Hongjoong managed to bring Mingi onto the deck to have a "talk" and while out there, led the Captain to the edge of the deck. Yunho watched from behind barrels to see how it would go and held his breath once he saw Hongjoong making the most important move.

In a second, Mingi was being lifted and thrown overboard. The boatswain's face looked pale and shaky, causing Yunho to chuckle at the way he was so panicked.

"Yunho?" Hongjoong frantically called out, " I THINK HE'S DROWNING!"

Yunho stopped laughing and dashed to the edge of the deck to peer into the water. Sure enough, splashing and sputtering below was their Captain.

"Oh shit, oh fuck, oh shit, oh fuck!" Yunho panicked.

He immediately stripped off his trousers and dived over board head first, his tail forming in seconds below water.

Quickly swimming to Mingi's side, he wrapped his long arms around the Captain's waist and carried both of their bodies to the side of the ship where the lifeboat was.

Yunho wasn't strong enough to lift the Captain over the side of the small boat so he held the body of the red haired male against him while he waited for Hongjoong to help them.

"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT, KIM HONGJOONG?! I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU!" Mingi boomed, his face turning red in anger.

"No, No! don't kill him!" Yunho pleaded, " It was my idea, I just wanted to see what kind of reaction you would have to that kind of thing!"

"Well I'll kill both of you!" Mingi spat, bringing his hands up to choke the Prince.

"Listen to me Mingi, there's a higher chance that I'll kill you right here than you kill me," Yunho glared, knowing he could simply let go of the Captain or drag him under and hold him there until he drowned like what he did to Yukhei.

"If I die, so will you."

Yunho felt anger within him and he slapped Mingi's legs with his tail. The action hardly had any effect since the water slowed the powerful hit but it caused the Captain to look into the water where he saw the same tail he had seen weeks prior.

"Oh? So you're our dinner? Disgusting. How can a creature like you exist? We can’t be cannibals if you're not even human, we can roast you and eat you in fish form.”

Hongjoong's head appeared over the side of the ship and panic set within him. Would he be killed? Would Mingi also kill Yunho? Would Yunho get mad enough and kill their Captain right there?

"Hongjoong, pass me a harpoon," Mingi growled, extending his arm above his head to his boatswain.

Yunho realized the only way he would be surviving would be to let go of the Captain and get out immediately and so that was what he did.

"Don't you dare kill Hongjoong but if you want me, you will have to search for me," Yunho whispered, staring into Mingi's beautiful brown eyes before letting go of the Captain and diving down into the ocean as quickly as possible.

If he planned on surviving, he had to swim along the bottom of the sea so he would be harder to spot. He had no intentions of being murdered and if what Mingi had said was true, he didn’t plan on becoming Pirate food either.

After swimming for a solid hour, Yunho surfaced from the water and realized he ended up around halfway up his country. He didn't plan on staying that far away and so he swam back in the direction he came from and got out of the water where he knew he would be several miles away from the Palace. 

And so he began to walk. He walked for half an hour before he spotted the castle in the distance and then walked another forty-five minutes until he entered the Palace gates.

The maids and soldiers all rushed towards him, relief filled them before asking if he needed anything but all he could do was tell them he was fine and walk to his room barefoot and with only boxer briefs and a shirt on.

His hair was stiff from the dried salt water and his throat was dry with dehydration. 

Upon entering his grand room, a reminder of how much he loved being in his room and living peacefully came over him. The sudden realization that his Uncle was no longer around hit him and he began shaking in joy.

"Yes, yes, yes, YES!" Yunho exclaimed, bouncing around his room in joy. "I get to live in peace!"

The maids stood outside the Prince's room, listening in fondness at the way he squealed in joy. They awaited him to finish getting ready before knocking on the door to feed him and explain to him some things that had happened while he was away.

"Prince Yunho," a maid said after he had eaten his food. "I know you just returned but the people want a King and they want one immediately. They crave war and wish to murder all the Pirates."

Yunho sighed and allowed his head to drop onto the table with a thump. He had just returned home and was just starting to feel comfortable but here he was already being assigned the role as King. He didn't want to take responsibility yet but who was he to delay the process?

"Fine. Send a soldier out and tell them that coronation will happen at nine in the morning tomorrow."

The maids nodded and one scurried off to relay the message. Things between the Pirate and the King were about to take a turn and Yunho wasn't that ready.

._._.

"AND HERE WE PRESENT TO YOU, KING JEONG YUNHO OF THE GWANGJU EMPIRE!"

A roar of applause erupted from the villagers, filling Yunho's ears with a deafening noise.

No longer Prince but now King. King Yunho. 

It sounded weird to say but he would get used to it.

Being away from the ship where Mingi and the others were also felt weird. He had grown used to being with them for nearly a month and suddenly leaving on bad terms wasn't a settling thought.

Yunho sat on a chair, leaning against his table in the throne room. He let out a sigh every now and then, tracing the diamonds in his crown.

The soldiers in the room were concerned, they had never seen the male so sad besides when he was abused but they couldn't question him since they weren’t allowed to speak.

"FUCK! SOMEONE BRING ME A PAPER AND INK!" Yunho suddenly yelled, startling everyone in the room and those walking past. 

Moments later, a maid came scurrying into the room with what Yunho had suggested and placed them on the table before bowing and going back to her duties.

Yunho decided he would write to the Captain and try to come to good terms with him even if it deemed difficult.

Dearest Min Min;

It's me, Yunho.

I just need you to know that it was my fault and my idea for why you were thrown overboard. I hope you didn't kill nor hurt Hongjoong and if you did, I'm disappointed in you.

I know this letter will probably mean nothing to you but just know that I am now King and my people wish for war. If there is any way we can compromise instead of having war, please tell me. I do not wish for any more casualties and if you have a request, let me know.

Also, for the love of my sanity, do not eat me. I don't wish to be consumed by you just because you think of me as non-human. I am as human as you are and you would still be a cannibal.

Love, Yunho

The King placed his feather back in the ink dish and nodded in satisfaction. He would have the letter sent out immediately.

"Hey you," Yunho said, pointing to a random soldier in the room. "Take this letter to the Captain of the Pirates."

The soldier's eyes widened and he quickly looked around to make sure it was him being spoken to.

"Don't look at me like that. As long as you don't carry a weapon and you try to be as peaceful as possible, he should leave you alone. Only be concerned if you see him whispering because if he does, that usually means he's getting ready to shred you to smithereens."

The soldier gulped and cautiously walked forward to his King. He took the letter with shaky hands and looked around the room to be met with concerned eyes from the other soldiers.

Everyone heard how cruel the Pirates could be and were even more concerned when they found out they had killed their previous King without a second thought.

"But Your Majesty, how will I know who it is?"

"You'll know. He has red hair and he's almost as tall as me. He doesn't speak that much so if he glares at you, don't worry. He's actually a bit soft."

The soldiers looked at their King in concern but didn't comment on it. How did Yunho know all this? Had he been captive? After the previous King had been killed, most people assumed Yunho was also killed or he was somewhere else in hiding. 

No one expected him to be held a prisoner.

Nearly an hour passed and the soldier that had gone out didn't return and Yunho sighed, figuring Mingi had killed him.

"Well damn, seems like Min was in a bad mood," Yunho muttered staring at the spot where the soldier had been standing post.

Another series of sighs escaped the King until suddenly the throne room door was opened. In an instant, the soldiers held their rifles up and aimed it at the door. 

They only lowered it once they realized it was the soldier that had been sent out. In his hand, a letter clutched.

"Oh! Did he write back already?!" Yunho asked, standing up and extending his hand to grab the letter.

The soldier nodded, bowing before handing the letter over and going back to his post.

Yunho quickly opened the letter, his eyebrows furrowed but the more he read, the more he relaxed.

Yunho;

Please don't refer to me as "Min Min" ever again. Seonghwa saw it and laughed at me for way too long and the worst part was that your little servant was there watching.

No, I did not hurt nor kill Hongjoong. Seonghwa would probably throw me overboard if I did. I have come to understand that it was entirely your fault and I'm a tad bit angry about that but I'll get over it. 

Just don't ever fucking do it again or I’ll shred you pieces and feed you to the seagulls.

I know you are King. I have my ways, do not question them. As for war, I don't wish to war either but I do wish to own the treasures within the Kingdom. Hand over the majority of them or at least split it fairly and no one will have to die.

Don't forget, just because I allowed you to be closer to me than anyone else, does not mean I won't hesitate to decapitate you if it comes down to it. No matter how adorable you are.

Don't worry, I will not ingest you. If you request me to eat you in other types of ways besides ingestion, I might consider.

Kind Regards,

Mingi

PS. This is Seonghwa. I stole the letter before he sent it. He blushed when he saw you called him "Min Min" so please don't stop calling him that. I need blackmail.

Yunho wanted to smack the Captain upon reading the last paragraph he wrote but then giggled at the part Seonghwa wrote. Making the soldiers even more concerned. Why was the king laughing at a letter sent by a Pirate?

Had the male gone crazy? Did he need mental help?

And so back and forth, the King and the Captain compromised between what would suit them both. It took them nearly a week but finally, Mingi agreed to take several chests of gold and precious stones without harming anyone.

Yunho had, in fact, not stopped calling Mingi "Min Min" and every letter he requested him to stop. And every letter sent was taken by the same soldier who had learned to not be so scared to approach the Captain.

The people kept insisting for action and as the days went by, they became restless. They wanted blood to be shed and they wanted it shed immediately.

It was on one fine day where Yunho was sending a letter where things took a sudden turn.

"Lee Jeno. Time to take the letter to Mingi," Yunho stated, beckoning the soldier to take the daily letters.

The soldier took them and disappeared. Yunho sighed, smiling in content, knowing that that letter was the last one to seal their agreement. If all went well, he would be able to transport the gold and precious stones that evening and by morning, the Pirates would be gone.

Yunho leaned against the table, his arm holding up his head as he traced the diamonds in his crown with content within him. Hopefully the soldier would return soon enough so they could carry out the plan.

Suddenly, the door was thrown open with the soldier standing there panting heavily. He had returned much quicker than Yunho expected and the King stood up in worry.

"What's wrong? Why do you look like that?"

"The Captain is dying!"