The fireball in the sky grew larger. Shiff Palting and Fiat Gallop finally realized it was Landen riding a Black-Scaled Horse.
"Your Highness, Marquis, are you two enjoying the view?" Landen joked as he landed.
"Looks like you're in a good mood, Your Majesty! Did you wipe out all the pirates who charged toward Pat Town along the way?"
"Those worthless pirates weren't worth my personal attention," Landen said with a smile. "I came to watch Marquis Fiat's navy break the pirate blockade. Marquis, the coastal defense subsidies you've applied for over the past few years would have been enough to buy hundreds of warships. Surely dealing with a few pirate sailboats should be a piece of cake?"
Fiat glanced at Landen. He knew the Mana Web Retainer must have been sure of victory to face the open sea, so he spoke plainly:
"Your Majesty, the sea is nothing like the plains. Naval ships can't hide in the harbor in peacetime and then gather like a Knight Order to fight when war breaks out. My ships patrol the various ports and waterways, and these pirates gathered suddenly. I didn't even have time to muster a fleet to meet them."
"So you really have had a hard time, Marquis," Landen said with a nod. "Have you heard that the greatest difference between naval and land warfare for the Human Race is that naval warfare depends on warships? Once a ship is sunk, no matter how many people are aboard, they're of no use."
As he spoke, Landen took a Magic Pattern Cargo Container from his Space Ring. Behind him, earth and stone gathered into a five-meter-tall, four-armed stone golem.
The golem carefully opened the container, lifted out a three-meter-long Magic Pattern Cannon with a 300-millimeter bore, and rested it on its