Chapter 59

The mercenary fleet, having released the pirate captain into the wild, headed for the Kresven Archipelago.

There were many islands in the Kresven Archipelago, but among them, there was one shaped like a crescent moon, called ‘Crescent Island’.

That place was currently undergoing fortification by the mercenary company.

The temporary pier was filled with the sound of hammers clanging.

Eleonor was in the middle of assembling a catapult, directing the engineers.

“Is it going well?”

“Yes, no problem, Sir Gryph.”

“Then what are you doing? Hurry up and move your hands.”

“……”

As Eleonor pouted and ran away, I looked at the beach.

Catapults were lined up along the sandy beach.

After being burned down by my hand once, the Kresven Archipelago had turned into an uninhabited area.

Not only was it not easy to find food on the barren island, but also, as Fasa’s navy patrol boats regularly roamed around, the pirates also laid low.

Thanks to that, it was possible to fortify the Kresven Archipelago without attracting any attention.

Yes.

This was the method I had prepared to deal with Tospol.

I planned to lure Tospol’s pirate flotilla in front of Crescent Island and annihilate them.

“After all, a fight should be fought in a place where one can win.”

Theo, who was following behind, spoke.

“Will Tospol really fall for it?”

“Tospol wouldn't even think that we would be ambushing on the coast.”

And there was another plan.

I walked along the beach that would soon become a battlefield and spoke.

“Ishmael, there’s one thing I want to confirm.”

“Kruk, what is it? We Kobolds are ready to fight Tospol with our lives.”

“Ah, I’m not doubting your loyalty, so don’t worry. There’s something I want to know.”

“Kruk, then that’s a relief. Kruk. So what are you curious about?”

“I heard there’s a legend that a giant monster lives in the sea in front of the Kresven Archipelago.”

“Kruk, I don’t know where you heard it, but there is such a legend.”

“Where is it?”

“That southern coast.”

Ishmael pointed to the peacefully calm, rippling sea.

No danger could be found there.

“Kakat, on a wavy day, they say a large black something can be seen undulating in that sea. There were often guys who called that a monster.”

“Is it true?”

“Kruk. It could be, or it could not be. I wouldn’t know. We already had a monster named Tospol next to us, so I never thought to find out.”

“Good.”

“Kruk, what is?”

“It means we can surprise Tospol here.”

I decided just now.

This place would be the battlefield to face Tospol.

***

On the deck of a giant ship floating somewhere in the Golden Sea.

The notorious pirate Tospol was sitting with a bored face.

And in front of him, the pirate captain, rescued while drifting, was kneeling.

However, the pirate captain was on pins and needles.

‘To think I’d meet a bastard like that.’

When he was first rescued after drifting for three days, he thought it was really fortunate.

But after finding out that the ship that had picked him up was Tospol’s ship, he just wanted to run away.

Look at that sail.

They said in the rumors that it was made by skinning the victims, and it was really true.

Who knew what that crazy bastard would do to a poor pirate captain.

The pirate captain felt like he was going to lose his mind just by imagining it.

Tospol threw a question at him.

“So, that guy named Leon Gryph of the Black Legion told you to come to the Kresven Archipelago?”

“Yes. That’s what he said. He told me to give you his regards.”

“What a son of a bitch.”

Tospol glared at the pirate captain as if Leon Gryph were in front of him.

The pirate captain, kneeling on the deck, hiccuped in fear that that vicious face could contort so much, and that the anger would be directed at him.

‘No way, right? I just delivered the message. No, maybe not. That bastard Tospol has been famous for his shitty personality since way back.’

“So, is that all there is to the message?”

“Well. He just said that and didn't add anything else. I think so.”

“Alright. Good work.”

As Tospol seemed about to let him go easily, the pirate captain let out a sigh of relief.

That was also brief.

Then, greed arose.

The greed of whether he could use this as an opportunity to make a comeback under Tospol.

Tospol betrayed that expectation in a single breath.

Creak— Creak—.

Tospol, who had approached the pirate captain at some point, grabbed the back of his neck and lifted him up.

“W-what?”

“I’m done with you.”

“Wait a minute! I’m just a victim of those guys! I told you everything you wanted to know!”

“Yeah. But I’m in a bad mood now.”

“Save me! I’ll pledge my loyalty to you!”

“No. How dare you attach conditions? I’m the one who decides.”

Tospol threw the pirate captain into the sea just like that.

The pirate captain flew in a wide arc before splashing into the sea.

The pirate captain, whose stamina was depleted from frequent drifting, could not come up to the surface and sank just like that.

Forever.

The deck fell into a deathly silence.

Tospol looked around at the subordinates lined up around him and issued a stern warning.

“Everyone heard that, right? That chewable bastard is waiting for us! Turn the bow at once! We’re going to the Kresven Archipelago!”

The subordinates of Tospol, who received the order, scattered in all directions without a word.

Because if they delayed, they might be picked on and killed like the unfortunate pirate captain just now.

Soon, Tospol’s pirate flotilla began to move towards the Kresven Archipelago.

The surface of the water was densely packed with ships.

***

The lookout’s report was urgent enough to change the leisurely atmosphere of Crescent Island.

“Report! A large flotilla has appeared in the eastern sea!”

“Tospol! This fast?”

“Have you confirmed the flag?”

“No. But that ship is definitely the man-eating ogre, Tospol’s! There’s no doubt!”

Tospol’s movements were much faster than I had expected.

It seemed I had taken Tospol’s anger too lightly.

“Weren’t our small fleet dispatched there? Why was there no report at all?”

“I don’t know. They might have already been taken out, or their paths might have simply crossed.”

“This is absurd. Understood.”

The mercenary company officers all looked at me.

“Captain, your orders.”

“Everyone, prepare for an emergency departure. We will launch the ships as soon as they are ready.”

“Understood. Everyone to the ships!”

Even without orders, the sailors rushed to the temporary port.

A great commotion broke out to launch the ships.

I followed behind and checked the situation.

This was the last chance before the battle began.

“Sir Eleonor, how many siege weapons have been prepared?”

“About half have been assembled. We couldn't prepare them completely because the time was so short.”

“Then what needs to be done hasn't changed much. Everyone, please follow the plan. Then it will be resolved well.”

“The plan, you say……. Understood. I will do so.”

For a moment, a look that seemed to say, ‘Can that even be called a plan?’ crossed Eleonor’s face.

But Sir Eleonor, being a diligent person, did not defy or question the order.

When I arrived at the temporary port, the Levonan flagship Calcio was already setting sail.

Admiral Gian leaned out from the deck of the passing ship.

“I’ll go first!”

“Admiral Gian! Please move according to the plan!”

“Don’t worry! Haha!”

How can I not worry.

I’m worried you’ll ram into Tospol’s flotilla like last time.

I quickly boarded the warship before it was too late.

Ishmael was holding the sail ropes.

“Ishmael, the wind?”

“Kruk, the wind is a light breeze from the west! It will be like that for a while.”

“Good. Don’t forget the plan. Lure the enemy in naturally.”

“Kruk, to call that a plan……”

I pretended not to hear Ishmael’s words.

“Set sail!”

“Setting sail!”

As the ship moved, the atmosphere on board was overflowing with tension.

Because everyone realized that the hegemony of the Golden Sea was at stake in this one battle.

It was necessary to relieve the tension of the subordinates before entering the actual battle.

I made a speech in front of the sailors.

“Everyone, listen!”

My command drew everyone’s attention.

A good thing.

It meant they still had the presence of mind to listen to my words.

“The fate of Fasa and yours is at stake in this one battle! It is an opportunity to liberate the oppressed Golden Sea from Tospol! Think of your lives and deaths, and the families waiting for you to return from this battle! The nation expects all of you to fight with all your might!”

This time, the Heart of Iron and Blood trait did not activate.

But the speech was effective.

The chaotic atmosphere on board calmed down, and the movement of rowing the oars changed at once.

Next to Ishmael, the navigator’s assistant reported the ship’s speed.

“Four and a half knots. This is the maximum speed the ship can achieve.”

That's about 7 or 8 kilometers per hour.

It was truly the maximum speed a galley could achieve.

The mercenary fleet, having reached its maximum speed, caught up with the Levonan fleet that was ahead.

Admiral Gian was standing on the figurehead of the Calcio.

Really, that man seems more suited to be a pirate than a navy man.

“Hey!”

“Latecomer! Why are you so late?”

“This is the best I can do.”

“Haha. If we were a little later, we would have been done in by Tospol!”

Admiral Gian joked.

Tospol’s pirate fleet was already close enough to be identified with the naked eye.

Among the numerous pirate ships, a single fortress-like ship was floating.

A sail made of human skin flapped on the mast.

The faces and hands and feet of people were clearly visible.

It was much more terrible and hideous than what I had seen in the game.

Even from a distance, I could feel the resentment of the victims.

“It’s gruesome.”

“I’ve faced Tospol three times in the Golden Sea, and I’ve never managed to sink him once. But this time will be different. I will definitely bring down that sail!”

I suddenly became curious.

“What was your win-loss record?”

“Is that important now?”

“I’m curious.”

“Two wins and one loss. Satisfied?”

“Yes.”

Admiral Gian complained under his breath and gestured to the warship.

Then the Levonan flagship Calcio began to pick up speed.

Soon, the Levonan fleet that had rushed ahead began to engage the pirate fleet.

The Levonan fleet formed a line formation, and the pirate fleet countered with a wedge formation.

The figure of Admiral Gian swinging a hammer on the deck was briefly visible before being obscured by a ship's bow that popped out from the side.

CRASH!

The pirate fleet broke through the thin line formed by the Levonan fleet and popped out.

However, our mercenary fleet was supporting them from behind.

“Captain, the distance to the enemy is closing! In a moment, the enemies will be within firing range!”

“Good! Black Company, begin combat.”

“Begin combat!”

“Fire!”

Finally, the combat order that everyone had been waiting for flowed from my mouth.

As the combat order was given, each battery began to project its firepower.

A rock flew from a catapult like a bounced stone and directly hit the side of a pirate ship.

THUMP!

The direct hit shattered the deck of the pirate ship, and the pirates fell in a heap.

But the pirates didn't just stand by either.

As if they couldn't lose, Kobold pirates from the approached pirate ship threw javelins.

A few who were unlucky enough to be hit by javelins screamed and fell backward.

One also whizzed past me with a threatening sound.

That was a proper exchange of first greetings.

“Damage?”

“Not much.”

“Then keep firing!”

Ishmael, who was in charge of navigation, yelled like a scream.

“Karak! Everyone, brace for impact! Hold on tight!”

The full-scale battle began with the warship I was on ramming a pirate ship.

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