Extraordinary Voyage-Chapter 579 - 511: Each’s Scheme
Southern Tulip Islands.
Ilya Kingdom, Balero Port.
Dong——
A seemingly unremarkable white-sailed merchant ship quietly docked at the pier under the cover of night.
Hundreds of sharp-eyed, fiercely-spirited sailors, each with a pirate saber at their waist, disembarked in an orderly manner under the leadership of a short-haired young man. After confirming there were no abnormalities nearby, they stood at attention on the dock.
Only then did a "middle-aged merchant" in a silk robe, looking quite prosperous, slowly step off the boat.
On the surface, apart from the eight highly distinctive beards under his chin, he was no different from any other grand merchant.
However, a colonel who had been waiting there with two pale-faced subordinates quickly approached, showing not the slightest hint of the pride typical of a kingdom's officer, and bowed deeply in greeting:
"Lord Hawkins, welcome to the Ilya Kingdom.
I have prepared the best hotel for you. After your long journey, please rest in Balero tonight. Tomorrow, Viscount Jerome and Earl Wright will meet you at the residence.
As for the Royal Capital Viana, it's still under the control of the Royal Family, my apologies, please forgive us."
Clearly.
This prosperous merchant was the recently dormant Black Sea Pirate King "Octopus Ghost" Hawkins. At this moment, he had restrained his formidable Tier 4 power, transforming back into his seemingly unremarkable, harmless mercantile guise.
Looking at the humble, bowing young officer before him, Hawkins patted his shoulder with his metal-glossed left arm and said kindly:
"Thomas, as my disciple, there's no need to be so reserved.
In this New World we'll establish on Ilya, there will be a place for you, and it seems that future isn't far off anymore.
From now on, you must learn how to be a true 'Exiled Prisoner.'"
"Yes, my lord!"
Though he replied affirmatively, Thomas kept his head bowed.
Having experienced the harsh blows of society, this silver-spooned young man had become completely different from his former self.
Especially with the crowned skull with eight octopus tentacles branded on his right forearm, constantly reminding him to hold reverence for power.
He glanced at Heimer, following behind Hawkins, with brown short hair, handsome yet brooding.
The young man was tall and burly, wearing a very simple white vest, with each arm wrapped in a black chain, like a beast ready to pounce at any moment.
On the extraordinary path that Hawkins pointed out, this powerful "Exiled Prisoner" was his future self.
It had been a year and a half since he received the brand, and Thomas didn't feel anything problematic about his current situation. Being able to serve under a Tier 4 Transcendent was a fortune not everyone had, unlike those followers who were slaughtered by the head of the Mafia Clan, Danfo Mafia.
It was the path of the "Exiled Prisoner" that allowed him to hope to ascend to Tier 3 even after suffering a massive blow to his spirit.
Furthermore.
Is the desire of a noble clan to advance further in the power hierarchy stronger, or is the longing of a commoner to leap into the privileged class deeper?
The essence between the two may not differ much, but the former, who is relatively rational and cold, might have fewer boundaries in achieving their goals than the latter.
The eldest daughter of the Gregory Clan married Viscount Jerome, a leading figure of the emerging business nobility.
Though his title seemed low and lacked real land, he was one of the wealthiest and most influential people in the contemporary Ilya Kingdom.
The alliance between the traditional naval founding Gregory Clan and Viscount Jerome was a powerful union, and who cared if the girl truly married for love?
The main figures of the Gregory Clan, including Thomas's father, were not angry but rather thrilled about Thomas's connection to Hawkins, who slaughtered "White Whale Port," seeing it as an opportunity for the clan to climb higher.
So what if he slaughtered nearly ten thousand in a whole city of the country? Compared to the openly cannibalistic Ghouls, it was nothing.
Da...da...da...
Boarding the luxurious carriage Thomas had prepared, Hawkins gazed at the bustling night scenes of commerce at the port.
The ordinary saw surface prosperity, but the Pirate King, who had stood at the pinnacle of human power and perspective, saw deeper struggles beneath.
It was the challenge from the emerging commercial class, holding wealth, jobs, and even livelihoods, against the old aristocratic class ruling the state. What was happening in Ilya might be just a small spark, with a potentially fiery epochal transformation behind it!
That was the opportunity for him, "The Lawless."
The old structure and order were shattered, age-old suppressed demands were unleashed like a volcanic eruption, shattering this shackled world!
Before this, Hawkins, through his own prowess and his loyal pirate elites inserted into the "Tempest Church," retained influence over the church.
Concurrently, he started making vigorous external connections.
Aside from obtaining substantial support from his old backers, the "Black Wing Order," the so-called unknown Old Continent force mentioned by Fisher was evidently the Ilya Kingdom undergoing profound internal change.
By forcibly branding the exclusive emblem on Ilya Thomas Gregory, he linked up with the ruling class behind the noble clan, and even the beings behind the Ghouls, giving a significant push to this kingdom's downfall process.
His ideals had never changed, pursuing absolute freedom and spontaneity, with consistent powerful execution, continuously achieving his smaller goals.
Reaching a level akin to the "Titled Knight" condensing a "Titled Sacred Artifact" or a Crowned Wizard accomplishing "Truth Embodiment," pursuing a radical transformation of frenzy. Entirely breaking free from the final shackles of the human body, existing in the form of a fusion of spirit and energy, to attain true freedom!
Destroying order and unleashing inner desires might start with the collapse of a powerful country.
To him, this already declining ancient kingdom was the best stepping stone.
"The Stormy Sea Tide" had at most one or two years left, and the decaying Ilya Royal Family would eventually be replaced by new forces.
"I hope those two Vices Kings can bring me some surprises."
But before then, even as a Tier 4 "Lawless," Hawkins had no interest in testing whether the edge of the Titled Knight's sword was still sharp.
This was also why he disguised himself for travel and chose the meeting location here.
...
Golden Sea, Saint Domingo Island, Malon Port.
"Ah——!"
The last shrill scream abruptly ceased.
Crackle...
The pungent smell of gunpowder; burning buildings, ships, skull flags; corpses strewn across;... everything here is practically the standard of hell.
This island ranked second in the Golden Sea, Saint Domingo, covering an area of 27,000 square kilometers, is rich in sugarcane, coffee, and rice. It was once the ancestral land of the Arawak people under Aiven's banner.
More than a decade ago, the Hilus people, to prevent the infiltration of the Sak people (trying to recreate a similar alliance relation with the Iroquois on this island), launched a massive military campaign and blockade against these indigenous people.
After the Hilus massacre and expelled all the Atrean people, due to Hilus's own pitiful population, naturally a large amount of land was abandoned.
The island's terrain is east-west oriented, with currently only a third of the east remaining under Hilus control, dotted with Hilus plantations exploiting Anuma slaves.
It is worth mentioning that the "Voodoo Sect," wiped out by Tulip in the Dahomey Kingdom, also had its origin and base in the New Continent here.
The western region of Saint Domingo has become a base for pirates from all nations, especially after the formation of the Anti-Hilus Alliance. Both officially sanctioned privateering teams and long-established wild pirates have gathered here.
Particularly, the port of Malon on the island is the largest pirate private port besides the Mist Sea's "Sunken Ship Bay".
However.
From today on, this pirate port has been completely turned into history!
Bang——
A man wearing a tricorn captain's hat, donned in a leather coat, with a red-sheathed saber at his waist, standing over two and a half meters tall, walked with long strides in front of a large group of disarmed and bound pirates, seemingly like a giant among them.
He unsheathed the massive saber and struck it heavily into the ground.
One of the three kings of the Golden Sea who orchestrated all this, "Oathbreaker" Bradley, cracked a cold, ruthless smile, and said calmly:
"The empire's seas are vast, but there is no place for pirates to shelter. Your choice is... submission or death?"
Since the end of last year, the third Pirate King "Jade Light" was crowned, and the Anti-Hilus Alliance has grown stronger than ever before. Now, half a year has passed, and a great upheaval seems imminent.
Moreover, with Hilus truly ascending to an empire at the beginning of the year, the national consciousness among Hilus citizens is at an unprecedented high, and they can no longer tolerate these pirate scum leeching off Hilus.
The task of sweeping clean the empire for the universe fell upon Bradley, the one who knows the pirates best, even granting him the rank of Major General.
The pirates of Malon Port looked at this Pirate King who boldly donned the Hilus military uniform, and many did not hide their eyes filled with hostility and disdain. No matter how strong his power, it could not conceal the fact that he was a pirate traitor.
"Oathbreaker"? "Traitor"? Those were indeed accurate nicknames.
And as he presented this ultimate choice, the scene suddenly fell silent for a moment.
Just as a slight smile played at the corners of Bradley's lips.
Suddenly someone spat and began to sing:
"I am a pirate,
A fierce pirate,
Holding a bottle in my left hand,
And treasuring riches in my right..."
The voice was hoarse, yet its boldness and expansiveness pierced straight into people's hearts.
In the gradually restless crowd, someone responded:
"I am a pirate,
A capable pirate,
Beautiful ladies,
Please come into my arms..."
Soon, one person after another began to sing along:
"I am a pirate,
A pirate free to roam the seas,
Guided by the skull flag,
Working hard to survive.
I am a pirate,
A pirate with no tomorrow,
With no end ever in sight,
A pirate drifting on the seas..."
Hearing their singing, Bradley's face suddenly turned ashen, and he roared furiously:
"Shut up, no more singing, hang them all!"
"Hahaha..."
Amidst their wild laughter, which disregarded life and death but only cared about faith, the nooses in the hands of the Pirate King's pirates suddenly tightened.
"Ugh..."
As the blood-red sunset lingered half a day later.
Truly fearless warriors are ultimately in the minority.
Staring at the large group of new subordinates kneeling before him, Bradley's eyes flickered, and he murmured to himself:
"Don't blame me, the Golden Sea is too small, it couldn't possibly accommodate three Pirate Kings!"
