Even with a total of eight thousand ships, many were unable to move due to maintenance or various issues.
However, this many should be enough.
On the bridge of the space battleship, I sat in a specially prepared chair, leaning back.
The bridge was spacious, with over a hundred people working busily.
Since this was my flagship, there were more people than on a regular battleship.
While watching these busy people,
"Are we ready to depart yet?"
The soldiers exuded a tense atmosphere, but they were deferential to me as a noble.
This is the usual scene in the empire.
"We are currently preparing. My lord, are you sure about this?"
In response to the commander's confirmation, I dismissed the conversation with "You're being too repetitive."
This is just a routine battle.
Victory is a given.
I was grinning to myself, eagerly anticipating the treasures the pirates possess.
"By the way, they seem to have been stockpiling, right?"
The soldiers exchanged glances.
"Yes, that seems to be the case."
"What they'll do with it once they get it—looking forward to it already."
The surrounding people were dumbfounded by my smile.
â—‡
The Gorez Pirate Gang.
The largest pirate ship was Gorez's flagship.
It was a space battleship from a destroyed nation, which he liked for its size and had modified, leaving little of its original appearance.
Gorez, on the bridge, was laughing with his hand on his forehead.
"Coming out? Oh, a kid is going to fight seriously?"
The surrounding pirates were also laughing.
The Gorez Pirate Gang had never lost before.
A small, border baron family with no knights was no match for them.
"I'll acknowledge their spirit. Hey, tell everyone that if we capture them alive, the reward will be doubled. This time, I'll play with that kid."
The deputy smiled.
"You really like that, don't you?"
"Occasionally, it's fun to deal with a kid who's trying to be cool. After it's over, I'll torment the defenseless citizens."
Gorez was thoroughly ruthless.
Over the decades, no one knew how many lives he had taken.
All of this was due to the golden box he had obtained—the Alchemy Box.
In simple terms, it was a device that could turn any non-living material into gold.
Created with lost technology, it could never be replicated.
Besides gold, it could produce mithril or adamantite.
It was truly a dream-like device.
"Well, let's teach this ignorant kid what real war is."
The pirates already considered themselves victorious.
And for good reason.
The force disparity was six to one.
They didn't need to devise a strategy; a direct assault would suffice.
â—‡
It was a few days after leaving the territory that we faced the pirates.
I was sitting in a chair, listening to the commander's instructions.
More importantly, I wanted to hear this.
The chair I was sitting in was so high-performance that it was scary.
My back didn't hurt even though I was sitting.
I could sleep comfortably in this chair.
I started to doze off with my eyes closed.
For a few days, we were adjusting our positions and changing formations.
Leave it to the experts. I just watched.
However, even though I didn't interfere, the battle didn't seem to be starting.
I could understand that we were at a disadvantage due to our smaller numbers.
I asked a nearby soldier.
"When will it start?"
"My lord, it has already started. At this scale, we can't just collide. However, the enemy has a significant numerical advantage, so we are struggling."
"I can't see the enemy."
"In space, the distance at which you can see the enemy is quite close."
"I think I remember learning that."
I might have studied it in an educational capsule, but I hadn't received proper military training, so I had forgotten.
Still, the soldier next to me wasn't overly flattering.
Even if he flattered me, I would appreciate his honesty since he was working for me.
We were adjusting our positions and closing the distance, apparently timing our moves.
It seemed that checking radar and instruments was the norm for combat.
Still, how many days would this staring contest take?
The commander muttered.
"At this scale, it wouldn't be strange to have a strategist."
The pirates seemed well-organized, and he looked frustrated.
I talked to the soldier next to me, who had apparently been in the imperial army.
"Is the battlefield always like this?"
"Not usually. The commander is also struggling with when to launch an attack."
We were gradually closing the distance and changing formations.
Although we couldn't see each other visually, we were aware of each other's presence.
Then, an operator shouted.
"Communication interference! The enemy is coming from directly above our fleet! Number: five hundred!"
As communication interference occurred, about five hundred pirate ships suddenly attacked from directly above.
The commander gave orders.
"They've made the first move. Prepare for interception! Don't take your eyes off the main enemy fleet!"
Our fleet quickly turned the bow upward to intercept the attacking pirates.
The commander looked frustrated.
I asked the soldier next to me.
"Isn't dispersing forces a bad idea?"
"It's an action to disrupt our formation. Even if we intercept quickly, it will create an opening."
"Why don't they just launch a full-scale attack from the start?"
The soldier looked frustrated, as if he had just realized something.
"My lord, those are not pirates. Well, they are pirates, but they are defectors from other nations' militaries."
They were not from the imperial army, so they were likely from other interstellar nations.
They were the ones attacking.
I had a hunch.
"They're using the defectors to launch the attack—still, if they could cause communication interference, why not do it from the start?"
"Doing so would also interfere with their own communications. Consider it a strategic move."
Without communication, orders can't be given—very troublesome.
Still, the attacking pirates were expendable to the pirates.
As the attacking pirates launched their assault, we retaliated.
Beams and lasers were exchanged, and the dark space was briefly illuminated by flashes.
â—‡
Gorez was clapping on the bridge.
"The kid isn't bad. Or maybe his subordinates are good?"
Although five hundred of his allies were defeated, it didn't matter to Gorez.
He had a significant numerical advantage, and losing them wouldn't hurt.
The deputy also had a relaxed smile.
"Commander, the enemy is in disarray. It's time to attack."
The Banfield family's fleet was in chaos due to the communication interference—the deputy's assessment was that it was time to strike.
While the five hundred expendable ships were fighting, the pirates closed the distance.
Gorez shouted bravely.
"Men, charge! Teach the confused ones the pirate way!"
The pirates charged in unison.
Although their formation was disorganized, they didn't care, thinking the enemy was in chaos.
However, waiting for the charging pirates was a trap—mines.
The leading pirate ships were caught in explosions, and more explosions followed.
"Playing clever tricks, huh?"
They probably scattered the mines while they were staring each other down.
Still, the damage was minimal.
The deputy was unfazed.
"They're putting up more resistance than expected."
Gorez was laughing.
"It's more fun when they can entertain me. A little damage—"
Suddenly, the vanguard was hit by an attack from the enemy.
"—What?"
Gorez raised an eyebrow, looking at the deputy, who was slightly flustered but quickly responded.
"It seems the enemy has a well-trained fleet. Their equipment is also of good quality."
Gorez clicked his tongue.
He couldn't gauge the enemy's situation due to the communication interference, but it seemed they had quickly reorganized and were waiting in ambush.
"Nice work. But what of it?"
The numbers were still in their favor.
As the pirates began their attack, they exchanged fire.
The leading group was engaged in intense combat.
However, Gorez was out of reach.
The energy shields of the escort ships protecting the battleship were impenetrable.
The enemy's attacks were no threat.
"Push forward! We have the numbers. Overwhelm them with numbers!"
It was just a bit more resistance.
Gorez's perception was that simple.
In reality, the distance to the Banfield family's fleet was closing.
The deputy was predicting the enemy's movements.
"An ordinary noble's private fleet would likely retreat at this point. It would be easier if some ships fled."
If one ship fled, the others would follow, and the fleet would disintegrate.
Chasing fleeing ships was easier, so the deputy hoped for that.
"More challenging since they're not fleeing. We'll thoroughly crush them as you wish."
"Understood, Commander."
A poorly trained noble's fleet would have some ships fleeing when at a disadvantage.
It was simply due to lack of training.
The Banfield family was fighting cohesively, which made it seem like they were holding their ground.
The charging pirates.
The two of them noticed something was off when the intense combat continued.
Gorez stood up from his chair.
"—What is this?"
The monitor showed a close-up of the enemy fleet.
The enemy was maintaining their formation and not retreating.
However, they didn't seem to have lost their will to fight.
The deputy was surprised.
"Not retreating? No, they're advancing—this distance!"
Gorez shouted at the surprised deputy.
"Deploy the mobile knights! All bodyguards too!"
The distance had closed to the point where human-shaped weapons could be used.
Moreover, the enemy had already deployed their mobile knights, attacking the leading group.
"A kid with some backbone. I'll capture him and make him my toy."
Gorez was irritated with Liam for the first time.
â—‡
On the bridge, the captain near the commander was giving orders one after another.
The strategists were also monitoring the battle and giving instructions.
It was quite chaotic.
The soldier who had been dealing with Liam—looked at an unoccupied chair.
"Really going out?"
—He was perplexed.
Liam had been assigned to the flagship to deal with him, but now Liam was saying he would go out in a mobile knight.
Liam had given the order to charge and was now on the battlefield.
Therefore, the commander and strategists were very busy.
"Deploy the mobile knights! Don't let the lord be taken down!"
"They're breaking through the escort and charging!"
"What are you doing!"
The bridge was in a panic due to Liam's charge.
The soldier looked up at the large monitor, watching Avyd.
"Is this what a knight is?"
A knight, different from a soldier, was a special existence.
Simply put, they were extremely capable.
This was the result of physical enhancement and education from a