On a nearby high ground, "Loach" Gaden stood there looking at the flaming fishing village with a smile on his face.
At this time, a small leader ran over from the village and reported to him, "Chief, we have almost robbed everything."
Gaden nodded and said, "Gather everyone together and let's retreat. It would be bad if we attract the nosy Blue-striped Dogs."
"Yes!" The little leader responded before running towards the village.
The establishment of the navy gave the pirates a huge headache, especially the pirates in the waters near Arda, which made them wary even when they landed ashore.
After Alarda Territory master Paul Greiman killed his father-killing enemy Shark, other pirates thought that the lord would stop there and continue to abide by the treaty signed between Northwest Territories and the pirates, turning a blind eye to their behavior of going ashore from time to time to take a break.
Who would have thought that this bastard Shark had stirred up a hornet's nest. The young and energetic lord seemed to hate all the pirates together. After the Public Trial conference that day, a message slowly spread throughout the sea: Earl Greiman was going to destroy all the pirates in Northwest Bay.
This is not bragging, Earl Greiman set up a navy specifically to deal with them.
At first, due to insufficient strength, the navy did not take the initiative to encircle and suppress them, but the pirates still felt the pressure.
Their operations along the coast of Arda began to hit a wall. In the past, the pirates would rest at the place where they plundered for two days after landing, but that was no longer possible. They had to run away immediately, otherwise Arda Navy would catch wind of it and attack them.
It's not like the pirates didn't want to come up for a head-on confrontation, but the opponent was equipped with powerful weapons. Often, before they even touched the opponent, they would hear a strange crackling sound, and a large piece of them would fall down.
It must have all broken up after that, and the pirates finally figured out how the shark was doomed.
They had no choice but to change their strategy. Instead of staying in the plundered area to rest, they just grabbed a handful and left.
But gradually this method no longer worked. Arda Navy sent commissioners to station in coastal villages and towns to reorganize, train and command the local Militia.
Originally, Militia, which was organized voluntarily by the villagers, was just a self-organized group and was no match for the pirates. However, after being trained by the navy, it gradually gained the courage and ability to deal with the pirates.
In view of the fact that the coastline is too long and the navy cannot spread its forces too thin, Austin presided over the construction of a series of coastal defense projects at the beginning of taking office.
He convened representatives from coastal villages and towns at Franklin Harbor and proposed his plan:
Each village and town must build a simple fortress that can accommodate all local residents. Smaller villages will directly surround themselves with wooden walls. It does not need to be too strong, but the defense facilities on it must be able to withstand at least one day and night.
Each village or town will also build a Beacon Fire station along its own coast, which will station local Militia stationed there and organize patrols on the shore.
Once a suspicious ship is found approaching, Beacon Fire will be set on fire. After receiving the warning from Beacon Fire, the people in the village will hide in the fortress and Militia prepare for defense.
Then just wait for the main force of the navy to rush for reinforcements, and don't go out to fight no matter how tempted the other side is.
After entering September, the shore defense projects in coastal villages and towns were gradually completed and played a great role.
Although after pirates attack, some property that is too late to be taken away will still be robbed, the number of people being robbed has been greatly reduced.
The navy immediately dispatched every time after seeing the Beacon Fire alarm, blocking many Pirate Crew gangs that had not yet retreated, and launched several annihilation battles.
As Militia's training level gradually improved, he also learned how to judge the combat strength of the enemy and ourselves, and was able to deal with some small Pirate Crew guys at the right time.
Alarda Territory has gradually become a restricted area for Northwest Bay pirates, and all Pirate Crew guys have moved their targets to grab other territories.
However, fishing boats and merchant ships were still threatened by pirates. After the threat on land was basically eliminated, Austin began to turn its attention to the sea.
Six trained galleys began to patrol the sea, providing escort for civilian ships. Although the sailors were basically newborn calves, due to the presence of muskets and Hand Grenade, they were still a presence that the pirates could not resist. These little shrimps who were left behind by Edward could only fight in gangs. Due to the lack of long-range weapons such as bows and arrows, crossbows, they were restrained by firearms.
At this point, Arda Navy finally became something that pirates were jealous of. Their reputation gradually spread, and their scope of activities became larger and larger. Sometimes they would "cross the border" and teach pirates who plundered the territory next door.
However, one Pirate Crew gang is relatively exception, and that is the "Loach" Gaden gang that gives Austin some headaches.
The "Blue-striped Dogs" in Gaden's mouth refers to Arda Navy. The nickname comes from their white and blue sailor uniform, which has become the symbol of Arda Navy.
The four Pirate Crew gangs who were originally in front of Loach Gang, Shark Gang and Quirk Gang, were killed by Greiman himself because they were seeking death. The other two gangs were also bumped into by Arda Navy when they came ashore and were severely beaten.
Only Loach Gang, relying on his caution and cunning, gradually grew stronger after suffering several small losses.
Unlike his fellow mad dogs who only know how to "rob, rob, rob", Gaden has stationed many informants on land. These informants are either small traders walking in various villages and towns, or local residents who have been coerced and lured. From time to time, they pass on some very useful information to him through some special channels, such as the defense strength of a certain place, the quality and quantity of Militia, whether there are naval activities nearby, etc.
With the help of this information, Loach Gang boldly made a few "deals" that made Arda Navy somewhat disgraceful.
Intimidated by the reputation of the navy, Loach Gang only robbed things in these several operations and did not harm the lives of the citizens. There is a saying among the pirates that the lord of Arda will go easy on the pirates who have no lives in their hands. Whether it is true or not, don't make too much trouble. But they were not so polite to the villages and towns in other territories, and they continued to burn and kill them.
The reason why Gaden dared to do this after Arda became a pirate landing zone is to declare to other pirates: Northwest Bay also has a Pirate Crew that can make Greiman helpless, thereby shaping his prestige in the hearts of the pirates.
Because he gradually had a dream or ambition that he had never had before - to unify the pirate forces of Northwest Bay and become the second Edward.
At first, this was just a thought. When it flashed through his mind, he would laugh at himself. It was simply a daydream.
But as the strength in his hands increased, he became increasingly unable to suppress this idea, which eventually turned into ambition.
And his recent contact with a mysterious figure made him even more persistent in his ambition.