Anastasia, was a proper extraordinary knight. Bold and valiant by nature, she wielded twin swords with such prowess that few could last even a single exchange against her.
Though Dolores, a third-rank Transcendent, possessed extraordinary abilities, she was not adept at combat. She stayed aboard the merchant vessel, using her card magic to provide support for the allies.
Belisa was slightly more capable. Following Charlot's example, she climbed the mast, rifle in hand, and began shooting at the pirates. Ever since obtaining the Mask of the Cat, this young woman had diligently honed her throwing knife techniques and marksmanship. Her skills had notably improved, and she now managed to hit a pirate with every seven or eight shots.
This limitation arose partly because the rifle she used was an ordinary one—not even a basic alchemical firearm. Its range and accuracy were subpar, but her results could have been better with a higher-quality weapon.
Within minutes, eighteen warriors from the Redback Bear Tribe boarded five pirate ships. Accompanied by the fighters of the West Wind Knight Order, they unleashed a killing spree.
Charlot, despite his usual penchant for accepting surrenders, dared not attempt such measures now. Chatham's fleet was split into two contingents, with one blocking the retreat. This was merely half the fleet stationed at the rear, while the other half was still ahead.
If the battle dragged on and Chatham's other contingent arrived, the situation would undoubtedly take a dire turn.
Charlot didn’t hesitate to use anti-magic armor-piercing rounds, taking out several pirate leaders. Occasionally, he observed Belisa, whose shooting grew increasingly steady. Impressed, he sent over the Silver Knight, an extraordinary artifact.
Though the Silver Knight was a short firearm, it boasted three key attributes: trajectory correction, quick-draw dual-shot, and enhanced accuracy. This made it more precise than an ordinary rifle.
Once Belisa switched to the Silver Knight, her efficiency in killing pirates soared. Her focused stance while shooting carried an unexpected grace.
On these five pirate ships, there was only one extraordinary leader, who Charlot had dispatched with a single shot at the outset. The rest of the resistance amounted to little more than desperate struggling. After about an hour of battle, Charlot secured five "new ships."
He promptly ordered the fleet to return to Cappadocia. Though victorious, Charlot held no illusions about his chaotic "commanding prowess" and had no intention of facing Chatham's remaining contingent.
Capturing five pirate ships and making a swift return to Cappadocia was the proper course of action.
...
Chatham, commanding six pirate ships, prepared to confront Charlot's fleet. He had already resolved to unleash a full barrage of cannon fire upon encounter. The fate of Mad Horse Davis and his men mattered little to him.
Yet, after waiting for an extended time, Chatham neither encountered Charlot's fleet nor received any word from the other contingent. The open sea had erased all traces of the naval battle.
Though Chatham briefly entertained the notion that Charlot had uncovered Mad Horse Davis' identity, he dismissed it. A young man from Byron with no prior naval combat experience couldn’t possibly see through such a sophisticated ruse. Mad Horse Davis’ reputation for deceit within pirate circles was impeccable. He had duped countless fleets, even luring a royal fleet from the Ingrima Empire into a trap, enabling the Golden Rams Fleet to sink one of their battleships.
After several fruitless days, Chatham abandoned the search. Knowing the sea was unpredictable, he directed his fleet toward Cappadocia.
...
Charlot returned to Cappadocia with five ships. The Diary transmitted a thought: the labyrinthification of the coastal city had progressed to 11/18.
Delighted, Charlot didn’t know where he’d find the remaining seven ships but was content with the progress.
During this battle, he also captured five to six hundred pirates. These prisoners were dispersed and conscripted into the West Wind Knight Order. Charlot initially intended to put them on trial but quickly realized it was infeasible.
The pirates were primarily criminals who concealed their identities. Verifying their past crimes was nearly impossible unless they confessed voluntarily. Even notorious pirates, if they chose to live incognito, were difficult to identify.
...
Five days after their return to Cappadocia, a small fleet appeared on the horizon—two large warships flying the flag of the Ingrima Empire's Royal Navy.
Charlot was alarmed. His fleet of eleven ships, consisting mostly of merchant vessels retrofitted with weapons, stood no chance against the firepower of these two royal warships.
Moreover, Cappadocia lacked any defensive artillery. The cannons once installed by pirates had been destroyed by the Ingrima Navy.
After several tense hours, the two warships docked without launching an attack.
Relieved, Charlot led his entourage to greet the visitors. As the current ruler of Cappadocia, fleeing wasn’t an option. He meticulously instructed his men on how to handle the situation, hoping not to arouse suspicion.
Two handsome naval officers, accompanied by a large contingent, disembarked. Upon seeing Charlot, the older officer’s face turned furious.
“This is Ingrima Empire territory,” he demanded, “so why are there Farsians here?”
Taking a deep breath, Charlot replied, “This requires a lengthy explanation, but I must summarize due to the urgency of the situation. We may face an imminent attack, so I ask for your patience while I provide the details.”
At this moment, Charlot had no prepared story and resorted to an old routine to deflect the situation.
The officers’ expressions softened slightly. The younger one said, “Go on, then.”
Charlot quickly began, “I am Charlot Mecklenburg, Head Overseer of the Fars Empire’s Strasbourg Lukavaro District, Commander of the West Wind Knight Order, Director of the Lukavaro District Administrative Bureau, and Special Envoy to the Ingrima Empire.
“I was ordered to accompany High Priest Auguslatin on a diplomatic mission to Ingrima, but we were separated at sea due to adverse weather. My ship was then attacked by Byron pirates.”
“This pirate fleet assaulted Cappadocia, killing the loyal Ingrima steward, Domingo, and causing considerable damage to the city.
“I had no choice but to retaliate, driving out the Byron pirates. I captured five of their ships and eliminated several pirate leaders whose identities remain unknown. However, they threatened to return and attack Cappadocia again. I urge you to prepare for battle.”
“If you have further questions, I will answer them without reservation.”
The two Ingrima naval officers fell silent. Just as they were about to interrogate Charlot thoroughly, a loud report came from their ship:
“Pirate ships sighted! Six in total—two warships and four armed merchant vessels…”