The Second Voyage (4)
My prepared ex-pirates were once members of a notorious pirate crew.
About three years ago, pirates had infiltrated a small village in Hubei Province, colluding with Ji-hyeon to kidnap the villagers.
I learned of it due to an incident involving a student from the Hyanghwa Academy.
These were some of the pirates subdued at that time.
Most of those captured alive back then had died in prison, but these five had survived.
That meant their crimes were relatively lighter compared to the others.
They'd been doing hard labor at a nearby construction site when I requested them from the Emperor.
As the saying goes, it takes a thief to catch a thief.
I wanted to use these ex-pirates to learn how to deal with pirates.
It wasn't a bad deal for them either.
I'd promised to shorten their sentences.
Good cooperation could shave off about ten years.
But they didn't know yet.
That their sentences were actually a hundred years.
Since they were granted by the Emperor's request and were convicts anyway, I decided to escort them personally to Nanjing.
Before that, I'd carved out a bit of time for them to meet with our merchant group members.
It would allow for more detailed and varied stories.
Others might call it cowardly, but I didn't care.
A little effort was nothing compared to the hassle of dragging these guys along.
A moment later.
I led them up to the second floor.
"Who are those guys?"
Most people looked baffled or tilted their heads at the sight of them.
"……!"
But some sailors gasped, as if recognizing or guessing their identities.
"That tattoo!"
"Kekekeke! You recognize us!"
"We're from the Red Bone Crew!"
But their bravado quickly deflated.
"Hoo, that's ancient history."
"Sigh."
Clap clap!
I clapped my hands to draw their attention.
"Alright, let's start the briefing."
The ex-pirates' session turned out to be quite useful.
"D-Do they really go that far?"
"Heavens……."
"That's brutal!"
"I thought I knew about pirates, but these guys are worse than pirates!"
The crew now knew exactly the hell you'd endure if captured by pirates.
The sailors hadn't known the details before.
They'd never been caught.
And non-sailors just knew pirates were scary in general.
In that situation, I'd instilled a solid fear in them.
"I was confident about this voyage, but now I don't even want to go."
Everyone nodded at Geum Haengsu's words.
I stood and reassured them.
"I didn't set this up just to warn you all."
I turned with a grin.
"There are ways to deal with them too, right?"
The ex-pirates cleared their throats at my question.
"Ahem, sure."
"If we'd captured every ship, we wouldn't be in this mess…… Hoo."
"So, will you cooperate?"
That day, the senior members at the banquet were utterly focused.
The next day.
I took the ex-pirates to the Silver Wind Corps' training ground.
Of course, blindfolded and in a carriage.
Security had to be tight here.
Upon arrival, I told the escorts,
"Remove their blindfolds."
"Yes, sir."
They uncovered the ex-pirates' eyes.
After blinking in the sudden light, they looked up—and froze in shock.
"Wh-where is this?"
"This is where the guards for our ship to Dai Viet train. I brought you here to get your expert opinions on whether our preparations have any gaps."
Flattering them a bit, their faces lit up.
So simple.
If a little praise got their help, it was worth it.
"You've arrived, Young Branch Leader."
Manjeong Daehyeop hurried over.
"You've worked hard. I want to show them the training. Prepare as we discussed before."
"Understood."
Manjeong Daehyeop soon beat the drum to signal the archers.
The archers boarded the rocking ship and assumed stable stances.
"Aim!"
"Loose!"
They fired at distant targets.
Pabababang!
Dozens of arrows flew far and embedded in the targets instantly.
Then, the next volley's arrowheads blazed with fire.
Pabababang!
Whoosh!
The targets ignited in seconds.
I smiled at the ex-pirates.
"What do you think? Any shortcomings?"
They gawked, mouths agape.
Regaining composure, they chuckled dryly.
"Ha! Shortcomings?"
"Are you mocking us?"
"What ship could survive that?"
They vented at me, fuming.
"That powerful, huh?"
The pirates sighed and explained.
"As you know, pirates hook ships close for boarding battles."
"But if the ship burns before they close in, it's over."
"Ugh…… If I'd faced archers like that as a pirate, just thinking about it is nightmare fuel."
"No improvements needed?"
"If anything, prevent them from putting out the fire……."
We exchanged a few more ideas.
"I see. Very helpful. Now prepare to head to Nanjing."
"Yes."
"By the way, how's the prison treating you?"
They were currently in the Eunhae Merchant Group's prison.
As convicts doing labor.
It was clean for a prison, and the food was good.
Their reactions were positive.
"Of course!"
"A hundred times better than before!"
"The food's great!"
"And no work? Perfect."
"Glad you're satisfied. Alright."
I signaled, and the escorts blindfolded them again.
The guards led them out.
Watching them go, I told Manjeong Daehyeop,
"Their reaction was stronger than expected. We can relax a bit."
"Can't let our guard down."
"True."
What I'd shown was barely a tenth of our real prep.
Arrows' power and range reduced, fewer archers.
We even had countermeasures for firefighting, unshown.
No room for complacency.
From my past life, I'd heard pirates always dreamed of the sea.
Romantic types who wanted to die at sea.
They obeyed now, but no guarantee they wouldn't bolt.
Where to? Obvious.
They'd get recaptured fast anyway.
They didn't know about the tracking scent Ipil Musa's men applied.
Eunhae Merchant Group's prison.
Back there, the ex-pirates peeked outside before huddling.
"Sigh……."
They sighed deeply.
"Just arrows, with that power!"
"What do you think, boss?"
"Nightmare fuel. If I'd faced them, I'd be fish food by now."
"What did Eun Seo-ho do to those archers?"
"Why scare us yesterday if they have weapons like that?"
"Right?!"
Mid-rant, they fell silent.
"……."
"……."
The highest-ranked, called "boss," sprawled on the floor.
"Screw it! I'm giving up escape."
"Huh?"
"Boss! Come on!"
They looked dismayed.
They'd plotted to flee en route to Nanjing.
Playing nice to lower guards' vigilance.
Post-escape: back to pirating.
"Boss! Once a sea dog, die as one, right?"
"I like dying at sea. But think: you believe Eun Seo-ho showed us that just for advice?"
The other four tilted their heads.
"Huh?"
"What do you mean?"
"Ugh, you idiots! Still don't get who Eun Seo-ho is?"
"……."
They went mute.
His feats reaching even their prison seemed inhuman.
One face hardened in realization.
"You mean…… a warning?"
"Yes, morons. Finally got it? Flee and pirate again, you'll burn alive!"
"……."
"Romantic or not, I pass on burning. Plus, good cooperation means sentence reduction."
He continued,
"Escape if you want. I'm out."
They glanced around, then flopped down grumbling.
"If you say so, boss, why would I? Me too."
"Same."
"Better to die laboring or by blade and arrow than fire."
Thus, the ex-pirates abandoned escape.
Eun Seo-ho hadn't anticipated that.
I woke early as usual.
Finally, the day our Eunhae fleet set sail.
Thanks to bustling preparations, we were on schedule.
I stretched lightly and stepped into the courtyard.
Breathing fresh air, I circulated my energy.
Rising, I saw Master entering my pavilion's yard.
"Good morning."
"So it is. Good morning. Let's begin training."
Master indeed.
Voyage day, yet he trained as if it meant nothing.
Hmm, training's been tougher lately.
I'd taught him the Extreme Ice Sword from Investigator, said Snowflake Swordsmanship wasn't bound by forms.
He seemed enlightened.
Maybe that's why?
……
……
I stood at the dock, staring blankly at the fleet.
"Why so listless?"
Jeong Ho hyung's voice from behind.
"Just…… you know……."
Couldn't say Master's training wrecked me, so I just smiled.
"The plums?"
"Last year's stock loaded, plus fresh water and rations."
Jeong Ho hyung was sailing to Nanjing too.
As next Guild Leader, he couldn't miss this.
We reviewed the cargo list, double-checking for misses.
"Cats loaded?"
"Of course."
Ship cats were voyage essentials—for rats.
Rats caused havoc; cats handled extermination.
Captains sought proven ratters with care.
"Kkwi! Kkwi!"
Hm?
Geumryeong's voice?
Following it to the provisions hold: Geumryeong inside.
A ship cat crouched tense before it.
"Kkwi! Kkw!"
"Nyaang."
Ah…… Training the ship cat?
Threatening dire consequences for poor rat-catching.
Cute to me.
But the cat wouldn't meet eyes—effective training.
Good.
Rats on board were trouble.
But Geumryeong…… our fleet has four ships.
After, reward with some silver.
Soon, Father arrived.
To offer prayers.
Big fleets traditionally had the Guild Leader pray for morale.
Father read the prayer text, then burned it.
Whoosh!
It soared high; all cheered.
"Good omen!"
"Omen! Good omen!"
Worth nudging the energy to boost it.
Soon, all passengers boarded.
Silver Wind archers in uniform boarded too. Ones we'd trained hard.
Hope it pays off.
"Safe travels."
"Yes, Father."
"Seo-ho and I will return well, no worries."
Father nodded at Jeong Ho hyung.
"Take care!"
Time to go.
"Hyung."
"Yeah."
Jeong Ho hyung shouted,
"Set sail!"
A loud voice echoed,
"Set sail!"
"Set sail!"
Pwoooo!
Dong dong dong!
Horns and drums blared. Ships began moving slowly.
Destination: Nanjing.