Chapter 125: A Formidable Foe Attacks

Chapter 125: Chapter 125: A Formidable Foe Attacks

On the calm surface of the sea, a mottled fishing boat sailed slowly.

Vili sat at the bow, working the oars and stirring up circles of ripples.

The sea breeze brushed his face, seabirds cried out, and occasionally he could even see fish leaping from the water. Vili quite liked this feeling of drifting on the sea. ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Of course, this was a leisure that ordinary fishermen could never experience. Leaving aside the fact that they went to sea to make a living, just being able to travel so far in a fishing boat was beyond the capabilities of a normal fisherman.

Journeys far from the coast usually required three to five people or more, taking turns rowing, resting, and replenishing their stamina. In addition, they had to carry enough food. Even though the ocean was full of fish, they couldn’t just be eaten raw after being caught. Forget the taste; constantly eating raw fish would be too much for the body to handle. As for cooking them, a typical fishing boat didn’t have the facilities for that.

But for Vili, none of these were problems. His abundant stamina allowed him to row for long periods, and he could go for extended durations without food and not have it affect his physical condition.

The two target islands for this trip were not particularly far away. At his current speed, Vili could reach one of them by the afternoon.

Vili rowed while gazing at the boundless sea in the distance.

If he were just an ordinary person, drifting alone on the sea, he would probably feel fear as well.

’The ocean must have Extraordinary Creatures in it, too...’

The thought suddenly occurred to Vili.

Since there were all sorts of Extraordinary Professions and Magical Beasts on land, it only made sense that the ocean would have Extraordinary Creatures as well.

However, in all his days in Blue Whale Town, Vili hadn’t heard any legends of sea monsters. The fishermen living here rarely told the kind of bizarre stories about the ocean’s secrets that he remembered from his previous life.

’Perhaps this stretch of sea just doesn’t have any Extraordinary Creatures. In other waters, that might not be the case...’

Vili had always felt that the oceans, larger even than the landmasses, must surely nurture similar Extraordinary Beings.

...

While Vili sailed across the sea, a fleet of fully armed ships set out from a massive island.

Over a dozen large ships led the way, each one capable of easily crushing fishing boats and small transport vessels. Behind the large ships was a line of medium-sized vessels, about the same size as the patrol boats of Blue Whale Town.

Judging by the scale alone, there were certainly more than eight hundred people aboard.

The fleet moved with incredible speed, sailing majestically into the distance.

Upon seeing them, smaller Pirate ships roaming the seas quickly turned and fled. Nearly every Pirate who saw the fleet wore a complex expression mixing terror and reverence.

This was because, on the lead ship of the fleet, they saw a massive flag flying high.

On the flag was a blood-stained, broken seashell. Growing from the shell was a large tree with branches twisted into a ghastly face.

This was the new sigil of the Green Shell Pirate Gang—the new power formed by the merger of the Green Tree Pirate Gang and the Shell Pirate Gang.

A Pirate Gang a thousand men strong—a military force that, on land, could rival a Viscount.

The eyes of every Pirate watching from afar glinted. What a wonderful thing it would be to become a member of such a colossal Pirate Gang.

However, they were also well aware that a ragtag group of small fry like them would never be noticed if they tried to join the Green Shell Pirate Gang. In fact, there was a good chance they’d be swallowed up instead.

There were no rules among Pirates. Not only did they plunder territories on shore, but they also preyed on each other.

’With a mobilization of this size, some territory is about to have a very bad day...’

This was the grim thought on the minds of the small-time Pirates watching from afar.

The Green Shell Pirate Gang’s first battle since its formation would surely be a show of overwhelming force, leaving a river of blood in its wake.

...

「Blue Whale Town.」

Condas was working in the temporary coastal defense office by the sea when he suddenly heard a commotion outside.

His brow furrowed. Just as he was about to get up and check, a Guard burst in, his face pale with panic.

Condas was about to scold him when he heard the Guard say in a trembling voice, "Lord Condas, at the shore... a massive fleet has arrived at the shore! It looks like a large Pirate Gang! There might be more than five hundred of them!"

"A large Pirate Gang of more than five hundred men?!"

Condas’s heart skipped a beat.

"Are you certain? Didn’t the patrol boats send back any specific news?"

Condas asked urgently.

"The patrol boats haven’t sent back any news at all,"

the Guard replied hastily.

Condas’s heart sank. If he wasn’t mistaken, the patrol boats had probably already been wiped out.

"Prepare for battle!"

Condas grabbed the Knight’s Lance beside him. "Go report this to the Lord Baron! Quickly!"

"Yes, sir!"

The Guard scrambled out.

A deep worry flashed in Condas’s eyes. He had a gut feeling that Blue Whale Town was in serious trouble.

Without further hesitation, Condas strode out of the coastal defense office, his Knight’s Lance in hand.

The moment he stepped outside, Condas was met with a staggering sight.

A succession of huge ships was approaching the shore, their Pirate flags dancing in the wind. The sunlight reflecting off the sea from the horizon was exceptionally glaring.

’The Green Tree Pirate Gang, the Shell Pirate Gang... they’ve merged...?’

Condas’s arms were trembling, but he forced himself to calm down. He roared, "Assemble!!"

「Meanwhile, at Baron Enton’s Manor.」

Baron Enton was leaning back in his chair, flipping through reports from various sources.

Suddenly, Baron Enton felt a strange sense of unease.

He knitted his brow and put down the documents in his hand.

’Is it because I’m too tired...?’

The workload these past few days had left even someone of his Knight Level feeling weary. This fatigue wasn’t physical, but mental.

With Vili and Jarvis away wiping out those four small Pirate Gangs, the only Advanced Combat Power remaining in Blue Whale Town were Condas and Baron Enton himself.

This made Baron Enton a little worried. The lack of Advanced Combat Power left him feeling insecure, and he was beginning to regret sending Jarvis and Vili out on their own.

But then, Baron Enton gave a self-deprecating smile.

’I’m overthinking things. Vili and Jarvis will be back in less than three days. What could possibly happen in such a short time? The odds are too low.’

At this thought, Baron Enton felt much more at ease.

’Perhaps I should get a good night’s sleep tonight,’

Baron Enton muttered to himself.

Just as he was thinking this, a Guard suddenly burst in.

"Lord Baron, a large Pirate Gang is attacking!"

"What did you say?"

Baron Enton shot to his feet, his expression grim and uneasy.