Chapter 228: Sensational Battle Results

A vast expanse of white rose from the green waves. The snow-white waves should have surged towards the shore one after another, finally crashing against the stone embankment of the harbor and splashing crystal-clear water droplets.

Unfortunately, this once common sight had now become history lost to the wind. The water surface near the dock looked uncomfortable, with various kinds of garbage floating everywhere, and a faint layer of oil slicks rippling. If not for the waves rising from time to time, it would have been like a pool of dead water.

Economic development inevitably brought a burden to the surrounding natural environment. Although the self-purification ability of seawater was strong, if limited to a certain area, it could easily exceed the load. Fortunately, the rise and fall of the tides dispersed the filthy seawater, so no unpleasant rotting smell had been reported yet.

Looking out, the seawater where the sea and sky met was like a clear straight line. Within this dividing line of sight, the seawater was illuminated by the sunlight, resembling golden fish scales, reflecting a flickering and dancing light. It was as if the two flows were clearly distinct, filled with a strong contrast.

Among the newly added buildings after the pirate attack, streets crisscrossed, dividing the area into blocks. Proper planning made both new and old buildings orderly.

Sailors flooded the taverns on the street, and the so-called “navigators” found everywhere were neither real nor fake. Anyway, these guys were all talking about their thrilling adventure stories of treasure hunting, happy voyages, and records of fighting pirates for a day, or even romantic encounters in foreign lands…

But please do not believe them; nine out of ten of them were liars, and the remaining one was often an exaggerator. Don’t look at those sailors sitting next to these few, as if listening to something. But in fact, those guys with empty pockets were just killing time.

The atmosphere in the tavern at Morbihan Port was relaxed and casual, and the style of decoration appeared elegant and simple. It was neither the magnificent elegance shown by the taverns of the Republic of Tutker nor the vulgar fanaticism seen in the taverns of Shallow Water City.

Girls full of youthful atmosphere, many sitting lazily or playfully leaning against the bar on the third floor. They surrounded a central performance stage, where a big boy with golden curly hair sat. His slender fingers gently plucked the strings, and those light and beautiful notes floated out of the mandolin and danced happily in the air. Coupled with his melodious and ethereal singing voice, the girls nearby not only had rosy faces but also had amorous glances in their eyes.

This professional Bard with a master was a treasure of this tavern. Originally, professionals like him were unlikely to sing in a tavern for a long time. But who told this little guy to be the young owner of this “Siren’s Harbor”!

In fact, not only did those girls often linger here, but many high-level officials in the fleet would also stop by from time to time. The mellow “champagne” paired with some side dishes was the favorite of these managers to show off their refined tastes.

Of course, highbrow art was ultimately a minority in such an environment. Although the profit of high-end alcohol was huge, there was always a serious bottleneck in the quantity consumed.

Therefore, the first floor of the tavern showed a different kind of fanatic atmosphere of hot songs and sexy dances. Since the carnival not long ago, belly dance performances had become popular throughout the Bolerum Territory.

The owner of this tavern even obtained several Moorish dancers from the distant southernmost tip of the Western Continent through his son’s network.

That black girl’s belly dance was full of charm and could be called unique! Amazing round balls shook in front of the drunkards’ faces, making their eyes dazzled. There was even a scent of frankincense from the deep-sea trenches of the ocean!

From time to time, sailors couldn’t help but stuff a Silver Bit inside, and then marveled at the solid feel of the black girl! Don’t look at her dark skin, but it was really fine, tender, and smooth, especially in this weather when she sweated a little, hey! It was really shiny. It felt even smoother, as smooth as satin.

At the same time, there was that smooth and slender waist, and the round, constantly twisting hips. It made people’s hearts shake! The sailors who had drunk some wine could imagine the pleasure of galloping and driving if they drove her carriage! For a time, the first floor of the tavern was not only full of the smell of pheromones but also full of wolf howls.

Appreciating this kind of sexy dance while being slightly drunk, the sailors who hadn’t tasted meat for a long time all felt a rush of fire. Of course, there were innocent young guys too; who hasn’t been a fledgling!

Those young guys just kept sweating! Watching the performance while sweating, and constantly making swallowing sounds. And those dancers also liked to tease these little chicks. A black girl was seen rubbing against the thigh of a handsome teenager! The two big papayas on her body swayed back and forth while riding on him. The little boy’s cute red face was scratched and beaten, really not knowing what it tasted like!

A group of sailors whistled quite unscrupulously, looking forward to that little guy’s next performance. However, that little guy still sat motionless in his seat sweating! His two hands didn’t know where to shake or put, and even his expression became stiff. After a belly dance, that guy looked like he had jumped into the sea and swam a whole circle.

Of course, if any sailor couldn’t bear it and wanted to vent their fire, the small rooms on the second floor were their best place to go. The tavern owner would accept their Silver Bits with a smile as room fees. As for the other price, they would have to negotiate slowly with those dancers or waitresses they fancied. If they really felt they were extraordinarily charming, maybe they could get free service! Of course, it was more likely that the other party would turn around and leave.

Besides the taverns, the red-light district by the docks of Morbihan Port now had a very unique landscape. In summer, the girls there always dressed scantily and crowded on the shore to vie for customers. The upper body had only a few pieces of cloth like a bikini top, paired with the looming tulle skirt on the lower body. Sailors who had just spent a long lonely life couldn’t hold it back at all, and often ran to have fun as soon as the ship docked.

Amidst this noise and busyness, the “True Silver Sword” dragged the big burden behind it. Just like that, it swayed towards its exclusive military dock.

“Look, is that the ship of the legendary ‘Blackbeard’ Edward Teach behind it?” A certain sailor who was patching up spare sails on the ship looked at the “True Silver Sword” returning from the open sea and screamed like this.

His voice immediately alerted his companions nearby who had poor visibility. They all put down their work and stood up. Their attention was not on the “True Silver Sword”, a Cadillac-type three-masted warship. Instead, it was on the severely damaged Carrack sailing ship behind it.

“Pete! There are plenty of Carrack sailing ships, how can you be sure that is ‘Blackbeard Edward’s’ ship?” Someone behind the sailor who shouted first patted his shoulder and asked.

The middle-aged man who was patted on the shoulder shouted: “Didn’t you see the head hanging on the bow? When I was on the ‘Lady Passion’, I once repelled the attack of ‘Queen Anne’s Revenge’ by ‘Blackbeard Edward’. I saw Blackbeard himself that time.”

It could be seen that he was still a bit angry because his previous judgment was doubted.

“Let me see! Let me see!” A group of sailors scrambled to lie on the side of the ship, then stuck out half of their bodies while stretching their necks to look at the sea outside the port.

There was indeed a ferocious human head hanging on the foremast of the Carrack sailing ship. This was a “treatment” that only pirate captains could enjoy, in order to warn all potential elements of the price they needed to pay.

In the eyes of most Lords, any sailor was a potential pirate reserve. Because the history of pirates could be said to be long-standing; it could be said that as soon as there were ships that could sail on the sea, there were pirates. The depression, fear, and oppression by superiors on the ship were also important reasons for the sailors’ rebellion.

Unfortunately, even if the Lords could suppress the ships under their names, they could not point fingers at the ships of other Merchant Guilds. The big shots could only use greater fear to suppress the sailors’ rebellious thoughts. Sailing with a severed head was one of the propaganda methods.

“That head is withered and out of shape. How can you be sure that is Blackbeard! It wouldn’t be just because of that full face of whiskers!” Someone in the crowd immediately raised an objection.

“Isn’t that spiral black beard his best signboard? I don’t think other pirates would dare to learn his signature. That is a very serious act of provocation among pirates. It is said that before this, he had several serious conflicts with other pirates because of this kind of thing, and a dozen people died for it. Plus his Carrack sailing ship, do you think there is any other problem?” This middle-aged man named ‘Pete’ seemed to know these things like the back of his hand!

“If this villain really died, should we go out for a drink tonight to celebrate?” Someone in the crowd immediately suggested.

As soon as the voice fell, someone beside that guy immediately exposed his background: “Which night do you not go out to drink and celebrate? This has nothing to do with whether it is ‘Blackbeard’ or not!”

“If my idea just now is correct, I will take out this month’s wages to treat you to a drink tonight.” As soon as Pete’s voice fell, the group of noisy sailors immediately quieted down.

“I say Pete, it doesn’t matter if your previous guess was wrong. Is it necessary to do this?” The speaker was the Boatswain on the ship. He didn’t want his sailors to be listless for the next few months because of a momentary impulse. That appearance was too affecting efficiency, and it also made him, the Boatswain, look incompetent in managing his subordinates.

“No! My brother died in that resistance against the attack of ‘Queen Anne’s Revenge’. If ‘Blackbeard Edward’ really died this time, I really should treat everyone to celebrate.” As Pete spoke, tears left the weather-beaten face of this middle-aged man.

“If things really have a result, Pete, you should be happy!” The Boatswain immediately enlightened the other party upon seeing this, “We never knew you participated in the action of repelling ‘Blackbeard Edward’ before! You should tell us about it properly when we drink later!”

It was precisely because of this change that before the “True Silver Sword” officially entered the port, the area outside the dedicated pier where it needed to dock was already crowded with people. Fortunately, it used a military pier, and soldiers were specially guarding the connection between the pier and the port.

At the same time, thanks to the illustrious military prestige of the Bolerum Territory during this period, just four guards stopped the onlookers nearly a hundred times their number. Those shirtless, mostly rude sailors did not dare to cross the Thunder Pool half a step.

On the stern deck of the ship, Captain Alexa Copsey looked at the crowded dock and said to his deputy beside him with a bitter smile: “Now we are really famous.”

“Since we have returned victorious, I think the Lord will not force this to be kept as a secret operation. The previous confidentiality regulations were to ensure success before the operation started! Besides, we brought back such a big Loot, even if we wanted to hide it, we couldn’t!” Purser George O’Brien chimed in from the side, but at this time it felt more like self-comfort.

Any soldier longed for a triumphant return, and being able to receive a warm welcome when returning from a campaign would give them great psychological satisfaction. The sense of honor of the soldiers was perfectly rewarded at this moment.

Therefore, the actions of these naval personnel were not without reason. So Alexa Copsey, as the captain, did not stop the actions of the sailors under him based on tradition. At this time, even if he suppressed it with his dignity as a captain, it might not be a good thing.

Watching the increasing crowd in the port, George O’Brien’s expression appeared slightly stunned: “But the reputation of this ‘Blackbeard Edward’ is a bit too big! It even attracted those drunks drinking in the small taverns.”

Just as he said, after hearing the news that ‘Blackbeard Edward’ might be killed, it was not only the seamen strolling on the dock or on duty on the sailing ships. Even people in the taverns came out stumbling and holding onto the walls to see what was happening.

“Perhaps it is because the previous battle was too easy. So we don’t think this so-called ‘Blackbeard Edward’ is anything powerful. But it seems that among those ordinary seamen, his reputation should be quite loud.” Alexa Copsey’s words had more or less some pride. The warship he led completed this operation with extremely low casualties.

Apart from the loss of 1 marine and 2 sailors caused by the suicidal fireball of the other party’s important personnel at the end. In the previous combat phase, only 6 sailors and 5 marines were sacrificed.

The sacrifice of these 14 combatants was exchanged for the complete annihilation of the entire pirate ship. Among them, according to post-war statistics, 89 pirates were killed in battle and 312 were captured. There were also 3 unlucky ones who fell into the sea and their lives were unknown. However, thinking about it in this vast sea, their chances of survival should not be high. But there was no way; those guys as our battle results were of course treated as missing.

George O’Brien leaned against the railing of the deck and said with a satisfied face: “If the legendary deeds of this ‘Blackbeard Edward’ are all true. Then I am afraid no one in this sea area will be able to confront us head-on in the future! Speaking of which, the previous intelligence did not show his identity. I didn’t expect to catch a ‘big fish’ in another sense while completing the mission!”

Listening to his deputy’s overly self-satisfied remarks, Alexa Copsey frowned slightly. He said in a warning tone: “Don’t listen to the rumors among those sailors, you also came from them, you should know how much water is in there. So don’t think that defeating such a weakling, we can challenge any enemy. Besides, when we fought this time, the other side was obviously not in the state. They looked like they had just experienced a hard battle, and the confessions of those captives later also proved this guess. I don’t think we will have today’s luck in every battle in the future. As for the lack of intelligence, we will report to the Lord afterwards!”

George O’Brien heard this and put away his previous cynical behavior: “Okay! Okay! My Captain, now is not the time to be such a spoilsport. I will definitely pay attention to this aspect in the future. But for us now, it should be the time to enjoy the cheers of the crowd.”

Also on this afternoon, George in the City Hall was listening to the mission reports of the two highest commanders of the warship. And Viscount Bolerum was now inspecting his own Manor—actually enjoying a different kind of pastoral scenery. In his words, since it was a vacation, he should relax completely. Don’t bother him with those headache-inducing government affairs anymore.

George secretly slandered his father’s unscrupulous performance; ‘Doesn’t he have any self-awareness as a Lord and an elder? With such a father, I can only sigh secretly. Just treat it as myself, as a child, sharing more for my father!’

Although George knew that during the time his father was in Karada, the official duties in these months were much busier than before. But compared to himself, it actually wasn’t much more. However, because there were too many things to worry about, their efficiency seemed to be unable to catch up with George, so that was why they dragged themselves so tired!

After listening to the report, George lowered his head and thought for a while before opening his mouth: “Hmm! You did a good job this time, but you should also learn a little lesson from the accidents that happened during this. But generally speaking, the flaws do not obscure the jade. This actual combat well verified the results of the previous training. I hope you can summarize your experience, because our second warship is about to be put into service.”