Aiven had just completed his tidying up.

The announcement regarding the "Navy New Star Plan" from the Third Fleet Headquarters had already been issued.

All the naval officers and sailors still stationed at the naval port were abuzz while inquiring about the application requirements. Although there were no requirements for background or rank, if you wanted to go out to fight pirates, you at least needed a warship, right?

Unlike the army, where three people can form an independent squad, combat at sea can only be based on warships. This practical limitation, in reality, has invisibly barred a large number of low-ranking naval officers and sailors without autonomy from applying.

Even though the Third Fleet is large, it is not easy to allocate manpower to join this plan while simultaneously ensuring homeland security, defending major sea routes, and overseeing New Continent colonies.

The so-called registration phase was designed for this purpose.

Faced with the allure of various rewards associated with the "Navy New Star," everyone had a wide desire to participate, but the fleet headquarters meticulously scrutinized every application.

Highly capable but too old won't do, because what we need is a "new star"! Appropriate age but average ability won't do either, as it would be embarrassing for our Third Fleet if they went out to only be slain by pirates.

After nearly three days of screening and covert competition, a total of ten warships of various levels were approved after comprehensive consideration by the fleet headquarters.

Except for one Level 3 Battleship, the majority were Level 5 Battleships, with only two Level 6 Battleships. Unsurprisingly, Aiven's "Conch" was also on the list.

At the same time, the participants selected by the First and Second Fleets were about the same in scale. Ultimately, the Phaletis Kingdom Navy dispatched a total of thirty warships to participate in the hunt for pirates in this operation.

With the Ilya Kingdom as the financial backer, the six member nations of the "Tulip Alliance" executed the plan at the fastest speed. Less than ten days after the "massacre" ended, they dispatched over two hundred warships of various levels. In this area of the Black Sea East Coast, a formidable force had gathered, more than capable of eradicating each pirate ship involved in the massacre!

Their operational period is tentatively set for three months. Although information dissemination speed on the vast sea is slow, all the flourishing big and small pirates have their own specific intelligence networks.

Usually responsible for collecting merchant ship intelligence, procurement, and fencing goods, they would inevitably also transmit information on this massive naval operation.

It might not take three months; perhaps in as little as a month, the pirates aware of the navy's counteraction will be informed. At that time, if they hide away with their treasures in some corner, not even the entire Tulip Alliance fleet, let alone these over two hundred warships, would gain much.

Just as the navy never believes it can completely eradicate pirates by force, the primary goal of this operation is to demonstrate a firm stance and to intimidate the scoundrels with the blood of some pirates!

Therefore, to earn the title of "Navy New Star," the officers and sailors need to compete not only with their peers but also race against time.

.....

The sky, just recently bright and sunny, turned somewhat overcast in a blink of an eye.

On the vast sea, a three-masted warship was breaking through wind and waves, sailing alone. Even though not all sails were deployed due to wind conditions, it still sailed faster and more steadily than ships of the same class.

Standing on the quarterdeck, Aiven, with a tall and straight posture, already had a faint air of command cultivated from long hours of issuing orders. Although still junior compared to the former Gel, it was already a good start.

Especially...

The deck was now crowded with all the naval officers and sailors on board, full of youthful energy and vigor, a stark contrast to what it once was.

They were conducting a special selection ceremony widely used by the world's navies and even pirates — deck competition!

Thwack—

Wooden swords clashed. A sailor, with a strong sword body using an exceedingly standard high position defense, blocked another's vertical slash and then decisively kicked out with great force. Yet, the opponent skillfully retracted his sword and dodged nimbly.

Their swordsmanship levels were nearly alike. At the moment, they clashed energetically, moving back and forth on the deck crisscrossed by sails and cables, making for a highly entertaining spectacle.

Though still within the ordinary range, their fierce demeanor, and combat effectiveness were quite noteworthy.

Yet, these were just the most ordinary among this batch of new recruits.

Even Aiven hadn't expected that his indifferent actions back in the recruit training camp could yield such substantial results today. After this mission, he would have to find Major Eugene again to thank him for his special training back then.

As the swordsmanship instructor at the time, Aiven used "Data Visualization" to tailor training plans for them. With hard work, after a year, this batch's swordsmanship level averaged a notch higher than normal recruits enlisted for a year.

They might even be stronger than many veterans.

Aiven believed that under his subsequent "cultivation," these guys could definitely experience rapid growth, fully unleashing their year's accumulation.

However, he was uncertain how many of them could become Official Knights in the end.

In progressing along the Extraordinary Path, individual aptitude, ability, and mentality are the main factors. Others can help very little. Just as teachers who graduated from prestigious universities cannot always produce students who get admitted into such universities — it's the same.

Among those Aiven was more optimistic about were Gary, long decided to be the chief hitter; Boatswain Vid, a long-time member of the "Conch"; and the new recruit Fleck who voluntarily joined.

From his perspective, their chances of successfully advancing were approximately eighty percent, sixty-five percent, and fifty-fifty, respectively. As for the rest, it might depend on whether they can gain the Goddess's favor.

"Hooray—!!"

At this point, the two who had been evenly matched finally decided the victor, and the onlooking sailors eagerly cheered and applauded.

After the contestants bowed to each other and left the stage, the on-site atmosphere grew even more fervent as the highlight of this deck competition finally arrived!

The "Boatswain" competition now begins!!!

At this time, they had received orders to hunt pirates and entered mission status. On the "Conch," wartime regulations began to automatically take effect. In a wartime emergency where it was impossible to return to headquarters, to ensure smooth command, the captain could temporarily appoint subordinate officers.

But after the mission ended, a report had to be submitted to the headquarters, and the appointment had to be recognized by at least half of the officers on the ship. After that, with a supplementary test, the temporarily appointed officer could be officially confirmed.

Undoubtedly, this deck contest was essentially a setup by Aiven to allow Gary to rise openly and at the same time let him establish his prestige with formidable strength in front of all the crew!

With a body at the peak of an apprentice, and military swordsmanship honed over the course of a year through numerous battles, it was overwhelming for the new recruits on the ship. Even with all the officers included, Gary was the strongest on the "Conch" besides Aiven, who was an official knight.

The result was without suspense.

In less than a minute, Gary used his irresistible might to effortlessly crush the top three contenders in the deck contest, including Fleck, whom Aiven also favored.

"Boatswain! Gary!"

"Boatswain!"

"Gary!"

There was no need for Aiven to announce it; the sailors, already convinced by Gary's might, had spontaneously started cheering for him. They all knew Gary, having enlisted at the same time, so seniority wasn't an issue, and naturally, whoever was capable would take the lead, with everyone convinced!

Moreover, since this was a mission to hunt pirates, everyone naturally hoped that the boatswain, as a key player in close combat, would be as strong as possible!

Today was the day the "Conch" set sail on its mission.

At the moment of departure, among the ten warships of various levels on the near-sea route, it was still the only Level 3 battleship that took the lead. But shortly after leaving the port, everyone tacitly went their separate ways.

They were all proud individuals. Even though Aiven was the youngest ship captain in the kingdom and a renowned scholar who invented the practical prevention plan for "Scurvy," his reputation was relatively louder.

But those chosen for the "Navy New Star Plan" list were naturally among the bravest in the fleet, and none would admit superiority, especially in this competitive environment where it's either you or me.

Anyone with discernment could see that the six spots for the Navy New Stars, even considering the pride of each country, could only be evenly distributed, one for each country. Even if they had been colleagues before, in this hunting action, they were merely rivals!

However, this was precisely what Aiven wanted. If outsiders were present, some of his strategies couldn't be deployed easily. Completing the overhaul of the crew, hadn't it been a thankless effort?

"Chief Navigator? Chief Navigator?!"

With everything ready, it was naturally time to get down to business. At this moment, Aiven suddenly recalled that he hadn't seen Chief Navigator Adrian since they set sail over half a day ago.

After calling a few times, a voice responded from behind:

"Here, Captain!"

"Huh, this voice?"

Turning around, Aiven was startled:

"Damn, Milan? What are you doing here?!"

Because he was too surprised, he accidentally swore.

"What, am I not qualified to be your Chief Navigator, or are you not welcoming me?" Milan, dressed in a neat major's uniform, said with a light scoff, crossing his arms.

"Haha, welcome, welcome, warmly welcome! I just didn't expect Vice Admiral Snite to let you out so easily?"

Hearing this, Aiven laughed heartily and gave him a strong hug.

"What accomplishments could I achieve if I stayed in the naval port? Just wandering in this bathtub-sized place all day long, I'd never make it to a general!"

As he said things that would drive regular soldiers mad, Milan nudged Aiven with his shoulder:

"Don't worry, after setting sail, your brother's got your back! An official-level 'Prophet,' are you scared?"

Moreover, broad participation in major events is also a required course for a 'Prophet.' Don't think I don't know. With your style, having made so many preparations, you're definitely up to something big!"

"Alright, since you're already here. But just a heads-up, if Vice Admiral Snite comes looking for you, I'm not your scapegoat."

"Ahahaha, the Black Sea is so vast, where could he... why would he look for me? I've already mentioned it to him."

Seeing this guy laughing it off and evading, Aiven felt a headache but was too lazy to argue: "Then where did Adrian go?"

"Rest assured, I've arranged a nice cushy position for him, where he can retire peacefully. Completing the goal for the rest of his life ahead of time, Captain Adrian is very grateful to me."

"Alright, Chief Navigator, the journey ahead is in your hands!"

Aiven didn't ask how he managed to reassign an officer-level Chief Navigator, but he thought it was a good thing. A Chief Navigator just trying to muddle his way to retirement wasn't suited for his ship.

Now, with Milan—a professional whose sailing skills ranked in the fleet's top ten—Aiven happily took it easy.

Originally, even with the help of sea birds, his biggest headache was finding those pirates, considering the sea was vast, and a 50-kilometer radius was just a drop in the ocean.

Milan's arrival was like a pillow for his sleepy head, combining the roles of Chief Navigator and a Prophetic School Wizard... hmm, quite formidable!

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