SWDnovel Chapter 67 A Surprise Gift for Redbeard
Chapter 67 A Surprise Gift for Redbeard
"It is said that..."
The hooded man lowered his voice even further, with a hint of caution.
"He found something... from the past. Something belonging to the legendary pirate 'Dreadlord' Bartholomew. Something that could instill fear, a fear that chills to the bone."
He seemed unwilling or afraid to say more, and quickly changed the subject.
"This sea used to have a few sizable fish, but they were either swallowed by Mallory or driven away. Now only small fish and shrimp, and him, remain."
Next, driven by the gold coins, information was gathered regarding the Redbeard's most recent robbery route, possible return time, and several potential small pearl or coral reef sites near Anchor Bay.
Information about the hideouts of several notorious small pirate gangs that specialized in wicked deeds also trickled out of the hooded man's mouth like a trickle.
Miao Meng silently memorized the details, especially the locations of the resource points and the movements of Redbeard.
He needed laborers. Deep-sea pearl diving is a life-threatening job. Five people go down, and four come up, or even none of them come up at all. So he needed enough manpower, and those heinous pirates were just right.
The conscience cultivated by modern society prevented him from having the heart to buy slaves or force ordinary fishermen to go out to sea to fish, but he had no sympathy for these heinous pirates.
Labor reform is also an important part of modern law. These despicable pirates were only sent to sea to collect pearls, which is already too lenient for them.
When the last copper coin was traded, the hooded man blew out the only candle, and darkness instantly enveloped everything again, leaving everything silent.
Miao Meng and Count Black turned around, passed through the invisible barrier again, and returned to the damp and dark alley.
"The legacy of the Black Earl?" Stepping out of the alley and feeling the noisy sea breeze again, Miao Meng's lips curled into a cold smile.
"Interesting. Let's see if his 'mother version' is more powerful, or your 'public version' is tougher. But I reckon his mother version won't work against my male version."
Thinking of the Black Earl's legacy that Redbeard relied on, and how the fear magic he unleashed with great effort turned into smoke when it encountered the Black Earl, he couldn't help but laugh.
No, it's not the right time yet. We can only relax and laugh after we've taken down Redbeard's pirate ship.
The shadow beneath the count's hood seemed to stir, emitting a silent sneer: "Just wait and see, Captain."
Over the next few days, Miao Meng and Earl Black did not leave Anchor Bay, but instead, like two fish merging into murky waters, patiently lay in wait.
The Black Earl, accompanied by several equally disguised and concealed guards, wandered around the island like ghosts.
By comparing the purchased intelligence with on-site confirmation of the activities of those small pirate gangs, he mentally marked several targets that were most suitable for reaping.
Miao Meng spends most of his time in the simple boat house he rents on the edge of the dock area, looking out at the sea through the cracks.
He was waiting for the big fish, Redbeard, but the wait wouldn't be easy.
During this time, two pirate ships that were foolish enough to try to rob small boats on the outskirts of Anchor Bay were easily captured by the guards under Miao Meng's command, and the crew members were secretly locked in the cabins brought by the pirates.
Looking at these new "captives," Miao Meng's initial hesitation stemming from Dongxia's education system had long been worn down by reality.
These scum, their hands stained with the blood of innocent people, are perfect for filling trenches and reaping pearls.
On the fourth day at noon, a blurry sail finally appeared on the horizon, gradually forming a sizable fleet, which invigorated Miao Meng.
A "Crimson Fleet" of eight ships, large and small, is breaking through the waves.
The flagship "Bloodhowl" in the middle is particularly eye-catching. Its tall hull has a deep draft, and the outline of its three gun decks is very clear. Its bow looks like a ferocious, roaring griffin, and a huge scarlet flag is flying on the mainmast.
Even from a distance, one could already feel a fierce and menacing aura emanating from them.
Miao Meng didn't choose to make his move in the port, because if he wanted to make an example of someone, the open sea was the most suitable battlefield.
Furthermore, Anchor Bay, this chaotic yet orderly land of wealth, was already considered by him to be an important source of resources for his future, and it could not be destroyed.
He left the rented houseboat and walked alone to the beach.
When he stepped onto the undulating seawater, it felt as if he were walking on solid ice—his ship girl form talent made it as easy for him to walk on flat ground.
He stood facing the direction of the fleet, a few hundred meters away from the Bloodhowl.
The sea breeze blew his wide cloak, making him appear particularly small in the face of the massive warship.
He looked up, trying to get the other person's attention.
But the towering gunwales blocked the view, and the sailors on deck were busy preparing for entering the harbor. The lookout was watching the island and the distant sea warily, but he ignored the sea right below him.
Who would notice a tiny dot standing on the water, wrapped in a cloak?
Miao Meng's irritability and impatience were instantly replaced by a chilling killing intent. Since the other party was blind, there was no need to say anything more.
With a thought, six silent water lines suddenly tore through the surface of the calm sea beneath him, like six enraged deep-sea sharks, rushing toward the Crimson Fleet at an astonishing speed!
The target wasn't the most conspicuous flagship, "Bloodhowl," but rather the six equally sizable main warships beside it!
The moment the torpedo broke through the water, Miao Meng released some of the constraints of her ship girl form, her figure slightly rising, and she gathered an invisible pressure.
Six "Hellshark" torpedoes, infused with fire magic and the essence of deep-sea giant sharks, were precisely guided by magic, like living fangs of vengeance, locking onto their targets and mercilessly crashing into the waterline below their respective targets' hulls!
Time seemed to stand still for a moment.
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
Six deafening, almost simultaneous explosions suddenly erupted, instantly drowning out all the noise in Anchor Bay!
The violent shockwaves created huge, circular white waves on the sea surface.
The six pirate ships that were hit, with their sturdy oak hulls, became as brittle as children's building blocks in the face of an explosion equivalent to 100 kilograms of TNT.
A massive column of water, carrying fragments of planks, twisted metal, and indistinct remains of flesh and blood, shot skyward.
With a piercing cracking sound, the hull was torn apart and broken from the middle or stern, and seawater rushed into the huge breach. The hull tilted and sank rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Terrified and desperate screams immediately replaced the previous order, like a prelude to hell resounding between the blue sky and the sea.
Thick smoke and splashing water vapor spread out, obscuring half the sky and also shrouding Miao Meng's figure standing motionless on the sea like a reef.
His icy gaze pierced through the smoke and dust, fixing on the massive flagship that had been deliberately spared and was now turning around in a panic like a frightened beast—the "Bloodhowl".
On the deck, a burly man with a full red beard, Mallory, was gripping the gunwale in a mixture of shock and anger.
Staring in disbelief at the scene of destruction on the sea, a scene resembling divine punishment, and the uninvited guest, exuding a terrifying aura against the backdrop of smoke and giant waves.
Miao Meng's voice, calm yet carrying an undeniable power, pierced through the aftershocks of the explosion and the chaotic screams, carrying clearly into the distance:
"Now, it's time to talk about the new order in this sea area."