The Torrential Rain

Sailing into the wind and rain at full speed toward Rhine Island, Arthur gave no answer to the other captains. He answered with his actions!

Passionate shouts rang across the sea as the Great White Shark charged forward without fear!

"Oh! Damn you, Arthur!"

Captain Rosen stared at the sails of the Great White Shark and roared, "Full sail!"

"Full sail!"

"Let those damn Lobster Soldiers see a pirate's cutlass!"

Cheers and roars erupted aboard the Giant Catfish Pirate Ship. A sail rose up the mast as it followed the Great White Shark Pirate Ship.

Rhine Island.

Governor Drew held out his left hand. Raindrops pattered against his palm, and the drizzle darkened his expression.

The island's greatest defense was the coastal cannons positioned around its harbor, which could effectively strike ships in the distance.

The sudden drizzle had soaked the cannons and gunpowder. Whether they could even fire was now in question.

Governor Drew could only hope Arthur would betray the pirates at the crucial moment, using the cannons to cripple one or two ships and hold out until Lord Eisen returned.

One hour!

All Lord Eisen needed was an hour to return with the main force and trap the pirates in Rhine Port. Then not a single pirate would escape!

As he watched the distant horizon, a mast appeared in view. The Great White Shark's flag fluttered in the wind and rain.

Governor Drew's heart jolted. They were finally here.

Then he looked around the Great White Shark and saw no other pirate ships. A deep suspicion rose in his heart:

Why weren't there any other pirate ships?

Had Arthur deceived me?

Or was the Great White Shark charging at the front?!

His deep suspicion soon turned to fear, taking root in his heart. Governor Drew saw the pirate ships raising their sails behind the Great White Shark.

The sea breeze blew against Arthur's face, as if it meant to blow his captain's hat away. He held it down with one hand and laughed loudly:

"The fierce wind is trying to blow my hat away. It's a sign that a storm is coming!"

"Brave sailors! Don't stop! Don't stop!"

"We'll charge onto Rhine Island in the storm and plunder spices, jewels, and gold! Let the king's dogs howl with regret!"

His passion blazed. He couldn't wait to storm Rhine Island!

Kaia still had his wits about him. He went over to Arthur and asked, "Captain, shouldn't we lower the sails? At this speed, we'll hit the rocks along the shore!"

Arthur looked toward the harbor and shouted back to Kaia:

"No! We won't slow down!"

"We'll crash into it like heroes! The storm will soak the gunpowder, and cutlasses will decide the battle!"

"Remember Captain Arthur's words, everyone! Storm the warehouses in Rhine Port, kick those damn Lobster Soldiers aside, and take the little boats in the harbor to get away from land!"

As if in answer to Arthur, raindrops joined together and slammed into the sailors' faces. The pain stirred their courage.

Wind and rain poured down from the sky, soaking the pirates' gunpowder, the gunpowder on Rhine Island, and Governor Drew's hopes of victory!

Watching the ships that never stopped advancing, Governor Drew could no longer stay calm. He roared:

"Everyone, prepare for battle! The damn pirates are here!"

"Show the pirates that the Empire's steel will mercilessly slit their throats!"

Donning thick armor, Governor Drew took up a broadsword and stood in the downpour, ready to meet the pirates' assault.

"Wahaha! Change course! Head straight for the coastal cannons at Rhine Port!"

Captain Rosen slapped the ship's prow and shouted, "I'm going to storm the Governor's Mansion on Rhine Island and leave a pirate's mark on the governor's bed!"

The storm was the pirates' signal to charge, stirring the sailors' courage.

The pirates who had followed Arthur had been blessed with perfect weather.

One pirate shouted, "Praise the God of Storms! Under your watchful eye, we'll plunder the king's wealth!"

Eight pirate ships charged Rhine Port from different directions.

The Great White Shark didn't lower its sails. At full speed, it slammed into the harbor's pier.

The wooden pier shattered with a crash. The violent impact sent sailors sprawling, while Arthur stood at the bow and raised his cutlass!

"Brave sailors! Make the Lobster Soldiers tremble!"

He leaped from the bow and charged toward the harbor warehouses. The Royal Navy guarding the port wore red uniforms and leveled long-barreled muskets, their bayonets aimed at Arthur.

Arthur swung his cutlass and easily disarmed the Lobster Soldiers. As they cried out in alarm, he strode toward the warehouses.

The sailors who had recovered from the shock leaped off the ship and charged up to the harbor along ropes and planks.

Cutlasses sliced through the navy's throats as pirates revelled in the storm.

Kaia raised his cutlass and roared, "Let's teach these king's dogs a lesson!"

With that, he stabbed a sailor to death. His blood washed into the sea with the rain.

Seeing the Great White Shark head straight into the harbor, Rosen suddenly ordered, "We're taking our ship straight in, too!"

"What?!"

"Captain, have you lost your mind?"

Rosen pointed at the Great White Shark and said in a low voice, "Don't forget—we're plundering Tudor's harbor!"

"This is a challenge to the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets!"

"The navy on Rhine Island is still behind us. They can turn back and blockade the harbor at any moment, leaving us stranded like fish on dry land."

He bellowed, "There are free spices and tobacco in those warehouses. Every crate is worth a chest of gold!"

"Grab any small boat you can find and load it up. Anyone who leaves late will be trapped here!"

"Charge!"

"Heave-ho! Heave-ho!"

Poison Needle, captain of the Poison Needle Pirate Ship, was looking out from his ship when he suddenly turned to his first mate:

"Pass on my order. Every sailor is to take his personal belongings and abandon ship."

"Captain? Without cannons, it'll be hard for us to survive at sea."

"After we plunder Rhine Port, we'll head to the Xiya Empire and buy pirate ships. The Xiya royal family will welcome us with the highest honors!"

"Yes, Captain!"

Furious, Governor Drew directed the navy in its defense against the pirate invasion. He stood alone in the downpour, leaning on his broadsword, unsure where to go.

Three pirate ships had disregarded the damage to their hulls, barged straight into the harbor, and landed on Rhine Island.

The other five pirate ships attacked Rhine Island in small boats.

Watching the pirates bear down on him, Governor Drew stood frozen, gritting his teeth. He wished he could tear Arthur to pieces.

"Arthur!"

With a scream of rage, Governor Drew hefted his broadsword and strode toward the pirates from the Great White Shark. A chilling aura radiated from him.

It was over! Everything was ruined!

The moment the pirates landed on Rhine Island, his honors, achievements, status, and gold were all gone!

Arthur reached the warehouses at the harbor and kicked over a pile of goods. White cane sugar spilled across the ground, soaked by the rain.

Governor Drew's roar carried on the sea breeze.

Arthur continued into the warehouse, kicked open a locked wooden door, and sent a barrel tumbling with one kick.

Rhine Port suddenly descended into chaos. The sailors moored on Rhine Island heard that pirates had landed.

At first, they didn't believe it. But soon, the panicked shouts from the harbor unsettled the sailors and captains.

"Sailors of the Oak! Follow me and protect the cargo!"

The sailors without employers stood stunned for a moment, then followed them out in a steady stream.

The pirates had landed on Rhine Island. Surely it wouldn't hurt to help themselves to a little cargo, would it?