Under the fervent and worshipful gaze of all the pirates, the explorer completed another evolution.
On both sides of the hull, behind the dark cannon ports, were gun barrels glinting with a silvery sheen.
The three-story ballista tower in the center of the ship stood like a silent giant, overlooking the sea.
On top of the tower, Billy was posing flamboyantly with a telescope.
"Not bad, not bad."
Roger patted the ship's rail with satisfaction, feeling the solid texture of metal and wood perfectly combined in his palm.
This ship could no longer be called a ship.
It was practically a mobile sea fortress.
"Captain, what should we do with that broken ship?"
Hector pointed to the sekibune still floating nearby.
Onboard, Sato Kotaro and his still-sleepwalking subordinates were tied up tightly.
"Do with it?"
Roger's lips curved into a smile that made even the old pirate Hector feel a tightening in his nether regions.
"Hector, remember the first rule of our pirate culture."
"Frugality and no waste."
Roger walked to the bow and placed his hand once again on the golden cortez's heart.
"Any valuable resource should be reasonably recycled and reused."
As soon as he finished speaking, the cortez's heart burst into dazzling light!
Countless golden energy threads, like predatory tentacles, instantly broke out of the water, firmly entangling the sekibune!
"Yamete! Wh-what kind of sorcery is that?!"
Sato Kotaro, who had just somewhat recovered from his hallucination, looked in horror at the golden threads coiling around his ship, letting out a desperate dolphin-like shriek.
He watched with wide eyes as the deck beneath his feet disintegrated and dissolved in the golden light, turning into primitive wood fragments.
The Japanese pirates on the ship didn't even have time to scream before they, along with their ship, were swept into the torrent of wood and metal, continuously flowing towards the explorer.
They were directly impaled.
Ding! Devouring complete! The target ship is too small, no new parts unlocked.
The recycled materials have been automatically converted into hull strengthening.
the explorer's hull structure has received a slight upgrade! Durability +5%! Structural Resistance +2%! Anti-sinking +3%!
Along with the system's prompt, the explorer emitted a grating "creak."
The originally pitch-black hull surface seemed to be covered with a barely perceptible metallic sheen, making the entire ship appear even more indestructible.
On the deck, there was a deathly silence.
All the pirates, new and old, had their jaws hanging open.
They stared blankly at the sea, where only a few floating wooden planks remained.
"An-another miracle..."
Buck fell to his knees with a thud, his large head hitting the deck heavily.
"Captain! You are my god!"
"Thud! Thud!"
A large group of people knelt on the deck again.
In their eyes, what Roger had just done had already exceeded the scope of human capabilities.
Creating something out of nothing, devouring everything!
Hector stood at the edge of the crowd.
He just stood with his arms crossed, silently watching the young figure standing at the bow, facing the wind.
This lunatic... really seems to have something special.
Perhaps, by following him, he might truly find his daughter.
Perhaps, his hundred-year servitude wasn't a bad deal after all?
Ding! Hector Barbossa's loyalty +10! Current loyalty 120/100! Status: The boss's pie is too big, I'm almost full, but I still want another one.
Roger ignored these fanatical "believers."
He turned and walked into the Captain's Cabin, spreading the "Wokou Treasure Map" confiscated from Sato Kotaro on the large chart table.
"Hector, Gibbs, Buck, come here."
The three who were called immediately walked in.
"Captain!"
"Take a look."
Roger used a pointer to draw a circle on the chart, at a narrow strait formed by several small islands.
"This place is called the Goto Islands, the lair of the 'Five Peaks Ship Master,' the largest pirate group in this sea area."
"According to what our 'enthusiastic citizen' Mr. Sato just confessed, this so-called 'Five Peaks Ship Master' is actually an armed group that engages in smuggling and plunder under the guise of sea merchants."
"They monopolize a small portion of the maritime trade routes from the Great Ming to Japan. Any ship wishing to pass through here must pay them a hefty toll."
Roger's pointer heavily tapped on that strait.
"And this is their largest toll station."
"All chinese cargo ship laden with silk, porcelain, and tea from the Great Ming pass through here, and then the goods are distributed to various parts of Japan."
Hector and Gibbs immediately understood Roger's meaning.
Greedy flames ignited in the eyes of the two old pirates simultaneously.
What the hell was this, a toll station?
This was clearly a moving mountain of gold!
"Does the Captain mean... we're going to take down their toll station?"
Buck, this simpleton, only had fighting in his head.
"No."
Roger shook his head, a foxy smile appearing on his face.
"We are righteous maritime city management, how can we do such crude work of robbing homes and looting?"
"What we need to do is to ban this illegal toll station, and then... we ourselves become the toll collectors!"
Roger's plan highlighted the core idea of "dog eat dog."
"My command!"
Roger straightened up.
"the explorer, full speed ahead!"
"Target, Goto Islands!"
...Two days later.
Goto Islands, in a secluded crescent-shaped bay.
the explorer, like a ghost lurking in the darkness, had furled all its sails and was quietly anchored in the shadow of a huge reef.
This was a God-given ambush spot.
On the deck, all the pirates held their breath.
The reinforced cannons were all loaded, their dark muzzles aimed at the only entrance to the strait.
On the ballista tower, Billy and his archers were in position, arrows tipped with "happy potion" glowing faintly green in their quivers.
Hector stood by the helm, ready to unleash the most terrifying speed from this sea beast at any moment.
Inside the Captain's Cabin.
Elizabeth leaned by the window, silently watching the motionless pirates outside.
Her heart had grown numb.
Ever since experiencing Yumi's "attentive guidance," she felt a switch inside her body had been flipped.
During the day, she was still the noble, stubborn governor's daughter.
But at night, in front of Roger, she seemed to transform into another person.
A wanton, crazy woman, a stranger even to herself.
Eventually, she became a shape she didn't even recognize.
She hated this depravity, yet shamefully... she was somewhat addicted.
"Miss Swann, what are you looking at?"
Yumi knelt behind her, her voice soft.
These past two days, she had truly become Elizabeth's personal assistant.
Serving her daily needs during the day, and at night... serving the Captain together.
"Nothing."
Elizabeth picked up a chart and began studying it again.
Just then, from the crow's nest, came three urgent, low bell tolls.
The prey had taken the bait.
Roger suddenly stood up, picked up his telescope, and a bloodthirsty smile curved on his lips.
In the thick fog, the outline of a massive fleet slowly emerged.
Leading the way was a giant chinese cargo ship comparable in size to the dauntless.
Its hull was ornately carved and painted, adorned with flags, looking exceptionally magnificent.
Behind it followed a dozen medium-sized merchant ships, all heavily laden with goods.
The deck of each ship was piled high with boxes, and their draft was so deep they almost touched the sea surface.
What could that be if not gold and silver treasures?
"Holy shit, Captain..."
Even the usually composed Hector couldn't help but curse.
"This draft, are they moving the entire treasury?!"
"We're rich! Captain! We're rich!"
Gibbs was trembling with excitement.
Roger put down his telescope, licking his somewhat dry lips.
Undisguised greed gleamed in his eyes.
"Brothers..."
"Prepare to hit them hard!"
"Let's give them a rude awakening first!"
----------------------------------
I've already posted 70 new chapters on Patreon!
If you like the story and want to reaad more, please visit my patreon. Every support is very meaningful!
[patreon.com/Kazenova223]
Thank you very much!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"