CHAPTER 212: CHAPTER 187: OVERWHELMING VICTORY_1

"What tricks do these Pirates have?"

"Behind the sails is a large net, and the Pirates will hang on it. As they get close, they’ll leap over with the help of cables. They’ll also throw grappling hooks onto the ship. As long as the hooks catch, they can climb over using the ropes, and those with good skills can even walk directly over on the ropes..."

Having an experienced old captain was useful; it at least allowed Lance, who was unfamiliar with these matters, to quickly understand the Pirates’ methods.

One can only say their tactics are quite primitive; boarding combat is just a brawl devoid of any real skill.

Supernatural Power isn’t so readily available. Or perhaps, once one leaves that circle, it becomes so rare that many ordinary people never encounter it in their entire lives...

Inside the pirate ship, just as the old captain had described, a dozen or so Pirates stood behind the canvas, each holding a rope in one hand and various weapons—short swords or scimitars—in the other.

At the bow, a burly man with a greasy shirt and a captain’s hat, sporting a large beard, fiddled with his telescope and muttered.

"Strange. They actually aren’t running? Could they be Navy in disguise?"

"Captain, should we turn around and avoid them?" one of the crew couldn’t help but ask.

"Who do you think I am?" Big Beard put away his telescope and pointed towards the other ship. "Bring us alongside!"

This area is already beyond the Totnes Navy’s operating range. Besides, that’s a merchant ship, and it doesn’t have cannons. What’s there to fear!

It wasn’t uncommon for people to be scared stiff at the sight of Pirates; he’d seen it a few times over the years. Their crew might even be in total disarray by now.

"We’ve run into them today; it must be our day to get rich!" Big Beard drew his scimitar and shouted, "Full speed ahead!"

At the command, the ship immediately erupted in cheers.

"HAHAHA!"

"Hope there are some ladies from the Nobility on board!"

"Damn it! Last time, you lot killed that fisherwoman before I even had a chance to touch her."

"What’s so fun about trash like that? Once we have money, there’ll be plenty of women back on the island."

"I heard there’s a new batch of ’rabbits’ on the island..."

"Disgusting, bloody disgusting!"

"That’s nothing! I saw him sneaking off to the sheep pen at night."

"To hell with you! Don’t sleep too soundly tonight."

The Pirates’ conversations revolved around money, women, and alcohol. Unbound by societal norms, their years of crazed behavior had stripped them of their last shred of humanity; to some extent, they were no longer human.

Amidst their crude talk, the ship’s speed gradually increased, closing the distance to the merchant ship. Their topics shifted to slaughter, a bloodthirsty frenzy painting each of their faces.

The line between life and death had vanished in their eyes. They wanted to offer everything to the sea in their most frenzied state, but of course, they craved even more.

As the ships drew nearer, Big Beard wasn’t reckless but remained observant. As captain, he had to ensure the success of this venture.

If anything seemed even slightly amiss, he’d hoist the flag and flee.

However, what he saw was bizarre. Only four people were on deck. Were they all hiding below?

That pretty boy clearly isn’t a fighter. He’s probably the cargo owner.

A woman from the Barbarian Tribes? Even with a large weapon, she’s useless.

Oddly dressed... and what can he do with that little dagger?

And an old geezer?

And these few worthless runts think they can negotiate with me?

Initially fearful of a trap, Big Beard scanned the deck several times. Seeing only four apparent weaklings on board, his vigilance gradually relaxed.

Damn it, let’s just do it!

Big Beard put away his telescope and raised his scimitar toward the merchant ship.

"Men, leave that pretty boy to me! Kill the rest!"

The captain’s authority was on full display. Had any other Pirate said this, they would have jeered and mocked, but no Pirate dared to joke with the captain now. Indeed, it was this intense pressure that fueled their need for killing and plundering to soothe their own pain, thereby shifting their despair and suffering onto others.

The pirate ship approached from an angle, a skilled maneuver bringing the two vessels within a mere four or five meters of each other.

Just then, numerous grappling hooks flew out from the pirate ship. The sails were turned, revealing the Pirates stationed on the large net behind them, already swinging over on ropes.

In an instant, more than a dozen men scattered across the merchant ship. Such terrifying efficiency explained why ordinary merchant ships often stood no chance.

But the ships were moving, making the maneuver extremely risky. Some less skilled Pirates fell directly into the sea. Others failed to control their height and plummeted to the deck, or crashed into masts and died on impact.

But Lance and his companions couldn’t dwell on that now. The pirate ship’s grappling hooks had already latched firmly onto their starboard side, and some Pirates were climbing over. Big Beard, the burly captain, even managed to run across a single rope and leap onto the merchant ship’s deck in a few strides, displaying extraordinary agility.

"HAHAHAHA! Run~"

"I’m coming in!"

"Women! Women! Without women, I’ll die!"

"Kill!"

They sought any enemy in sight, then swung their weapons, faces contorted in a mad ferocity, bent on nothing but slaughter.

The Pirates broke through a passageway, searching for a way down to the hold and hunting for any possible enemies. But as they burst into the pitch-black hold, a long spear suddenly thrust out from the darkness to greet them.

"AHH!"

Space on the ship was cramped, especially in the hold. Consequently, most of their weapons were short. However, these short weapons, combined with their ferocity, delivered a devastating shock to their enemies. Once they got in close, no Guard could withstand their frenzied attacks.