Chapter 442: Admiral Lilibet

"What is going on?"

Prince Simon narrowed his eyes as six warships suddenly appeared on the sea ahead.

The fishing boats leading the way immediately fall into chaos. The fishermen turned pale and scrambled to change course, fleeing in every direction like mice seeing a cat.

Desmond’s expression darkened. Hatred and barely concealed bloodlust flashed across his eyes.

"My Lord, those are warships from Gamma City—the Outsiders Navy. Our fishermen have suffered under their oppression for years. Whenever their warships encounter our fishing boats, they chase them away. Many fishermen have been killed or injured, and countless fishing boats have been burned."

He gritted his teeth.

"They claim these waters belong to them and forbid anyone from fishing here without their permission. To them, our fishermen are nothing more than prey."

Elin’s expression turned cold.

"The history books describe the Outsiders as brutal, cruel, and despicable. It seems those descriptions were not exaggerated. When they were still a vassal state of the Eldorian Empire, they treated us with utmost respect. Now that they have allied themselves with the Reavers, they dare to act so arrogantly."

Her voice carried unmistakable indignation.

Simon glanced at her in surprise.

People often described Elin as a strong-willed woman, but he had rarely seen her express such intense patriotism. Her anger was not merely about the mistreatment of a few fishermen. She was offended by the thought that a former vassal state would dare to humiliate the Eldorian Empire and its people.

Desmond was equally impressed. He had always respected Elin, but hearing her words only strengthened his admiration.

"Princess Elin is absolutely right!" he exclaimed. "Now that our fleet has grown into something worthy of the name, I want to deal with these bastards first. Let them understand who has the right to command these waters!"

Simon’s lips curled into a cold smile.

"Don’t worry. They’ll have their answer soon enough."

His gaze settled on the approaching warships.

He had been enjoying a pleasant day at sea, watching the fishing boats work and discussing plans with Elin. Yet these Outsiders had appeared out of nowhere, determined to ruin his mood.

I can’t even enjoy a peaceful afternoon without someone asking to be taught a lesson.

At that moment, the six enemy warships seemed to notice Simon’s fleet.

Instead of slowing down or changing course, they accelerated toward the larger vessels.

Simon watched them approach, his expression gradually becoming colder.

"Elin, it’s dangerous out here. Go to the cabin for now."

Elin understood his intentions. Remaining on deck would only distract him when the fighting began.

She nodded without hesitation.

"Be careful."

Then she turned and headed toward the cabin.

She was not particularly worried about the fleet’s safety. Having witnessed the development of Ashenford’s military firsthand, she understood that its warships were no longer comparable to the ordinary vessels used by neighboring powers.

If anything, she felt sorry for the opposition.

They had no idea what they were sailing toward.

After Elin left, Simon raised his telescope and examined the approaching enemy vessels.

They were typical Outsiders warships, commonly known as board-house ships.

These vessels were large and heavily crewed, often carrying close to a hundred men. Their speed under oars was nothing impressive, but they could maneuver reasonably well in combat, especially when their crews worked together.

The Navy relied heavily on such vessels as its principal warships.

Simon observed the decks.

More than a hundred soldiers could be seen aboard the nearest ship. Some carried bows and arrows, while others held swords, knives, and boarding weapons.

Several archers were already firing at the fleeing fishing boats.

Their arrows fell into the sea or struck the wooden hulls, while the fishermen desperately tried to escape.

The enemy warships relied primarily on wooden oars rather than sails for propulsion. Dozens of rowers worked below deck, driving the vessels forward as they pursued their targets.

"Your Highness, should we attack now?" Desmond asked impatiently.

The hatred he felt toward these men was obvious. After hearing about their crimes against the fishermen, he could hardly wait to give them a taste of their own medicine.

Simon lowered his telescope.

"Are these Outsiders navy fools? Can’t they see our warships? Why are they charging toward us so confidently?"

He paused before adding, "And they dare to do it right in front of me?"

Desmond smiled bitterly.

"Your Highness, they probably mistake us for fishing boats. Ashenford has never possessed a proper fleet of warships before. Besides, our men aren’t wearing armor, and most of our weapons are hidden. From a distance, we probably don’t look much different from merchant vessels."

Simon considered this explanation for a moment before nodding.

"That makes sense."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Very well. If they want to treat us like fishing boats, then let’s play along. Don’t reveal our strength until I give the order."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Desmond immediately relayed the command.

The fishing boats fleeing from the Outsiders continued toward Simon’s fleet. The enemy warships followed closely behind, apparently convinced that their prey was attempting to escape.

On Simon’s ships, however, preparations were already underway.

The gunners moved into position.

The artillery crews checked their weapons and prepared to fire. Meanwhile, the soldiers equipped with flintlock guns loaded their weapons before crouching behind the ship’s sides, keeping themselves out of sight.

From a distance, the vessels appeared almost deserted.

Only the occasional movement of a sailor betrayed the presence of a crew.

Simon stood calmly on the deck, waiting.

The enemy had taken the bait.

Now, all that remained was to close the trap.

***

Aboard the largest warship, an Admiral wearing a scale armor uniform and a metal helmet stood near the bow.

His name was Lilibet. The one overseeing this movement.

He had been examining Simon’s fleet for some time, and his expression turned increasingly troubled.

Never had he come across such a vessel with this kind of design.

Their hulls were unusually large, and the number of sails they carried was far greater than anything he was accustomed to seeing in the Red Reeds Sea.

These were no ordinary fishing boats.

Nor did they resemble the merchant vessels commonly used by the Reavers or the Eldorian Empire.

They were something entirely different.

"Admiral Lilibet, these fishing boats seem terrified," the vice said with a laugh. "Look at them running! They probably think we’ve come to collect their heads."

He pointed toward the largest vessel.

"But I must say, I am really impressed, when did the Eldorian Empire start building such enormous fishing boats? It would be a waste to burn them. We should capture them instead. The king might reward us handsomely."

Lilibet frowned.

Their original mission had been straightforward.

They were responsible for overseeing the collection of abalone around Greenville Island, a valuable source of seafood reserved for the royal family.

Earlier, a fisherman gathering abalone near the island had reported several boats approaching from the south. Assuming the newcomers were fishermen from the Eldorian Empire, Lilibet’s force had immediately set out to intercept them.

After all, Greenville Island was considered a royal fishing ground.

The Outsiders’ authorities prohibited foreign fishermen from operating there, even though the island lay more than two hundred miles from Outsiders territory and only thirty miles from the Eldorian Empire.

To Lilibet, the arrangement had always seemed absurd.

But orders were orders.

And now, instead of finding ordinary fishing boats, he had encountered a fleet of unfamiliar vessels.

"Something isn’t right," he muttered.

The vice admiral turned toward him.

"What isn’t right?"

"Those ships are too large. And look at the fishing boats ahead of them. They’re all fleeing, yet the large vessels aren’t attempting to escape."

Lilibet tightened his grip on the railing.

"Why would ordinary fishermen remain so calm when six warships are approaching them?"

His instincts warned him that something was wrong.

The recent defeat of the order at the hands of the Eldorian Empire had already spread throughout the surrounding kingdoms. More importantly, these waters lie close to the territory governed by Prince Simon, the very man who had defeated the powerful nomadic forces.

A prince capable of such a victory could not be underestimated.

And Simon’s domain lay just across the sea.

If the unfamiliar fleet belonged to him, provoking them might have serious consequences.

"Perhaps we should investigate before making a move," Lilibet suggested cautiously.

The vice admiral’s expression immediately changed.

"Admiral Lilibet, since when have you become so timid?"

His tone was openly mocking.

"Everyone knows the condition of the Eldorian Empire. Their navy has never been anything special. Look at those people on deck. They aren’t wearing any uniforms, and I can’t see any weapons. They must be fishermen or merchants."

He snorted.

"If you’re too afraid to act, I’ll lead the men myself."

Lilibet’s face darkened.

This vice of his, Xabi, had come from the royal city and enjoyed powerful connections within the court. Although his official rank was low, he frequently challenged Lilibet’s authority.

Worse still, he had a habit of treating military operations as opportunities to enrich himself.

Lilibet do not doubt that the prospect of capturing a valuable ship have override Xabi’s judgment.

Nevertheless, he could not afford to let the vice provoke him into making a reckless decision.

"Xabi, we should send a vanguard to investigate first. If the vessels are truly merchant ships, we can capture them afterward."

Xabi scoffed.

"Fine. Send four warships. Let them seize the largest vessel."

He waved his hand impatiently.

"Once we capture it, we’ll know what we’re dealing with."

Lilibet’s expression remained grim, but he could no longer find a reasonable excuse to refuse without risking an open confrontation with the insubordinate vice

Orders were issued.

Four warships immediately broke away from the formation and rowed toward Simon’s fleet.

Their crews worked vigorously, driving the vessels through the waves.

As the distance narrowed, the men aboard the enemy ships carefully observed their target.

The enormous vessel ahead appeared strangely quiet.

Several figures could be seen on its deck, but whenever the Outsiders’ navy looked in their direction, the men seemed to duck behind the ship’s sides.

To the attackers, it looked as though the crew had been frightened into hiding.

Their confidence grew.

"Look at them! They’re scared stiff!"

"Capture the ship! Don’t let anyone escape!"

The men laughed and shouted as their vessels drew closer to the target.

Simon remained motionless behind the ship’s railing.

He watched as the enemy closed the distance.

Then he gave a small gesture.

The men responsible for maintaining the appearance of panic immediately withdrew from sight.

The already excited men on the approaching ships interpreted this as further evidence that their prey had lost the will to resist.

Their warship moved alongside Simon’s vessel.

"Prepare the hooks!"

At the command, several men rushed forward with grappling hooks attached to thick ropes.

They hurled the hooks toward the larger ship.

The iron claws struck the wooden railing and caught firmly.

Other men pulled the ropes tight, securing the two vessels together.

The men erupted in excited shouts.

They had successfully hooked an unfamiliar ship considerably larger than their own. To them, the capture was practically guaranteed.

"Board the ship!"

"Kill anyone who resists!"

"Take everything valuable!"

The first group of men gathered near the boarding points, weapons raised and faces filled with anticipation.

They imagined the wealth waiting aboard the enormous vessel.

Perhaps they would find silk, silver, spices, or other valuable merchandise. Perhaps the king would reward them for bringing such a prize back to their port.

None of them noticed the figures quietly rising behind the opposite ship’s railing.

Then Simon’s voice rang out.

"Fire!"

BOOM! BOOM!

The first artillery salvo tore through the silence.

The explosions were deafening.

The sound struck their ears with brutal force, while the sudden blasts sent shock waves across the water.

Their warship shuddered violently.

One cannonball smashed into its side, splintering the wooden planks. Another struck near the bow, tearing through the structure and sending fragments flying across the deck.

The vessel lurched sideways.

Men stumbled into one another as the ship tilted, and several others lost their footing.

For a brief moment, the entire boarding party stood frozen.

They could not understand what had happened.

Then a line of soldiers rose behind the railing of Simon’s warship.

Each man held a flintlock gun.

The barrels pointed directly at the exposed Outsiders troops.

Before the enemy could react, flames flashed along the line.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

A second wave of explosions erupted.

Smoke spread across the gap between the ships, and the once excited men scattered in panic. Those who had been preparing to board suddenly found themselves struggling to survive.

Their confident advance had turned into a nightmare.

They had approached believing they were hunting helpless fishermen. Instead, they had sailed straight into a trap.