Another chapter everyone! Sorry for taking so long you might notice this chapter is a little longer than some of my other ones. I tried to condense two events into one chapter in order to make the plot line flow faster and so I can write the LevixEren romance sooner… I hope you enjoy. I will try and update the next chapter as soon as possible. Poor Erwin get's such a bashing in this chapter...
Time passed slowly in the city of Utopia. It was burden to them. The Navy and townsfolk had hoped the good for nothing Pirates who caused so much pain outside of their own city walls would gather the spoils they needed, pillage parts of the city and leave… but no. They stayed. They governed the city with an iron fist, demanding protection money from the civilians and using hostages as tools of trade. Commodore Smith was at a loss of what to do, utterly weakened and disgraced. Captain Levi however never felt so much power and control within him. He considered himself king of this very city, eager to do what he liked and how he would achieve the thing he wanted. Never before had the Commodore experienced such a stark contrast between characters, like Yin and Yang… two sides of a coin, light and darkness, the man from the South vs the man from the North.
The city was in complete and utter turmoil. Erwin had not seen this must devastation in the city since he was a young lad. He walked through the now burned remains of Trost. So many years of hardship built into making this city a prosperous place, but now it was all in ruins. He sat on an empty crate, partially scorched from the previous fires that week, not caring whether the ash soiled his clothing. His gazed was fixed on the empty landscape, his hands clasped together tightly, so tightly his knuckles became white from the tension.
Captain Levi emerged from the smoke, trudging through the debris. For once he was alone and not with two members of his crew. He was a little surprised to find the Commodore away from his post but brushed the feeling aside.
"Well, Well if it isn't the Commodore himself" he said chuckling but without humour.
Erwin glared at the man before him. The proud smirk absolutely infuriated his very soul. How could this man smile so easily before him? He fought every urge to wrap his hands around his neck, dig his nails into that perfectly creamy flesh and squeeze as vigorously as he could.
"Don't talk to me you piece of filth" Erwin spat back vehemently, standing up from his sitting position.
"I didn't come here to insult you today Commodore. I have business to discuss" Captain Levi said smoothly, shielding his eyes from the harsh sunlight.
"Business? Don't make me laugh. Plundering and killing innocent people isn't business… you don't even know the meaning of the word" Erwin scoffed looking down on the Captain. He was surprisingly short yet the Captain stood his ground without flinching. Silvery grey and stony pools clashed with vivid blue.
"You think you're so tough Commodore? You certainly don't live to my expectations. Rumours told me that you were just as ruthless as any pirate so you can protect and defend the people of Utopia. You're all words"
Erwin grinned but not from contentment.
"Well I never expected Captain Levi to be such a midget, although I confess your skills are a swordsman are commendable"
Erwin caught a flash of rage within the Captain's eyes but it only lasted for a second.
"Then I guess that means, both of us were fooled? That makes us even" Captain Levi replied in a dangerously low and hollow voice.
Erwin sneered, clenching his teeth together to the point his jaw ached. He fisted his hands tighter, a dark shadow looming across his face. He leant closer until their faces were only millimetres apart. They were so close Erwin could see his enraged and antagonized expression in the reflection of Captain Levi's silvery grey eyes.
"I would never be on equal terms with a low life degenerate like you. You disgust me"
"If I disgust you so much, why don't you kill me here and now?" Levi taunted.
"You think I'm a fool? You may be alone now but your minions may be hiding close by ready to slit my throat. If not, word will quickly spread of your death… and your crew will destroy everything and everyone. I'm not willing to take that risk"
Captain Levi threw his head back and laughed at Erwin, igniting the Commodore's irritation even more.
"The oh so noble Commodore! How admirable you are!"
"How dare you mock me, an officer of the navy"
"I mock you because I can… this is no longer your city and harbour Commodore Erwin Smith"
Erwin fumed. Did this man come here just to taunt and infuriate him? He had never been so angry.
Bored, Levi leant against some of the remaining skeletal like structure of a nearby stall. He drew a pistol from his belt and casually began to clean it with his shirt.
"Like I said before Commodore Smith, I came for business"
"Well state it and go. You are an eyesore" Erwin replied crossing his arms in annoyance.
"Thank you, I try. Although the navy has pulled most of their survey forces from the Hestoss route, the Kings men and several of your scouts have caused riff raff amongst my men. You promised me free access and use of the trading route Commodore. Every once and a while, one of my crew gets in a scuffle with one of yours. How can we have a successful arrangement if your men get in my way?"
"You've completely stolen our source of income and food. We need some of the imports… We agreed you could use it but not to the point in bleeding my people dry"
"If your men intervene, there will be consequences" Captain Levi replied.
"Consequences? For trying to obtain a little food and money in order to sustain our crumbling economy and to feed the hungry mouths?"
Captain Levi glared at Erwin.
"I'm warning you Commodore. The Hestoss trading route belongs to me now… if your precious navy try anything, you'll not only find children's throats slit but your men and your own… is that clear?"
"I don't take orders from a monster!"
"I SAID IS THAT CLEAR!"
At that moment, Captain Levi's men revealed themselves from different parts of the debris and smoke, circling around the Commodore. Erwin hissed with aggravation and fury. He was completely outnumbered. He had no choice but to agree.
"Crystal clear" he spoke finally, the words tasting like poison in his very mouth.
"Men leave him"
Levi's crew backed a little way from Erwin. Captain Levi stepped forward and reached out a hand for him to shake. The corners of his mouth turned up to a slight smile.
"Do we have a deal?"
Begrudgingly Erwin shook his hand.
"Very good. I expect you to keep your word Commodore"
When Erwin returned and had reported Captain Levi's demands at the Utopia's naval headquarters, Admiral Pixis and his fellow officers were furious and rightfully so.
The conference room was filled with a sea of navy blue and golden chord uniforms. Despite the impressive and decorated room, Commodore Smith felt constricted and imprisoned in the tight confines of the red wood walls and the bold colour of navy blue. The room was damp, the window broken thus no fresh air could circulate the room. The pungent smell of sweat, seal salt, ash and sewage mingled with the scent of ink and parchment, creating a somewhat sickening concoction. It made Erwin extremely nauseous.
"What do you mean he's demanding us, the royal navy to keep away from OUR central trading routes?! You forget Utopia is our home!" Admiral Pixis roared, completely enraged and pointing an accusative finger at Erwin. Erwin already felt humiliated enough for not being able to put up a fight with Captain Levi.
"I'm just the messenger sir. I was out numbered and furthermore, he was in earnest. You've seen what this man has done." he replied helplessly, feeling the disappointed glares and looks of disgust from his fellow officers, piercing like daggers at his back.
Admiral Pixis sat back down his chair and rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. The past few weeks had been a living nightmare for him. The city's suffering weighed more than heavily upon his shoulders. Before these dastardly pirates had arrived on their shores, he was well respected, carrying an air of importance, trusted and loved by all the people. Now, his character was destroyed. Although he was one of the older senior officers, he always carried a joyful and serene smile, his face radiant giving him a youthful aura despite his age. Now the chaos had aged him considerably. The weather worn lines on his face were deeper, more prominent. Dark shadows crossed underneath his eyes, making his face appear haggard. Due to the shortage of food, he had grown thinner and sickly, his face gaunt and his uniform now a size too large for him.
"I understand whole heartedly Commodore Smith… so what do you propose we do to solve this situation?"
Commodore Erwin Smith was silent, unable to answer. He thought it was a rhetorical question.
Admiral Pixis looked around at his officers, the faces he had grown so familiar with, now haggard and weary as his own.
"Well what shall we do? Do we allow these miscreants to take advantage of us? They're treating us like slaves!"
"With all do respect Admiral, these are blood thirsty pirates we are dealing with. They are nothing like the others we've faced in the past. They will kill if we do not surrender" an officer stated, whom Erwin knew by site but was never really acquainted.
"So we sit here on our bums and do nothing whilst our economy collapses around us and our people die from hunger. Our king is livid with anger. We are the Utopian navy, the most powerful navy in the Northern seas. We are the conquerors." Admiral Pixis replied, still frustrated with the situation.
"I didn't mean that sir" the naval officer replied timidly.
"Of course you didn't. No one says anything sensible here nowadays. Commodore Smith, that Captain didn't say anything else other than threaten and mock my navy?"
"No sir… but the threat he gave me and that resolute, cold-blooded look his eyes made me terrified. I admit, at that moment I was terrified. This wasn't some hollow threat. He will kill anyone who crosses his path or interferes, no matter what the consequences"
Admiral Pixis looked at the Commodore with a disapproving frown.
"So you base your report and theory from a gut feeling and your emotions. Not an admirable feature for a Commodore, Erwin Smith. I expected more from you. Your realize your incompetence as an officer of the navy could jeopardize your career?"
The Commodore bent his head, ashamed.
"I understand sir"
"Very well, I'll give you another chance though… as for this matter, we disregard that murder's desires. Instead we'll tighten our security around that area. I've had enough of his doings and his face utterly sickens me to the core"
Around Erwin, the men jittered, their voices raising agreeing with their Admiral. Unlike the disgraced Commodore, their hopes were rising.
Admiral Pixis rose from his chair and slammed his right fist on the large table, spread with maps and inkbottles. He clenched his teeth with determination.
"Aren't we the most formidable navy of the North? What has happened to us? We've taken care of pests before, these men who call themselves the most feared crew of the South need to know we are men not to be trifled with. Yes this will be a challenge but it's a challenge we will not back down from!"
By now, the men were cheering with a new sense of purpose and resolve, their once deadened faces now alive with perseverance and the will to fight back.
The Admiral extended his arms, beckoning his officers to join his cause.
"My friends… no brothers of the sea, will you fight?"
The men cheered.
"I said will you fight and take back our home!?"
They cheered once more, louder. For a few minutes, the cheers of happiness and courage deafened Erwin.
"Men, rally your squads! We fight for freedom!"
From then on, choruses of 'hurrah's', prayers and oaths filled that small meeting room. The Commodore Erwin Smith could find no joy or comfort in his comrades' determination to fight for freedom. Disobeying Captain Levi, this monster's orders will lead to dire repercussions. This uprising will only lead to more bloodshed, pain and terror amongst the people of Utopia. The city will never be the same again. It would never recover. Not with Captain Levi alive in this world.
That's it folks. Love Evening Falls