Pirates Meet

The morning sun spilled onto the deck, the salty sea breeze carrying the scent of wood shavings.

The sailors wiggled their backsides, scrubbing the deck with rags, while Kaia stood at the helm and roared:

"You land-lubbing idiots who don't know a thing! Scrub the deck until it's clean enough to reflect the blue sky and white clouds!"

"I must have been blind to pick a bunch of sloths like you from Blue Bay Island!"

Arthur drank a cup of rum, struggling to swallow the dry, rock-hard bread; the coarse flour scratched his throat, feeling as if he were swallowing tree branches.

The Age of Navigation was touted as the era of "Great Geographical Discoveries," with "ships laden with mountains of gold and silver," but the food was hardly worth mentioning.

The Old Continent suffered from a shortage of grain, and fresh delicacies were reserved for the nobility because freshness meant a high price.

Yet, while sailing on the high seas, one could not catch the fish in the water!!!

There was a curse associated with ocean voyages: using live bait to fish would attract schools of sharks.

Arthur was skeptical of this, but he respected the customs of the sea.

Another rule stated that fresh fish could not be eaten, and a specific "Fish Prohibition" had been enacted, claiming that eating fresh fish would bring misfortune.

Arthur was deeply skeptical of this as well; while water mixed with rum could quench his thirst, it could do nothing for his churning stomach.

Hardtack crawling with weevils, rotting salted beef glowing with a greenish hue, pea soup that had congealed into a stone...

He decisively took a Large Yellow Croaker that had been hanging by the captain's cabin door overnight; having been dead for a night, it was no longer "fresh."

"Mickey!"

"Captain!"

Mickey ran over nimbly, took the Large Yellow Croaker from Arthur's hands, and without a word of nonsense, pulled out a small knife to clean it at the edge of the deck.

Soon, a bonfire was lit on the deck, the Large Yellow Croaker simmering in a boiling pot, with buckets of seawater placed in a circle around the fire to prevent any uncontrollable blazes.

Mickey shouted to the side: "One bowl of fish soup for everyone; the boatswain, the gunnery officer, and the helmsman get a piece of fish meat."

"Long live the Captain!"

The sailors stared at the fish soup, gulping down their saliva. Arthur's rations were hardtack, but theirs were weevil-infested hardtack.

It had more protein than Arthur's, but it was still spoiled food.

Drinking cups were repurposed into soup bowls, and the sailors shared the hot fish soup—the best seasoning for their stiff, spoiled, dark cuisine.

Half of the Large Yellow Croaker lay on a silver platter, and Arthur elegantly cut the fish with a knife and fork, enjoying the hot, pungent meat.

Compared to books and mysticism, perhaps he should consider finding a cook.

After finishing the warm breakfast and extinguishing the sinful flames, the sailor who had gone to deliver the message returned in a small boat.

A sailing ship flying a black pirate flag furled its sails nearby, and the sailor rowed hard to meet them on the empty sea.

"Mickey, let's go."

Wiping the grease from his lips, Arthur took Mickey in a small boat to meet with the pirate captains.

Captain Rosen of the Giant Catfish Pirate Crew, Captain Harlin of the Tuna Pirate Crew, Captain Tom of the Yellow Croaker Pirate Crew, Captain John of the Jellyfish Pirate Crew, and Captain Poison Needle of the Sea Urchin Pirate Crew.

Captain Poison Needle of the Sea Urchin Pirate Crew had a rather peculiar name, and his entire body was wrapped in white bandages.

In a word: strange!

"Lord Arthur, why aren't you enjoying the graceful dancers on Rhine Island instead of summoning us here?"

Captain Rosen hugged a barrel of rum, drunkenly teasing Arthur: "I heard that the northern end of the Tanmot Continent is selecting healthy slaves to send to the Old Continent."

"Captain Rosen is drunk," Arthur said, unbothered, "I naturally have a big deal I want to make."

"A big deal?"

"Indeed. Attack Rhine Island, plunder the port warehouses, and spread the fame of our pirates across the sea!"

Arthur spoke in a heavy voice, his tone laced with a hint of seduction; the power of the Moth surged, stirring the passion and greed of these captains.

"A reason. I need a reason."

Captain Poison Needle of the Sea Urchin Pirate Crew spoke in a hoarse voice, staring straight at Arthur.

Arthur leaned back, resting his hands on the side of the boat, and said indifferently:

"The reason is that the Sky Thief stole from the Rhine treasury, and Governor Drew is busy sending people to catch the thief."

"The Rhine fleet has a total of 12 warships, and the main battleships have all been sent out to search for the thief."

"He cannot, will not, and dare not move against the merchant ships docked at Rhine Island, but we pirates have no such qualms."

Captain Tom raised a question: "You are a lord conferred by the royal family; are you willing to abandon your title for that bit of wealth?"

"For that bit of wealth?!!"

Arthur's voice rose a hundredfold, his gaze toward Captain Tom as if looking at an idiot kicked in the head by a donkey.

"Spices, sugar, jewelry, and gold on a single cargo ship—even if it's just one crate—how many merchant ships pass through there?"

"We only need to replace all our ballast stones with cargo, and before the damned navy can provide support, we will hoist our sails and head to the ports of the Xiya Empire, where we can live in luxury for decades!"

Arthur tossed out an enticing condition with indifference: "During these few days on Rhine Island, I have been keeping a close watch on their coastal cannons and fleet."

"If we can catch them off guard and seize control of the coastal cannons, the returning fleet will only be able to watch as we plunder."

His advantage was clear at a glance; Rhine Island was like an unlocked treasure chest, waiting for brave pirates to pry it open.

Captain Rosen was somewhat moved, yet he remained hesitant. Having already offended the Xiya Empire, he was wary of crossing the Sun Never Sets Empire as well.

He could only flee toward the Portugal Empire, hoping the merchant ships there would not be too tempting.

"How will we split the loot afterward?"

Captain John asked a moronic question.

Arthur replied: "How much you can grab depends on your own capabilities. With our current manpower and ships, it is impossible to take everything."

"Once you seize the goods and take them out, finding someone to sell them to is up to your own ability."

"After plundering Rhine Island, you are still thinking about meeting up to split the spoils? Are you worried that the Tudor Royal Navy is too slow?"

Captain Poison Needle asked again: "Where does Lord Arthur intend to go?"

Arthur said casually: "The new trade routes, of course. There is no Royal Navy there, and this haul will be enough to buy a private island."

"I shall purchase some slaves to serve me; being the lord of an island is far freer and more enjoyable than being a title-only lord!"

"Agreed!"

"We accept!"

"When do we strike?"

"The sooner, the better. The Rhine Island fleet returns to resupply every two days. They are resupplying on the island today, so we shall attack at dusk three days from now."

Arthur added another note: "You may contact other pirates, but do not let the news leak. Otherwise, do not blame me for chopping them up to feed the sharks!"

"Rest assured, Captain Arthur. We have extensive experience in plundering; who would dare leak the news!"

"We'll send them straight to the bottom of the sea!"

Five pirate ships with rich combat experience and ample firepower reached a consensus, preparing to rally a group of smaller pirate bands.

Arthur's eyes flickered with a fervent fire. That night would be absolute!

It would be absolutely, incredibly intense!