CHAPTER 63: CHAPTER 63 SHARK TOOTH PIRATES

On the other side of the thick fog, two three-masted sailing ships lowered their sails and anchored, quietly floating on the sea surface.

On one of the ships with the figurehead of a "Roaring Great White Shark", two figures—one tall and one short—stood at the bow, staring into the distance as if their gaze could pierce the sea fog to see the scenery on the other side clearly.

"Captain, the mist released by the ’Mist Silver Lamp’ has reached its limit. I estimate that in about ten minutes, that warship will reach our optimal attack range." The short figure was an old man dressed in a robe with a head full of white hair, nervously reporting to the intimidating captain beside him while holding a bright silver oil lamp in his hands.

The leader of the Shark Tooth Pirate Gang, "White Shark" Sku, whose gigantic frame was almost deformed, glared at his Chief Navigator with bloodshot eyes as if suffering from chronic sleep deprivation. A wide grin revealed his mouth full of dagger-like sharp teeth.

"Tru, are you sure the target is on board?"

Feeling as though a lone person in the deep sea being stalked by a great white shark, the white-haired old man shuddered, nodding frantically in response.

"Certain, certain. After the first plan failed, our second plan successfully lured the main forces to the New Continent’s route. Our scouts on the island have reported back, saying that the Vice Admiral is indeed on this Level 5 Battleship, no way he can escape."

The old man dared not even raise his head under the monstrous gaze of the captain, whom he feared more for his increasingly shark-like appearance and his ever more irritable and bloodthirsty spirit. He feared one wrong word might get his head bitten off.

After glaring at his Chief Navigator’s nape for a long time, White Shark Sku muttered to himself through heavy breaths:

"Hausch... can killing a Navy Vice Admiral really make the God of Black Wings accept me and lift my curse?"

"The God of Black Wings is a True God! His Divine Envoys wouldn’t deceive you. Although the selected target is merely a Civilian General, he still is the most achievable target. Also, it was this ’Silver Wings’ that killed the vice leader earlier, making this a golden opportunity, Captain!

Besides, with our ’Shark Tooth’ and ’Sawfish’ warships and the Ocean Treasure ’Mist Silver Lamp’, no surprises should occur in dealing with them!"

At this point, the Chief Navigator dared not give any answers that might provoke his captain, carefully choosing each word.

"Yes, Tru, you’ve worked hard!

I’ve noticed all your efforts, and once my ’Mutated Curse’ is lifted, I’ll promote you to vice leader. You exceed ’One-Eyed Becky,’ that idiot, in talent, and the Chief Navigator’s position no longer befits you."

Hearing the Chief Navigator’s reply, Sku was satisfied, rare encouragement coming out in a normal tone.

The Chief Navigator Tru was instantly filled with tears of joy, finally acknowledged and encouraged for his hard work. Was the wise and powerful leader he had followed for over a decade finally returning?

He finally dared to raise his head, wanting to gaze upon the wise and mighty captain...

"Crunch!"

Drip—

Drip—

A sailor, crouching low to diminish his presence, passed by them only to be suddenly seized by a huge hand and then had his neck snapped with a crunch.

Blood spurted, splattering on the Chief Navigator’s newly raised head and face, but he remained motionless, too stunned to dodge or wipe it away.

Standing like a quail, one thought circled in his mind: "Should I also, like ’One-Eyed Becky,’ prepare an exit for myself?"

...

When the last needle-tailed swift returned, Aiven’s face was already shrouded with darkness.

The swift dared not approach too closely and thus missed the conversation between the "White Shark" and the Chief Navigator, but it didn’t miss spotting the two fully armed large sailing ships.

One was a pirate ship remodeled from an unidentified national warship, with at least forty cannons on three masts; the other was an armed merchant ship also with three masts, slightly fewer cannons but certainly not fewer than thirty.

Even the swift’s transmitted images showed a force the "Silver Wings" couldn’t compete with, not to mention that such a powerful pirate gang likely had one or more official-level Extraordinaries aboard.

"Run!"

This was the only solution Aiven could think of now. With such a disparity in strength, there was no need to even try boarding battle; just the cannon fight alone would place the "Silver Wings" severely at a disadvantage.

At this time.

Receiving Milan’s report, Vice Admiral Snite and Captain Gel had already gathered. On this ship, one possessed the highest status and the other the greatest strength, their decision would determine the fate of everyone on the "Silver Wings".

In merely half a minute, Captain Gel issued the command:

"Turn, raise sails, full speed ahead!"

Aiven didn’t know how they convinced Gel, but he was relieved to hear the command. During the swift’s scouting, the two sides weren’t far apart, and a quick escape might just avert danger if unnoticed.

As time ticked by, crew members remained ignorant of the situation, with even Milan as a prophet unable to judge if his efforts had rewritten the prophesied future.

Yet Aiven, with sea birds constantly scouting, grew increasingly concerned because the time for the birds to relay messages wasn’t extending but instead shortening.

Evidently, the maneuvering of the warship hadn’t changed the impending crisis of confrontation at all!

"There’s an issue with this fog!"

Their ability to keep pace, at the very least, suggested they could see through the thick sea fog. Aiven connected the dots with the magical effects of the Ocean Treasure once confiscated from "One-Eyed Becky" and realized that the sudden dense fog likely had everything to do with the opposing side.

"This battle seems unavoidable!"

Seeing no escape, Aiven did not lack the courageous resolve for a fight to the death, and he wasn’t without trump cards—come what may, the outcome was uncertain.

Seeking out Gel, he whispered a few words.

Soon after, except for the sail team still working hard to flee, everyone else, including the ship’s cooks, was mobilized to prepare for battle.

"Level 2 War Preparation!!!"

The crew members were informed that intelligence indicated pirates lying in ambush nearby, necessitating Level 2 War Preparation to guard against pirate raids. Although technically true, vague prophecies had been replaced with more "reliable" intelligence.

Gel had agreed without the slightest hesitation to Aiven’s suggestion.

No experienced, battle-hardened Navy Captain should ever be underestimated, especially one who had reached the Official Knight Peak. Without sightings of enemies, Gel had already sensed the danger permeating the air.

And the attack came faster than anyone anticipated!

Boom—