Redbeard

As Ronan and the others entered White Harbor, it was noon, and everyone was hungry. Daisy was also pestering Belicha, saying she wanted to eat White Harbor's specialty seafood. Unable to refuse her, Belicha led the team to White Harbor's largest and most famous tavern, "Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals."

The group sat down at five tables, each ordering a series of seafood like crabs, lobsters, and abalone. Since Belicha was treating, Ronan didn't hold back, secretly telling Nord to bring out their real skills.

Seafood was served plate after plate, and Ronan and the others began eating, dipping it in the tavern's special sauce. One bite, and the freshness of the seafood and the unique flavor of the sauce exploded in his mouth, completely different from the seafood he'd eaten in his previous life, yet with its own distinct taste. It made Ronan eat quite a bit.

Seeing Daisy cutting a piece of abalone with her knife, the line "Why be so harsh on each other?" spontaneously popped into Ronan's mind. However, Ronan didn't dare to say it out loud, fearing Daisy would pester him endlessly to explain its meaning. And if Daisy knew the true meaning, Ronan feared he'd have to die to atone.

While Ronan and the others were enjoying their meal, a new group of customers entered the tavern. These people immediately caught Ronan's attention, not because of any beautiful women among them, but because each of them had a live snake coiled around their head, still flicking its tongue.

Ronan couldn't help but turn to look at Belicha. Belicha understood his meaning and couldn't help but roll her eyes. She thought Ronan, their leader, was good in every way, except he was like a curious child and knew very little. Belicha leaned in and quietly said to Ronan:

"Those are people from the Snake Worshipers, also a religion from another continent. However, they aren't well-regarded on that continent because most of their followers are ruthless and cold-blooded, like venomous snakes."

"So, they're an evil cult?"

"Shh, keep your voice down! But you're not wrong. However, on the Slovak continent, multiple religions coexist and are often in conflict. The Snake Worshipers also have a city-state that worships them there, and their influence is significant."

"Doesn't the Holy Cross Kingdom do anything about it?"

"They're here for trade, not to spread their religion. Although the Holy Cross Kingdom rejects foreign beliefs, they don't excessively antagonize followers of other faiths, except for some fanatics. They don't just go around crusading against heretics."

Ronan secretly glanced at the Snake Worshipers a few more times before losing interest and focusing on the food in front of him. However, what Ronan and the others didn't notice was that as soon as they entered the tavern, a person in a black robe quietly left from a corner.

Danger was approaching, while Ronan and the others were still feasting.

At sea outside White Harbor, six wooden ships, each about thirty meters long, were sailing slowly. Judging by the flags flying from the ships, they belonged to a pirate crew. However, a pirate group with six ships was very rare, as the seafaring people were not very united among themselves.

On the leading ship, a man wearing only a sleeveless vest, with his chest open to reveal eight-pack abs and strong arms, walked onto the platform above the captain's cabin. This man looked very young but had a thick, dense red beard.

"Brothers, look here!" As Redbeard shouted, the pirates on deck, who were either drinking or wrestling, all stopped and looked in Redbeard's direction. It seemed he had quite a bit of prestige.

Nodding with satisfaction, Redbeard shouted to the pirates again: "Brothers, I have another big plan!"

"Roar!" The pirates below roared. After all, Redbeard's big plans always allowed them to plunder to their hearts' content, and Redbeard's pirate group had gradually grown stronger, with seafaring people coming to join them from time to time.

"Who are we?" Redbeard asked.

"Brave seafaring people!" the pirates responded.

"What are we?"

"Redbeard's Pirate Crew!"

"So?"

"We are invincible!"

Seeing that the pirates' morale was high, Redbeard nodded with satisfaction, raised his wine glass, and started gulping it down.

At this moment, a pirate closest to him asked a question. This was Redbeard's first mate.

"So, boss, which merchant ship are we robbing this time?"

"Good question. We're robbing White Harbor tonight!"

The pirates, who had been noisy moments before, suddenly fell silent. Redbeard, who had been gulping his drink, frowned, put down his glass, and looked around. The pirates around him were all staring at him, dumbfounded.

"What's wrong?" Redbeard asked, confused.

"Boss, did you say White Harbor?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Boss, White Harbor of the Holy Cross Kingdom?"

Redbeard slapped the first mate on the head. "Spit it out if you have something to say!"

"Boss, that's White Harbor, which has over a thousand garrisoned troops! We have less than three hundred people at full strength, how can we rob it? Besides, no seafaring person has ever attempted to rob a port of that kingdom for a thousand years. That's suicide!"

"Nonsense, I am the invincible Redbeard. Do you think I don't know what you're talking about? I have a meticulous plan. We'll do this, then that, and with inside and outside cooperation, we'll catch them off guard, then quickly retreat. Their warships are currently patrolling the shipping lanes and won't be able to catch us!"

"After we finish this job, we'll immediately leave this sea area and move to a new region. Just as you said, no seafaring people have ever accomplished such a feat. If I succeed, my name will be renowned, countless seafaring people will flock to join me, and becoming the Pirate King will be within reach!"

After hearing Redbeard's words, these simple-minded pirates thought it might actually work, so they cheered again. Seeing the atmosphere on the ship become lively once more, Redbeard laughed heartily, picked up his wine glass, and began gulping it down.

Redbeard's pirate crew was slowly approaching White Harbor, while the Moran assassins hidden within White Harbor had also gathered.

"Are you sure it's them?"

"No mistake. According to the information you gave me, they fit the description perfectly. However, there have been some personnel changes, and some individuals look difficult to deal with."

"No matter what, this is the last chance. I've already contacted Redbeard; they will attack the port tonight. While they create chaos and draw the guards' attention, we will act. We must capture the girl alive; the others' lives don't matter!"

"Arrange for some people to disguise themselves and stay in the rooms next to them. Have you found the mercenaries I asked you to look for?"

"Yes! The mercenaries have been arranged. These guys are from the Slovak continent and will return with a merchant ship tomorrow."

"Alright, everyone go and prepare!"

The people in black robes around them nodded in unison, and half of them went out to start preparing. The other half also took off their hoods.

"Sir, is there any risk in us forging orders to call upon the kingdom's hidden outposts here?"

"As long as we capture the girl and bring her back to the kingdom, it will be fine. If we fail, we'll likely die here. What more can the kingdom do to us?"

The last person took off his hood, revealing the dark brown, furry head of an Orc. It was none other than Guldan. It was unclear how these foreign races had managed to infiltrate.