North x Northwest

Chapter 206

This is a petition from Viscount Noirmont, it includes a promise to stand as a guarantee for the identity of the Bell Rock crew.

Lil put her fork down and accepted the envelope that was extended to her. She took the papers out of it and carefully read through them. When Cesar saw her seriousness gradually fading, he felt a bit more relaxed as he had been desperate to give her even the smallest favour.

How did you prepare all this?

Its what kept me here in Roahn. It was fortunate that this agreement with the Viscount was concluded before any trial could take place.

I had no idea you were planning something like this. Thank you.

However The sailors belonging to Jarles and Valtano arent on this list Because they werent part of the Bell Rock crew to begin with, even the Viscount, whos aware of the battle, cant guarantee for them as much as he did for the Bell Rocks crew. Also, the Navy will never let all 200of them go, so only half of them can be saved

By the way what or how much did you trade for this?

If you got the Viscount willing to bear this burden, what did you pay for it?

Please just accept it.

I cant accept this without knowing.

The Bell Rock I feel deeply responsible for what happened. If all two hundred men belonged to your original crew, the battle would never have happened in the first place. I was the one who sent them off the ship with the deal of the severance pay. You never reprimanded me for what I did, but I know you resented me. I can acknowledge that much. Im not trying to put you in a position where youd be indebted to me. Its me whos trying to clear my debt. So, will you let me help you? Liloa

Lil put a hand on her forehead, covering half of her face. Her fingertips rubbed her skin meaninglessly. Cesar was quick to recognize it. He still remembered every single one of her habits and every single thing she would do to conceal whatever ailed her. During this agonising time, Cesar was drawn into all kinds of recollections and he opened his mouth awkwardly.

The battle ended while you were in surgery.

Lil didnt answer. Instead, she looked through the viscounts documents while absentmindedly rummaging through her food.

Cesar continued his story regardless.

At that time, I was in the Captains office, destroying any evidence that would link our identities to the Bell Rock. Right after I got rid of everything, I saw you being brought in as a patient. That Seeing your blood on the Commodores dagger it nailed me to my spot. Commodore Sagastar eventually recognized me, and I was dragged out of the captains room, which had become an operating room

flashback*

After the battle ended abruptly, the Bell Rocks deck was in absolute shambles. The acrid smoke still lingered around and the mist that had gathered once more encircled everyone. Sagastars sudden order to stop the battle left the officers confused, however, the victory had already been handed over to the Navy.

Meanwhile, Cesar hadnt yet escaped the shock caused by witnessing Lils state.

She was covered in blood from head to toe, and a dagger had pierced her abdomen completely

His breath caught in his throat just by thinking about it again.

Out of nowhere, Sagastar grabbed Cesar, who was leaning against the entrance of the captains office and shook him wildly.

Sir Cesar!

What the hell is going on here? How can you possibly be here with her?!

Cesar didnt answer, instead Captain Long intervened in the, till then, one-sided conversation.

Sir Cesar? By chance, were you the one who sent the telegram?

What are you talking about, Julbert?

The coordinates were written in the Officers Mandus code, Commodore! Is there anyone on this ship besides Sir Cesar, who couldve sent that?

What the hell is going on Sir Cesar, say something!

None of their words reached Cesar though. He only breathed heavily for a while when suddenly letting out an inexplicable roar.

Who?! Who the hell did that?!

The sight of Sagastar holding the dagger flashed through Cesars exploding mind.

The fact that he was securing the hilt is a clear indication that he was the one who had stabbed Liloa

Cesar forgot his rank and grabbed Sagastar by the collar.

Why did you stab Liloa?!

..!

Sagastar was visibly startled upon hearing Liloas name and became equally distraught, causing him to not even think about stopping Cesar. Captain Long, unaware of the situation, came between them.

Hey, whats going on?!

Even though Long only barely managed to separate the two, Cesar couldnt attack Sagastar anymore and even if he could, Sagastar didnt have the energy to fight back as he knew he was at fault. It was all because of the navy surgeons hopeless tone right after coming out of the captains office.

The suturing has been completed, but there isnt enough blood left Even if she wakes up, she wont be fine. Shell either be crippled or live the rest of her life in a vegetative state. I predict it to be one of the other

Because Sagastar and Cesar were standing next to each other in front of the captains cabin, it allowed Cesar to overhear Guiads report to the commodore.

No. If that happens

Sir Victors nervousness only seems to stem from his concern about his soon-to-be-ending career It fills me with rage knowing that hes actually preoccupied with his own success at the expense of others dying. Its astounding that a man like him could bring Liloas demise I cant believe that this is truly the reality of the situation

Who the hell is that patient, anyway? The Admiral is completely losing his mind in there. With all due respect, I think this whole ordeal is just utter madness.

She has to wake up. Definitely, its a must.

What kind of situation is this, huh Im pessimistic, though. The Admiral, however, seems to be holding on to a sliver of hope

Hope? What hope?

Guiad lowered his voice and brought his face next to Sagastar.

Hes performing a blood transfusion. Hes doing it as we speak

What?!

Shh! This should remain an absolute secret. Im worried about it, too! Its been 20 years since this practice was banned because it meant saving one person while killing the other

Shouldnt you stop him?!

Who can stop him? Hes completely blinded. Even though his own blood is draining out, his eyes remain bloodshot and steadfast Its terrible! Ive never seen anything like this in the 10 years Ive served as a doctor in the Navy

No. There are so many corpses here, why bother with the transfusion himself

The infusion should come from the blood of a living person*.

Damn it! What a terrible idea!

Blood transfusion

In his time, Cesar had also seen dying sailors secretly receiving blood transfusions.

This madness is unbearable. A blood transfusion is a kind of treatment that provides no guarantee to be a cure and can even lead to sudden death within a few days if not immediately

His fingertips began to tremble at the thought of it.

Cesar then took advantage of Sagastars mental confusion and entered the captains office again. The smell of blood engulfed him as soon as he shut the door and turned around. Not only his nose but his entire body was pressed and pushed as if suffocating.

Cesar examined the captains conference table, which was lit by a few lanterns. A large pool of blood had formed on the white surgical bedspread. It was the same for the white cloth that covered Lils body. Blood stains painted the arms and her face above it a bright red. Cesar couldnt believe it was the blood of just one person.

Cesar stumbled his way towards the operating table. Lil looked more like the spitting image of a terrible tragedy than a living person. Clear marks on her abdomen indicated where the flesh had been torn open and sewn up again.

Nausea set in as his breath quickened. Cesar couldnt bear to look at all the black threads tied in tight knots resting above Lils dried blood.

Without looking at Cesar, Ed spoke.

Stay there. If you come any closer, she might get infected.

Cesar stood at a distance and looked for Lils face. However, as it was covered in blood, hair, torn pieces of fabric and intubation tools, it was hard to make out her features. So he turned to Ed, who was standing across from him. Ed, too, stood with a blood-stained face and appeared as if he was on the verge of collapsing. He held desperately onto a chair and staggered occasionally, making it clear to Cesar that Eds body was becoming more and more difficult to control.

Cesar murmured while looking at the dark red tube connecting Eds arm to hers.

What what are you doing?

It was a question that had already lost its purpose.

Cant you see this massive bleeding? If I leave it as it is, shell die. With this, perhaps, by some miracle, shell survive. I have to take the risk.

Id rather do it.

No, you cant. The more people are involved, the lower the chance of success.

Cesars outstretched arm fell helplessly. There was nothing he could do now as the damage had already been done. He felt like a coward upon acknowledging that he confined himself to the captains office out of fear of being accused of something. An unforgivable feeling of disgust welled up within him.

Had I been on the deck with Liloa, I couldve prevented this accident where she would be stabbed by Sagastars dagger Simply staying by Liloas side wouldve been enough to save her. Why the hell didnt I realise what was truly important in that moment? Why did I waste my time in the Captains office, trying to create a trouble-free future?

Eds voice broke Cesars train of thoughts as he spoke calmly.

Theres only one reason Im keeping you alive. Liloa will definitely wake up, and when she does and youre not there, shell hate me. Thats the only reason. So, dont delude yourself and just focus on preserving your life.

Lil, however, didnt wake up even after several days

Footnote:

The flashback is a continuation of the scene in chapter 177, the end of volume 5.

The infusion should come from the blood of a living person.

Explanation: There are some contradicting statements about blood transfusion/donation from a corpse. But considering the time (somewhere in the 18th century) and the situation (on a ship in the middle of the sea). We found 2 possible reasons why it wouldnt be possible. 1) when a person dies, their blood circulation comes to a stop too and the blood will clot, thus making it unsuitable/unusable for transfusion. 2) without a heartbeat to pump the blood around, its actually really difficult to get the blood from the body to the patient.