Pirate Kingship
Chapter 74 - 73: Orphan Alliance, Unified Front

Chapter 74: Chapter 73: Orphan Alliance, Unified Front

「On the other end, at the public anchorage of the Privateering Alliance.」

The wooden structure of the sailing ship creaked rhythmically with the rolling waves. A lantern hanging on an iron hook cast a dim yellow light, throwing a long shadow.

In Byron’s palm, the blood-red light from the Holy Grail of Blood gradually faded. It disappeared along with several Privateering Pirates who had been sleeping soundly in the cabin.

After finishing his work, he turned and walked boldly out of the forecastle cabin on the Privateer Ship, an area reserved for officers.

He ran right into two pirates patrolling with Whale Oil Lamps.

Startled by the sudden appearance of a figure, the two pirates were about to sound the alarm.

"It’s me."

Hearing the familiar voice and clearly seeing Byron’s face, they hastily removed their hats and saluted, "It’s the Executioner, sir. We thought we’d run into that damned ’Mad Hunt.’ For you to be patrolling the anchorage so late at night, you truly are Captain Red Beard’s trusted confidant and right-hand man."

What they saw, naturally, was Bill, the ’Executioner,’ whose fame had recently skyrocketed within the alliance. Most of the Privateer crew knew that just three days ago, this Executioner had risen abruptly to prominence overnight, earning Red Beard’s extraordinary trust. He’d gone from being the number seven figure on the Goddess of Vengeance to number three. His rank was beneath only Redbeard Edward and First Mate ’Badger’ Harvey.

Perhaps some old-timers among Red Beard’s Direct Lineage weren’t entirely convinced. However, to the wider Privateering Alliance forces, he was undeniably a figure of significant influence.

Byron, with the same hand he’d just used to kill, clapped their shoulders amicably and encouraged them earnestly, "We all serve the Alliance. Loyalty that’s anything less than absolute is absolute disloyalty! If you’re as loyal to the Captain as I am, you too will gain the appreciation of the esteemed Councilman. That damned ’Mad Hunt’ has started acting up again recently. More and more people are going missing. Intensify your patrols and stay safe. I’ll be off then."

The Privateering Pirates were somewhat flattered and nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, Mr. Bill. We’ll do our best. You take care and watch your step."

Only after Byron was far away and a bone-chilling gust of wind blew past did they shrink their necks, their forced, appeasing smiles finally stiffening and fading. Looking at the dark, cold night and the unbroken lines of pirate ships, one said uncertainly, "It’s been three days. Every time night falls, that ’Mad Hunt’ sneaks into the anchorage and kills at will. You don’t think he’ll come to our ship today, do you?"

"Hey, didn’t Mr. Bill just patrol here? He shouldn’t, right? Anyway, since the Captain isn’t here, why don’t we... go back to the lower deck? At least there are more people there."

"Let’s go, let’s go."

It was no wonder the Privateering Pirates were on edge.

It was said that four days ago, the captains’ plan to hunt the ’Mad Hunt’ with a trap cage had backfired, provoking furious retaliation. The ’Mad Hunt’ not only killed people on land but also actively infiltrated Privateer Ships moored at the anchorage.

Previously, the ’Mad Hunt’ mainly targeted Transcendents and paid little heed to ordinary people. But now, they had expanded their hunting grounds, committing atrocities with reckless abandon. Everyone was a potential next victim to disappear with the ’Mad Hunt.’

The difficulty of defense had multiplied countless times, and bait plans were infeasible. The clueless Privateer Captains were utterly at a loss. Essentially, every day the Privateers woke up to find several familiar faces missing.

Moreover, it was rumored that the ’Mad Hunt’ had survived an ambush from a Second Order Professional. This instilled fear even in those Transcendents who had been comfortably secure. Panic continued to spread; the name ’Mad Hunt’ was likely to become their lifelong Nightmare.

But with important matters at hand, Red Beard firmly suppressed any slight disturbances. He simply ordered all ships to stay 100 meters from shore, beyond the radiation range of the Octopus Silver Coins on those Bizarre. They were also to maintain as much distance from each other as possible. He offered no further intervention.

This Great Pirate had long considered the ’Mad Hunt’ and the ’Gunpowder Artist’ to be in cahoots. He subconsciously treated Byron’s hunt as a normal act of desperation from a cornered enemy. As long as the target was a Bayfolk, they were already marked by the Black Mass Ceremony and destined to die in the upcoming Calamity. A day or two wouldn’t make a difference; why bother making a fuss?

To put it bluntly, as long as it didn’t affect the impending election, he didn’t care if a few more Privateering Alliance Pirates from outside his Direct Lineage died; it wouldn’t affect the overall situation.

"These days, only Red Beard’s Direct Lineage has been unscathed. Fearing for their own lives, all those Transcendents have hidden aboard the Goddess of Vengeance seeking protection, leaving us out in the cold. Compared to them, Mr. Bill, who works so earnestly, is much more personable. When there’s trouble, he’s actually by our side—a cold-faced, warm-hearted good man indeed..."

Byron listened as their conversation, carried by the wind, gradually faded. He shook his head with a wry smile.

Using the Mountain Goat Steps, he leaped, using the black dorsal fins of several Man-Eater Sharks in the water as footholds, and quickly returned to shore.

His Legend Points in the Sailing Logbook had also quietly reached 19.

The ’Mad Hunt’ had already caused enough turmoil among the pirates. He didn’t need to stir up more trouble; it was better to let things play out a little longer. Perhaps, sometime soon, his Legend Points would naturally break the 20-point threshold, granting him an additional ability, much like that Child Guardian’s Unyielding Body. If he were lucky, overcoming a Class difference and defeating a stronger opponent single-handedly wouldn’t be a mere dream.

At this moment, the voice of the ’Gunpowder Artist’ reached his ears through their connection. Byron replied in his mind, "It’s settled. My end is wrapping up as well. The number of Privateering Alliance Pirates I’ve killed may not surpass the number of missing Bayfolk, but the variety is certainly extensive enough. In theory, the more people from a specific group are subjected to the Blood Sacrifice, the stronger the imprint in the Octopus Silver Coins, and the deeper their sanguine hue. Rest assured, not a single Privateer from the Alliance will escape. What about those third-party freelance pirates you were responsible for?"

"Heh, that’s done too," came the elegant male voice. "Not just the freelance pirates, but slaves from all over, black market merchants, Bounty Hunters lurking in the gray areas... all sorts of groups have been marked. Even the dungeons of Iron Anchor Bay’s law enforcement team are now empty. When the time comes, it will certainly give that thing a big surprise."

"Well done."

To ensure they could coordinate at critical moments, Byron had left an emergency contact method in the tip-off letter. Violet then sent him the [Whale Bone Amulet: Whale Song], increasing their communication efficiency by centuries. Communicating through the Law Network, the two became close "online friends" and naturally formed the Orphan’s Alliance, uniting the two major Bayfolk branches. They also informed each other of their respective covers: the ’Gunpowder Artist’ and the ’Mad Hunt.’ Trading one cover for another was no loss to either.

Of course, both were intelligent and had their suspicions about each other’s true identities: a suspected Third Order [Artisan] wouldn’t just appear out of thin air, and Byron happened to have seen one at the assembly; someone with deep malice towards the York Family and ample motivation to act was exceedingly rare in Iron Anchor Bay, and Violet happened to know a [Child of the Devil]. For now, however, neither exposed the other.

Outsiders might think that these two Bayfolk orphans, having fallen on such hard times, would surely commiserate, finding much common ground in their shared misfortunes, right?

As if!

Both schemers, full of devious plans, would have denied it. They had no time for self-pity, focused only on how to make their enemies suffer!

There was, however, a certain sense of mutual appreciation in that respect.

Their strategy to turn the tables was to drag everyone in Iron Anchor Bay—every group, trading company, and organization—down with them. It was like someone ambushed in a dark alley at night by an unstoppable, psychopathic killer. They shouldn’t scream, "Murder! Help!" Instead, they needed to yell, "Fire! Come quick, put out the fire!" The former was someone else’s problem, and few would likely offer aid. The latter, however, affected everyone’s interests. If they stood by, their own houses might catch fire, compelling them to help.

Only by binding everyone to the same War Chariot could they gather the strongest possible force to achieve their goals. Whether the third parties were willing or not was irrelevant.

Therefore, the concept of an [Anchor] was not so ethereal; it existed in this special Supernatural World and also pervaded every corner of the ordinary world.

For the past two days, they had been the most rampant ’Evil Spirits’ operating in Iron Anchor Bay. Third Order Violet was responsible for dealing with actual Evil Spirits, the Bizarre, and marking all the various groups across the North Sea. Byron, meanwhile, used Bill’s position to easily obtain the Privateering Alliance’s internal Intelligence, allowing him to make key breakthroughs from within.

The only place they hadn’t struck was Red Beard’s Goddess of Vengeance. Not because a rabbit doesn’t eat the grass near its own burrow, but because every cause has its effect—and Byron was his confidant. That group was the most dangerous of all the sacrifices!

Byron looked at Iron Anchor Bay before him, seeming to see an invisible net connecting everyone, and nodded with satisfaction.

Use the [Octopus Silver Coins] to hold back all the pirates across the entire North Sea; use the [Heartfelt Trouble] to drag Red Beard down with us. If I can just finish the remaining 25% of the decryption work and earn the right to draw a powerful item from the Sacred Relics, I’ll have three safeguards. To put it pessimistically, even if the defense of Iron Anchor Bay fails, I have full confidence in escaping. Everyone thinks the [Storm Knight] is reckless, but actually, I’m as steady as a rock.

However, they now faced another crucial problem.

Byron tapped the [Whale Bone Amulet: Whale Song] in his ear and asked the person on the other side, "The key issue now is that neither of us has the highest authority over the [Pirate Code], so we can’t modify it. Once noon tomorrow arrives, the established program left by the [Pirate Code] will activate, electing the true [Military Governor] through ’voting’ and ’combat.’ Our primary task now is to prevent Red Beard from gaining authority and opening the outer Maze Lock. Otherwise, that Strait Fleet alone will be enough to flatten us. And the most troublesome part is his Undying Body. You people, who have been entrenched in Iron Anchor Bay for a thousand years, do you have a way to get rid of him?"

The elegant male voice on the other end first teased, "Mr. Good Citizen seems very familiar with the situation in Iron Anchor Bay. We’re not like those Lancasters from Hightins who played ’the king is below the law’ and messed it all up. How could we not leave ourselves a backdoor to the authority?"

Before Byron could react, the voice turned serious again, asking cryptically, "Do you know what the Great Secret Treasure refers to? Why is Iron Anchor Bay called Iron Anchor Bay? And what, exactly, is this [Anchor] anchoring? I do have a plan, but its success depends on how much you, the ’confidant,’ can accomplish. Here’s how it goes..."

As he listened, Byron’s eyes gradually lit up.