048. Outlaws of the Eastern Sea 2
Several ships closed in on the Goldforce. Nearly ten vessels visible on all sides. And each one carried around twenty men.
Bin's brow furrowed.
"This is..."
The ships were smaller than the Goldforce, made of wood and thus no match for her in durability. But they were outnumbered. Surrounded on every side, no amount of superior ship quality would help.
As Bin's group panicked atop the Goldforce, a booming voice rang out.
"How dare you sail the Goldforce without permission! You've got some guts!"
Bin turned toward the man who had spoken. Long mustache dangling from his nose, a hook for a left hand. Gold jewelry adorned his entire body.
Bin scanned him and spoke. "Has to be Gold Tooth, captain of Silver Tooth's crew."
At Bin's words, a man on the opposite ship bared his gleaming golden teeth.
"Not a complete idiot, then. We're here to take back the Goldforce."
It wasn't about revenge for Silver Tooth. They just needed the ship.
As he flashed his golden grin, a man with an eyepatch over one eye spoke up beside him.
"Do you even know who you're talking to like that? This is Gold Tooth, captain of the Gold Tooth Pirates! Show some respect!"
Gold Tooth stroked his long mustache and shrugged. Then he jerked his chin toward the eyepatch man, signaling him to boast more.
The black-patched pirate glanced around nervously before continuing. "As for Captain Gold Tooth... the necks of all the knights he's killed wouldn't even fill one ship."
Gold Tooth preened, straightening his mustache as he basked in past glories. But he wasn't satisfied with mere praise like that. He glanced at the eyepatch man again and lifted his chin—keep going.
The pirate with the black eyepatch checked Gold Tooth's expression once more, then pondered with a troubled look.
"And..."
One second. Two seconds passed, but nothing came.
There was simply nothing else to brag about.
That was when Gold Tooth scowled—and a dying scream pierced the air.
"Argh!"
Drip. Drip. Blood fell like raindrops.
The eyepatch man clutched his other eye and crouched on the spot. It was Gold Tooth's doing, all because the man hadn't pleased him.
"Useless trash."
His gaze was cold and sneering. Even as blood poured from his subordinate's eye, Gold Tooth didn't blink.
"..."
The other pirates watched in silence, inwardly seething.
Crazy bastard...
He's lost it. If only the vice captain were here...
With Silver Tooth gone, Gold Tooth's tyranny had only worsened.
They eyed the eyepatch man uneasily.
"C-Captain...!"
Terror made the man's voice tremble; he couldn't even see.
Yet Gold Tooth's tone was firm. "Rotten scum like you just eat up supplies."
"C-Captain..."
Gold Tooth grabbed the man by the scruff and dragged him to the ship's rail. It was like a beast being hauled to the slaughterhouse.
Splash!
A sound echoed from the sea. Gold Tooth smiled down at his sinking subordinate, then turned to Bin's group.
"Know why I love the sea?"
"..."
"I can dump trash like this anytime, anywhere."
Bin's group doubted their own ears. Just moments ago, the man had been one of his loyal followers—now snuffed out in an instant. No guilt showed on Gold Tooth's face.
The children recoiled in fear. His savage expression didn't look human at all. It reminded them of their old tormentors, freezing their faces in horror.
"...!"
"S-Scary..."
Bin and Ront, meanwhile, couldn't hide their awkward grimaces.
Seeing Gold Tooth's inexplicable cruelty, Bin let out an involuntary sigh.
"Hoo..."
As Bin exhaled, the captain straightened proudly and bared his teeth in a grin.
Let's see what you've got.
His golden chompers gleamed. He couldn't suppress his smile at the thought of battle.
From Gold Tooth's attitude, Bin could tell. His crew doesn't trust him.
But he couldn't let his guard down. A captain had his reasons. And ten ships still encircled them.
Bin racked his brain. How do we escape this...?
It was a sea battle, not land. Personal prowess mattered, but if the ship capsized, they were done.
As Bin organized his thoughts, Gold Tooth raised his hook hand and pointed at the Goldforce.
"Fire!"
With his shout, cannonballs erupted from the enemy ships.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom...!
Deafening roars shook the air. Shells rained into the sea off the Goldforce's starboard side, sending massive waves surging up.
Waves as tall as the ship herself. The Goldforce rocked violently, flinging people and cargo to starboard.
Bin gripped the rail at the stern, frowning. "She's listing more and more..."
Just as Bin said—Gold Tooth aimed to capsize her. The Goldforce was the pirates' symbol, their lifeline. He wouldn't destroy it outright, just tip it over.
The shaking ship sent the children tumbling one by one.
Thud.
Thud.
"Mooommmmyyy!!"
"Waaahhh!!"
Screams erupted. The kids couldn't grasp what was happening, but instinct screamed: we might die.
Some clung desperately to masts or rails, but their small bodies couldn't hold.
In the chaos, Bin whispered to Codic. "Skull, save the kids."
At his command, Codic shifted into gust form and scanned the area.
Roll roll roll. Kids tumbling starboard.
Codic enlarged his skull-head and scooped them into his mouth.
Meanwhile, Bin clung to the stern rail and drew his greatsword from his back.
Shing.
His eyes locked on his right hand gripping the blade. In that instant, black smoke rose from his bandaged right arm.
Whoosh.
He swung. "Eat this."
Swoosh!
A crescent sword wind rocketed across the sea like lightning. It kissed an enemy ship—and something incredible happened.
Slice.
A smooth cutting sound. The wooden vessel parted like tofu.
The bisected ship plummeted into the waves.
"Aaaahhh!"
Screams rang out. Soon, the crew floated face-up on the surface, like dead fish.
Behind Bin's sword wind, a cannon shot from the Goldforce followed.
Boom!!
Another ship shattered into splinters.
Ront grinned at the wreckage, panting. "Huff huff. Don't forget what this body can do."
As if saying it for Bin to hear. Bin smiled faintly in response.
"Too early to tire. Eight ships left."
Bin's sword wind and Ront's cannon fire stunned the Gold Tooth Pirates. Sinking a ship in one hit—that was no ordinary power.
Their morale crumbled.
Gold Tooth sensed it and scrambled for a counter. He hurled a long rope to the Goldforce and swung across like Tarzan.
"Look closely—they're exhausted already. They can't pull off another attack like that. Follow me!"
His crew obeyed, swinging over one by one. Defying him meant certain death.
"Screw it."
"Better now than getting killed by the captain later."
The moment Gold Tooth's boots hit the deck, he charged Bin—the biggest threat.
"You wrecked my ship. I'll rip your limbs off myself!"
He drew his sword from his belt.
Shing!
Sword in right, hook in left. That was his style.
Bin eyed both weapons and leveled his greatsword. His cold gaze fixed on the hook.
"Watch your own limbs."
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Metal clashed on the cramped deck. Ship combat differed from open ground. Every move risked knocking into gear—and a misstep meant tumbling into the sea.
Clang!
Clang!
Bin frowned at Gold Tooth's movements. He's fought plenty on decks.
His basics were laughable compared to any knight. But he had experience. Countless sea battles honed his instincts.
He knew the ship's sway from the waves. He predicted Bin's swing and parried with his hook, then slashed at Bin's head.
Ting!
Bin barely blocked. A second slower, and his skull would've split.
On land, easy. But on a pitching deck? Tricky.
Gold Tooth smirked under his twitching mustache. "Think a pup like you can beat the captain of a pirate fleet?!"
His confidence soared. But Bin's eyes flashed.
Shadows layered from his body, darting swiftly—pure Bascon agility.
Startled, Gold Tooth swung his hook reflexively. F-Fast...!
Bin parried with his greatsword and thrust at the gut.
Stab.
The blade pierced clean through. Bin's face was certain.
"Farewell."
Gold Tooth dropped to his knees.
"Damn it all..."
His body convulsed, eyes bulging red with regret.
Bin looked down. "No regrets. Your skills were pathetic."
A blunt verdict. Codic clacked approvingly.
"Click! Click! As expected of my lord."
But as Codic praised, something shocking happened. Gold Tooth grinned wickedly—his belly turned liquid.
He hooked Bin's arm in place and drove his sword into Bin's gut.
Thud!
"Landlubber brat, you think the sea's a playground?!"
But as he gloated, something was off. Bin's belly impaled—yet no pain, no blood on deck.
And the Bin before him smiled.
Gold Tooth frowned in confusion. What... that smile...?
Before he could react, Bin's form dissolved into shadow—reappearing behind him.
"A-Agility Mana...?!"