Made up a lie by using your knowledge about the previous world and your conversation with President Ecarto.

"She... wanted us to investigate the possible den of the pirates!" You said with some nervousness in your voice, hoping that the Floridan Rear Admiral will buy it.

"Oh? Really?" Lajos asked you back as he's eyeing you.

"Yes! You see, she wanted to protect the city from all threats and that included the threats posed by the pirates as well! And by that, I mean those who refused to pay the fees to Alma's government and even launch raids against them, of course! So she wanted us to at least located their den and then proceed on our own as we see fit!" You said with a bit of cheeky smile with hope that the Rear Admiral will be convinced by your lie.

"So ultimately, this is either just a punitive expedition or diplomatic journey then?" Lajos asked you back as he seemed to be understanding the demand from the President of Alma now.

"Pardon?" You asked him back, wondering does this mean at all.

"She decided to use us to locate a den of the pirates and either struck a deal with them on her behalf or to teach them a lesson, of course." Lajos said as he's getting up and putting the pipe down as his face said it all that he appeared to not only be fully convinced but also understanding the whole situation now.

"And since you and her struck a deal already, we have no other choice then?" You asked him back despite knowing the answer already.

The Rear Admiral only nodded in response and then have you dismissed.

After the intense but brief conversation with the Floridan Rear Admiral of Scottish-Hungarian origin, you begin to search for all of your companions and assemble them for a secret meeting in your cabin to inform them of the new development as soon as possible.

And when you finally gathered them in your cabin, you told them all that they needed to know. Your conversation with the Rear Admiral, the direction where they are heading and everything they needed to be informed of except for the secret matters such as your "negotiation" with President Ecarto.

When you finished telling them everything, all their faces become grim. Elijah in particular shown to be the saddest one since he was the one who suggested it to Brittany to suggest it to Queen Amethyst of the Kingdom of Utrecht that you are the one suitable to be the Ambassador to the Republic of Florida.

"So... we will be heading into a possible den that maybe operated by multiple gangs of pirates?!" Brittany said with fear in her voice.

"Most likely. But hopefully, that will not be the case." You said despite not even knowing for certain.

"Anton, I'm sorry. I really am! This is all my fault. I wanted to come to Florida so much to get some semblance of normal life back to the point that I caused you a trouble..." Elijah said as he's looking down to the floor with his only functional eye.

"It's not your fault, honey. You went through a lot." Natalie said in an attempt to comfort her husband because she had been informed by her husband himself how much he went through after he became a ghoul.

"Dad! Right now, it's not about playing the blame game! Right now is about finding the solution to what we are about to face!" Eva said as she turned to look at her father.

"Wait! That's it! Eva! Do you still have control over some of the drones?" You asked your brightest student back with hope that the answer will be yes.

"Yes, I do. But their energies are still depleting." Eva replied back to you with a nod.

"What are you guys talking about?" Valeria asked since she has no knowledge about what are you and Eva are talking about at all.

"Ancient science stuff!" Brittany said as she turned her head to the busty Italian-American girl who is also pregnant with the baby of her male lover who is none other but you.

"Better not get involved unless you wanted your brain to have a meltdown because of how hard to understand it is." Rain said as she turned to look at Valeria as well.

"I might be able to help you with that!" So-hyun's voice is heard from the door as she's closing the door behind her.

"Alright! Who forgot to close door?!" You asked back, wondering who was the last one to enter the cabin and did not lock the door.

"And what are you doing here anyway? And how much did you hear?!" You asked as you turned to look at So-hyun.

"I heard a lot and I am here because I was going to thanked him for saving me!" So-hyun said as she smiled a bit nervously. You, however, knows that it is a lie. But as you are thinking of how to ask her why she lied without spilling what happened between you and her last night, one of the girls in your harem beaten you to it.

"And how are you going to thank him?!" Brittany said as she's stepping forward a little.

"To ask him out to go out on a date with me! Duh!" So-hyun said as she placed her hands on her hips.

"Well, that needed to be delayed. Because right now, we have a problem to deal with!" You said as you are stepping forward a little.

"Hmm. Fine..." So-hyun said as she rolled her eyes and leave your cabin and heading back to her cabin.

Then, Eva leaves for her cabin, fetch the drone-turned-laptop, reactivate it, take control of some of the nearest drones and sending them to where the ancient oil platform is supposed to be. And after seeing nothing but the blue seas for a while, the ancient oil platform is finally in sight!

After you and Eva looked through the eyes of the drones, you found that this ancient oil platform is indeed being inhabited! However, they are not inhabited by the people who you envisioned to be at all.

On that ancient oil platform, you found no traces of normal humans whatsoever! The only inhabitants of this ancient oil platform is made up purely of ghouls! And from the look of it, it appeared to be a relatively thriving community there.

"So maybe, they are operating as privateers similar to those in England back in the Elizabethan era? If that is the case, then negotiation might be possible since they most likely will have a leader who authorized them to go on raiding expeditions." - You think to yourself as you hoped that such a thing will be the case.

After knowing where they are heading, the secret meeting is officially adjoined and everyone returned to do whatever they wanted to. And of course, you ended up going on a date with So-hyun and have lunch with her in order to make sure Brittany, Rain and Valeria will not suspected anything.

Soon, the Sun has set and the Moon has risen and everyone retired for another night.

Later by midday of the next day, the fleet finally arrived at the destination that is the ancient oil platform! The sailors can see the ghouls on the platform and the so do the ghouls who resided on this massive platform.

"State your purpose here! Or else, we will have **** but to drive you away!" One of the ghouls yelled back at the peoples on the steamships.

"We come on behalf of the Republic of Florida and the Free City of Alma! We wished to engage in diplomacy with your state!" You said as soon as you heard the yelling in order to confirm the ghouls on the platform that the peoples of this expedition means no harm.

"Then you are allowed to enter our sanctuary!" The same ghoul who yelled earlier yelled back to you and everyone on the vessels.

And after waiting for a while, the fleet is allowed to anchor and you get to enter the rowboats along with Elijah while Natalie and the girls are waiting on the steamships for their own safeties.

You, Lieutenant Moore and Rear Admiral Buchanan are soon welcomed by the ghouls and are taken to the office of the one in charge of this platform so that you and those who came with you can finally established diplomatic relations with the ghouls who live here.

"Apparently, this place is the sanctuary for the ghouls..." - You think as you are remembering what happened back in New Rotterdam when the ghouls were being persecuted back during the old regime. So it makes sense why such a sanctuary is a thing.

"And since they are ghouls, some people may not wanted to welcome them at their ports. So they have no other choice but to resort to piracy. But if diplomacy ended in success, then their problems will be solved for sure. Hopefully..." - You think to yourself as you are being led to the office of the one in charge of this ancient oil platform.