Chapter 123: The Captain’s Resolve and the Pirate’s Fury

Li Hua gazed at the radar display, her ship equipped with a highly advanced system. Though the targets were visible on the screen, they were still considerably far from their position. She pondered whether to alter course and bypass them, proceeding from a different direction. After all, the strength of the opposing force was unknown, and their fleet clearly outnumbered hers.

Yet, would Li Hua truly resort to such a measure? Of course not. As the latest fusion of arcanist techniques and technology from the Dragon Summer Investigation Bureau, her vessel could not possibly retreat without a fight. That would be an unbearable humiliation.

Furthermore, the fleet before them, by all appearances, did not belong to the Dragon Summer Nation. Given that this shipping lane required prior registration, Li Hua would undoubtedly have been informed if it were one of theirs. Thus, these fleets from unknown nations must harbor some ulterior motive.

Regardless of their objective, Li Hua would never back down without a struggle. She would not instigate conflict, but she certainly wouldn’t shy away from it either. Calmly, Li Hua watched the radar, simultaneously using the broadcast system to remind the two individuals currently lost in their affections.

****

Hearing the broadcast, Bai Yu startled like a cat caught stealing fish, her cowlick standing rigidly upright. She glared in the direction of the surveillance camera, making an angry face.

Stella, on the other hand, remained unfazed. She harbored little shame, her feelings for Bai Yu already existing in the shadows, so she saw no reason to conceal them further.

‘A thick skin gets you further,’ she mused.

“Alright, alright, don’t be angry, Xiao Yu. It seems an enemy fleet has appeared.” Stella said, gently stroking Bai Yu’s head.

“What does that have to do with us? Even if they attack, this ship’s defenses are more than capable, aren’t they?” Bai Yu pouted, indignant. “Perhaps that old hag of a Captain is just jealous, which is why she interrupted us. It’s only natural for someone her age to envy young people like me.” Bai Yu puffed out her chest, as if having successfully convinced herself.

****

Meanwhile, Ellie Roth Charlotte stood excitedly by the deck railing, the recent tsunami having thoroughly piqued her interest. Such a phenomenon could not possibly be natural; she could distinctly sense the terrifying spiritual energy emanating from it. However, no one else on board had ever experienced such spiritual energy, nor did they possess Lu Xingyao’s innate talent, making it impossible for them to discern the finer details. Yet, Ellie Roth Charlotte knew that the area was far from simple.

‘Is it a Shadow Beast from the sea, or some unknown enemy? What could it possibly be?!’ Ellie Roth Charlotte’s eyes gleamed with an almost manic intensity, her battle lust fully ignited. The spectacle before her made her eyes twitch with anticipation. Her heterochromatic eyes, one grey and one white, were filled with mystical insights, perceiving everything around her with acute clarity.

“Miss, the opposition could be truly dangerous. Please do not proceed rashly,” the Steward beside her said anxiously, her tone humble. The family head had specifically instructed her to look after Ellie Roth Charlotte.

However, Ellie Roth Charlotte’s nature dictated that she would inevitably stir up trouble. While this might have been acceptable before, they were now on the high seas. Any mishap could severely complicate even the possibility of receiving aid. Unless absolutely necessary, large-scale arcanist teleportation wondrous items were not to be used; they represented the Charlotte Family’s deepest reserves, reserved only for conflicts between prominent families.

“Listen, you’re becoming quite annoying,” Ellie Roth Charlotte said, casting a cold, dismissive glance at the Steward. There wasn’t a single endeavor she had undertaken that hadn’t succeeded. In her mind, she was invincible, and no one could ever stand in her way.

The Steward lowered her head at Ellie Roth Charlotte’s words. No matter what, she was merely a steward, incapable of disobeying Ellie Roth Charlotte’s commands.

“Yes, Miss,” the Steward replied instantly, her voice reverting to a respectful tone.

“Hmph.” Ellie Roth Charlotte ignored her, continuing to gaze into the boundless ocean, which seemed to reflect her own destiny. She extended her hand, and a single-edged sword materialized within her grasp. Intricate runes were etched across its blade, imbued with countless enchantments and enhancing arcanist techniques. This was the Curse Seal Blade.

Only the head of the Charlotte Family in each generation was deemed worthy of wielding this sword—except for Ellie Roth Charlotte. This alone signified her predestined role as the future family head. Every rune on this blade represented an intrinsic arcanist technique inscribed by a family patriarch of a past generation, passed down through the sword itself. In essence, this sword was one of the Charlotte Family’s most crucial foundations.

Ellie Roth Charlotte’s white eye meticulously scrutinized the sword in her hand. Every single rune was laid bare before her gaze, allowing her to fully adapt to the sword’s combat state. She could even, through her other eye, briefly modify the sword’s arcanist techniques to produce unexpected effects. Truly, every one of Ellie Roth Charlotte’s battles was a cascade of unforeseen events, making it impossible for anyone to predict her next attack.

The heterochromatic girl stood by the railing, gazing at the distant coastline.

****

“Damn it! Damn it!”

A heavily armed fleet, composed of various fishing vessels converted for combat, cut swiftly through the ocean. At its heart was a true warship, its immense size making it a stark anomaly among the surrounding boats. This was the Hern Pirate Group, the largest pirate faction on these public seas.

Their leader, Hern, a burly man, was currently slamming his fists furiously on the table before him. “Who… who killed my brother?!”

Hern’s eyes were terrifyingly bloodshot and protruded alarmingly, as if threatening to burst from their sockets. This wasn’t due to any illness, but rather because he was an Arcanist. His spiritual core was that of a merman, not the kind with a human upper body and a fish tail, but entirely the inverse. Consequently, Hern’s head at this moment resembled a massive fish head.

He was seething with fury, having just received news that the pirate group led by his brother had been utterly annihilated, not even leaving behind a single corpse. How could he possibly let this go? Did they not know his title, Hern, the Fish King of the Seas?

Therefore, he had mobilized his entire force, determined to utterly destroy the perpetrator behind his brother’s death. Based on his conjectures, such a feat couldn’t have been accomplished by an ordinary vessel; it must have been a true warship. Otherwise, his brother’s pirate ship, though lacking a warship itself, was equipped with a considerable arsenal of weapons and ships, more than capable of overcoming any regular vessel with ease. Thus, upon discovering a convoy protected by four warships, his rage had reached its peak. It had to be them; they were the ones who had murdered his brother.