Chapter 164: Taking a Gamble, From Commoner to Noble

Chapter 164: Taking a Gamble, From Commoner to Noble



Summary: The leader of the Bloodsail Pirates, Will McCoy, was once an Imperial officer with the strength of a Great Knight. He is proficient in the Imperial Military Sword Technique, the Black Shark Breathing Technique, and an unknown martial art. He excels in using the Knight's Longsword, rapiers, and iron claws.

Known for his deadly iron claws, he can defeat most enemies with just a pair of them. With a single punch, he can pierce through the chest and abdomen of a fully armored Knight, earning him the nickname 'Bloody Hand Will'! (Note: He is incredibly powerful in close combat, and it is strongly advised to avoid confrontation if discovered.)



Rayne was familiar with these iron claws, which typically consist of four interconnected iron rings with a semicircular iron hoop at the back for gripping. The rings are worn on the index, middle, ring, and little fingers. Some claws even have steel spikes on the tips for increased damage.

In the hands of a skilled fighter, these claws can be incredibly fast and deadly.

The second person of interest is Kraut Dagen, the vice leader of the Bloodsail Pirates and captain of the Ruler. From his portrait, he appears to be a handsome man with a chiseled face and a goatee, looking more like a noble than a pirate.

Kraut Dagen, the vice leader of the Bloodsail Pirates and captain of the Ruler, is a skilled fighter with the strength of a Master Knight. He is proficient in the Bloodsail Sword Technique and an unknown breathing technique, and he excels in using the Knight's Longsword.

Known as the 'Gentleman Pirate', Kraut is also skilled in divination and healing, making him well-liked among the Bloodsail Pirates.

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"Some of them have already met the twelve requirements for the enlistment examination."

"However, this guy Nazbi might choose the second option."

Most of the time, they had to eliminate their opponents quietly, as they didn't want to alert the other side prematurely, especially before the boarding battle officially began.

"If they get the first move, we'll go with the second option. I have advanced armor, so I should be able to hold my own against their sword techniques."

"Let's begin!"

"Alright! If it doesn't work out, you're still young, so you should be able to pass the examination at the small fort."

"No rush. Besides, I'm not good with archery." Rayne shrugged.

Rayne could vaguely see several cannons with a dark metallic sheen mounted on the walls of the small fort.

With his dark vision, Rayne easily navigated the surroundings after jumping off the ship. The first thing that caught his eye was the small castle in the center of the island, which looked more like a miniature fort than a castle.

"But as soon as we disembark, we'll know. And it won't be a boarding battle, but a ship-to-ship battle."

After shedding over a hundred pounds of weight, Rayne felt much lighter.

The target was easy to identify, especially with the light coming from the room.

At that moment, Rayne started moving.

Rayne looked up and recognized the speakers as some of the top contenders for the enlistment examination, as mentioned by Has.

The three-masted ship belonged to three other pirates, and they were likely built in the shipyards of Rosby City, explaining their similar construction.

With the target identified, Rayne slowly removed his chromium-iron suit and put on a leather armor made from otter skin.

Could she be the same?

Currently, none of the examinees had chosen this warship because there was a Wizard Apprentice on board whose strength was unknown.

There was a saying in Rayne's previous life, 'Take a gamble, and your bicycle might turn into a motorcycle!'

"I'll take care of the 'Gentleman Pirate' Kraut."

Evelyn glanced up at Rayne, the young man carrying two heavy weapons, whom she had never seen in the training grounds before, as if he had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Rayne headed north towards the three-masted ship, the Sunken, which belonged to Mara Nasir, the diviner.

First, he had to follow a rocky path to the beach, where four or five warning bonfires were burning, and then he could begin the ship-to-ship battle.

".

"So, please value your life and don't aim too high."

Rayne continued to look down.

(Note: Although he is older, he is cunning and deceitful, so it's best to avoid confrontation if you lack experience.)



At that moment, Rayne's ears perked up, and he heard a few people discussing something amidst the crowd's chatter.

It was around one in the morning.

A good evaluation required killing the lieutenant, and an excellent evaluation would be awarded for taking down the captain directly.

On the paper, below the portraits of the four key figures, were the designs of two pirate ships: a four-masted ship and a three-masted ship.

For the few who were twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, age was a disadvantage, making this possibly their last chance.

Rayne glanced at her, remembering Has mentioning her in the training grounds. She was Evelyn, the daughter of a viscount from Rosby County.

In the end, Rain's brows furrowed slightly once more.

The newly-enlisted knight, burdened by his heavy weapon, was naturally less agile than the other knights.

"Rain, aren't you going?" The great hammer knight had taken a few steps before realizing that Rain was still standing in place, so he turned back with a puzzled look and asked.

Therefore, for them, it was more about testing their mettle.

Interesting! The third portrait was of Mara Nasir, a diviner and captain of the 'Sunken Ship'.

Given the current situation, it seemed they were about to launch an ambush on the pirate ship! However, from here, they had to head to the makeshift pier where the pirate warship was docked.

These few individuals likely had the same target as him.

Additionally, there was a makeshift pier about two to three hundred meters to their left, where a four-masted ship, three three-masted warships, and some smaller boats were docked.

Rain carefully examined the design in his hands for a while before forcefully prying it open.

"It's still unclear." The navy rear admiral shook his head.

Apparently, these were the main vessels of the Bloodsail Pirates, and the two types of ships depicted in the design.

However, it was strange that Rain had stopped near the 'Sunken Ship'.

Soon, Rain spotted a familiar face among the officers—the female lieutenant, Marika Morales, who had been attending to them at the Navy Home Inn.

Additionally, the design showed that the captain's rest cabin was equipped with a small side window, some in a circular shape and others in a semi-circular shape.

Now, on the beach, only Rain and a red-haired female knight remained motionless.

On the beach, by the bonfire, the Bloodsail Pirates were scattered in small groups, but if they were to launch an attack, the knights would still be outnumbered! Especially one pirate leader, whose death was particularly gruesome, as he was instantly struck by two stabbing sword thrusts and four sharp arrows.

He glanced at Rain's dual-wielded greatsword and great hammer, and couldn't help but offer some solace, saying, "Indeed, without your bow, it's even more difficult."

"So, it seems the small fortress on the other side is the weakest in defense since the core members aren't there." The spy disguised as a Bloodsail Pirate quickly reported the latest situation.

The four-masted ship was the flagship of Bloody Hand Will, and its design was almost indistinguishable from the standard four-masted ships of the Imperial Navy. This made Rain ponder.

However, seeing both the ship and the fortress, Rain was perplexed. Were they planning to split their forces?

"Oh well! I should've practiced my archery skills more." The other party sighed.

Just as he was about to sneak up on a Bloodsail Pirate, an arrow from the side snatched away his target, the 'Prey'. Although he immediately turned with a furious gaze, there was nothing he could do.

Introduction: Bilger Jamal, captain of the 'Ruler', a Bloodsail Pirate who had sailed the seas for over thirty years.

When the group reached the beach, the most numerous of the newly-enlisted knights had already consecutively taken down eight Bloodsail Pirates, and the opponent was an expert archer.

Then, he nodded slightly.

In a cramped space like the ship's cabin, being agile could provide a significant advantage. Moreover, if one were wearing heavy armor and fell into the water, it would be quite embarrassing. Additionally, Rain had the 'Iron Skin Level 3' supernatural trait, making him naturally more suitable for fighting in leather armor than others.

After all, knights skilled in dual-wielding heavy weapons were rarely weak, especially when they also carried a greatsword and a great hammer.

Apparently, they weren't content with merely passing the enlistment exam; they aimed for a 'Good' evaluation.

Upon hearing that they could withstand the most formidable Bloodsail Pirates, the remaining newly-enlisted knights couldn't help but glance at each other.

At this moment, the dozens of Bloodsail Pirates on the beach had been cleaned out, and there were still a few newly-enlisted knights participating in the enlistment exam, who had yet to achieve their first kill.

Rain shook his head slightly, "I won't go."

(Note: The third person, second only to Bloody Hand Will in strength. If encountered, it is recommended to immediately evade.) The third person caused Rain's pupils to constrict.

Unless you're planning to challenge the Bloodsail Pirate leaders in single combat, perhaps the Navy Assault Team would grant you this courtesy.

But the Bloodsail Pirates preferred to call it the 'Little Fortress'.

Sure enough, Rain wasn't the only one perplexed.

At this moment, the middle-aged man in noble hunter's attire with a goatee spoke up:

This was naturally the Bloodsail Fortress.

Rain focused on the locations of the captain's rest cabin, the first mate's cabin, and the boatswain's cabin, examining them carefully.

In the design's notes, the thickness of the three-masted ship's hull was marked at around thirty centimeters, while the four-masted ship's hull thickness reached nearly forty centimeters.

At this moment, the Bloodsail Pirates on the beach had all been cleared out, and the next act was the ship boarding battle.

The charming navy lieutenant, Marika, also noticed that Rain was still standing on the beach, which puzzled her.

The group had assumed the navy rear admiral would step forward and give instructions, but unexpectedly, the two dozen navy officers and the enlisting knights in noble hunter's attire showed no intention of intervening. Instead, they stood behind, watching with amused smiles as the group prepared for their next move.

Noble Heir: "Cut, a bunch of good-for-nothings." He spoke with disdain as he surveyed the scene.

Soon, a crowd gathered around the most powerful Noble Heirs.

The captain's cabin of a three-masted ship is typically located at the stern, on the second deck.

"Your task is to familiarize yourselves with the structures of the ships and the fortress." The Navy Rear Admiral added.

Each ship's bow has a figurehead, like the 'Hooked', which features a large curved hook, making it easily recognizable.

A team to raid the small fortress?

"Also, if we're discovered, we'll be immediately surrounded by pirates, and the mission will essentially fail." The Navy Officer behind Rain spoke up, his mind filled with questions.

A team for a boarding battle?

Although that's what they said, Rain barely listened, glancing up for a moment, he didn't think much of it.

At this moment, they realized there was another ship behind them, and dozens of Sword Knights in light armor and Crossbow Elite Navy Assault Team members, along with over ten Navy Officers, had disembarked.

"Sir, is this a boarding battle? Are their leaders on their ships or in the Bloodsail Fortress?" Someone asked.

So, a significant portion of the group formed a team and headed towards the small fortress.

The well-calculated ambush was carried out by the Master Knights against the Bloodsail Pirates, who were merely skilled, and couldn't offer effective resistance.

Huh? A Knight and Wizard Apprentice?

If the ship were docked in the harbor, Rain estimated the sailboat's draft based on the design, predicting it would be above the waterline, about four meters from the surface.

Rain glanced over and saw the Elite Navy Assault Team members, already holding strong bows or crossbows, aiming at the Bloodsail Pirates, confirming his suspicions.

At this moment, a middle-aged man dressed as a pirate, with a red scarf, suddenly emerged from a bush about ten meters away, startling everyone. The Navy Rear Admiral seemed to know he was waiting for them, and calmly asked, "How's the situation now?"

Apparently, they needed to clear out the minor pirates before boarding.

"Now, the enlistment examination officially begins. You all understand the situation, and from now on, all your kills will be recorded." The Navy Rear Admiral stated.

"Finally, I want to remind everyone that unexpected situations may arise during combat, and in certain cases, even the examiners overseeing the enlistment examination may not be able to rescue you in time."

He paused and added reassuringly, "Even if you fail this enlistment examination, you can still retake it in five years."

Evelyn was curious, as she planned to attack the 'Bloodsail' with the Navy, but what was this boy up to?

Synopsis: Mara Nasr, a Diviner and captain of the 'Sunken Ship', has an unknown background, possesses Great Knight and Second-Level Wizard Apprentice-level strength, and clearly masters 'Watergrass Divination' and the water-based magic 'Water Healing Spell'. Her mastery of other magics is unknown, but she knows Bloodsail Swordsmanship.

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Alternatively, the remaining two pirate ships included a four-masted ship, the Bloodsail Pirates' flagship, 'Bloodsail', and the target of the Great Knight, 'Bloody Hand Will'.

However, Marika wasn't the only female present; there were also two other female officers, who might be responsible for recording, communication, and coordination.

The captain of the 'Sunken Ship', on the other hand, was a mysterious professional with unusual and challenging methods.

Meanwhile, several Navy Officers with Master Knight strength immediately followed, along with the black-clad examiners and recorders.

Now, it's time to fight for a change! So, they must fight.

"Sir, since the Bloodsail Pirates are on high alert for an Imperial Navy attack, Willy and the messenger's meeting is set on the four-masted ship, the flagship 'Bloodsail'."

Nickname: "Old Fool".

"Choose the fourth one, 'Old Fool' Billger, should be the easiest to kill. Let's go with him."

"Listen up, the small fortress is a tough nut to crack. If we want a good evaluation, follow me to the 'Ruler'!"

However, seeing Rayne's calm demeanor, he couldn't help but ask, "Why aren't you worried at all?"

So, the remaining crowd briefly pondered and mostly followed the Noble Heir to the 'Hooked' next to the 'Ruler'.

Rayne nodded slightly, apparently, there was an inside informant, no wonder the Rear Admiral knew the situation as soon as they landed.

As they continued down the path, the second Bloodsail Pirate patrol team was swiftly eliminated.

At this moment, Rain stepped forward, picking up a thick wooden board, seemingly used for ship repairs, with one side coated in tung oil.

Chapter: The Bloodsail Pirates' Fort

"That's right, but the Diviner knows magic, it's too dangerous. What if they cast a curse? We'd be done for!"

At that moment, seven or eight newly-knighted archers took the lead, while others cautiously nocked their arrows and aimed at the approaching group of pirates carrying torches.

According to the spy's intelligence, the easiest target should be the small fortress nearby, where there were hardly any Master Knights among the enemies.

Meanwhile, Rain and a dozen others headed towards the southernmost ship, the 'Hooked'.

At the end of the path, Rain could see a row of torches slowly approaching, likely a pirate patrol. Beyond the beach, about a hundred meters away, two or three dozen pirates were moving about.

Of course, not everyone participating in the enlistment examination chose to engage in the boarding battle.

After all, in five years, they'd be in their thirties. Unless they advanced to the rank of Senior Knight, their chances of passing the enlistment examination would naturally decrease.

Due to his long tenure within the Bloodsail Pirates, he was primarily responsible for lateral communication with other pirate groups, and he was quite reputable among them.

The Great Hammer Knight, illuminated by the bonfire, revealed a slightly youthful face, which Rain initially thought was due to a lack of skill. That was why he hadn't taken action yet.

"I want to get a high enough evaluation to earn an invitation from the Charioteer."

Since he had signed up for the enlistment examination, most people thought their skills were more than sufficient.

"But even if you sneak in and gather some intelligence, the examination is based on the number of kills. Do you think you can get a passing evaluation just by gathering some information?"

However, he remained on the beach, and it was unlikely that he would choose to attack the flagship. It's common knowledge that during a team assault by the Navy Assault Team, many times you won't find an opportunity to attack, and the enemies will be killed before you can.

This caused Rain to nod slightly.

"Huh? She's here too."

Rain's gaze swept across the portraits of the four individuals, finally returning to the images of 'Bloody Hand Will' and the Diviner, pausing for a moment.

This must be the main attacking force.

The Knights aimed and swiftly took down the seven or eight Bloodsail pirates on patrol with a series of 'whooshes', not even giving them a chance to cry out.

"Are you going to scout alone? Wearing leather armor and carrying heavy weapons, what a strange outfit."

With these two groups moving, the remaining crowd was significantly reduced, including Rain, leaving only about ten people.

At the bottom of the paper, there was a two-story building, with dozens of rooms, resembling an ancient castle.

"From the banquet until now, Bloody Hand Will and the messenger haven't come out. They're probably still on the flagship. And the other three three-masted ships are all on high alert, including the captain and the first mate."

From the annotation, Rain learned that this was the Bloodsail Pirates' base on Merritt Island, known as the 'Bloodsail Fort'. It was built from the local giant reef and was extremely sturdy.

One of the Knights with a great hammer, standing next to Rain, also had a worried expression on his face.

Meanwhile, the recorders in the back began documenting the battle records.

The group arrived at Merritt Island.

"That's right, the first few were too strong, it's too dangerous."

At that moment, the Navy Major General, who was preparing to divide the forces to attack the flagship 'Bloodsail' and the 'Sunken Ship', saw Rain's actions and was taken aback! But the next second, he waved his hand, and the female Major Marika and an officer with skills reaching the Master Knight level quickly reacted and followed Rain.

"I still plan to follow and see if there's a chance to get a good evaluation." After speaking, the Great Hammer Knight rushed towards the 'Ruler'.

In the end, the remaining number of people was insufficient to attack a pirate ship.

However, from the meaning conveyed in the other party's words, it seemed not to be that simple.

[Note: Due to the unknown proficiency in magic, it is recommended to avoid confrontation.] The last person depicted, the fourth one, was the captain of the 'Hooked', with his distinctive hooked hand, a pipe in his mouth, and a mouthful of rotten teeth. He was the most pirate-like among them.

This hooded man had a slightly pale face, almost no beard, and appeared quite young. But from the slightly weathered corners of his eyes, Rain guessed that his actual age was not young.

He raised his head, and his gaze swept across the rear of the ship for a while.

Then, he simultaneously drew a greatsword and a great hammer from his back.

The Navy Officer and Major Marika exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion in each other's eyes. Was he going to use both heavy weapons? Was he going to use them as single-handed weapons?

It couldn't be that!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end