Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence - Chapter 581 - 347: Hunting Pirates (2)
Chapter 581: Chapter 347: Hunting Pirates (2)
“A double advantage.” He murmured softly, with both calculations and anticipation.
……
The night was heavy, and the sea fog rolled over Breakwave Bay, like brewing a silent storm.
Twelve black-sailed ships rose and fell among the waves, shadows of masts intertwined, and the beast bone decorations on the ship’s prow creaked against the tides.
Bag stepped onto the railing, his flask swaying in his hand: “Hahaha, sixty brothers, twelve ships, enough to give them a fright.”
The crew responded, shouts mixed with the sound of the waves, some were banging on the barrel lids with their drinks, others gesturing with long knives.
Laughing and cursing echoed one after another, filled with a long-suppressed agitation.
“Boss, are we really moving now? The fog is so thick, no one can see anyone.” The deputy helmsman leaned over, softly reminding.
“Can’t see them? That’s perfect, they’re in the light, we’re in the dark, a heaven-sent opportunity!” Bag pulled out a grin, “If we take Dawn Port tonight, I’ll let the brothers drink for three days!”
With those words, the fleet erupted.
Sailors banged on the oars, whistles and shouts mingled into chaos.
Bag raised his spyglass, aiming at the distant shadows.
The fog rolled on that side, the port lights flickered on and off, as if taunting them.
Didn’t see any patrol ships, nor hear any alarm bells, empty enough to fuel the fervor in his heart.
He bared his teeth, abruptly turned and shouted: “All ships hear my command! Maintain formation and follow me into the port!”
Twelve black-sailed ships moved instantly, sails billowed, the sea cracked beneath their hulls.
Roaring oars echoed in the fog, crew shouting, cursing, shoving one another, the atmosphere like boiling petroleum.
“Drink the Imperial People’s blood tonight!”
“The Mad King’s tooth is still here!”
Bag laughed, flinging his flask, spilling strong liquor into the sea: “Advance! Send them to hell!”
The fleet roared forward like beasts in the fog, oars thundered, sails trembled, their laughter and roars intertwined.
Yet in the next moment, a low, strange sound came from far across the sea.
Boom!
A magic explosion bullet detonated on the sea ahead of them, fiery waves surged up, the nearest ship was overturned instantly.
Firelight from the explosion spread in the darkness, seawater vaporized into white mist from high temperatures, shattered wood rained down like rain.
The pirates aboard that ship barely managed even a scream, the hull split into two, half the deck ripped away by the shock wave, the mast consumed by flames, sinking like a giant fiery stick into the sea.
The air was filled with the scent of charred wood and seared flesh.
Another ship nearby was hit by the lifted wave, the mast fell, several sailors tossed directly into the fire.
Someone floundered in the water shouting for help, but was swept away by the shock wave of the second explosion.
Bag staggered from the blast, nearly falling, gripping the railing tightly, eyes wide, staring at the fire, his throat dry as if scorched.
“Boss, is that a magic explosion bullet?!” Someone shrieked, voice trembling.
“Yes, but the power… something’s wrong!” Bag gritted his teeth, eyes reddened by the firelight.
Flames churned, the fog completely torn apart, he saw clearly.
A complete ship disintegrated in the explosion, the planks turning to ashes.
He had seen Jade Federation’s magic explosion bullets before, but those would at most flip the deck, whereas these seemed as if they were going to upheave the entire sea.
He swallowed hard with the salty air, muttered lowly: “They’re damn bombing the sea.”
Explosion light extended constantly, one after another, yet not aiming at their main ship, instead exploding around their fleet.
Every explosion accompanied by ripping screams and the sound of breaking boards, a tightening ring of fire enclosing them.
More explosion lights flashed in the distance, one after another, yet not directly targeting their main ship, instead tracing an arc on the sea, landing in the surrounding waters.
Explosions connected into a ring, shock waves and the waves lifted by high temperatures pressed in, only then did they understand, this wasn’t a misfire, it was an encirclement.
The pirates’ laughter vanished completely.
Some were scared to their knees, others gripped the mast desperately, the previous arrogance blown away, leaving only fear.
“Steady! Everyone steady!” Bag bellowed, voice almost swallowed by the waves, “They’re not aiming at us, they want to trap us here!”
The fog was illuminated by the explosive fire, turning the sea outside Dawn Port into a massive ring of fire, with the flashes of gunfire forming a complete encirclement.
“We’ve been tricked!” Bag turned sharply, his voice hoarse, “All ships, listen up, break out with all your might! Don’t let them trap us like dogs!”
His response was the continuous sound of explosions and roars.
Bag’s heart pounded wildly, sweat and seawater mixed together as he looked up to see a gigantic silhouette appearing behind the fog, the gunfire from the dam lining up to illuminate the outline of Dawn Port.
Through the fog, an ironclad ship broke through the waves, its metal hull reflecting the firelight, the massive mast casting a shadow on the sea.
The Dawn appeared right in front of them, like a steel beast crawling out from the deep sea.
The searchlight at the bow illuminated the sea, piercing the fog with white light, and for the first time, the pirates could clearly see the massive object, with its thick armor and densely packed cannon ports. It slowly turned, aiming its main guns at them.
“What… is that…” someone murmured, their voice trembling.
Bag hadn’t even had time to curse before the flash from the gun barrels.
Boom!
Six Dawn-class warships were neatly arranged, their metal hulls reflecting a cold light under the glare of the fire.
But strangely, their artillery wasn’t aimed at Bag’s flagship.
Explosions formed a circle around them, forcing their ship closer and closer to the center.
“They didn’t miss…” Bag felt a chill rise from his feet, “They did it on purpose, they want something on this ship, or they want us alive.”
“Fight back! Fight back for me!” he roared, ordering the crew to man the cannons.
A few old ship cannons and crossbows mounted on wooden frames fired in unison, the projectiles hitting the ironclad of the Dawn, merely sparking a few firecrackers.
The sound of crossbow bolts clashing against metal was as slight as toothpicks breaking, utterly meaningless.
“Damn it, this thing can’t be pierced!” the deputy helmsman shouted, looking in horror at the ironclad that didn’t even react.
The Dawn continued to close in, the shadow of the giant ship towering over them like a mountain.
The pirates frantically loaded gunpowder, reloaded crossbow bolts, only to find their firepower was a joke, all attacks easily swallowed by that thick armor.
“What kind of hell is this…” someone said, voice trembling.
Bag’s face turned pale, the helm in his hand creaked under his grip, and he truly regretted now.
Regretted not completing the mad king’s task honestly, regretted that moment of greed.
If only he had delivered the goods back to the Mad Fang ship, he might still be drinking rum now instead of watching death approach.
Bag gritted his teeth fiercely, the approaching ironclad ship reflected in his pupils as he hoarsely roared, “Break out! All ships, charge with all your might! Don’t wait to be trapped!”
“Full speed! Charge!” The sailors were in chaos, ropes flying around, sail lines snapping in the gale.
But the undercurrents entangled them like chains, the hull fixed at the center of wind and waves.
The pirates pushed, crashed, and cursed each other. Someone frantically tried to ignite a cannon to fight back but was overturned by the shock wave.
The sound of oars, roars, and explosions intertwined into a cacophony.
The gun ports on the Dawn flashed again, but this time the shells hit the crest of waves in front of them, the resulting fire wall nearly capsizing the vessel.
Subsequently, six Dawn-class warships gradually closed in, the sound of metal hulls rubbing against each other echoed through the sea fog, like invisible chains tightening.
The boarding bridges were lowered, iron chains smashing into the sea, splashing waves, as the Red Tide Knights leaped onto Bag’s flagship.
Their voices were loud and cold, “Heads down, crouch! Or be slain immediately!”
The pirates were in disarray, someone dropping their weapon in terror, someone hesitating a moment to fight back, only to be torn apart by blades cutting through with Fighting Energy the next second.
Blood permeated the air, firelight reflecting off the Knights’ armor plates, like a merciless judgment.
“Heads down! Heads down, crouch!” a Knight shouted, the pirate beneath him frightened into kneeling and holding his head.
Those still holding weapons had their throats or chests slit by Fighting Energy within moments, unable to let out a complete scream.
Bag watched the scene before him, his face ashen.
He understood in his heart that this was no longer resistance, but slaughter.
He shook all over, laying down the curved sword in his hand, kneeling slowly to hold his head.
The cold sea breeze swept past, the blood droplets splashing onto the back of his neck.
Two Red Tide Knights stepped forward, dragging Bag up and binding his arms with a coarse rope.
The sound of the rope tightening echoed in his ears, but Bag had neither the strength nor the courage to resist, his spirit utterly extinguished.
