes, I have a map of Terra's sea region," Crassus responded while avoiding the peering gaze of the Fleet Admiral.
"Thank you for answering honestly, captain. It's good that you're cooperative."
"But, is there something you aren't telling me? For them to reinforce you with escort vessels, you must have sacrificed a lot for their protection. Though, why did you do it?"
Abraham was satisfied that the captain cooperated with the interrogation, but he knew that things weren't as straightforward as it was on the surface.
Crassus's body trembled, which was immediately noticed by the middle-aged man.
'Jackpot.' Abraham thought and decided to push the captain even further.
"Please cooperate with me, Captain Crassus. Wouldn't it be interesting to see the sunrise of tomorrow instead of forever basking in darkness?" With such words, Crassus's pillar collapsed and he was completely at the mercy of the Fleet Admiral.
"Thi- This… I- I don- I mean… What do you want to know?" Crassus lowered his head in dejection while lumping his body into the luxurious chair.
"I have already said it before, Captain Crassus? What are you willing to protect so much on this ship?" Abraham felt pleased about his first interrogation.
"I was planning to sell her to the Colonial Dominion of Terra for a hefty profit. I planned to have the greatest auction of all time, so I needed to get her to Terra no matter what." Crassus confessed and continued.
"The magi are probably interested in something like her, one of a kind. No, perhaps, four of a kind. The rarest of all beastfolk, and the strongest at that."
Following each word of Crassus was the jumping interest of Abraham. The rarest and strongest beastfolk was chained under the ship imprisoned by various runes.
"She was amongst the four revolutionaries of the Resistance, the leaders of the rebellion. I managed to acquire her after getting a tip that she was injured and exhausted to damnation."
"And so, I captured her and as said before, planned to sell her in the Colonial Dominion of Terra." Crassus felt weak after confessing to the Fleet Admiral.
It was as though he was betraying himself, which wasn't far from the truth.
On the other hand, Abraham was in deep thought as he analyzed the matter of the captain. It appears that the pig wasn't lying, meaning that his words might have some truth in them.
If it was the truth, it meant that there was some big shot imprisoned in this ship.
One of the rarest and strongest beastfolk that stood amongst the four leading revolutionaries of the so-called Resistance.
After calmly scrutinizing the information given about the beastfolk imprisoned below, Abraham became more interested in the subject matter.
Obviously, with interest stemming from the titles of the beastfolk, the Fleet Admiral wanted to meet and free her personally. It would be an intriguing sight, and perhaps, he would receive a favor.
With this in mind, Abraham smiled at Captain Crassus as though he had struck gold. Meanwhile, Crassus felt chills over his body and noticed the Fleet Admiral staring at him with a scary smile.
The ugly bastard couldn't help but wonder if he was about to be tortured for the entirety of his life.