The gruesome words of Captain Sinbad regarding Violet's sweetheart, was not the only occasion to make her doubt whether she had made a rightful choice. In fact, it was just the beginning – she was soon to find out that, even when she had spent such a long time with the Young Captain, his personality was still far deeper than she could possibly imagine.

When the pirates finished with their preparations, they and the Hawthorne family ascended the Crimson Diamond Shark Tooth and set sail towards new horizons. Before they'd cross the Central Intersection of the Seven Universes, however, Arubah demanded to stop on a certain planet under his jurisdiction – Ketuki. It was a place full of many different species: the Radenoids, the Dionoids, the Pegasus, the Herpharus, the Cyan, etc. The majority, however, were the Cyan and the Radenoids. The Captain Emperor wished to fill up his ship with some necessary supplies that could be found only on this exact planet. Once the Shark Tooth arrived there, Violet and her family – Ellie and Gunther (since Marie was sleeping in her cabin at that particular time) – came to witness a certain interesting, if not horrifying, event:

A young man covered in bloody wounds was tied to two posts in the scorching sun so that his already-open injuries would sting even further and cause him excruciating pain. He was surrounded by armed pirate guards of low class, hence even bloodier, more remorseless, and with far less intelligence than usual space-robbers, only able to fulfill the orders given by their authorities. They stood there for various reasons: to not let the said prisoner escape (who obviously had already lost all the hope of escaping), and to not let anyone approach and offer him any kind of help, salvation, or even just show their support. The public of curious by-passers who stopped at this square indeed watched him with lowly pity and apparent fear of the authorities that had imprisoned him. Instead of revolting against such vile conduct and demanding him to be pardoned, their whispers sounded different:

"That is what you get if you revolt against such a peaceful regime..."

"Only the stupid would dare defy the Captain Emperor!"

"He deserves what he's got!"

The situation looked hopeless, more so that the Young Captain whom Violet so adored, watched this whole event with quite a cold expression. He approached the pirate guards standing around the prisoner, and was met by their headman who controlled the affairs of the planet – a captain of one of the smaller Shark Tooth ships, Pitur Glimp. He immediately bowed to the Pirate Emperor of the Seven Universes:

"Ah, you've honoured us with your visit, Lord Captain!"

"Yeah, I just need to refill some supplies before we go to Bakhassa..."

"Oh, you're going to the Bakhassa Universe? That's quite remarkable! We will provide you with everything you may need!"

"That's appreciated, you have my thanks. So then, Captain Glimp, what's the commotion here? I did get the word from Captain Horphius the Lord of Balal that you had some problems with lowly Radenoids rebelling?"

"It's all settled, Lord Captain, everything's fine now! We did have a minor rebellion but we took care of it. That man over there," he casually pointed on the suffering prisoner, apparently only worried about his own skin now that he had to justify himself in front of the emperor, "was the leader of the rebels. He's indeed a Radenoid, and a powerful one, at that. We lost two ships against him but subdued him somehow and we've passed the penalty according to your law".

"Revolt against which paragraph of the Imperial Pirate Code, if you'd be so kind as to inform me?"

"Against the payments section, Lord Captain – the rebels refused to continue paying the tribute".

"On the basis of what reasons?"

"They claimed your code of conduct was tyrannical, Lord Captain".

"Oh? You mean, paying 20% of a family's total income every local month, is tyrannical?"

"I dare not disobey your sacred code, Lord Captain. I meant it was the rebels who claimed thus".

"Yeah, I figured what you said. Alright then, the penalty's rightful, I see".

The penalty's rightful?! Is he for real? The guy's nearly dead from those hideous wounds and is suffering in the scorching sun!

Violet watched in the utmost shock as the captain walked through the pirate guards up to the bloodied prisoner, drawing on his elmor dust pipe as usual, as if nothing.

"Rebelling against my code of conduct? Refusing to pay the tribute when it's due? Convincing others to follow your folly? Who do you think I am muchacho?"

All that could be read in the prisoner's gaze upon him was hatred, resentment, and the sense of pride trampled beneath his sworn enemy's feet.

"You're a tyrant, evil and unkind. If only I had enough power in my hands, I'd tear you to pieces!"

"A tyrant?" a subtle but diabolic laugh resonated through the square, "Evil and unkind? I pray to not accuse me of such utter villainy! I am rather quite kind and gentle, but bloodily pitiless, especially when it comes to ignorant weaklings who've no hope of progressing any further in this current life... and you'd be a perfect example of that. Tear me to pieces? I'd have to disappoint you, amigo, because even if you had ever attained that 'enough power' you spoke of, you'd still be unable to fulfill your wish. You know why? – Because even then, you'd be but a weak bug against my godly might. Before picking fights, learn to assess your opponents," he untied his scarlet shirt and raised his sleeves, to leave the prisoner and every spectator jaw-dropped – his whole body was covered in deep scars as if not just scratched or cut, but even pierced through; his body parts ripped out to be revived after long periods of time, while he, most likely, lay in a cold solitary cell and groaned and roared in anguish, his blood trickling and his life-energy depleting as his body struggled to rebuild itself, in those old prison years. "I figure you haven't even done proper research before making such a reckless decision. Tear me to pieces, chap? I've already been ripped to shreds! With just that, you won't defeat me. Only the one who has experienced the worst can ever claim to be the best. I haven't walked on a primrose path up to this point, to be so easily brought down by some worthless bugs. Now then, I'll do you a favour and let you rot in here for three locally-measured months, without supplies, without your wounds being healed, so that you would learn your lesson... and thank my gentle heart for not letting you undergo severe torture, just for those insolent remarks of yours".

He tied his shirt up again, pulled his sleeves down, and walked over to Captain Glimp to resume his conversation when a scream sounded throughout the square – a young girl with black curls like the bloodied prisoner, had penetrated through the guards and was caught by them, but fought severely to break free from their grips. Her eyes were swollen with hysteric tears:

"Please! Let me to the emperor! I beg you! Have mercy! Let me through!"

"Her again? How many times should we beat the sense into her? She's insane!" Pitur Glimp sneered much in irritation, "Take her away, lads!"

Not able to subdue this berserk maiden by just sheer force, the pirate guards activated their laser-whips. Surprisingly, neither this was enough to frighten her – she still yelled and struggled, even trying to scratch her holders. Astounded by such selfless resistance, the Young Captain wasn't slow to meddle in:

"Wo, wo, stop there, lads! Let her through".

"Why, Lord Captain?" Pitur Glimp couldn't believe his ears, "She's been at it for days!"

"All the more reason. If she needs to talk to me so direly, I'm ought to listen. I'm not a tyrant as some people say now, am I? I too have my share of duties concerning the people whom I've sworn protection to. The people of this planet are one of those, hence, I am ought to listen when they need me".

The pirate guards obeyed his orders. Soon, the girl was already knelt at his feet, clutching his black coat and sobbing in agony:

"I beg you, have mercy! Have mercy upon my brother, good lord! I beg you!"

"Eh? Your brother_ Wait, you mean..." Arubah's eyes widened as he pointed back on the bloodied prisoner, "You don't mean him?"

"I beg you, good lord, have mercy... He won't withstand such punishment, he'll die! I've no one except him! I beg you! I tried to stop him, I_"

Her sobs turned into hiccups and interrupted her speech, but she still had clung unto his coat and wetted it with tears. Even at such a heartbreaking sight, the people gathered around eyed the two siblings with nothing but scorn. The Pirate Emperor instead grew completely pale and turned to Pitur Glimp with a low, almost trembling voice:

"Captain Glimp, there was nothing said of the prisoner's family in the report..."

"W... What do you mean, Lord Captain?"

"Your report claimed the prisoner was without family. What's more, you didn't let this young woman, who obviously had some urgent business with me, contact me through the special department I've left on all the planets I govern upon, including this one. Instead of that, you would probably beat this child every day when she tried to just... make a request?"

"But Lord Captain, she intended to break the order of our operation! I_"

"Balal, Yoh!"

The hand which the captain raised emitted crimson energy and turned Pitur Glimp into a scarlet statue in an instant. The next second, the emperor's boot kicked it and smashed the already-lifeless crystal to tiny pieces. Violet, Ellie, and Gunther, who watched it all from the ship, trembled at such coldblooded conduct of Arubah. This latter's sparkling eyes glanced at the frightened crew of Captain Glimp now:

"Who was his first-mate?"

"I... It was I, Lord Captain".

"Goodie. You're the captain now, amigo. Your name?"

"Jut Yemma, Lord Captain".

"Alright, Captain Jut, from now on, you're the headman of this district. As for you, dearest," he turned to the tearful girl, who watched him in complete horror as he had just crystallized one of his underlings yet had no odd emotion upon his countenance, "I cannot completely lift your brother's punishment, because his crime is apparent, but I shall ease the penalty a great deal, because you're such a rare gemstone he possesses. Instead of three months, it'll be just one. Every afternoon each day, only you – his sister – are to be allowed to his side, to give him food, tend to his wounds, and whatever else you wish. Once the evening hour rings, you are to be dismissed. That done, you'll ease his pain a lot... Maybe you'll also teach him a thing or two – you seem far more sensible than he, no offence to be given. After the month elapses, take this red crystal," he formed a tiny warm red crystal in his hand and placed it in hers, "put it into a glass of local water, or whatever liquid you choose, and let it dissolve in. Then let your brother drink it, and all of his wounds will heal at once. That is, unfortunately, all I can possibly do for you, dearest, and may your kind heart somehow find the strength to forgive me... If it does not, then I shall bear your hatred. No worries, I won't be upset".

While the astounded girl kissed his hands and thanked him for his mercy and generosity, he just gently caressed her on the hair, and walked up to the bloodied prisoner again:

"As for you, amigo... if you want a piece of advice from your sworn enemy, then here it is – instead of picking senseless fights, you'd better fight to protect that gemstone of yours," he pointed back on the tearful girl, who still eyed him with gratitude, "Maybe then, when the motive of your struggles is not your foolish ambitions but the well-being of your sister, you might even find enough power to challenge me for real, if you are still at it. Granted – I'd gladly be waiting for that day. Adios for now, and may you find your true path!"

After having finished with his directives to the new captain Jut Yemma and having his people provide them with the necessary supplies, he returned back on the Shark Tooth and ordered his crewmates to set sail. Violet, Ellie, and Gunther watched him astonished, for they had seen him settle the matters within his imperial territories for the first time. While Gunther was left speechless and Ellie's eyes shone with admiration, Violet had rather disturbing thoughts in her mind:

Is that how the freedom he promises looks like? I wonder now if it is right that I depend on him to free the Earth...