Not only the True Cross, but the [Zero-Level Sacred Relic – The Spear of Longinus] that pierced His body is also the same. It too is now damaged, broken into three pieces. What on earth were they used for back then? I always feel there's something fishy about this.

Speculations like these were countless, and during the Dark Millennium, many people were sent to the stake for such suspicious remarks.

The mountain-like, pristine white cross-shaped spear fell slowly.

[Pawnbroker] Governor Velazquez had also woven his deceitful contract:

"One Double Eagle Gold Coin, unique in all the world and minted at the founding of The Holy Silver Empire, is exchanged for the collateral of the debtor, the Bone Gnawing God: its Undying Body.

Condition of absolute forfeiture: The debtor's first Death.

If not explicitly opposed, the terms are considered accepted.

The contract is set, no regrets allowed!"

His eyes shone with Divine Light, sparkling with an ambition no less than that of [Conqueror] Cortes in his early days.

A king who reigns for a mere few decades, how can that compare to eternal life? I've finally escaped the cage woven by the Church in the Old Continent, so how could I resign myself to slowly dying because I cannot access forbidden knowledge? Now, just by dealing with this nuisance, not only can I achieve great things, I might even become the first immortal ruler in Banta'an, perhaps even the world! All it takes is a little risk.

Of course, his life was too precious. After seizing the Undying Body of the other party as absolute collateral, he would definitely have someone else test it first.

Regrettably, this operation, long targeted by the Barbary Pirates, was doomed to be fraught with complications. He had just forcefully shoved the Double Eagle Gold Coin, the contract's medium, into the mouth of the [Bone Gnawing God]. The pure white spear continued its descent, executing the Curse Spirit.

Suddenly, an enormous sound of water erupted from the nearby bay, followed by thunderous cannon fire resembling a summer storm. Countless red-hot cannonballs mercilessly rained down upon the Invincible Fleet and a large number of the Pioneer Corps' colonizing ships.

"AAAAH..."

"Enemy attack! Weigh anchor and counterattack! Break out of the bay!"

The main fleet had already anchored and furled its sails, preparing to land on the beach before them; they were completely unprepared for an attack. It had to be said, with sufficient Intelligence support, the other two [Barnacle Crabs] commanded by [Blue Hair] Barbarossa Halding were more accurately positioned.

The hundreds of pirate ships that surged from the Blue Hole formed several makeshift lines of battle, effectively blocking the bay's exit. They perfectly formed "T" shapes with the Invincible Fleet's ships, which were perpendicular to the coastline.

The sterncastles of the Warships featured elegant but fragile "glass curtain walls," no stronger than a sheet of window paper against ship's cannons. Once they achieved a "T" position, looking at the enemy sailing ships was like observing a group of beautiful women lying on a table, turning their heads to look back, as if wanting to speak yet hesitating. No Pirate could resist such a temptation.

"Bring all our cannons up!"

"Fire! Keep firing!"

Instantly, the bay was ablaze with cannon fire. The spherical projectiles piercing through the sterns seemed unstoppable, all of them ricocheting and screaming across the enemy's entire gun deck, tearing through everything in their path and blasting it to smithereens.

"Damn it! Where did these Barbary Pirates come from? I'm sending all Scouts and informants to a military tribunal! They should all be hanged!"

Seeing the Pirate Fleet before him, the Governor's face turned livid as he roared in fury.

According to standard naval protocol, he had long since dispatched numerous Cruisers for maritime reconnaissance; it was impossible that they would miss any enemy approaching by sea. The seagull Messengers specially trained by the [Beast Tamers] were also spread across every corner within a radius of tens of kilometers. He had never imagined that the Barbary Pirates, who were three thousand kilometers away in the Bahama Archipelago just half an hour ago, would suddenly appear before him.

The Invincible Fleet was caught completely off guard and suffered heavy losses. Simultaneously, countless fire ships, laden with fuel and burning fiercely, charged into the Fleet. The Sea Monsters raised by the Barbary Pirates did not engage directly in the battle. Instead, they used their Innate Abilities to control the currents, guiding the fire ships like arrows loosed from a bow, precisely targeting the largest Warships.

The Warships directly facing the enemy immediately erupted into raging infernos. Countless soldiers and Pioneers screamed miserably as they plunged into the sea.

This well-prepared series of attacks almost instantly battered the mighty Invincible Fleet down to the level of mere pirate ships. If they didn't devise a solution quickly, the entire Fleet was at risk of being annihilated in the cramped bay. Fortunately, as the pure white spear finally descended, the [Bone Gnawing God] dissipated into smoke once more, sparing them an attack from both front and rear.

The collateral, the Undying Body, transformed into a top-tier, dark-gold card in the hands of the Pawnbroker. The fruits of their hunt had not gone to waste.

Facing this life-or-death crisis, Governor Velazquez immediately implored the [Sun Crown Priest] who held the fragment of the True Cross, "Heretics are more detestable than Pagans. Your Excellency, Bishop, please, you must act again."

The latter did not hesitate. He nodded curtly and, holding a silver ingot, began to chant a prayer: "You blew with Your wind, the sea engulfed them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters."