Chapter 249: Elite Black Magic
[Like all pirates of this era, Edward "Blackbeard" Teach was ambitious, fickle, treacherous, a worshipper of the strong, and a thorough pragmatist. After witnessing your brutality toward the Kraken, he wasted no time in selling out Nassau, acting as your guide.]
[He helped you contact his confidants in Nassau Harbor, stirring up chaos there. As a result, on October 12, 1718, you sailed the Pluton and led your fleet straight into Nassau, sealing off the port without meeting any real resistance. When the massive, pitch-black warship appeared in the harbor and even fired a shot toward the shore, every pirate in Nassau trembled under its cannons — even the most defiant, like the great pirate Charles Vane, didn't dare utter a word.]
[Then, with Edward Teach leading the way, you intercepted Benjamin Hornigold, who was trying to sail for Shipwreck City, and persuaded him to surrender. This legendary pirate had always leaned toward the moderate, surrender-friendly faction. In history, when Bermuda's governor Benjamin Bennett brought the king's pardon to Nassau, he had been the first to give in.]
[Of course, there were a few hotheads who tried to resist you — most from the pirate kings' factions in Shipwreck City — but you held nothing back. The Diamond Man Sam Bellamy and the Slip-Slip Man Tuval, both Devil Fruit users, subdued them without breaking a sweat. The five pirates who resisted the fiercest were marched to the gallows. The rest quickly defected to your side and obeyed your orders. In just 24 hours, Nassau was flying the flag of the Pineapple Pirates.]
[From October 12, 1718 to January 2, 1719, you used your political skill to consolidate Nassau's pirate forces. Now, whether it was the veteran privateer Hornigold from the Anglo-Spanish War era or the arrogant, unhinged Charles Vane, they were all your subordinates — and loyal ones at that.]
[By then, Nassau's pirates already had a code of laws jointly drafted by the first Pirate King — later Jamaica's governor Henry Morgan — and Captain Bartholomew. Bound in over a thousand pages of parchment, it contained rules and guidelines, such as how to banish a man. It even explained what to do if one were banished. One passage mentioned artifacts like Poseidon's Trident, weapons strictly forbidden for pirates to own because they were too powerful and dangerous.]
[Only the Pirate Emperor, also known as the King of the Pirate Council, had the right to summon the Nine Pirate Kings and amend the code. But as the great sea dominator of the Pirate King world, you couldn't care less. Under your orders, Nassau's pirates were now bound to your own rules — such as an absolute ban on wanton killing, leaving a way out for every target you plundered, and returning unwanted ships and cargo.]
[On February 9, 1719, after you had completed Nassau's unification and taken full control, you received a letter from Weatherby Swann in Port Royal. First, he praised your handling of Nassau. He went on to say he had applied to the British Crown on your behalf for a barony and the governorship of Guyana. All you had to do now was hand Nassau over to the new governor of the Bahamas, Woodes Rogers.]
[On paper, this was no loss — Guyana was a land rich in waterways, gold, and diamonds. The messenger from London was quite arrogant, pressing you to begin the handover. But you loved nothing more than saying "no" to the self-important. Right in front of the messenger, you flatly refused, tore up your privateer's license, and returned to piracy.]
[By taking Nassau, you completely altered this part of history. Originally, Woodes Rogers would have skillfully brought Nassau under control, only to fall at the hands of Charles Vane, who would have burned Rogers' fleet with fire and looted the city. But now Nassau would never belong to Britain, and Charles Vane had become your loyal subordinate.]
[History Changer title upgrade progress: 5/5]
[You have completed the History Changer title mission. This title has been upgraded to History Meddler. In all simulated worlds, you will now find it easier to intervene in events that shape world affairs. Participating in historical events grants an extra 15% exploration bonus.]
[This title can be upgraded again after participating in 8 historical events. Current progress: 0/8. (Upgrades only possible in reward worlds.)]
[On March 2, 1719, news of your return to piracy caused a sensation throughout the Caribbean. Now you stood not only against the Nine Pirate Kings, but even the British Navy was beginning to stir.]
[To many, you were already the Pirate King. With the Caspian Pirate King's Eight Reals in your possession, they believed you should inherit his title.]
[On March 5, 1719, after two and a half years as an apprentice, even without natural talent, you finally learned Cortés' black magic. You could now roughly mix powders to change the weather. You gained the skill: Elite Black Magic (learning this skill replaces your original Black Magic skill).]
[On March 9, 1719, you showed no courtesy to the British. Stationed in Nassau aboard the Pluton, you sent your fleet to sweep the entire Bahamas. Before long, the newly appointed governor Woodes Rogers fled the islands by ship. In a flash, you had taken control of the entire Bahamas. Knowing your history, you realized that this place would one day be not only a tourist paradise, but also an international financial hub — the "Zurich of the Caribbean," ranked 75th out of 77 global financial centers.]
[On May 4, 1719, your fleet encountered a British squadron north of the Bahamas, commanded by Commodore James Norrington. Their flagship, the Dauntless, was one of the Caribbean's legendary warships, with triple decks, triple gun batteries, and terrifying firepower. With one salvo, they sank one of your steam warships. But against your other two legendary ships, they quickly fell behind. Surrounded by the Silent Mary and the Queen Anne's Revenge, the Interceptor lasted less than fifteen minutes. After a crushing barrage, the balance tipped in your favor. In the end, your trusted subordinate, the Diamond Man Sam Bellamy, defeated James Norrington in a deck battle and seized the Dauntless — the British Navy's greatest asset in the Caribbean.]
[On May 9, 1719, the victory caused a sensation. On Cortés' advice, after a short rest in Nassau, you led your fleet straight for Jamaica — destination: Port Royal. In this era, it was the "richest and wickedest" city in the world. If you could take Port Royal, the balance of power in the entire Caribbean would change.]