The mist released by the "Mist Silver Lamp" has dissipated, and the "Storm Horn" that narrowly escaped reappeared on the sea surface, although without losing any speed. Clearly, the sailors handling the ship have not yet recovered from the previous perilous situation.

Completely powerless to fight back!

This was one of the rare occasions since Aiven joined the navy where he was beaten so thoroughly, as previously, even when faced with invincible adversaries, there were always taller figures above him to take the hit, so he didn't feel it as acutely.

But this time, he was the captain who took the brunt of it! The highest officer of this ship!

No one else could share the burden with him anymore.

First inexplicably attacked, then narrowly escaping, Aiven frustratingly found that not only was he currently powerless to retaliate, but he didn't even stand a chance of avenging this grudge anytime soon.

The opponent, aside from the flag hanging from his ship, doesn't even know who he is. It really resonates with the saying "Destroy you, yet what does it matter to you?"

Frustration!!!

Being ignored by the opponent, not even considered an equal enemy, is the most humiliating blow to pride.

Standing on the deck, with the light much better than before, Aiven clenched the gemstone staff so hard that it creaked, his jaw muscles twitching slightly:

"Damn it, I'll remember this grudge! Hilus' 'Guard Commander'! And that damned white-haired wizard!"

Aiven's frustration combined with anger clouded the entire battleship, with a layer of low pressure hanging over the "Storm Horn," and the luckless crew members were silent, fearing to anger their captain at this time.

For the ordinary crew members, both sides were enemy nations; escaping with their lives was already a cause for celebration, leaving little room for the anger of revenge.

This was the result of different positions and mindsets.

In fact, the best management is inherently to cut off the "heads" of the grassroots, and their ideas were unproblematic. They only needed to carry out Aiven's orders desperately when the time came.

At this time, the "Storm Horn" was sailing full speed northward; the lack of ammunition was secondary, as the torn sails on the mizzenmast could be repaired with the spare sails from the ship. However, the large breach on the stern castle was affecting normal navigation, so the battleship urgently needed to dock for repairs.

Therefore, Aiven canceled the plan to head to the familiar Saint Martin Island and decided to find a nearby naval port to repair the ship, and replace those unsightly black sails.

Actually, at this point, the total bounty Aiven captured, including the 8000 Golden Lions contributed by Basem, reached an astonishing amount of 14,800.

The originally highest-ranking two persons were:

Thomas Gregory from the Ilya Kingdom and his Level 5 Battleship "Snow Lake," capturing pirate bounties totaling 7800 Golden Lions.

Bertram Solomon from the Tyrone Kingdom and his Level 4 Battleship "Royal Guardian," capturing pirate bounties totaling 7000 Golden Lions.

So even if Aiven and his crew did nothing for the next month, the position of the "Navy New Star" top spot would likely end up under Aiven's name.

If it weren't for this infuriating incident, the crew on Aiven's ship would have definitely started celebrating by now.

However, at the moment, anything that could be thrown has already been thrown away, and it's already good if they could get even a bite of dried food, let alone rum.

"Turn around! We're heading to Digard Island."

...

In the Kingdom Sea Territory, near an island away from the main route, a pirate ship with a snarling monkey painted on its sail was anchored — the "Demon Monkey."

This pirate ship, which had a similar fortune to the "Storm Horn," had also narrowly escaped from Bertram Solomon and his Level 4 Battleship "Royal Guardian" by abandoning all logistics, including shipborne artillery.

However, at this moment, the atmosphere on this ship was even heavier than that on the "Storm Horn"!

On the deck.

The Pirate Captain Alek of the "Demon Monkey" sat on a chair the sailors had specially brought for him, looking pale and unnaturally blue-white, coughing occasionally, his golden curls appearing dull and lifeless.

Looking at the familiar faces circled around the deck, Old Tom, Cindy, Chetley... But at this moment, they all seemed so unfamiliar to him.

However, the situation was settled, and saying more was useless.

"Alas — I'm a competent captain but not a competent pirate, and most importantly, not a strong one!"

A tall and skinny pirate, with two gold teeth in his mouth, walked into the circle of over a hundred companions. He cleared his throat and said, somewhat proudly:

"I! Chetley, the First Mate of the 'Demon Monkey,' hereby announce the voting results of the entire crew at the crew meeting!

Due to Captain Alek's significant mistakes, which caused immeasurable loss to the crew, more than half of the votes agreed with the proposal for his removal, oh, I mean former Captain Alek.

Now I... First Mate Chetley, will serve as the new captain of the 'Demon Monkey!'"

However, even though they got their wish in removing the "unqualified" former captain, the crew's morale, apart from the new Captain Chetley himself, couldn't be lifted.

All the loot from joining under the Pirate King's command to plunder the "White Whale Port" had been abandoned during the previous encounter with a battleship, including even the pirates' lifeblood rum, the ship's artillery, and ammunition.

During the escape, it didn't seem like a big deal; most executed Captain Alek's weight-reducing orders flawlessly.

But after reaching safety, everyone's heart felt like it was being cut apart, especially after losing that precious Golden Table Clock looted from the Central Commerce Headquarters. A table clock made of pure gold, half a man's height, was a treasure worth a fortune!

This was a bloody prize snatched after sacrificing five companions in a fight with other pirates!

They had thought they could each strike it rich after selling it, but now forget about revelry after getting rich, they couldn't even afford food.

At this moment, someone needed to stand out and take responsibility!

Thus, after nearly a month of fermentation, the crew's suppressed emotions were deliberately guided by First Mate Chetley, who had long coveted the captaincy, and they vented everything on Captain Alek.

Of course, most importantly, Alek, the once strongest on the ship, was unfortunately struck by a cannonball during a naval chase, was seriously injured, and hadn't recovered, he even reached a point where standing and walking became difficult.

Until today, First Mate Artley held a crew meeting and, in a very "democratic" manner among pirates, ruled against Captain Alek!

Dismissed, exiled to a deserted island.

"Alright, Mr. Alek, do you have anything to say? As per tradition, besides a loaded firearm, you can make another reasonable request, which we will try our best to fulfill."

Seeing the situation settled, the new captain couldn't wait to exercise his authority, generously allowing the former captain to make a final request.

"Heh, cough cough... heh, forget it, just give me my Little Jack." Alek coughed weakly twice, making a request that couldn't have been smaller.

Little Jack wasn't a person, but a monkey Alek had raised since it was young, also the namesake of the pirate ship "Demon Monkey."

"Chirp... chirp... chirp... chirp..."

A monkey wasn't any valuable asset, and no one on the ship wanted to keep such a thing, so someone quickly tied up a black-and-white speckled monkey and threw it at his side.

The pirates' final mercy towards the old captain ended there.

Artley, with a smile on his lips, waved his hand.

Two burly pirates carried the weakened Alek onto a small boat, took his monkey along, rowed to the island, and after leaving him a firearm, turned their backs and left without saying a word.

Alek had nothing left to say, just lying on the beach, letting the monkey Little Jack "groom" his hair, and searching for... lice?

Struggling to move his arm, he took out the only "valuable" personal item he was carrying, a finely crafted silver flask, unscrewed the lid, and poured several times into his mouth.

"Hmm? Hmm?"

Nothing came out as he remembered the drink had been finished long ago, casually tossing away the flask.

He made no further movements, just lay there, watching as his once-beloved ship slowly raised its sails to leave the island, where no merchant ship would ever pass by.

He's had a life worth living, as a pirate captain with little conscience, enjoying days of trading large amounts of gold for wine, indulging in sultry foreign dancers, and personally beheading dozens of heads, innocent or heinous.

Sailing the Black Sea, he once battled storm and survived to escape beneath a battleship's cannons... Ah! That rumbling of cannon fire still seemed to echo in his ears today.

Listen—

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!...

That cannon sound was too real, too close.

"Hmm? No, that's real cannon fire!"