Chapter 75: Operation Blackbeard Completed

The end of a mission doesn’t always bring relief.
Sometimes, the hardest part isn’t surviving — it’s facing the silence that follows when the screams finally fade.
There’s something deeply unsettling about returning to calm while your heart is still at war.

Each person carries their own version of what happened.
Some with pride, others with guilt… and others, simply with more questions.
What’s achieved on the surface rarely reflects the truth burning underneath.

The enemy was defeated — at least in appearance.
But what no one says aloud is that there are battles not fought with swords, nor won through explosions.
They’re born in the gaze of those who doubt, in the silence of those who hold back, in the decision of those who, even for an instant, dare to defy the world to protect someone else.

The secrets buried in this mission have begun to crack the very foundations of trust.
What once seemed obvious is no longer true — and what was hidden has started to take shape.
In the chessboard of the powerful, every move comes at a cost... and now, the pieces know they’re being watched.

Today, a chapter closes.
But the story doesn’t stop.
Because while some celebrate the end, others are only just beginning to understand the true purpose of their existence.

And amidst it all, the echo of a lingering promise:
“I won’t let anything happen to them.”
Even if keeping that promise means facing the gods themselves.

——————————————————————————————————————————

The hum of the portal faded, taking Blackbeard’s figure with it.
A heavy silence lingered in the air, broken only by the gentle waves brushing against the shore.

“Well… it seems this operation is over,” Shun said flatly, as if he’d just finished a routine task.

Edén glanced sideways at the pink-haired man, a chill crawling up his spine.
He’d never really thought about it before, but… he’s terrifying. It’s impossible to know what he’s thinking.

“So what now?” asked Alexbold, still breathing heavily.
“What do you mean?” Shun replied, his expression unchanged.
“We have to submit the mission report. What’s our conclusion?”
“Blackbeard died in battle.”
“Are you sure that’ll work? I doubt Clarileo will be satisfied with something so vague.”
“Leave that to me,” Shun said, turning with a carefree air.
“Fine…”

The hardened blood coating Alexbold’s body began to crack, crumbling like damp ash. His body gave out, collapsing onto one knee.
“Damn it… I can’t move…”

A hand extended toward him — Edén’s, with a soft smile.
“Come on, hero?”

Alexbold looked up, sighing in resignation before accepting the hand.
“Could you stop calling me that?”
“Impossible, hero.”

A faint smile — fragile, yet sincere — appeared on Alexbold’s face.
“Fine…”

The group began walking back toward the coast. The sea breeze brushed against their open wounds and broken thoughts.

Ares was waiting, arms crossed.
“Status?”
“Success. Mission complete,” Shun announced.
“Didn’t expect anything less,” Ares replied, a proud smile tugging at his lips.

A slow clap broke the scene.
Clarileo approached, stepping out from the shadows of his escort.
“Congratulations, congratulations. I couldn’t expect less from the self-proclaimed strongest man.”

“Long time no see, fangs,” Shun said, his smile never fading.

Clarileo fixed him with a sharp, piercing stare.
“So then… where is Blackbeard?”
“He’s dead. I eliminated him completely.”

—You? —Clarileo’s eyes narrowed suspiciously—. No, you couldn’t have possibly killed such an interesting little rabbit… or am I wrong?
Shun let out a short laugh, that blend of mockery and threat so typical of him.
—You’d better drop the nonsense —Clarileo continued, taking another step forward—. What did you do with Blackbeard?
—I already told you what happened. It’s your problem if you want to believe me or not.
Clarileo’s eyes glowed with a sickly red as they landed on Alexbold.
—If I can’t make the mother talk… I’ll go after her little rabbits.
—Tell me the truth, you damned rat.

Alexbold froze. He stammered, unable to get a word out.
Then a sword blade stopped inches from Clarileo’s neck. Edén faced him, resolute. Everyone went still. Time seemed to stop.
—You better leave Alexbold alone, —he said in a firm voice.
—What do you think you’re doing, brat?! —Ares shouted, advancing in fury.
—Edén, stop! —Alexbold begged.

But Clarileo… smiled.
—Brat… you’re interesting. Really interesting. Now I understand why this fellow picked you.
—If you take one more step, I won’t hesitate to strike, —Edén warned, never lowering his sword.

Shun stepped forward.
—Let’s go. I’ll hand in the report myself, Fangs. However, it won’t change.
—If you lie to me… you’ll be in serious trouble, Shun.
—And? Are you going to punish me? Stop talking nonsense. Not in a million years could you touch me.

Clarileo’s body hummed with dark energy, his aura overflowing in a show of power.
—You damned bastard…
—I won’t hold back if you touch them. I’ll kill you. And I’ll show you the huge difference between you… and me.

For a moment the two titans stared at each other, and the world seemed to tremble between them. But Clarileo yielded first. He extinguished his energy, turned with a look of annoyance.
—I await that report, Shun.

Without another word he boarded his ship and disappeared into the sea mist.

The salty breeze caressed the exhausted faces of the group as the ship cut through the water toward Port Royal. The silence lasted only a few seconds before Ares exploded.
—What the hell did you think you were doing?! Do you know who you threatened?! —he shouted, almost desperate, pointing a finger at Edén.

Shun couldn’t stop laughing. He held his stomach and his guffaws broke the tension brazenly.
—You should’ve seen his face —he managed between laughs—. Fangs was stunned… he didn’t expect someone to challenge him.

Edén looked down, uncomfortable.
—I’m sorry…

But Yosa stepped forward with a warm smile.
—You don’t have to apologize. That just proved your worth as a comrade. Not everyone would do that for a friend.

The remark had barely left his mouth when Ares delivered a sharp blow to Yosa’s head.
—Idiot! Don’t you understand the trouble you could bring us? Now one of the leaders of the Twelve Families has our heads in his sights!

—Come on, don’t be so sour —Shun interjected mockingly.
—Yeah, yeah, grumpy commander —Yosa chimed in, joining the joke.
—Grumpy captain! Grumpy captain! —they both chanted, teasing in tandem.

Ares couldn’t take it and struck them both quickly.
—Shut up, idiots!

But then the tone shifted. Shun straightened, his face taking on unexpected seriousness.
—We’ll be fine. I won’t let anything happen to any of you. If that happens… you’d better count me as dead.

The mood turned solemn. For a moment everyone fell silent. Yosa, with tears in his eyes, threw himself at Shun and hugged him.
—Captain… captain…

Shun returned the smile.
—Aren’t I great? Right, Ares?
—Shut up —Ares grunted, though a quiet respect hid under his words.

From the helm, Drake and Tiresias watched the scene.
—Looks like a pretty fun bunch, —the captain commented.
—Yeah, it does, —Tiresias replied with a nostalgic smile.

Here’s the English translation of Scene 3, Chapter 75:

Drake turned his gaze toward the sea. We were the same… His mind drifted back to earlier times, to his old crew, laughter, songs… and losses.
“Cap’n, how long until we arrive?” Shun asked, approaching.
“At dawn, if no storm appears.”
“Thank goodness…”

The pink-haired man paused, then lowered his voice.
“By the way… I’m sorry I couldn’t find the source of your curse.”
“Don’t worry,” Drake replied calmly. “I suppose I’ll have to live with it as a memory.”

Shun unexpectedly took his arm.
“Huh? What are you doing?”
“Let this be a secret between us.”

The darkness that had wrapped the captain’s arm began to dissipate, replaced by a warm, intense light. The evil cracked like ancient glass…and vanished.
Drake was speechless.
“No way… it can’t be… how…?”
“Consider it payment for your service, Captain.”
“I don’t know what to say…”
“Don’t stay stuck in the past. Look to the future.”

When Drake looked up, Shun was no longer standing in front of him. Only the echo of his words lingered in the wind.
“Thank you…”

The ship finally docked at Port Royal. The city greeted them with its usual bustle, oblivious to the weight of the completed mission.
“Thank you for helping us, Captain,” Shun said, extending his hand.
“It was a pleasure to sail again after so long. Thank you,” Drake replied, shaking his hand firmly.
“I hope we meet again, Captain Drake.”
“The same to you, Shun.”

“Well, shall we go?”
“Not yet,” Juana interjected. “Your apprentice left.”
“Huh? That idiot? Does anyone know where he might have gone?”
“He went to the central square of Port Royal,” Alexbold answered.
“The square?… I see.”

In the center of the city, Edén stood alone, holding a bouquet of flowers. He watched the square in silence.
I can’t imagine all you had to go through…
He remembered his conversation with Zero. The reasons he joined the revolutionaries, the constant doubt between good and evil.
Brother… is this what you meant by the truth of the world? Did you face the same problem I did? Am I really on the good side?

His gaze hardened. A current of energy began to flow through his body.
But… none of that matters to me. I don’t care if I’m the good guy or the bad one. I just want my grandfather back… even if I have to become a monster to get him back!

He placed the flowers gently in the center of the square…and left.

Elsewhere in the city, Alexbold wept inconsolably as he hugged Iseli and Rukia.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I was so weak… I couldn’t protect you…”
“Calm down, calm down…” Iseli whispered, holding him tenderly.
“Idiot… if you keep crying I’ll beat you up,” Rukia said, tears in her eyes.
“You’re crying too, Rukia,” Iseli teased with a small laugh.
“No! It’s just sweat in my eyes!”

The three burst into shared laughter, while in the distance a hooded figure watched them silently.

Perfect — tomo este texto y lo dejo más natural y fluido en inglés, manteniendo todo el contenido y el tono. Aquí tienes una versión pulida de la escena:

Drake turned his gaze to the sea. We were the same… his mind drifted back to earlier times: his old crew, laughter, songs… and losses.
“Cap’n, how long until we arrive?” Shun asked as he approached.
“At dawn, if we don’t hit a storm.”
“Thank goodness…”

The pink-haired man paused, then lowered his voice.
“By the way… I’m sorry I couldn’t find the source of your curse.”
“Don’t worry,” Drake replied calmly. “I suppose I’ll have to carry it as a memory.”

Shun took his arm unexpectedly.
“Huh? What are you doing?”
“Let this stay between us.”

The darkness that had wrapped the captain’s arm began to fade, replaced by a warm, intense light. The curse cracked like old glass…and vanished.
Drake was left speechless.
“No way… it can’t be… how—?”
“Consider it payment for your service, Captain.”
“I don’t know what to say…”
“Don’t get stuck in the past. Look to the future.”

When Drake looked up, Shun was already gone. Only the echo of his words lingered on the wind.
“Thank you…”

The ship finally docked at Port Royal. The city greeted them with its usual bustle, oblivious to the burden of the mission they’d just closed.
“Thank you for helping us, Captain,” Shun said, extending his hand.
“It was a pleasure to sail again after so long. Thank you,” Drake replied, gripping his hand firmly.
“I hope we meet again, Captain Drake.”
“The same to you, Shun.”

“Well, shall we go?”
“Not yet,” Juana interjected. “Your apprentice left.”
“Huh? That idiot? Anyone know where he went?”
“He went to the central square of Port Royal,” Alexbold answered.
“The square… I see.”

In the center of the city, Edén stood alone holding a bouquet of flowers. He watched the square in silence.
I can’t imagine everything you had to go through…
He remembered his talk with Zero: why he joined the revolutionaries, the constant doubt between right and wrong.
Brother… Is this what you meant by the truth of the world? Did you face the same thing I did? Am I really on the right side?

His gaze hardened. A current of energy began to run through him.
But none of that mattered to him now. He didn’t care whether he was good or evil. He just wanted his grandfather back… even if he had to become a monster to get him.

He set the flowers gently in the center of the square…and walked away.

Elsewhere in the city, Alexbold wept, clutching Iseli and Rukia.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I was so weak… I couldn’t protect you…”
“Calm down, calm down…” Iseli whispered, holding him close.
“You idiot—if you keep crying I’ll beat you,” Rukia said through tears.
“You’re crying too, Rukia,” Iseli teased with a small laugh.
“No! It’s just sweat in my eyes!”

The three broke into shared laughter, while a hooded figure watched them silently from the distance.