The next morning.
Oren sent his subordinates to the Kingdom of Arthur to invite all the nobles, officials, and merchants to the banquet.
The nobles, officials, and merchants of the Kingdom of Arthur were utterly baffled.
The Kingdom of Arthur was a member country of the World Government and paid Celestial Gold to the Celestial Dragons every year.
Therefore, there was no need for them to deliberately curry favor with the Marines.
What was more, this was merely a colonel from a South Blue branch.
They even needed to notify the Kingdom of Arthur before entering its territory.
Thus, the nobles, officials, and merchants of the Kingdom of Arthur were not very interested in this invitation.
Some sent their stewards, while others did not take it seriously at all.
However, Oren did not mind, because he had already prepared a surprise.
Under cover of night, several ships flying black skull flags quietly approached the coastline of the Kingdom of Arthur.
At this moment, the "pirates" on the ships had gathered together.
Although they were dressed like pirates, they stood ramrod straight like Marines.
"Set fires, cause explosions and panic, and rob the place. Do you understand?"
"Yes!"
"Lord Victor is waiting for our good news, so even if you're caught, don't be afraid. Just keep silent."
"Yes!"
"Move!"
Oren ended this impromptu tactical meeting.
Then he put on a white wig, making himself even more conspicuous in the crowd.
Next, he covered his right eye with an eyepatch, removed his shirt, hung necklaces around his neck, and covered his hands with gold rings. He looked just like a pirate.
"Brothers, strip this place bare!"
"Kill!"
At the captain's command, nearly a thousand pirates charged into Fast Port of the Kingdom of Arthur under cover of darkness.
They beat everyone they saw and set fires everywhere.
They stormed into rooms and robbed them of their valuables.
Soon, thick smoke rose from the port.
"It's on fire!"
"It's on fire!"
At the same time, the pirate ships began firing their cannons. Under the bombardment, the entire harbor soon erupted into flames.
Smoke billowed into the sky.
The entire city fell into panic.
The merchants, nobles, and officials in town were neither deaf nor blind. They knew exactly what was happening outside.
The streets were now in complete chaos, filled with people fleeing for their lives.
"What's going on? How could we be attacked by pirates?"
A merchant stared in disbelief.
They were a member country of the World Government, and pirates generally did not attack them.
Once pirates attacked, they would be hunted down by the Marines.
Moreover, the Kingdom of Arthur had its own royal army to defend its territory.
"Quick, contact General Hammond."
Meanwhile, Count Reinhardt of Fast Port summoned a servant and ordered him to contact the troops stationed fifty kilometers away.
Nearly twenty thousand royal soldiers would certainly be able to wipe out the pirates with overwhelming force.
Of course, to ensure nothing went wrong, Count Reinhardt also contacted the Marines.
By then, the gunshots and screams were growing clearer and clearer, which meant the pirates were getting closer and closer to Count Reinhardt's residence.
"Gather everyone."
The situation was critical, but Count Reinhardt still forced himself to remain calm. He hoped to organize the city's entire military force, along with the nobles' private troops.
He also hoped the merchants could gather their bodyguards.
If they could be organized, they would become a force that could not be underestimated.
However, the merchants and nobles cared only about their possessions and their own safety.
How could they send the guards around them to protect the entire city?
By then, the "pirates" had successfully stormed the entire city and clashed with its defenders.
However, the pirates possessed more advanced weapons and equipment than the defenders.
Soon, the street defense line formed by nearly a thousand soldiers was instantly breached.
These "pirates" were well-trained Marines, and they were more skilled in combat.
"Fire!"
"Fire!"
Some of the "pirates" climbed onto rooftops and bombarded the streets from above, advancing as if no one stood in their way.
The defenders fled in all directions.
The nobles, merchants, and officials each tried to escape the town under the protection of their guards and private forces.
When the royal army arrived at Fast Port, the flames were still burning.
The entire city had just been looted.
The nobles, officials, merchants, and common people were all like frightened birds, trembling with fear.
Fortunately, the pirates had not pursued them.
They had merely looted the shops along the streets, stolen valuables from private residences, and burned some warehouses.
General Hammond had brought five thousand men.
However, all five thousand were army troops—infantry.
The pirates had already escaped.
Those five thousand men were of no use remaining in Fast Port.
Fast Port would also have to provide food, water, shelter, and other necessities for the five thousand soldiers.
It was not until noon that the warships of Marine Branch 189 arrived at Fast Port.
This left Count Reinhardt somewhat dissatisfied.
Before Colonel Malone had fallen, the Marines had needed only three hours to reach Fast Port.
Oren had already changed back into his usual attire.
"Have you found out who the attackers were?"
Oren asked Count Reinhardt.
Count Reinhardt shook his head and said, "It was too dark. We only saw a purple skull on their pirate flag."
"A purple skull?" Oren grunted and had his adjutant record the information.
"Anything else?" Oren continued asking.
Count Reinhardt shook his head. After the pirates broke in, he had fled with his people first.
Although he had considered organizing a counterattack, everyone was running away. It had remained nothing more than an idea.
"Very well. We'll investigate. Once we have the results, we'll inform you."
After saying that, Oren prepared to leave.
"Colonel Oren!" Count Reinhardt hurriedly stopped him.
"Is there something else?" Oren asked with a frown.
How could there not be?
Count Reinhardt grew anxious and said to Oren, "What if the pirates attack again?"
Oren replied, "We'll do our best to hunt them down and protect your safety."
They were merely empty platitudes.
After thinking for a moment, Count Reinhardt said, "Colonel Oren, could you send some troops to garrison Fast Port?"
Oren shook his head and rejected Count Reinhardt's request.
Oren replied, "The Kingdom of Arthur is a member country of the World Government. Fast Port is not World Government territory, so we have no authority to station troops here."
Before Count Reinhardt could speak again, Oren turned around and boarded the warship.
Watching the Marines leave, Count Reinhardt was both anxious and helpless.
At this moment, his butler, Florence, reminded him, "My lord, Count Thompson of William Port is your friend. I've heard that Count Thompson has a good relationship with Colonel Oren. Perhaps you could contact him and have Count Thompson speak with Colonel Oren."
Count Reinhardt thought it made sense.