Leave the Villainous Second Male Lead Alone - Chapter 8.6

Amid the chaos, several of Roen’s ships were engulfed in flames, unable to withstand the relentless bombardment. One vessel sank rapidly, its stern rising vertically as chained rowers screamed in vain, unable to escape their watery graves.

Clicking his tongue, Roen surveyed the fleet. Even if Callisto’s cannons sunk dozens of ships, their remaining numbers would still be evenly matched. In a close-quarters melee, where soldiers boarded each other’s ships, sheer numbers would determine the victor. Sacrificing vessels to close the distance was a calculated risk he was willing to take.

The only unpredictable factor was the wind. If a favorable gust allowed Callisto’s fleet to escape, they could widen the distance and resume their devastating cannon barrage. Letting that happen was not an option.

Fortunately for Roen, the winds of the Serbil Strait were on his side. Just as Callisto’s fleet attempted to pick up speed, the wind died completely. The once-taut sails of the enemy ships slackened, and their movement slowed dramatically. While some ships—particularly the bizarre hybrid vessels equipped with rows of oars—continued to inch forward, the rest drifted helplessly.

“Close in! Do not let a single one escape!” Roen barked, his grin widening as he watched Callisto’s fleet falter.

Victory seemed within reach. As Roen’s ships prepared to converge on the immobilized enemy, a lone vessel from Callisto’s central fleet abruptly veered off course. The ship’s violent turn caused it to tilt sharply before it steadied, its bow now pointed directly at Roen’s flagship.

“What in the world is that ship?” Roen muttered, narrowing his eyes.

The vessel was unlike anything he’d ever seen—a grotesque hybrid of a sailing ship and a galley, bristling with oars like the legs of a monstrous insect. Its most unsettling feature was the massive iron spike protruding from its prow, replacing the usual elegant figurehead. The sight of the weapon sent an involuntary shiver down his spine.

Before Roen could issue an order, the enemy ship surged forward at full speed, propelled by its oars.

“What—”

The impact was deafening.

With a thunderous crash, the iron spike tore through the front of Roen’s flagship, the force of the collision sending splinters and debris flying in all directions.

As the chaos unfolded, Callisto stood at the helm of his ship, gripping the wheel tightly. A feral grin spread across his face as he watched the destruction.

“Caught you, rat,” he murmured, his voice dripping with satisfaction.

Nearby, Ivry winced, glancing uneasily at Callisto.

The collision had shattered the flagship’s bow, leaving it listing heavily to one side. Shouts of alarm rang out as soldiers scrambled to maintain their footing on the splintering deck. But amidst the turmoil, Roen’s mind raced.

“This lunatic…” Roen growled under his breath, realizing Callisto’s reckless ploy. Sacrificing mobility to cripple the enemy flagship was a bold move, but it left Callisto’s ship equally immobile.

“Board their ship! Begin close combat!” Roen roared, his voice cutting through the chaos.

As his soldiers swarmed onto the enemy vessel, Roen signaled for a retreat. He had no intention of engaging Callisto directly. Motioning to his uncle, he ordered a bridge to be lowered to the adjacent ship.

“We’re moving to the left flank. Ensure the bridge is secured.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Harrington replied, though his gaze lingered on the chaos below.

“Uncle, we don’t have time to dawdle. That ship is going down, with or without those rowers.”

“But—”

“If you’re so inclined, feel free to save them. But take a good look first.” Roen gestured toward Callisto’s ship, where the Second Prince stood amidst the carnage, his bloodied face alight with unholy glee.

As their eyes met, Callisto smirked, his golden eyes glinting with a predatory light. The sight made Harrington’s skin crawl.

“Well, Uncle? Staying behind?” Roen asked, his voice laced with mockery.

“…No, Your Highness,” Harrington replied, hastily following Roen across the bridge.

As they retreated to a safer vessel, Roen cast a final glance at the battlefield, a smirk curling his lips.

“Let’s see how long the Admiral of the North can last against this,” he mused. “Even a fox can’t outwit sheer numbers forever.”

Crash!

The axe blade slammed down, severing the thick chains in an instant. The foul air of the cramped space was filled with groans and sobbing from the dozens of people packed inside. Yet, each time the axe gleamed mid-air, murmurs of astonishment grew louder from a few voices among them.

Ignoring the chaotic mix of sounds, Callisto swung the axe tirelessly. Behind him, Ivry muttered under her breath.

“Callisto, I told you I found the key. You just need to unlock it with this….”

Callisto paused his chopping for a moment and wiped the sweat from his jaw with the back of his hand. The clear moisture, streaked with dark crimson, made Ivry shudder. She had no idea how much blood they’d encountered just reaching the second deck of the enemy ship.

“Do you really think we have time to test each key? The ship’s sinking as we speak.”

Though he wasn’t wrong, Ivry couldn’t help but think there might have been a less brutish way to go about it.

But the freed rowers seemed to feel differently. They flocked toward Callisto, trembling as they bowed repeatedly. Their tearful words were incomprehensible to Ivry, and so were Callisto’s responses.

“I heard the First Prince’s rowers were all slaves from the northern continent,” Ivry muttered to herself.

Callisto, who had been conversing with the northerners, glanced back at her.

“Wrong.”

“What? You weren’t speaking the northern dialect just now?”

“They’re from the northern continent, but they’re not slaves. Harrington’s forces raided their villages and kidnapped them.”

“Oh…”

Ivry bit her lower lip to stifle a groan. Before joining Callisto’s side, she had served the First Prince’s forces, fully aware of their involvement in the slave trade. But seeing the northern rowers with her own eyes was nothing like her vague imaginings. These weren’t just numbers—countless individuals had been abducted, sold across the empire, or even to other continents. The First Prince’s army, led by Roen, was sustained by exploiting these lives.

“Stop standing around and help,” Callisto said, tapping her shoulder. Soldiers who had boarded the ship alongside them were busy lowering lifeboats.

The enemy ship, abandoned by Roen, was already badly damaged, with more than half of its hull submerged. Callisto and his soldiers planned to board another ship engaged in battle, but the northerners needed boats to escape.

Ivry sighed deeply and followed him. She wanted to ask why he’d rammed the ship in the first place, but she knew the answer: it was designed for such a purpose.

After lowering the boats and sending off the northerners, Ivry scanned the battlefield. Callisto’s and the First Prince’s fleets were so entangled that it was impossible to distinguish ally from foe. Numerous ships were immobilized, their oars tangled together. Gunshots echoed, and the sound of arrows piercing flesh reverberated through the smoky air.

Amid the chaos, Callisto’s soldiers were leaping onto enemy ships to free the rowers below deck. Soon, freed northerners began pouring out from other ships as well.

Ivry glanced at Callisto, who stood silently beside her, observing the enemy vessel. The veins bulged on the back of his hand as he gripped the sword at his waist. The blade within its sheath rattled ominously.

With golden eyes gleaming with resolve, Callisto murmured, “Where could the rat have scurried off to…?”

The large galley carrying Roen had withdrawn slightly from the battlefield, retreating to avoid enemy soldiers attempting to board. Despite this, a few of Callisto’s relentless sailors had managed to breach the deck, engaging in fierce combat with the First Prince’s troops. Gunshots and the clash of blades still echoed from afar.

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