Ghost Ship
On the battlefield, speed is of the essence. After agreeing, Hudson did not delay and immediately took Cayo on the road, flying directly to Hansen Port.
Looking at the naval fleet assembled by the Dalton Family, Hudson was so envious he was practically drooling.
There were two first-class capital ships (over 3,000 tons), five second-class capital ships (over 2,000 tons), thirteen third-class capital ships (over 1,000 tons), and more than thirty auxiliary warships of various types.
Judging from the lineup, it's clear that the Dalton Family suffered a significant loss in the previous naval battle. They've probably sent all the warships they could muster nearby, obviously not intending to leave any way out for the pirates.
Hudson had no sympathy for the pirates. Anyone who could engage in such a risk-free business was guilty of all sorts of crimes. He believed that they should all be dragged out and beheaded without any injustice.
"Kayo, send your men on their way!"
Hudson said without changing his expression.
No matter how envious you are, you can't show it. If people think you're a country bumpkin, that would damage your image.
Despite the size of the fleet, the navy does not hold a high position in the Dalton Family, or rather, in most countries on the Aslant Continent.
Their base is on the mainland, so no matter how powerful their naval fleet is, they have no way to land.
Most nobles do not value the development of the navy, Dalton Family was able to field such a force mainly because of the needs of maritime trade.
For Hudson, building such a fleet would not be difficult.
As long as you're willing to invest the money, you can build a ship in two or three years; the problem is that you don't have officers and soldiers who can operate the warship.
The sailors acquired from the royal family were only capable of operating warships; their overall quality was not high.
This means that for a long time to come, the Mountain Territory's naval fleet will be nothing more than a facade.
With their superior ships and cannons, they could probably bully small groups of pirates without much trouble. But if they encountered a regular army, then tragedy would ensue.
Pale-faced Cayjo nodded to Hudson, then, still dazed, ordered the middle-aged man, "Uncle Byron, order the fleet to set sail!"
He had barely finished speaking when he started vomiting on the ship. Clearly, getting Giant Dragon mount wasn't so easy.
Viscount Cayou, having received his travel pass, was constantly seeking thrills. After this unforgettable journey, he probably never wants to come back a second time.
Maxim has a temper. Not everyone can enjoy the treatment of Dragon Knight unless the pay is increased significantly.
There was no time to negotiate the price before they hit the road, so their treatment was naturally not very good.
Hudson had originally wanted to help Caio, but considering that talking about money might hurt feelings, he simply let him choose between riding a griffin or Giant Dragon.
Young Viscount Cayou unfortunately chose the latter. He now had something to brag about to his friends, but the price he paid was quite high.
A minor incident, but it didn't affect the trip. After experiencing the charm of the sea from the deck, Hudson decisively went to the cabin.
Originally, he wanted to command the fleet to roam the four seas, but the wind and waves were too strong to withstand the turmoil, so he had to cancel the plan.
Perhaps in order to save time, the Magic Array was already operating at full speed, and there was no time to calculate the exact sailing speed.
After just one experience, Hudson knew that the overall performance of his warship, which was still on the slipway, was already outdated.
Times are progressing, and technology is evolving. Hudson suddenly understood why the Church people were so quick to trade technology back then.
It was obvious that they were taking advantage of the fact that the Mountain Territory was poor and backward. By the time the mountainous region had completed its initial capital accumulation, its original advanced technology had become outdated.
In fact, even after so many years, Hudson still hasn't been able to fully digest the technology he acquired back then.
To be precise, all the shipbuilding technical data was lying dormant in the warehouse, untouched by anyone. Even after acquiring the Berkshire Shipyard, they still couldn't digest it.
During the feudal lord era, population mobility was very low, and the materials were filled with a large number of specialized terms with regional dialects, which no one in the Mountain Territory could understand.
If they hadn't acquired Berkshire Shipyard, Hudson might have actually gone to the Church's shipyard to arrest people if pushed to the brink.
It's not necessary now. At this moment, the Mountain Territory needs time to digest the Berkshire Shipyard data, so there's no need to rush to decipher these shipbuilding documents.
The differences in shipbuilding philosophies Aslant Continent are still quite significant. With the added element of magic, it's very difficult to reach a consensus on the technology.
After all, science doesn't apply here.
The quality of a shipbuilding concept depends only on the initial construction phase; the subsequent supporting facilities, such as Magic Array and Magic Crystal Cannon, are the decisive factors.
Various seemingly unreasonable and unscientific layouts, when combined with extraordinary factors, can all become logical and reasonable.
If you don't understand, just join. Hudson isn't a shipbuilding engineer; there's no need to get bogged down in this.
"Barbarian Beard, what are you doing? Why haven't you found Poison Dragon Island after traversing the mist for so long?"
The old man, dressed in Ritual robe, reprimanded sternly.
Although the Aslant Continent does not have a coastline, everyone generally agrees that whichever sea a family is closer to is their sphere of influence.
The nearest country to the Poison Dragon Island waters is the Alpha Kingdom, so the Alpha people naturally consider this area to be their own sphere of influence.
Because the area lacks economic benefits and ships are prone to getting lost there, it is considered an ominous place, and the Alpha Kingdom does not care about Poison Dragon Island.
If they sneak over, no matter what they do, I reckon no one will know.
Unfortunately, they had just clashed with the Dalton Family's navy, exposing themselves. If they didn't finish their business and leave quickly, it wouldn't be so easy for the other side to escape once they realized what was happening.
"My lord, the waters around Poison Dragon Island are also known as the Misty Sea. The area shrouded in mist is said to cover hundreds of thousands of square kilometers. The entire area consists of only one island, and there are no reference coordinates."
Here, the average person's line of sight is less than 100 meters. All around, it's a hazy, gray expanse.
Ships are most likely to lose their way once they enter this area. Whether they can reach the legendary Poison Dragon Island depends entirely on luck.
Back then, I was able to leave this place safely thanks entirely to the protection of the Lord of Dawn!
Barbarian Beard hurriedly offered an explanation.
To prove he had done his best, he held up the nautical chart and pointed to his hair, which was almost bald from being pulled so much.
The elderly Ritual was about to erupt in anger when a middle-aged knight behind him pulled him back. In this unusual place, the pirates before them were far more reliable than this group of experts.
If they accidentally get lost here, even these top experts on the continent could lose their lives.
"Alright, Yosip. If Poison Dragon Island, one of the ten most dangerous places, were so easy to find, it wouldn't have such a great reputation."
"Barbarian Beard, continue the search according to your experience. If we haven't found Poison Dragon Island in seven days, we'll leave this area."
Yelachich said with a friendly expression.
But to the Barbarian Beard man, this scene was far more terrifying than the old Ritual's reprimand. At least the former was a normal person, while the latter was simply a madman.
To ordinary people, the Cenobites of the Church are a group of morally perfect people who are devout, virtuous, humble, and hate evil.
But the Barbarian Beard who followed the Church knew perfectly well that it was all an illusion. The Cenobites weren't so noble, and the Church wasn't so corrupt.
Their faith is genuine, but everything else is fabricated. Most Cenobites are madmen, having dedicated their lives to the gods, their minds filled with the glory of the Lord of Dawn.
The reason he's easy to talk to now is because he's one of the few people on the mainland who entered Poison Dragon Island and came out alive.
If the task isn't completed, the other party will turn on you in the next second. In the eyes of these lunatics, gods are the greatest.
Pirates who are incompetent have no value whatsoever; their very existence is a desecration of the gods.
From the moment they started this operation, these lunatics probably already considered them pirates as dead men.
"Please rest assured, my lords, I will definitely find Poison Dragon Island!"
Barbarian Beard hurriedly assured him.
Deep down, he was already cursing. Why hadn't the Dalton Family arrived yet? Without outside help, he had no way to turn the tide!
The number of pirates was indeed large, but most of them were just strong men with some fighting skills; they were essentially a rabble. They might be able to bully ordinary people, but they were utterly insignificant in the face of extraordinary power.
There are now Church agents on every ship, ostensibly for their convenience, but in reality, they are there to secretly monitor him and prevent him from playing any tricks.
After a slight hesitation, the Barbarian Beard spoke again, "My lords, the fog obscures our vision too much, and Poison Dragon Island is not very large. We might not even notice each other if we just pass by."
If a mage could intervene and dispel the fog around the fleet, it would be a great help in the search for Poison Dragon Island!
His sincere face revealed no problem. Having a magician dispel the fog enveloping the fleet seemed plausible.
The only problem is that there are no mages among the pirates, so the only ones who can help are the Church. Exhausting Magic Power in such a place is also a dangerous thing.
"Good!"
Yelachich agreed so readily that Bishop Josip couldn't stop him in time. After a slight hesitation, he finally nodded.
Even without the mages in their party, they were confident they could suppress the pirates. Even if the pirate leader before them was truly scheming, they were confident they could handle him.
Beyond the fog, Hudson and his group stopped in their tracks.
"Lord Count Hudson, the misty area ahead is the famous Poison Dragon Island Sea, which we also call the Misty Sea."
The fog on the outer edges wasn't too thick, but visibility decreased significantly the further in you went, making it impossible to discern directions. Once you ventured deep inside, it was very difficult to find your way back, and ships disappeared here every year.
Only a rare, once-in-a-decades sea storm can dispel the fog and reveal the true face of this sea area.
The kingdom has also organized people to explore this mysterious sea area, and even set foot on the legendary Poison Dragon Island, but the island is too dangerous.
Of the 300-strong expedition team, only five survived. The survivors seemed to have experienced a great terror and remained silent about what happened on the island; we had no detailed information.
What remains uncertain is whether the pirates who entered this area stumbled upon it by accident, or whether they went there specifically to search for the legendary treasure.
Poison Dragon Island is too dangerous; even if you venture deep into it, you might not encounter the pirates.
Near the Misty Sea, only this route has been opened up; the other areas are unfamiliar waters, full of unknown risks. If they survive, they will most likely have to return from this area.
Whether they wandered in by mistake or were searching for treasure, all we need to do is block them here!
Byron explained with a smile.
Chasing a criminal on the vast ocean requires skill. If you foolishly follow the enemy blindly, you won't even know how you died.
The risks of unfamiliar routes are simply too numerous: unpredictable storms, Sea Tribe that hate humans, powerful magical beasts, and unique terrain...
In either case, the fleet would suffer heavy losses, or even be completely wiped out.
"Okay, then let's wait a bit..."
Before Hudson could finish speaking, three strangely styled ships came into view in the distance.
Even from several miles away, he could feel an evil aura emanating from the depths of the abyss.
Byron, standing nearby, exclaimed in surprise, "Ghost Ship!"
Three Ghost Ship are heading in our direction.
Oh no, we're being watched!
"Pass down the order: everyone prepare for battle immediately. Load all Magic Crystal Cannon and aim them at the three Ghost Ships. Fire as soon as they enter range!"
Hudson had heard of the infamous "Ghost Ship." Those who made a living at sea feared nothing more than encountering these monsters.
It is said that the "Ghost Ship" are filled with ghosts, some of whom still retain some memories from their previous lives. Even though they have been dead for many years, these guys still believe they are alive and often come out to rob merchants.
If you encounter them, it will be a bloody battle. Ordinary physical attacks have little effect on these monsters.
Only extraordinary powers like knights and mages can truly kill these ghosts.
The problem is that these ghosts will quickly respawn on the ship after being killed. Only by destroying the Ghost Ship itself can they be eliminated.
Newly built Ghost Ship are similar to ordinary ships, and they are not difficult to destroy.
However, Ghost Ship and ghosts can also grow stronger, constantly increasing their power through slaughter. Some powerful Ghost Ship can even be troublesome for armies.
Most of the time, the best option when encountering Ghost Ship is to fire immediately. If you're lucky, the Magic Crystal Cannon will intimidate them, and these guys will leave on their own.
Once they get close enough to engage in a bloodbath, the losses are often devastating. Given the strength, the navies of all major powers will do their utmost to encircle and destroy Ghost Ship they encounter.
"Uncle Byron, are these three Ghost Ship very powerful?"
Viscount Cayou asked, his face pale.
He suffered quite a bit along the way. First, he was tormented to the point of vomiting by Maxim's pranks, and then he was tossed about by the wind and waves at sea.
Byron had originally arranged for a priest to treat him, but the venerable Viscount Cayou, who valued his life, declined and instead took a magical potion.
"Ghost Ship usually appear alone, rarely in groups, and they always appear at night."
The fact that the ghosts on the ship can come out to rob during the day means that they have grown to the point where they can ignore the damage from sunlight.
The fact that the three Ghost Ships are moving together suggests that the ghosts on board possess considerable intelligence, or that they have regained many of their memories from their previous lives.
The last time we wiped out a Ghost Ship that appeared in broad daylight was thirty years ago. We lost three warships and more than eight hundred soldiers, including an Earth Knight.
Three Ghost Ship have appeared together in broad daylight, the most recent one occurring over a century ago. We've run into them today; a fierce battle is likely in store!
After expressing his admiration, Byron suddenly said, "Count Hudson, your strength is the greatest."
"Once the fighting starts, I'll have to rely on you to destroy the Ghost Ship!"
Deep down, he secretly admired Count Pierce's foresight in securing strong support in advance.
If it weren't for Hudson, a powerful enforcer, his first reaction to these situations would have been to order a hasty retreat.
He should run as far as he could; experience told him that he should never engage in a head-on confrontation with Ghost Ship whose strength was unknown.
Against these monsters, no matter how many ordinary soldiers there are, it's meaningless. Only true masters can eliminate these bizarre creatures.
"Don't worry, I'll find my chance to make my move!"
Hudson said calmly.
Deep down, he was starting to suspect he was the main character. He'd only come along as a side character, hoping to gain some naval combat experience, and then he'd run into Ghost Ship of this caliber.