Black Sail
Chapter 45: XLV. Dragon Pool and Tiger Den

Chapter 45: XLV. Dragon Pool and Tiger Den

Approaching noon.

Zahak took over the task of searching for the secret port as soon as he heard that Marcus hadn’t done it that morning, starting the work with the highest efficiency and carrying it out vigorously.

Facing the Aran Constitutional Soldiers in ivory-white uniforms, the people of the secret port had no temper to show and obediently submitted to the inspections.

In just one morning, eleven secret ports had been searched, each left with a detachment of Constitutional Soldiers to stand guard. Even the nobles from Londen City didn’t dare show anger, only waiting for the tumult of these few days to pass before continuing their trade.

On the rammed-earth path beside the sea erosion cliff, twenty Aran Constitutional Soldiers were conducting a search. After bribing informants, all secret ports along the coast were exposed.

"The people here are really pathetic—it’s no wonder the Emperor had slaughtered them so brutally in the past. With this attitude, how can they fight any war? Let’s finish up with the next port quickly and get back for a meal."

One of the Constitutional Soldiers spoke arrogantly, reveling in the smooth progress of their work here, in a foreign country, compared to even better treatment than at home. No one at the ports dared disobey their orders, and they took great pride in their Aran heritage.

"One shouldn’t say that. Nearly twenty years ago, I also took part in battles here. The Beima people were quite spirited, and their women were particularly... tempting, haha."

The short-haired Constitutional Captain, an older man who’d attained his rank through seniority, continued to boast, "Back then, we were nothing but bandits in uniform, looking to profit from the war. Who the hell joins the army for anything else? In the lands we conquered, women were ours for the taking—I had my way with more than twenty."

The rest of the Constitutional Soldiers were shocked. Had things really been that wild back then?

"Weren’t such acts against military law?"

A young Constitutional Soldier couldn’t believe it.

"Now is now, the past is the past. Aran wasn’t as rich then as it is now. Nobles could hardly muster four horses of the same color for their carriages. It was my generation that fought for what we have now."

The Constitutional Captain was full of bluster.

"Be careful, up ahead is that giant cave the townspeople mentioned—it’s another secret port."

A cautious middle-aged soldier among them reminded the group.

"We have the Commander’s written order with the boss; there’s nothing to fear. All these places belong to the city’s nobility. If the higher-ups don’t make a fuss, the small fry won’t dare stir trouble."

The Captain dismissed the caution.

The group headed down the slope, following the vegetation-free rammed-earth path, walking deeper into the cavern.

The light began to grow faint. From this point on, it was a man-made stone path that had been carved out and laid down.

There were people guarding the entrance to the cave, a group with unfriendly faces watched the Constitutional Soldiers. They represented various races, yet not one of them spoke; they just looked on coldly.

"Look at how poor they are here, even their clothes smell like the sea."

The Constitutional Captain led his men deeper into the cave.

But the further they went, the more something felt off. More than twenty silent figures stared dead at them along the way, and all they could hear were the sounds of waves crashing against the coastal rocks.

The shimmering light on the cave walls turned into a harbinger of killing intent.

They had searched another secret port before this one, where there were pirates with weapons too, but the atmosphere was completely different from now.

As the Constitutional Captain neared the pier, he saw only a few unmanned, nearly wrecked boats docked in the entire massive cave. Among all the boats that populated the deck, only one was manned.

Even a fool could see there was a major problem in a sea erosion cliff that could accommodate two or three dozen boats, but had only one docked.

"Let’s go."

The Constitutional Captain whispered to the others, swiftly changing course, and turned to head back toward the entrance.

But the pirates who had been guarding the entrance were descending from the entrance, blocking the way. Their faces were cold and detached, capable of killing without emotion, chilling to the bone.

"You, what are you doing? We are the Aran Constitutional Soldiers, ordered by the Commander to inspect this place. Clear the way immediately!"

The Constitutional Captain, experienced in significant events, drew his Sword, knowing trouble had arrived.

The remaining Constitutional Soldiers also raised their broadswords, but many who had joined through connections had never really handled real situations, doing clerical work domestically aside from physical training. The foreign mission this time was supposed to be a straightforward capture, with thoughts of light work to embellish their resumes with no life-or-death experiences. For a moment, some panicked, one even accidentally dropping his sword on the ground.

Bang...

A heavy, dull sound resonated as something heavily smashed down onto the pier, and with each step, the wooden construction emitted faint creaking noises.

A line of Constitutional Soldiers turned back to look.

Before Liszt left, he said, "First kill, then ask questions."

"Uncle, I love killing Aran people the most."

Wolman lifted a two-hundred-pound battle ax, its blade as broad as a door panel, and slammed it directly onto a Constitutional Soldier’s head, splitting him in two in the truest sense. The ax cut through effortlessly, smoothly bisecting the body from the crown to the lower half. The sheer surface was as smooth as chocolate, with its contents pouring down, violently falling apart on the ground.

"Form... Form up! The Defensive Formation we’ve trained with."

The young vice-captain among the twenty Constitutional Soldiers spoke with a trembling voice, holding his sword in a flustered manner.

But having never encountered such a scene, these soldiers of fortune were frightened stiff, not moving from their spots.

A few with more resilient psyches still managed to swing their swords at Wolman.

Wolman didn’t even need armor; his innate advantage gave him black Scale Armor that effortlessly withstood these attacks—a clang was all that could be heard, but otherwise, nothing happened.

"Lacking the strength even to cut someone down, and you still dare to play soldier? You’re getting your rations for this?"

Rein swooped out, directly gutting a Constitutional Soldier, his claws razor-sharp and fatal or crippling if they hit the right spot.

Morison stood by the ship’s side, watching. There was no need for him to get involved; the scene was well within Wolman’s capability—another hundred of these mediocre soldiers would not stand a chance against this monstrously strong lizard. This contrasted with werewolves, who enjoyed joining the fray when it was a stomp but got neurotic as soon as the situation went south, starting to play the fringe.

What followed was too horrific.

Wolman didn’t even bother with weapons, his hatred deep, stretched out his massive hand, and grabbed heads, squeezing them like crushing oranges, repeatedly crushing several skulls.

The remaining Constitutional Soldiers utterly lost morale, turning into a rout, but how could the twenty-odd pirates blocking their escape give them a chance? Thugs all took out their weapons and went on a stabbing frenzy. The famous Aran Constitutional Soldiers crumbled like paper mache when struck, all falling untouched, a testament to their weakness.

Blood flowed into pools on the cobblestone road.

"What’s happened?"

Archer clinked and clanked as he ran over, having been asleep and awoken by Ox.

"It’s nothing, you should go back to resting."

Ox woke him as a precaution; seeing none of these people were of any concern, a mere rabble, he too found a corner to rest, closing his eyes to conserve energy while waiting for a signal from Liszt to cut through all resistance to Lavender Town.

On the stone slabs of the sloping road.

Just as Wolman was about to kill the last person...

"Wait..." Fen interrupted him, walking down the gangway to Wolman’s side, "This man’s psychological quality is excellent; he might be the only one who has truly seen combat. You’re the head of this bunch, right?"

Fen asked.

The Constitutional Captain, quite perceptive, casually tossed aside his sword and surrendered with raised hands. There was something off about this port; most likely, it was those meeting up with Caroso and his men.

"If I divulge everything, can I save my life?"

The Constitutional Captain was very accommodating.