Chapter 55

It was a commemorative day for the signing of a military pact between Fasa and Levona.

Fasa’s city hall was bustling as it welcomed a distinguished guest after a long time.

Inside the city hall banquet hall, Mayor Rapacio and Admiral Gian shook hands with bright smiles.

Mayor Rapacio was significantly taller, so he had to bend his knees, but no one cared about that fact.

“With this, Levona and Fasa will subjugate the pirates together. The agreement is effective as of this moment.”

“I am happy to have a reliable ally.”

The people watching sent applause.

The applause was especially loud from the working-level staff who had participated in the negotiations.

As fierce shouts had been exchanged between the Levonan working-level staff brought by Admiral Gian and the Fasa government over the past few days, the feeling was all the more new.

I was one of them.

Today, too, the lighthouse of Fasa shines bright.

Sob.

“Then let’s talk about pirate subjugation right away.”

“Uh, right now?”

“Then when would we do it?”

“No, but at least have a meal first.”

“Every moment is urgent. Even now, time is precious. There’s a saying to strike while the iron is hot.”

The amicable time spent shaking hands was brief.

Admiral Gian immediately got to the point, flustering people.

The expressions of the city hall employees and the mercenary company employees looking at me quickly soured.

Because the luxurious banquet they had hurriedly prepared all night had gone up in smoke before it even began.

I'm sorry you all went through the trouble of preparing the protocol.

But it’s not my fault, is it?

If you want to blame someone, blame that guy over there.

“Come on, hurry. Everyone gather around.”

Admiral Gian was already spreading a map on the table where food was supposed to be placed.

It was a much more detailed map than the one used in Fasa.

The geography of the Golden Sea was visible at a glance.

When I showed interest, Admiral Gian’s shoulders rose.

“That’s a very precise map.”

“The surveyors went through some trouble. I wanted to have a conversation with you about this matter. So, from where to where have you swept away the pirate bastards?”

“Mainly from here to here. And I burned down the Kresven pirate lair, but that alone didn’t make the pirates of the Golden Sea disappear completely. In fact, they say Tospol still hasn’t returned from the island of Halifa.”

“But there are other guys. Guys like Yoken, and Orman.”

Like in some famous pirate manga, there were five notorious pirates in the Golden Sea.

Tospol of the Kresven Archipelago, whose lair I burned, was a representative example.

It had to be assumed that there would be no peace in the Golden Sea until all these guys were beaten down.

“It won’t be easy to get rid of these pirate bastards. Not only Apennia, but also the Imperial Navy has failed to subjugate them several times.”

“Don’t worry. It will be different this time.”

It will be different because I am here.

That was the meaning.

Admiral Gian burst out laughing.

“Haha. You are full of spirit, like a young man. Good. Then let’s clean up one by one, starting from the place closest to Fasa.”

“Then the closest one is Orman.”

“A wise choice. Then let’s go right now.”

“Pardon? Now?”

“Now. Didn’t you hear me? I said time is precious.”

He was a truly bewildering old man.

***

What Admiral Gian brought with him were five real warships, including the Levonan naval admiral’s flagship, the Calcio.

It was equivalent to bringing 10 percent of the power Levona possessed, so it was fair to say that he had shown a strong will for pirate subjugation.

Therefore, Fasa also had to show that much sincerity.

I quickly diverted the remaining ships and formed a fleet.

“How does our fleet compare to the Levonan fleet?”

“I suppose we’re inferior to them, aren’t we?”

“You think so too? It wasn’t just me.”

The open sea in front of Fasa.

I conversed with Theo while observing the Levonan fleet moving alongside us.

“Comparing them directly side by side, I can definitely see the shortcomings of Fasa’s warships.”

“They weren’t made for combat from the beginning but are modified merchant ships. They’re bound to be of a lower class.”

“It can’t be helped. We’ve only just begun.”

It seemed it would be difficult to surpass Levona’s warships until the new ships being built at the shipyard were launched.

Besides that, there seemed to be much to see and learn in terms of the sailors’ movements and discipline.

There was definitely a difference in experience there that couldn't be easily overcome with a momentary flash of brilliance.

Anyway, in that way, the Fasa-Levona combined fleet, composed of ten ships, set out to subjugate the pirates of the Golden Sea.

And just a few days later.

We came face to face with a large war galley flying a flag engraved with a skull and a flower.

***

“Flag identification confirmed! That flag belongs to Orman, one of the five pirates of the Golden Sea!”

The lookout shouted from the mast.

“He’s a romantic fellow. So eager to make himself known. If it were me, I’d be hiding my flag.”

Orman was one of the five pirates of the Golden Sea, originally a merchant from Florence who changed careers after realizing that piracy was much more profitable.

Therefore, Orman was hated much more by the people of Apennia than the other pirates.

As for whether there was anything else great about him, well.

“Orman doesn’t have the same overwhelming presence as Tospol, right?”

Ishmael snorted.

“Kruk, why do you think that fellow quit his trade and became a pirate? It’s all because he has no talent.”

It was a cold evaluation, but it was true.

Orman’s position was indeed ambiguous.

Since both his military and intellectual prowess were mediocre.

Among the five pirates, should I say he was at the level of a tutorial boss.

In the meantime, the signalman exchanged flag signals with the Levonan fleet.

“Message from the Levonan flagship Calcio. They will actively pursue Orman.”

“Reply that we will follow.”

The flagman busily sent signals towards the Levonan flagship Calcio.

Then, the Calcio, which had been running alongside us, suddenly began to pick up speed.

In an instant, the Calcio overtook our ship and went far ahead.

Everyone on deck was flustered by the unexpected action.

“What, what’s with them?”

“I-I don’t know.”

“Was there no word from the Calcio?”

“I’m sorry, but there was no reply at all.”

“Send a signal again.”

The flagman, sweating coldly, diligently waved the flags again, but nothing changed.

There was no reaction from the Levonan fleet’s side.

I discovered Admiral Gian standing with his arms crossed on the bow of the advancing Levonan warship.

From that figure, a strong will to tear the pirates to shreds could be felt.

“Kruk, Captain. What should we do in a case like this?”

“Hmm.”

Ishmael asked in a panic, but I couldn't think of a clever solution either.

First of all, the movement of the pirate ship Orman was on was too suspicious.

It was strange for it to be wandering alone in this wide sea.

Its strangely slow speed also seemed to be openly inducing us to follow.

And on top of that, the presence of the large island visible ahead.

Inferring from my play experience.

“It’s definitely a lure.”

“Krrruk, you mean an ambush?”

“Yes. It’s right not to chase this.”

But I couldn't just stand by and watch Admiral Gian rush in alone.

If Admiral Gian were to die here, it would become a diplomatic issue.

After some thought, I made a decision.

“Maintain a certain distance from the Levonan fleet. Provide cover from the rear.”

“Kruk, understood. Maintain speed.”

“Maintain speed!”

Eleonor repeated the order from the side.

Since Rhom was hospitalized after being beaten up by Selvi, Eleonor was acting as the boatswain instead.

What a useless troll.

“Sir Eleonor, prepare all ballistae and catapults for immediate deployment.”

“Understood. You heard that? Everyone to battle stations!”

“Everyone to battle stations!”

The sailors repeated the command and scattered in all directions.

I observed the situation on the road again.

The pirate ship Orman was on was desperately fleeing towards a nearby island.

Behind it, a tense situation unfolded as Admiral Gian seemed about to catch up at any moment.

However, that pursuit did not last long.

“Kruk, Captain, look over there.”

“I can see it clearly. It was a lure, as expected.”

As the combined fleet approached the island, as if they had been waiting, pirate ships poured out in droves from both sides of the island.

They weren’t war galleys like the one Orman was on, but small high-speed boats, but their numbers were threateningly large.

“Orman’s flagship is turning!”

As the ambush succeeded, Orman’s fleeing war galley also turned and began to charge towards the Calcio.

Orman had made himself bait to prepare an ambush.

For someone who was poorly regarded by the public, it was quite a bold tactic.

Moreover, as luck would have it, even the ocean current turned against us.

“Captain, the batteries are ready.”

“Good. Tell them not to relax their tension and to be well prepared.”

Meanwhile, at the front, the Calcio and Orman’s warship were fiercely charging towards each other as if playing a game of chicken.

A game of chicken is a problem that is solved when one person gives up.

But the problem here was that neither side had any intention of giving up.

CRASH!

In the end, the two ships collided.

With a magnificent sound of impact, shattered wooden fragments flew through the air.

“What should I call that? A maritime traffic accident?”

“Krrruk, is that even a possible term?”

“I don’t know. Who cares.”

It was a hot scene, but sadly, rather than getting excited, I was calculating the materials and costs that would go into repairing that ship.

This was all because I was worn out from work.

How much would all that cost?

But Admiral Gian, as if it were natural, didn't care about the collision at all.

Instead, he took up a large hammer and advanced to the bow, roaring.

“You filthy pirate bastards! I’ll split your heads, so present them at once!”

As if in response, pirates poured out from Orman’s pirate ship.

At least a dozen pirates rushed towards Gian all at once.

In that perilous moment.

Admiral Gian swung his hammer wide.

“Hraaargh!”

CRACK!

With a loud noise, the large pirate ship tilted, and dozens of pirates were thrown into the air.

It was a sight that made one’s mind go blank just by watching.

Admiring gasps flowed from all sides.

“What in the world is that.”

“He’s crazy.”

It wasn't for nothing that Admiral Gian had stepped forward.

He was that confident.

Admiral Gian did not stop there and leaped onto the deck of the pirate ship.

And he swung his hammer at whatever he could reach, sweeping away the pirates.

“He’s really crazy……”

“Captain, that’s not the problem. We’re being surrounded!”

While watching Gian’s fight, our situation was also becoming urgent.

The pirates, perhaps frightened by Gian’s prowess, flocked to the warship I was on instead of the Levonan fleet.

But.

“Is there a problem?”

“Pardon?”

“What are you worried about? If we’re surrounded by enemies, it means we’ll hit something no matter where we shoot. Worry about those poor bastards.”

“Haha! Understood.”

As if they liked the answer, the subordinates burst into laughter.

The Fasa fleet being weak was only in comparison to the Levonan fleet.

It didn't mean it was weaker than the pirates.

We had fought countless times with pirates until now, but we had never once given up a ship.

“Port side, fire at will!”

“Port side, fire!”

Towards the approaching pirate ships, the warship’s weapons, which had been pre-loaded, unleashed a volley of fire.

THUMP! THOOOM!

The performance of the ballistae and catapults might not be as good as cannons, but their power was no joke.

As thick arrows embedded themselves like wedges into the pirate ships, the decks shattered, and fragments flew everywhere.

A few people flew around in the process too.

It seemed like something that shouldn't be flying was flying, but it would probably be fine.

As one of the approaching high-speed boats was overturned by the impact, the sailors’ morale rose.

“Yahoo!”

“How do you like that, you pirate bastards!”

“Leon Gryph is a god, and the Black Company is invincible!”

As one ship sank without being able to do anything, the pirates changed direction.

Instead of charging head-on, they hastily turned to get out of the line of fire.

However, that was the wrong choice.

Because of that, they exposed their sides without any preparation.

“Captain, it’s a good opportunity. The enemy is completely defenseless.”

“Then what are you waiting for? Fire!”

“Fire!”

The ballista arrows mercilessly pierced the sides of the pirate ships.

Since we were surrounded, everything was a hit no matter where we fired.

In an instant, the pirate flotilla suffered great damage and began to retreat.

“Our side has no problems. What about the Levonan side?”

“That side doesn’t seem to have any problems either, sir. Rather……”

“Rather, what?”

“I think they’ll clean up soon without us having to step in.”

Other pirate ships joined Orman, but it was not enough to deal with the rampaging Admiral Gian.

The pirates couldn’t even inflict a single wound on Admiral Gian and instead ended up sinking into the sea.

Admiral Gian, as if not satisfied with sweeping away all the pirates on board, crossed over to other ships and fought with the pirates.

It was truly a feat of arms that could only draw admiration.

“Gian Cavalieri, it seems he won’t die easily.”

“Pardon? What did you say?”

“Nothing. Just talking to myself.”

“?”

Theo asked a question, but I didn’t explain.

In the end, that day’s battle ended in a complete victory for the Fasa-Levona combined fleet, thanks to the efforts of Admiral Gian.

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