Extraordinary Voyage-Chapter 869 - 746: Tailgating
While Aiven was busy resolving his own life's matters, with the entry of "Legendary Battleships," these national suppressors turned the warfare on the Old Continent into a full-blown intense battle in just a few days.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!...
"Kill! Drop your weapons!"
"Hahaha, in the name of the God of Black Wings, surrender your treasures or your lives!"
Amidst the blue smoke, a large group of Pirates, brandishing gleaming scimitars, laughed wildly as they stormed the Hilus merchant ship. However, this time it was different from usual, as they frequently called out the sacred name of Sessi, the God of Black Wings.
This indicated that their actions were no longer merely plundering. It was also a retaliation against Hilus for plundering Lowland Republic merchant ships, with perhaps a hint of mocking Hilus for daring to challenge them.
After all, when it comes to the business of robbery, who could surpass the expertise of the followers of the God of Black Wings?
Plunder! We are the professionals!
Nowadays, bystanders clearly saw
from the century-long expansion of the Hilus Empire, the recently concluded "Religious War," and the ongoing "Lowland Republic Independence War," a distinct pattern in the warfare among Old Continent Countries and the attitudes of the Gods.
On this ancient land ruled by the Seven Gods, when mortal conflicts occurred within the same faith, the Gods would likely turn a blind eye; but if it occurred between different faiths, divine power would be excluded, relying entirely on mortals themselves.
The root of this choice is deeply embedded in billions of "human hearts," representing the trend of mortal societal development—trend.
At the same time, this attitude also allowed for the possibility of third-party interference.
After the Hilus Empire's [Legendary Battleship: Divine Grace] and the Lowland Republic's [Legendary Battleship: Valhalla] clashed several times in recent days without a decisive outcome, Philip II and the empire's upper echelons were furious.
They were ready to send the remaining three Legendary Battleships, alongside the recently launched [Sea Monarchy] and the [Legendary Battleship: Royal Alfonso], stationed domestically, to launch a pincer attack on enemy ships!
Additionally, long after Liweina was crowned last year, Hilus was well aware of who killed their Prince from the top down.
In the past, it was because the culprits hid too well, but once they emerged alongside the Lowland Republic Independence War, they naturally entered Hilus' high-level radar.
No real evidence was needed; using the simplest "guilt inference," judgment could be made. In a premeditated crime, whoever benefited the most was the culprit!
It wasn't just for the lucrative tax haven of Frisia, but anyone who had been made a fool of, faced strong enemies, lost a navy fleet, a Legendary Battleship, and a Titled Knight, while paying millions in ransom, would never swallow such humiliation.
"Blood for blood!"
Regrettably, right after Philip II shouted this phrase with red eyes in the Dome Palace,
Phaletis dispatched the [Legendary Battleship: Steam Fortress] to patrol Hilus' doorstep, exercising their "right to free navigation," forcing the highly cautious empire to swallow those words back down.
It's not that Phaletis suddenly made peace with the Lowland Republic or reached any agreement.
It was simply because the "balance diplomacy policy" had been gradually elevated by Aiven and Liweina into a national foreign strategy.
Whether now or in the future, they must strive to maintain the power balance on the Source Continent. Leveraging their advantageous position overseas, they would aid whichever country became weak and curb whichever country grew strong.
As long as the countries on the Source Continent could maintain a balance of power, mutual restraint would ensue, leaving Phaletis and even the entire Tulip to rest easy. Even if the Lowland Republic truly succeeded in gaining independence aided by the God of Black Wings, this strategy would still be applicable.
A Black Hand was extended to balance the power between both sides, letting them bleed dry in continuous conflicts until they all declined!
Even if Philip II was furious to the point of spitting blood, at this crucial moment, there was nothing he could do; if the Lowland Republic allied with Tulip, Hilus would be undoubtedly defeated.
Therefore.
As Peak Extraordinary individuals faced off and Legendary Battleships confronted each other, bringing all warfare back to the mundane, a series of maritime slaughters and counter-slaughters ensued on the seas.
Besides the original Frisia Kingdom Navy, now controlled by big bankers, there were also a large number of Black Sail Pirate Ships, whose flags had a unified emblem—a crown, a skull, and eight robust arms.
"Kill! Raise the blood flag, leave no one alive!"
Amidst the howling sea winds.
Wearing an elegant shirt, vest, long pants, and leather shoes, leaning on a silver cane, like an elegant gentleman, the "Madman" Danfo Mafia stood on his Black Sea Pirate King flagship, waving forcefully.
The pirates beside him howled as they surged out like a torrent.
Not long after Hawkins had fallen, this newly risen Black Sea Pirate King replaced him (Chapter 649).
Danfo was originally Hawkins' chief disciple, playing an outstanding role in the plan to liberate the Black Sea Goddess Hipponeo (Chapter 297), inheriting the "teacher's" legacy without any resistance.
He has also successfully advanced to Tier 3 as an "Exiled Prisoner," mastering the Eight-Armed Fist passed down from Hawkins, which is the source of his Pirate King insignia.
However, these guys could be said to have simultaneously offended both goddesses of the Black Sea: "Mother of Sea Monsters" Echet and "Black Sea Goddess" Hipponeo. Now, they can only cling tightly to "God of Black Wings" as their protector.
Merchant ships, cruisers, and small fleets with fewer than three battleships are their targets. When "Daddy" commands, even battleships have to grit their teeth and charge.
Because back in Hawkins' time, they had already cut off all their escape routes.
In mundane wars, it's all about money and manpower.
The current task of the Phaletis Military Department is to maintain the top-level power balance between both sides, maximizing the draining of their national power.
Barring any major surprises, it will still take some time for the two sides to determine a winner. This big scoop will not be resolved quickly. Aiven naturally doesn't need to keep watching here and can attend to more urgent and important matters first.
Glug... Glug...
In the perilous region of "Broken Star Sea," the Sea Soul is speeding ahead a hundred meters underwater.
After breaking through the outer island chain and venturing deep enough into the "Broken Star Sea," it's again an expansive ocean, dotted with various fantastical and bizarre islands.
Here, besides the cracks, the Shadow Realm is isolated, space travel is restricted, dreamscapes can be entered but not the Spirit Realm, the climate is abnormal, directions are confused, and the magnetic field is disrupted...it's like an enormous cage.
Even for explorers with formidable strength, a good sea vessel is an indispensable means of transportation.
"Jelos is ultimately too eager, taking strides too large is likely to..."
Sitting alone in the captain's cabin, Aiven is still repeatedly studying the letter in his hand.
The "Spirit Realm Communication" clearly stated that they earlier obtained an exploration log of a Crowned Wizard, which recorded the sightings along the way. In Jelos' view, this could likely be the opportunity to completely transform the Theseus.
Unable to suppress the boiling "Adventurer's Blood," he ran into the depths of the "Broken Star Sea" with Stephanie and parrot First Mate Lam aboard the Quasi-Legendary Battleship: Theseus, and hasn't come out since.
Moreover, the "Regenerated Puppet" didn't bring a rescue message personally sent by Jelos from the depths of the "Broken Star Sea" but rather a timer-sent message set in their own Spirit Realm Beacon.
It was just a precautionary measure; he himself probably didn't expect to actually use it.
The "Adventurer's Blood" brimming with a desire to explore this sea area, the Saint Angel's Great Navigation task, the Ancient God's followers' covert plans, and the missing Jelos and Stephanie...
All these factors combined prompted Aiven to quickly set off the next morning after communicating with Liweina, who was similarly concerned about her sister's situation.
However, given that after penetrating deep into the "Broken Star Sea," both the Mind Network and Spirit Realm Communication might fail, Aiven entrusted Olivia, now a duly recognized duchess, with full authority over national affairs, leaving the two Legendary Battleships: Crown of Miracles and Jade Coronet in the Duchy.
Along with Titled Knight Anita, Mother-in-law Nymph, Great Wizards Snake Witch Serra, even if Aiven played hand-off manager for a while, there would be no problem.
As for bringing anyone else, no one was capable of ensuring their safety without Tier 3 strength in the depths of the "Broken Star Sea." Even with his top-tier survival abilities in the Material World, Aiven naturally wouldn't bring any burdens since he's going to rescue someone.
Aiven studied the nautical charts, furrowing his brows deeply.
"This is a bit tricky."
In the "Ancient Scroll," the tens of thousands of islands within the Broken Star Sea followed certain patterns. On the surface, it's a long east-west strip but is also vaguely divided into four large archipelagos.
The core region of each archipelago is marked with dark red warning colors, and the planned endpoint of the journey for the Theseus marked on the letter is already close to the edge of the easternmost archipelago.
Large areas of yellow and orange have started to appear, at least at the level of the last Dark Side world turmoil.
Suddenly, Aiven felt a stirring in his heart and looked up.
He discovered another fleet of several sea vessels on the ocean surface.
"What a coincidence, such a large group of people?"
