New World – Aboard the Pirate Ship
The thunder on the island had barely lasted two hours.
From the deck, Argus watched the returning ship slice through the waves like a blade. It was overloaded, but not with bodies or blood—this was a victory parade. Dozens of treasure chests, packed to bursting, glinted under the noonday sun like sirens' gold.
"Gurararara~~~"
Newgate's iconic laugh cracked through the wind, louder than any cannon.
"Argus! Your brother returns victorious!"
"I can see that," Argus replied flatly, arms crossed, tone bone-dry.
He didn't need to squint to see the haul—gold, silver, rare goods, and far more importantly: supplies. People imagined pirates hunted only for treasure, but the reality was simpler and grittier. Life at sea bled resources—food, medicine, tools, sailcloth, timber. Steel could be stolen. Wheat couldn't be forged. In this life, logistics were worth more than coin.
But then his eyes landed on her.
Standing at Newgate's side, delicately framed by the mast, was a young woman clad in white. Her hair cascaded down in golden waves, skin pale as porcelain, eyes lowered in perfect submission. She looked to be no older than eighteen—a walking fairytale. Everything about her was elegant to the point of surreal: slim wrists, long lashes, lips like crushed rose petals.
"That has to be the princess of the Platter Kingdom," Argus thought, watching her with a critical gaze. "Good grief, this kind of beauty? You don't see that outside of fiction."
She wasn't just pretty. She was sculpted—the sort of impossible highborn refinement that centuries of selective breeding and luxury could produce. The type that dominated old-world red carpets and ruled entire industries with a single photo.
"Argus!" Newgate roared again, clearly pleased. "This is Serena—the royal princess of the Platter Kingdom! A concubine worthy of your bloodline! If you like her, keep her. If not, I'll toss her and grab a better one!"
Serena flinched at the casual brutality of the statement, a flicker of fear passing through her soft features. She had been pampered since birth, cloistered in a world of marble palaces and silken lies. Violence was never something that touched her—until now.
Her fate had already been decided.
She stepped forward and bowed low, voice barely above a whisper.
"Master Argus… your concubine will obey. Always."
There was no pleading in her tone. No rebellion either. Just resigned clarity. Her father had handed her over without protest—a political sacrifice, a peace offering, or maybe just a desperate gamble. In any case, Serena understood one thing clearly: obedience was survival.
And maybe, if fortune smiled, this pirate lord would not be cruel.
Argus examined her silently. Then, finally:
"No complaints." He nodded.
"Gurararara~~~!"
Newgate's laughter rang out once more, delighted. "That's what I like to hear!"
Argus couldn't help but smile faintly. He had expected little. Yet what stood before him was… beyond impressive. She wasn't just beautiful—she was the pinnacle of royal aesthetic. Regal by blood, refined by upbringing, and now his by right.
Royalty rarely produced average daughters.
And while Newgate had no plans to name her Argus' wife, she was more than acceptable as a concubine. A brief but formal ceremony was held—a modest affair, nothing extravagant, but enough to mark the moment in front of the crew. Status mattered among pirates. Ownership, even more so.
And after that?
The union was consummated.
⸻
Thirty Days Later – Infirmary Cabin
"Are you certain?" Argus asked, brows furrowed, as the ship's newly recruited physician handed him a report.
"Yes, Master Argus." She bowed. "There is no mistake. Madam Serena is one month pregnant."
"What the hell?!"
Argus nearly dropped the parchment. He blinked twice.
"Seriously? "
Before the shock could even settle, a crisp notification rang through his mind.
[System Notice: First Heir Detected!]
[Newbie Gift Pack Being Prepared…]
[Gift Pack Successfully Delivered!]
Argus froze, brain rebooting.
"It actually activated? The system… works by descendants?"
He quickly dismissed the physician, checked in on Serena—resting well—and retreated to his cabin. He sat cross-legged on the floor as the translucent system panel blinked to life before him.
[Would you like to open the Newbie Gift Pack?]
"Yes."
[Opening… Complete.]
Rewards Obtained:
— Random Offspring Talent Template (Choose 1 of 3)
— Aptitude Enhancement Elixir (1x)
— Basic Super-Training Manual for Heirs
Argus narrowed his eyes, fingers interlocked beneath his chin.
"So that's how it is…"
This system wasn't meant for him. It wasn't a cheat for the present—it was an investment in legacy. The more exceptional his descendants became, the more power the system would unlock for him. In a world ruled by bloodlines and monsters, "many children, many blessings" wasn't just a philosophy.
It was a strategy.
He reviewed the items again:
• Aptitude Enhancement Elixir — boosts the child's natural growth potential.
• Training Manual — foundational techniques to raise a powerhouse heir.
• Random Talent Templates — three options for innate abilities, one of which he could select at birth.
Argus exhaled slowly, the weight of it all beginning to settle in.
This wasn't just about conquering the seas.
It was the beginning of a bloodline that would one day stand atop the world.