At the sound of the steam whistle, brief panic broke out in the dining room. The passengers stopped using their knives and forks, looking around in confusion.
It was only natural that they did not immediately think of pirates. Unlike freight routes that prioritized speed and low cost, passenger ships usually chose safe waters that had been cleared by the navy and the Church of Storms. As long as they did not stray from their course, they rarely encountered pirates foolish enough to launch a raid.
Unfortunately, the City Breaker seemed to have other intentions. With its sails spread wide, it cut diagonally across the Blue Mountain Rose's path at high speed, sailing against the wind with its sails angled. At its current speed, it would intercept the Passenger Ship within half an hour at most.
Meanwhile, the Blue Mountain Rose was traveling directly against the wind. Though it was a modern steamship capable of sixteen knots, it could not even reach three-quarters of that speed. Turning would take it into waters of unknown conditions, leaving it trapped between advancing and retreating.
The City Breaker had chosen this moment to appear only after the most meticulous calculations and careful consideration.
—This analysis had all come from the seafaring-savvy Helene. Angel knew nothing about navigation.
As the whistle gradually fell silent, a burly man led several armed Sailors into the dining room. Claiming to be the ship's second mate, he announced that pirates were attacking and ordered everyone to return to their cabins, lock their doors, and wait quietly.
He did not ask armed passengers to join the Sailors in resisting, nor did any passengers volunteer. Ever since King of the Five Seas Nast had established the "rules of the trade," most pirates only robbed people and did not kill them.