The Sheriff and the Sailors
The two parted ways, and Hansite's figure faded into the night at the harbor.
Rupert casually shook his neck, making a series of soft clicks, then pushed open the creaking wooden door of the tavern next to him. A wave of hot air, a mixture of strong sweat, cheap alcohol, and pungent tobacco, hit him. He went straight to the bar, generously slapped down a few copper coins. "Boss, a medium-sized sweet potato drink, please!"
The warm liquor slid down his throat, a rough sweetness accompanied by a burning sensation. He took a large, satisfying sip and let out a long, contented sigh. Soon, a smile spread across his rugged yet outgoing face, and he easily struck up a conversation with a group of sailors in the corner, their faces flushed from drinking.
"Hey guys!" Rupert pointed out the window to the blurry silhouette of a large cargo ship on the sea, feigning amazement. "That's the biggest one, isn't it yours? Good heavens, look at that mainmast, it must be at least fifteen meters tall! It's really impressive!"
Upon hearing this, a sailor who was enjoying his drink suddenly turned bright red, his neck stiffening as he shouted, reeking of alcohol. "Fifteen meters?! Bah! Who do you think you are! I climb up and down that mainmast every day, no more, no less, exactly fifty-four meters!!"
"Fifty-four meters? You're kidding! Keep it up!" Rupert, looking skeptical, downed the rest of his drink in one gulp and slammed the empty glass down on the table. "Want to bet?!"
Amidst the jeers and cheers of the crowd, a high-stakes drinking contest was decided: if the mast was less than 54 meters high, the boastful sailor would have to treat Rupert to a good drink; if it was truly 54 meters high, Rupert would treat all the sailors to a good drink!
To prove he was "not short of money," Rupert even boldly bid two silver coins on the spot and bought a whole ten bottles of rum at the bar!
The sailors' eyes widened in astonishment. Without a word, they dragged Rupert along, and the group surged noisily out of the tavern, heading straight for the harbor docks.
With the sailors rowing hard, the ferry boat sped towards the large cargo ship anchored in the open sea. The sailors climbed up the cold rope ladder, Rupert following closely behind with a bottle of wine, shouting, "Slow down, slow down!"
After boarding, the sailors personally measured the height of the mainmast and showed it to Rupert, who slapped his thigh in "annoyance" and had no choice but to admit defeat.
The sailors erupted in cheers of victory! They excitedly unscrewed the rum Rupert had brought and drank heartily. Even the sailors who had stayed on board, and even the second mate on duty, joined in.
Free wine is definitely the most enjoyable to drink!
****
Boom!
A deafening roar suddenly ripped apart the tranquility of the harbor! At the entrance of the town, the Holy Knights' encampment erupted in a massive burst of orange-red flames, thick smoke billowing up like a giant python!
At first, the paladin commander's booming, furious shouts could still be heard, "Catch the intruders! Don't let them escape!"
Rupert stood atop the high deck of the cargo ship, his view obstructed by buildings, making it difficult to discern many details. But a smile played on his lips—with Ruixiuli and Jielusi's strength, in this chaotic battle, they were like two ferocious wolves charging into a flock of sheep!
Until the two run out of Magic Power, these paladins have absolutely no way to deal with them.
Sure enough, the shouts and clashing of weapons on the shore became chaotic, scattering from one direction to the other like a disturbed beehive, yet never ceasing. Instead, there were faint screams of agony, and the paladins' furious curses increased significantly. Clearly, the attackers had not only failed to be captured but had also inflicted considerable casualties on them.
Just as the paladins were overwhelmed by the sudden and fierce attack from within, and their attention was pinned down on the town entrance area, figures suddenly appeared in the silent darkness on the outskirts of the town—the damage control team of the Final Bone Mad Machines!
As soon as they appeared, they quickly joined the battle. The balance of power in the paladin's stronghold was instantly reversed!
The roles in the cat-and-mouse game have been reversed; now it's the paladins' turn to play the roles of runners and hiders!
On the deck beneath Rupert's feet, a whole bunch of sailors had already "fallen drunk," lying sprawled out haphazardly. Several men in the cabins who hadn't had a drink and had been awakened by the commotion on shore climbed onto the deck one after another to check the situation.
Every time they poked their heads out, Rupert, who was guarding the hatch, would swiftly strike them on the back of the neck with a short stick, causing them to collapse limply without a sound and be dragged away.
Meanwhile, from another cargo ship anchored a little further away, a gentle and melodious guitar tune drifted out, enveloping the entire ship like a soft tide. The psychedelic and hypnotic music isolated the sounds of fighting on the shore, spreading an eerie tranquility and peace throughout the deck.
Rupert squinted and saw that the sailors on watch on the ship's deck, amidst the strange music, were losing their senses, leaning limply against the ship's railing or slumping on the deck, falling into a deep sleep.
"Heh—" Rupert chuckled softly, "This old bard has quite a few tricks up his sleeve!"
Rupert slowly pulled a small bottle from his pocket. Inside was pure, unadulterated sweet potato wine. He uncorked it, took a delicious sip in the night breeze, and the spicy liquid slid down his throat, bringing a familiar warmth.
Mission 1: Attack the port. Successfully completed!
He raised his wine jug towards the chaotic fire and thick smoke in the distance and silently toasted!
****
Before long, Stacy, riding the giant dragon Yin'er, flew to the vicinity of the Pansy.
Searchlights swung back and forth. The Silver Dragon stretched out their enormous wings, forming a band of light reflecting silver against the night sky.
The unicorn, Qiluo, was too lazy to fly herself, so she comfortably lay on the broad back of the Silver Dragon, enjoying the ride.
The dragons began to descend, preparing to land.
The Sea Eagle Beast had previously dominated the aft deck had become incredibly docile. They resignedly allowed themselves to be led away by the trainees in the animal husbandry team and pitifully crammed into the narrow gap between the heavy cannons and railings on the foredeck, curling up in a ball, not daring to resist or make a sound.
With a wave of his hand, Su Ming summoned hundreds of necromancers to begin their work. Accompanied by a creaking sound, the rear structure of the Pansy began to change shape and reassemble under the control of the necromancers.
The hull, which was originally almost vertical, extends outward, forming a distinct outward-flaring structure. The aft deck, which was only twenty meters wide, has been expanded to a width of about fifty meters, and its length has also increased slightly.
Pansy - Partially modified.