Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Ghost of the Sea (3)
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Bandits are a headache because they're experts at striking and fleeing, but they can't hold a candle to an army in a straight-up fight. Not when it comes to armaments or discipline.
Of course, Belpas's fleet probably wasn't anything special. The city itself isn't some booming metropolis. It was just the sort of force you'd expect from a run-of-the-mill port town.
But even so, it was a proper navy. Pirates—nothing more than seafaring bandits—shouldn't have been able to touch them. That was common sense.
'But it got smashed?'
Galen's brow furrowed.
"Are you saying only part of the fleet sortied and got completely wiped out?"
"The opposite. They left a token force behind and sent out the whole fleet—only to get annihilated. Sailors, rowers... even the Silver-rank experts. Over half the Silvers operating in this city were swept up in it."
Of course the city's main force would include the Silvers when they sortied. On a ship with limited space, those who could handle the work of dozens on their own would shine even brighter.
The problem was that they still lost. It shouldn't have been possible.
"What the hell happened?"
"We still haven't figured it out."
"Pardon?"
"I said it already. Annihilated. Not hyperbole—literally."
Roald spoke bitterly.
"Not a single ship made it back. We found traces of a massive fleet battle afterward... but that alone doesn't tell us exactly what went down during the fight."
"Not one escaped? That doesn't make sense."
"I thought so too, but reality doesn't care what we think."
"Doesn't that usually happen?"
Lilia, who had never even seen the sea until today—let alone fought a naval battle—asked the question. Galen nodded.
"When big ships carrying dozens clash and tangle up, yeah, escaping gets tough."
"Right?"
"Flip that around, though—before they tangle, you can always run. Spotters pick up enemies from a huge distance away. Turn tail early enough, and even warships aren't catching pirate ships that fast. Warships aren't slower than pirate vessels."
"Ah, got it!"
Lilia clapped her hands.
"You're saying if it looked like a sure loss from the start, they wouldn't have engaged at all."
"Exactly. If they thought it was winnable and closed in, then the number of pirate ships wasn't unusual."
"Pirates aren't building their own ships, after all. And even if they could, you don't churn those out overnight."
"So it's the pirates' quality that's the issue... but in a normal naval battle, you don't get total annihilation. Ships don't all crash at once. The rear squadrons usually have time to pull back."
"Yet they all got wiped out. Means the pirates had some way to stop escapes—and strong enough to devour the whole fleet. I only realized it after the fact."
"That's hardly Your Excellency's fault. The whole situation's abnormal."
The worst damage Galen had heard from Maïra was that even the ship carrying Silvers went down.
That much could be explained by a rogue Silver joining the pirates. He'd run into a bandit crew led by a Silver before.
But annihilating a fleet including dozens of Silvers? That was leagues beyond what pirates should possess. Belpas's fleet must have been caught completely off guard and hit with a fatal blow.
"I've heard pirates have been active around the Dawn Archipelago for a while. But they've suddenly gotten way stronger lately."
"Spot on."
"So someone's deliberately intervening. Does Your Excellency have any guesses?"
"None. That's the problem. Can't think of any motive besides harassing Belpas or the Dawn Archipelago, but what's the gain in that?"
If it was about expanding territory, just march in openly and plant your flag. This result showed they had more than enough power.
Sure, the established families would push back, but disguising as pirates to wreck the city and snatch an empty house? If it got out, public opinion would turn. Could it stay secret forever?
If they were using pirates like privateers, the cost-benefit was garbage. What was there to loot in the not-so-rich east?
Better to wipe out the pirates with that strength, root yourself in Belpas or the Dawn Archipelago, and run legit trade. You'd even build a positive reputation.
"It doesn't add up, that's for sure."
Galen had to agree with Roald. The two men sighed in unison.
"Mm... what if there's no grand purpose at all?"
Then Lilia, who'd been lost in thought, piped up. Roald tilted his head.
"No purpose? What do you mean, Priestess Lilia?"
"Pirates are just bandits on the sea, right?"
"Sure."
"Bandits don't rob for some noble cause, do they? They just do it. Maybe this pirate boss is the same?"
"They're too strong for it to be that simple. That's why we're worried."
"Maybe they have circumstances. Could be a criminal themselves, or their power's not exactly legit. Not every Gold-rank is a good guy!"
"Talking about the Brutaine family head? Demon contractors aren't common, and they don't show it outwardly... wait, outwardly?"
"Wouldn't a demon soldier be something you'd hide?"
"Ridiculous... but I can't outright dismiss it..."
"What's a demon soldier?"
Galen asked. Roald hesitated a moment before answering.
"Heard of demon swords?"
"Legends, yeah. Swords that grant immense power but devour the user."
"Similar idea. Not limited to swords, so they're demon soldiers. And for the record, they're not legends—they're real."
"Wait, they actually exist?"
"Yep. They stay 'legends' because the Church destroys every one that surfaces."
Galen's expression soured as he listened, likening it to some high-risk, high-reward magic item.
"Like a demon contractor offering sacrifices for demonic power. You activate the demon soldier's special abilities by offering sacrifices."
"Ah... so sacrifices are required?"
"Hence 'demon weapon.' Abilities vary wildly by soldier, but they all demand tribute."
"Good reason to wipe them out. Anyone twisted enough for a demon pact wouldn't hesitate with a demon soldier."
"In some ways, even worse. Killing others just to draw power from a tool that's not even yours."
Roald shook his head with a mutter.
"Anyway, since demons make them directly, they're rare. But they keep digging up more no matter how many we destroy... could be that here."
The incident was already far from normal, so a demon soldier popping up wasn't a stretch.
At least it answered why someone with that power was playing pirate instead of stepping out openly. The power itself was illegitimate, so they couldn't.
Anyone wielding a demon soldier would be utterly depraved—piracy would be tame for them.
"Lord Galen, could you take the commission?"
Roald looked at Galen earnestly and made his plea.
"I won't ask you to wipe them out. Just reconnaissance? It's dire if it's a demon soldier—or even if it's not. Winter's knocking. Longer the sea lanes stay blocked, worse the food shortages in the Dawn Archipelago get."
"Sure. I'm a sellsword, after all. As long as the pay's right."
Galen nodded readily. As Roald's face lit up, he added,
"You'll need to provide the ship. Surely you have one that didn't sink?"
"We've got a few warships left. That enough?"
"One's plenty. No troops needed—just stick a captain who listens well aboard."
"Done."
"Contract terms: we'll hash out details later, but base pay plus performance bonus."
"Performance bonus?"
"Recon's the baseline, but if they look weak, no point just sightseeing."
Galen grinned.
"I'll bag whatever I can."
Roald's commission—technically issued by Belpas's mayor, with the Church as intermediary—was processed that way.
The Church had led prior pirate hunts, but pirates plagued the whole city.
With ships smashed and over half their Silver-rank family elites gone, Belpas's powerhouses saw Galen as a ray of hope.
So what if it cost money? You couldn't buy a Gold-rank mage even if you had it. Not a price issue—pure rarity.
Hiring a mage even threw in a priestess. One who looked the part but ranked as a bishop inside. No closing wallets on that.
Sure, pirate rampages had tanked sailor morale, but brave souls exist everywhere—and money makes 'em braver. A sleek warship was prepped in no time.
The contract signed the day after Galen and Lilia arrived; the ship was ready.
Until then, the rested pair boarded eastbound the next morning.
"No seasickness?"
"Lucky me!"
Galen had worried a bit, but Lilia was fine. Made sense—after zipping at top speed mid-battle, this rocking was nothing.
"Watch out in deck fights. Waves keep the ship pitching, and collisions send even seasoned sailors tumbling. Decks get slippery too."
"Got it! If I fall overboard, save me, Brother Galen!"
"Don't worry. But staying aboard's best."
Fascinated by her first ship, Lilia roamed, grilling crew on everything.
"Everyone's so nice!"
"Ah, yeah... probably."
No ordinary girl would've gotten that reception. Superstitious types thought women aboard were bad luck.
But a radiant beauty who could solo the ship solo? Even rough sailors turned meek.
Time passed; morning gone, afternoon well along.
"Ughhh..."
Endless ocean had Lilia bored stiff.
"Ships ahead! Three of 'em!"
The lookout yelled. Lilia's head snapped up from whining at Galen.
Soon, dots appeared on the horizon from the deck.
"Whoa, for real!"
"Think I'd joke...?"
They headed to the Dawn Archipelago east; the trio came from the east.
Ships boldly emerging from comms-dead islands? Had to be pirates.
"Full speed ahead."
"Aye!"
One ship charging three—no objections from the captain. Hired for this.
Pirates didn't turn either. Aggressive types wouldn't flee three-to-one.
"Collision in minutes!"
"Get ready."
Plan was set. Mid-sea, a small landing skiff lowered.
Galen cautioned as he boarded with Lilia.
"If they chase, just keep distance."
"Aye!"
"Though it'll end before then."
Water Flow Manipulation pushed the skiff.
No sails, no oars—the splinter craft surfed an artificial current forward.
"Let's go."