The sea felt different after the battle.
Not calmer.
Not safer.
Just… aware.
The ship moved steadily across open water, heavier now with supplies taken from the battlefield.
Barrels secured.
Crates tied down.
Weapons stored.
Carina sat near the mast, counting what they had gathered.
"…Food for weeks… water too… and even spare materials…"
She looked up at Kevin.
"…We actually gained more than we lost."
Kevin adjusted the sails slightly.
"…That is the objective."
The ship was still damaged.
Not critically.
But visibly.
Scratches along the hull.
Stress marks from cannon shock.
Loose sections that needed proper repair later.
Carina tapped one of the planks lightly.
"…We still need a real repair dock."
Kevin nodded.
"…Yes."
A short silence followed.
The wind carried them forward.
Then Carina spoke again.
"…Hey."
Kevin didn't turn.
"…Yes."
"…That guy… the captain… he knew you."
Kevin paused slightly.
"…Yes."
Carina narrowed her eyes.
"…And now more people will know you."
Kevin replied calmly.
"…Yes."
That was how the sea worked.
You survived.
You got noticed.
You got hunted.
Or respected.
Sometimes both.
Hours later—
A small ship appeared ahead.
Not hostile.
Not armed heavily.
Kevin narrowed his eyes.
"…Merchant vessel."
Carina stood up.
"…Should we avoid it?"
Kevin shook his head.
"…No."
The ships crossed paths slowly.
Close enough to see faces.
The merchant crew looked tired.
Nervous.
Alert.
One of them suddenly froze.
Then pointed.
"…That ship…"
Another stepped forward.
"…No way…"
Carina frowned slightly.
"…What's wrong with them?"
Kevin didn't respond.
The merchant raised his voice across the water.
"…You! Were you near the Broken Crown fleet earlier?!"
Carina blinked.
"…Broken Crown?"
Kevin answered simply.
"…Yes."
The merchant's expression changed instantly.
Shock.
Then disbelief.
"…You're alive?"
Carina crossed her arms.
"…Yeah, obviously."
Another crew member spoke.
"…That fleet controls this entire route… no one gets past them…"
Kevin replied calmly.
"…They are no longer active."
Silence.
The merchant crew stared.
Trying to process it.
"…You're saying… they were defeated?"
Kevin didn't explain.
He simply said—
"…Yes."
The reaction spread across their deck.
Whispers.
Confusion.
Fear.
Carina noticed.
"…That reaction again…"
Kevin replied.
"…Information spreads."
The merchant captain stepped forward.
His voice lower now.
"…Who are you?"
Carina looked at Kevin.
Waiting.
Kevin answered.
"…Kevin."
That was all.
No title.
No exaggeration.
But it was enough.
The name settled.
The merchant repeated it quietly.
"…Kevin…"
As if trying to remember it.
They didn't attack.
They didn't question further.
They moved aside.
Letting Kevin's ship pass without interference.
Carina watched them carefully.
"…They just let us go…"
Kevin replied.
"…They chose safety."
As the ships separated—
Carina leaned back slightly.
"…So that's how it starts, huh."
Kevin adjusted the course.
"…Yes."
Not long after—
Something else appeared on the horizon.
Not a ship.
A bird.
Carina blinked.
"…Wait… is that…"
The bird flew closer.
Carrying a bag.
Kevin looked up.
"…News carrier."
The bird circled once.
Then dropped a newspaper bundle onto their deck.
Carina picked it up.
"…Oh, this is perfect timing…"
She opened it.
Scanning quickly.
Then—
She froze.
"…Hey… Kevin…"
Kevin didn't react immediately.
"…What."
Carina slowly turned the paper toward him.
"…I think this is about you…"
There it was.
A small section.
Not front page.
But noticeable.
"Unknown Pirate Disrupts Broken Crown Route"
Carina read aloud.
"…A newly identified individual has destroyed or scattered the Broken Crown pirate fleet… identity currently unclear… possible emerging threat…"
She looked up.
Eyes wide.
"…You're already in the news."
Kevin glanced at it briefly.
"…Not important."
Carina stared at him.
"…NOT IMPORTANT?!"
She stood up suddenly.
"…Do you even understand what this means?!"
Kevin replied calmly.
"…Yes."
"…Then why are you so calm?!"
"…Because it changes nothing."
Carina froze for a moment.
Then slowly sat back down.
"…You're insane."
Kevin didn't respond.
But the truth was simple.
The sea had noticed.
The world had started recording.
And his name—
Even if still small—
Had begun to move.
Carina folded the newspaper slowly.
"…Kevin…"
He didn't look at her.
"…Yes."
"…You're going to become a problem for a lot of people."
Kevin looked forward.
The sea stretching endlessly ahead.
"…That is acceptable."
The ship continued forward.
Not hiding.
Not slowing.
And somewhere far away—
Others would soon begin to hear that name.
Kevin.