Pirate Kingship

In the minds of those who have never seen a pirate ship, such vessels often hoist the pirate flag high and engage in a heart-pounding chase as soon as they spot their prey from afar.

They might even be outfitted with fierce black sails that are vastly different from those of everyday merchant ships or warships, striking terror into the hearts of all who see them.

But in reality, these imaginations are far from the truth.

If piracy truly worked like that, even the most formidable pirates would starve to death.

In fact, many pirate ships do not look any different from ordinary merchant ships on the outside.

They usually fly the flags of any country, especially that of the target merchant ships, an act known as "false colors."

Under normal sailing, other vessels usually fail to identify a pirate ship in advance, mistaking them for friendly merchant ships from the same country.

But once they close in on their prey, the pirate ships suddenly hoist the skull and crossbones flag, the "true colors," to intimidate their targets, making them surrender without a fight.

This band of pirates, consisting of two ships, operated precisely in this manner.

First masquerading as ordinary merchant ships seeking to resupply, they immediately cast off their disguises upon successful landing and stormed the beach.

"Lay down your arms, kneel and you will not be killed!"

The pirate leader Blood-Red Whiskey Alfred, along with over a hundred pirates from his two single-masted schooners, roared as they charged onto the port of Georgetown.

Despite their fierce clamor, Blood-Red Whiskey gazed upon the visible decay of the colony with unspeakable bitterness in his heart.

I had heard that Tayman Brak Island, rich with spices, was dripping with wealth, and I wanted to rob those arrogant People of Castilia blind. But only after we arrived did we discover that some scoundrel had already looted the place clean, even burning down the spice forests. It's simply inhumane! They're nothing but greenhorns. Is this how pirates operate? They don't even understand the basic notion of leaving enough for a meal today and meals in the future. They've cut off the very roots, so who can we rob next time? Idiots, utter idiots! If I encounter them again, I, as a seasoned old-timer, must teach them how to be a proper pirate!

Alfred's fury grew the more he thought about it.

We searched the ruins for two whole days, and not only did we not find a single hidden treasury, we couldn't even find an iron lump or a nail. The place was cleaner than a plate licked by a dog. You were all tax collectors by any chance, weren't you? The most infuriating thing is, the ammunition used to attack Tayman Brak consisted of stone bullets, leaving not even a hair for us to plunder!

He looked up at the port which, despite its obviously poor appearance and the streets being doused with clean water and bunches of flowers, clearly indicated preparations to welcome someone important.

Although it was an impromptu decision to set our sights on Great Tayman Island. I am aware that every last one of you Harkins People is a penniless beggar. But if you're to blame anyone, blame your bad luck, as each of my brothers is boiling with rage. If we don't plunder something to take back, the crew will soon mutiny. Besides, wasn't that famous adventurer, George of Nine Lives, killed out there? If not you, then whom shall I rob?

He began to speak with a breathy wheeze, his voice obviously that of a smoker and drinker but resonant and powerful, "We are honorable thieves; we want your money, not your life. My demands are not high—spices, gold, silver, food, even a single sheep will suffice. But if anyone dares to resist, they will be immediately executed without mercy!"

CLANG! CLANG!

The lighthouse bell sounded the alarm, and many young and strong Colonizers from the island soon rushed out, armed with swords and firearms.

Within several hundred kilometers of ocean, there are no islands other than the Tayman Archipelago.

Georgetown Port used to be a regular supply point along the route when the Adventurer team was still around.

Merchant ships, warships, and Privateer Ships belonging to the Kingdom of Hightens could all resupply here.

After extensive dealings with both the lawful and the lawless, the locals here were essentially no different from those on Tayman Brak; none were easy-to-bully decent citizens.

Having lost their protectors, the residents had already faced more than one unexpected situation—storms, looting, Evil Spirits... everything imaginable.

But they withstood it all with remarkable resilience.

Of course, the most important reason was their extreme poverty, so dire that even moderately-sized pirate groups couldn't help but disdain it.

Although this wave of pirates was not small in number, had this happened three days earlier, perhaps they might have succumbed.

But today was different.

Bruh, the Guardian Knight who had arrived earlier with war booty and some elite crew members after plundering Tayman Brak Island, emerged from the crowd.

This Guardian Knight's ability was beyond doubt, having completely taken over the port in just a few days, stabilizing the populace, without much need for Byron and Catherine to worry.

"My Lord is supreme; before my death, none shall transgress!"

He let out a low shout and his aura soared steadily. Guarding his lord's property was certainly within the scope of his oath. At this moment, it seemed as though the wind was swirling around his body, clad in Knight Armor, making him appear exceptionally nimble.

Although he was currently only a First Rank Squire Level, the borrowed "Son of the Storm" still gave him a tremendous speed boost.

Bruh's strategy was very simple. Pirates seek wealth, and as long as they can be deterred from their goal, they would definitely not fight to the death. Based on their sailing speed, his lord and Miss Catherine were expected to sail back today. All he needed to do was hold out until their support arrived.

Blood-Red Whiskey Alfred realized that Bruh was the new source of confidence for the locals, his brow tinting red as he asked, "Oh? After 'Nine Lives' George, have you found yourselves a new protector?"

He was still unaware that he had already crossed paths with a group of pirates who hardly cared about the way they conducted their dirty business. The island before him was far from as impoverished as it seemed.

Turning to his men behind him, he gave his instructions, "None of you interfere, let me handle this!"

Those who frequently rob know that the best strategy, whether robbing merchant ships or guarding convoys, is to subdue the enemy without a battle. If you kill your way through every engagement, your own men will be decimated after just a few battles. As long as he could defeat the enemy's leading figure, upon whom their courage rested, in a duel, the rest would simply be about reaping the rewards.

Taking large strides toward Bruh, he pulled out a bottle of whiskey from his waist pouch and guzzled it down. From his pores, a blood-tinged alcoholic vapor immediately began to rise.

This turned out to be a Second Order Gourmet from the Golden Sequence.

The original captain, Bloody Eye Salman, was also a Second Order Gourmet.

At this stage, they acquired their core transcendent ability: "Dietary Supplementation."

By consuming specially prepared foods, they could obtain various temporary enhancements. Eating Hawkeye granted far vision; pig's brain made one's thinking nimble; sparrow's tongue allowed one to mimic various sounds with verbal skills; eating donkey's... well, you get the idea... Their abilities were extremely comprehensive.

High Sequence Gourmets, by consuming the flesh of certain Extraordinary Creatures, could temporarily transform into those creatures and wield their talents exactly as they would.

Furthermore, from the variety of "Dietary Supplementation" menus, they chose one food that best suited them as their "staple food." Not only could they gain extraordinary enhancements in certain aspects, but the more they ate, the faster their own Spirituality would improve. As long as one didn't consume their own kind, anything was fair game.

Blood-Red Whiskey Alfred did not dine on humans like Salman did; his chosen staple food was whiskey.

At the moment, where others had blood coursing through their veins, his seemed to carry an extremely potent whiskey instead.

Wielding his Fischer Slash Sword, the alcohol vapor around him detonated explosively. It propelled him toward Bruh like a cannonball as he delivered a forceful and heavy slash.

Confident in his full Heavy Armor, Bruh decided to meet the attack head-on. The Bastard Sword, longer than the Fischer Slash Sword, traced a streak of silver light, delivering a "Sky Edge Slash" that fully utilized its reach, aimed at the enemy's head.

Alfred simply smirked nonchalantly as a ball of alcohol-infused air around his blade burst into flames. Amidst blazing fire, the blade's course unexpectedly twisted and accelerated. It moved his body, evading the high-angled "Sky Edge Slash," targeting Bruh's armored knee, where his defense was weaker.

Whiskey Exploding Slash!

Luckily, Bruh had the incomplete "Son of the Storm" he borrowed from Byron. His feet stayed planted as he rode the chaotic draft of the explosion, narrowly evading the unexpected and fiercely powerful slash.

"Iron Wall! Iron Wall!..."

The crew behind him chanted the moniker of their First Mate, initiating the birth of his legend overseas for the first time. The popular title "Iron Wall" was insignificant and unknown on the Old Continent, and certainly not something that would attract much fame. There was no fear of it being associated with a specific identity abroad.

"Interesting."

Blood-Red Whiskey, with eyes hazy from drunkenness, licked the corner of his mouth, and with a long blade in hand, charged once again.

In the distance, Byron realized what was happening. Having just said he was going to meet with the merchant ships, a heat now crept up his face. To be faced with a blockade of pirates at his doorstep was akin to a swift slap in the face, causing a flush of embarrassment.

"Villains, outright villains! It truly is the badlands that breed scoundrels!"

He took out a Parrot Conch, seized from the People of Castilia at Tayman Brak Island, capable of short-range communication. He sent out orders to his Second Mate Gus and Gunnery Chief Wynndort aboard the "Golden Deer," "Robbery has come to our doorsteps! Fire the cannons for me, teach these damnable pirates a lesson!"

Then, along with Catherine, he slid down the mast. Taking advantage of the diversion caused by the battle, they both dove into the water and were whisked away by the Man-Eater Shark.