Black Sail
Chapter 53: LIII. Heaven and Earth Killing Intent

Chapter 53: LIII. Heaven and Earth Killing Intent

The skull tattooed brute who had just boarded the ship less than ten days ago, dug his ear and bent down, his head tight against the ground.

"People are coming! Lord Rein, and... a large troop of cavalry, about two li away."

The tattooed brute stood up and reported eagerly, his hearing was astonishing.

Fen’s phantom nodded in acknowledgment, but he could not stay any longer, as the coast was perilous. He could only provide support, and Archer, who was scouting, probably was about to return to the ship as well.

The three top combatants of the Black Sail were gathered in the woods beside the main road, along with Morison and Ox.

Around eighty pirates were also hidden on either side of the woods, ready to strike unexpectedly.

Fen roughly calculated the distance from Lavender Town to here. From the moment the raven returned, they should be arriving soon. Liszt and the others were most likely intercepted by pursuers, or went to provide support to rescue others opening boxes elsewhere. Whether they won the fight or lost, they could only rely on their own side now. If they won, they would be in a damaged state from the tough battle, and if they lost, they needed even more support from this side.

"There are troubles in the secret port, caused by people from the Church Court, I leave this side to you."

Fen twisted two strands of spell power into a spiral structure like a sharp thin rope, similar to a clothesline wire. It weaved into an invisible huge net in the middle of the road with his fingertip movements, setting up a terrifying trap.

As a "pillar" of Pedan National Arcane Academy, Fen’s skills far surpassed those magicians from the adventurer’s guild who merely followed formulas and templates. His magic was not confined to forms but had reached a transcendent state where spell power was not only used to trigger the medium but could also materialize.

Rein’s speed was outstanding, his limbs swept through, far ahead of Zahak’s pursuing troops.

In less than a minute, he had darted into the woods where Ox was.

Less than twenty seconds later, Zahak’s troops charged furiously.

The scene was too bloody and violent. The first dozen cavalry who charged were at high speed, and under the sharp net of spell power, they died unnoticed without even a scream. Both horse and rider were sliced into countless cubic pieces, their cut surfaces as smooth and flat as mirrors.

Following that, their contents burst out, blood spraying wildly, turning the entire crossroad into a fragrant, hellish bloodbath.

The troops in the rear then realized what had happened, but in a moment of inertia, they could not stop. Another twenty or so horsemen, in extreme fear, crashed into the huge net, fragmented into pieces and scattered all over the place.

The Black Sail’s ambushed sailors and pirates were awestruck. Of course, there were rumors on the ship, and it was known that the first officer was a formidable magician, but seeing him now surpassed mere formidability – this was the level of a court mage, with nothing lacking.

Aran’s Constitutional Soldiers were being cornered and massacred by a group of pirates. The troops in the back were completely disorganized, horses neighing chaotically, and the formation totally collapsed as panic spread.

War is not about having fearless warriors on both sides; if losing one-third of their forces doesn’t shake them, that could be considered an iron army.

"A bunch of incompetents."

Zahak charged straight towards the huge net, drew his sword and executed ten swift slashes. The bloody sword light burst forth, cutting all the threads of spell power, and followed the slight arc formed as the threads fell.

Zahak’s eyes were sharp like a hawk, his terrible battle instincts akin to a killing machine; a fierce sword energy spontaneously slashed out, continuously exploding several large trees without losing any force, and accurately struck Fen in the woods.

The net of spell power threads being torn apart caused some chaos, and with the heavy hit, Fen’s phantom dispersed, turning into a purple mist and vanishing without a trace.

Zahak’s eyelid twitched. He was vastly experienced, and recognizing that this was just a spirit body, a division that carried such terrifying spell power indicated a master at work. The situation at Marcus’s side looked grimmer.

Initially, killing over thirty Constitutional Soldiers had greatly boosted the pirates’ morale, but Zahak’s swift action made them all hesitate, his overwhelming presence and miraculous skills were too frightening – this was the Constitutional Soldier Vice Admiral, a significant figure.

Ox knew that he and Morison had to kill this group completely. The coast was also completely blocked by the Church Court, Liszt and his group were exhausted from evasion, and this was the main battle line. If this front collapsed, Zahak splitting forces on two fronts would spell total disaster.

The loot sharing rules of the Black Sail Pirate Group were not established out of chaos.

Total income up to three hundred Golden Dragons: fifty percent as public funds, the rest split evenly.

Exceeding three hundred Golden Dragons, two hundred Golden Dragons as public funds, the rest split evenly.

Earn less, retain the core members, earn more, stabilize the crew, huge profit for the core, huge profit indeed.

Not every deal is a huge winner; there are times we get nothing, which is why the threshold is set at three hundred. It reflects the average net from looting the merchant ships from the Western Continent and the Far East.

As for public funds, ship maintenance and staple supplies are minor expenses, the real bulk goes to the sailors risking their lives.

Once there’s a haul exceeding three hundred Golden Dragons, the core members need to vote on the additional bonuses for the sailors; starting bids are in Golden Dragons. If they can’t even manage that, they shouldn’t call themselves pirates.

On a pirate ship, there’s only one fairness: those with abilities get more. All ship rules are transparent, and the Black Sail is no exception.

Ultimately, mixing with a well-established powerful pirate group and a ragtag bunch means different degrees of life safety and treatment.

"Only victories are allowed, no defeats. Each person starts with one Golden Dragon, an ear of a Constitutional Soldier counts for a hundred silver coins, and a sergeant’s head plus his collar insignia counts for two Golden Dragons."

Ox spoke coldly. As for that Leopard Man and Zahak, needless to say, they are not our rivals.

He finished speaking.

The bloodthirsty madness of the pirates was undisguised.

These days they already knew that on the Black Sail ship, there was alcohol when they wanted alcohol and meat when they craved meat, living up to the reputation of one of the most ferocious Pirate Gangs on the East Shore.

One hundred silver coins, what does that represent? According to the Beima Duchy navy’s salary, a regular sailor must suffer hardship and endure exhaustion for nearly a year to earn such an amount. A high-quality prostitute charging twenty to thirty copper coins per service could continuously entertain until she’s sick.

Killing a Constitutional Soldier equates to two years’ earnings, killing a sergeant equals four years.

In this world, a year is sixteen months long.

A pirate, a One-eyed Dragon with a scar over his left blue-cloudy iris, a fierce character, upon hearing this, didn’t hesitate to grab his scimitar, hurried onto the main road, and under the unsettled Constitutional Soldiers, he swiftly stabbed through the belly of one, stirred it several times, and fiercely yanked it out. The body fell off the horse. This man’s agility was exceptional; he mounted the horse and decapitated another Constitutional Soldier.

The Black Sail recruited many already organized remnants of pirate gangs in Londen City. This One-eyed Dragon, previously a helmsman of a ship, had about twenty brothers; they also charged forward, indifferent to life or death.

The tattooed burly man holding a great axe also charged out with a battle cry, and all the remaining pirates were emitting strange howls and war cries, entering the enemy formation with the most barbaric intimidation.

Fighting on horseback versus on foot are two different concepts. Once these rigorously trained regular troops calmed down, Ox realized these pirates were no match.

They must keep them in extreme fear, just like the weakest kind of merchant ship facing the coldest-blooded pirates!

Ox himself, wielding a Special Large Sword, leaped up four to five meters high. A three-hundred-pound great sword slashed down once, splitting two cavalrymen along with their horses diagonally, the blade causing turbulent airflow like a fierce wind, with blood plasma erupting violently, splashing everywhere.

Ox’s stature stood there, even taller than the mounted Constitutional Soldiers, like an iron tower standing amidst the enemy, terrifying all surrounding Constitutional Soldiers.

Rein also emerged from the woods. Not killing humans, he specifically slashed open horses to create an advantage for the sailors.

Under the lead of the Second Officer and the Boatswain, the pirates’ morale surged even in their inferior overall strength, and the infantry actually managed to blockade the cavalry in combat.

"You’re a leader, right?"

The towering Leopard Man, Pyapan, knew he must strike down this giant. Holding a Special Large Blade, he swung it towards Ox.

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