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Chapter 837: Battle Starts
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Honestly speaking, Fred’s taste in art was really nothing great.
In the captain’s cabin, Fang Yuan mostly saw gold and silver artifacts.
It seemed that in the eyes of this captain, only precious metals were real currencies.
Of course, based on the difficulty of disposing of stolen goods, this notion was also understandable.
“As for these oil paintings, statues, and so on, they were most likely moved here because they couldn’t be sold?”
Fang Yuan was disdainful when he discovered Fred’s small vault. Between the mezzanine, there was a small box that contained all kinds of gold coins and gems. A conservative estimate of the total value was roughly five to six hundred gold coins.
“Greed knows no bounds… If it were Donald when he was still a voyager, he would have taken this sum of money and enjoyed a life of retirement long ago…”
Fang Yuan shook his head when he noticed a certain rod-shaped item inside the treasure box. Its surface was golden, and it was even embedded with multiple huge pearls.
“All right… He really knows how to have fun. Don’t know which unlucky noble lady he snatched this trophy from…”
Fang Yuan was somewhat speechless as he closed the box. He made a decision—he was definitely going to immediately spend this sum of money to either raise Mockingbird’s fighting strength or use it to bribe people.
Honestly speaking, Mockingbird was also just a common armed merchant ship, and Fang Yuan had thoughts of replacing this ship a while ago.
Unfortunately, given his current financial resources, it was simply not possible.
However, if a pirate was lucky, it was certainly an industry where one could reap a windfall.
No money? That was too simple. Just ruthlessly rob a few times, and you could have everything.
“My pirate ships certainly won’t be limited to just one ship. A true flagship should at the very least be at the standard of Ettoman’s steam-powered armored warships…”
Fang Yuan used his cutlass and went ransacking around the captain’s cabin. Unexpectedly, he really did find an item that caught his eye:
[Four-leaf Clover Charm]
[Ingredients: Silver, Four-leaf Clover Juice]
[Description: This is a charm that has been exposed to mysterious powers and seems to be able to bring its owner a certain amount of good luck.]
[Status: Sealed]
…
“The Pirate System developed by the main body even has this function. It seems to be pretty good!”
Fang Yuan gazed at the small object in his hand.
It was a silver charm that had a four-leaf clover carved in it. “The workmanship is rough and primitive, seems to be some witch’s product. Moreover, it’s currently sealed…”
Of course, even if Fred had a dozen such charms on him, he still would not have had any chance since Fang Yuan had wanted to kill him.
Just like a ball of flames, how could it set the ocean on fire? It was practically a pipe dream for a charm’s power to be able to interfere with such an enormous source.
Nevertheless, it still had some effect on ordinary people.
“However… it’s sealed!”
Fang Yuan could slightly sense the powers contained within, and it was not much. If it was directly placed on him, it would whittle away in a few days.
“I wonder how many gold coins a charm with mysterious powers can be sold for… I have to build a true warship for myself as soon as possible. After all, I’m someone who is going to become the Pirate King!”
Fang Yuan thought indifferently, “Wait a moment… It’s too troublesome to build a ship myself. I might as well steal one since I’m currently a pirate anyway…”
Thump! Thump!
At this moment, someone was knocking on the door hastily. “Captain…”
“What’s the matter, Bill?”
Fang Yuan opened the cabin door and looked at his new appointed second officer.
“The lookout has spotted a ship!”
Bill swallowed his saliva.
“Oh? Bring me there!”
Fang Yuan immediately became energetic upon hearing this.
When it came to sailing on the ocean, it was normal to be unable to find a target for weeks.
Even if they were fortunate enough to meet one, it was also possible that the ship was fully armed.
The majority of real pirate teams did not have any business for half a year, and once they did, it would last them for another half a year.
Fang Yuan had long made up his mind to display his might in the next pillage. This ship truly came at the perfect timing.
“Hmm…”
On the crow’s nest, he picked up a spyglass and immediately saw the silhouettes of two sailboats on the horizon.
The ship was huge! Furthermore, there were two of them!
That was his first impression.
Presently, most merchant ships placed the transportation of goods as their primary priority. Thus, they would build their ships as large as possible while considering its speed at the same time. On the other hand, pirate ships were very focused, emphasizing on speed and the capability to quickly transport arms.
However, for the ships that were entering his line of sight, one was bigger than the other. It looked as though it was a merchant ship with its corvette, but something was fishy.
“If it’s really a merchant ship and its corvette, something is amiss with this scale. Instead, it’s more like…”
Fang Yuan grinned evilly after realizing something.
As the ships came closer, the view also became increasingly clear.
The outsides of the two ships were full of bullet holes, as though they had just experienced a great battle. Moreover, the pirate ship at the front was actually hauling the merchant ship behind it.
“This is a pirate ship that has just finished pillaging and is bringing along its loot!”
At this moment, not only did Fang Yuan confirm it, but the experienced pirates also had, revealing subtle expressions.
Although piracy was at its peak in this world, the top rule for pirates was that there were no rules! Profits above all else!
Even with the suppression by the Pirate King, it could not stop the young ones from pursuing wealth, regardless of whether that wealth came from a merchant ship or from other pirates.
In fact, battle between pirates themselves was the third most common cause of deaths among ordinary pirates, after annihilation by navies and resistance from merchant ships.
The ship across from them had also obviously discovered Mockingbird and hoisted up a skull flag. At the same time, there was also a blood-colored flag that was sending signals.
“Bill, what are they saying?” Fang Yuan naturally was unfamiliar with the flag signals among pirates and called his second officer over. “Also, do you recognize their flag?”
Pirate teams all possessed their own identity, and this was even reflected in the fine details of their flags.
“Yes… they’re the Ferocious Tiger Pirate Team! Fred knew their captain…”
Bill gulped and said, “In this sea area, they’re undoubtedly the boss. At least… they’ve already made their name known!”
In comparison, Fred’s position among the pirates was just the captain of Mockingbird, and it was at a totally different level compared to the captains of famous pirate teams.
One had their reputation still tied to their ship, while the other’s reputation had already taken root in their pirate team!
“Great! Pass the order down—prepare for battle!”
Fang Yuan drew his officer’s sword.
As a pirate, who could see a ship but not rob it?
Furthermore, the pirates they were planning to rob had just finished its pillage. It was evidently an attractive and easy target.
How about I just become a pirate that focus on robbing other pirates in the future! However, the key is still to first establish a name for my pirate team…
Fang Yuan slowly thought about it and then looked at the combat personnel gathering in front of him. “I won’t say anything further—rob that ship and the loot is all yours!”
“But… that’s the Ferocious Tiger Pirate Team!” said a cowardly voice.
Without a second thought, Fang Yuan threw a knife.
Poof!
The small knife stabbed straight through the throat of the pirate that just spoke, right to its handle.
“I call the shots. You only have the right to obey, understood?” Fang Yuan’s voice was cold.
“Understood, Captain!”
The other pirates looked at their comrade’s corpse and quivered in fear.
After all, their captain was an Extraordinary who could rob a ship single-handedly.
“Rest assured, Boss. Leave the boarding battle to me!”
Butcher’s tall figure emerged from among the pirates and smiled goofily.
After saving this subordinate’s life, Fang Yuan had obtained an oath of allegiance from him.
“Very good. Bring out your wolf spirit… I want to lead all of you to conquer the Nightmare Ocean, the Golden Ocean, and the Golden Sea Route. What is a mere Ferocious Tiger Pirate Team in comparison?”
Fang Yuan laughed heartily.
In reality, he was not the least bit optimistic about these pirates.
After all, this pirate team had just undergone a bloody fight and suffered heavy injuries. Also, it was the critical period where they had faced a change in leadership.
It was not a problem to rob an average merchant ship, but to directly engage in battle against another pirate team? He was afraid that once the situation was unfavorable, they would immediately surrender!
Thus, he needed to help them.
“Prepare seawater. I’m going to conduct a blessing ceremony!” Fang Yuan ordered. He had the pirates take out their weapons and soak them inside a huge barrel.
“With my blessings, your weapons will temporarily become sharper!
“Your firearms will find its target much more easily than usual!
“You will always be more energetic than your enemies!
“You will be luckier than your enemies!”
…
Finally, Fang Yuan thought for a while before taking out the four-leaf clover charm. With a swipe of his hand, there was a flash of bright light, and from the charm, a hazy ring of light entered the water barrel.
The enhancements such as sharpening were the abilities of the Dream and Armament Master. As for the enhancements in luck, he borrowed the charm’s power.
Although the effects were definitely going to be much weaker, as he had changed from a single target to multiple targets, it was still better than nothing.
“With Captain leading us, we’ll surely gain victory!”
Butcher revealed a sinister smile as he grabbed his huge cutlass that was glittering coldly and had suddenly risen in sharpness.
But for Bill, who was looking at Fang Yuan from the side, his mind was in a whirlwind.
The captain’s identity as an Extraordinary was publicly known long ago.
But at the start, the abilities that he had revealed were fearsome hand-to-hand fighting skills, just like he was a giant prehistoric beast.
Afterward, he had used a bag of healing water to cure Butcher, acting as though he were a cleric.
Now, he even had the ability to provide blessings and enhance the sharpness of weapons.
This truly somewhat puzzled him about what kind of Extraordinary his boss was.
After all, in the rumors, although these mysterious powerful beings had strange abilities, it was only in a certain aspect. They were absolutely not as well-rounded as what Fang Yuan had displayed.
Could he be… This moment, a thought involuntarily crossed his mind. Could he be a warlock or sorcerer like described in the legends?