Captain's cabin.

Aiven and Milan sat on either side of the desk, and Milan's top-grade crystal ball had already been placed on the polished surface of the mahogany desk.

"Although sometimes divination can give us the most direct answer, it's best not to place all our hopes for solving problems on divination art.

The spiritual world is too complex, and the more we desire precise prophecy, the more fate plays a game of loops with us.

Fate will give us insights, but sometimes it only leads us onto another wrong path."

As he spoke, Milan's face showed some lingering fear. Wasn't it exactly like this when faced with the "Shark Tooth Pirate Gang" before?

Hopeful for the prophecy, but fate played an extremely nasty joke on himself!

However, facing a month-long task deadline, Aiven was already growing impatient with just staying on a fixed route to receive "harvest" or "non-harvest" prophecy results.

He still had to use Milan's precise prophecy, after all.

Though Aiven knew that the prophecy of how to get ranked first in the "Navy New Star" evaluation was far beyond Milan's ability.

But other prophecies, such as which sailing route would yield the greatest returns? The whereabouts of a specific pirate with a particularly high bounty? Even where the strongest foe "Conch" could handle is located? These should still be feasible.

Referencing these few directions, get relatively precise answers.

"Conch" and he could have the greatest possibility to get first place, gain priority selection rights, and obtain that "Golden Compass"!

So, at this moment, his response to Milan was just a determined look.

"Alright, I understand."

Milan had no other choice but to try his best for Aiven!

Moreover, he thought with the "Mist Silver Lamp" Ocean Treasure in hand, even if there were mistakes in interpreting the prophecy, encountering a mighty being that exceeded "Conch's" ability.

There is attack and retreat flexibility; at least the safety of "Conch" could be assured.

The ritual began with igniting the incense, and the mysterious atmosphere instantly blanketed the captain's cabin.

Light mist began to flow in the crystal ball, projecting into Milan's eyes, turning into complex star dust, containing endless information and secrets.

There were good and bad, shortcuts and wrong paths, various intricate symbols that needed Milan, as the "Prophet", to filter through them one by one.

Without those specific mediums for seeking people or things, precise targeting is impossible. This task requires Milan's significant time and energy to interpret in order to derive a... meaning-filled answer.

Time slowly passed, almost half an hour later, Milan's forehead was slightly sweating as he finally opened his eyes:

"Crystal, treasure, death, spinning windmill...

This imagery seems to be heralding a huge opportunity accompanied by great danger approaching, and both the opportunity and danger are directed at... the two of us?

Venus has risen, soon!

Huh! What's this?"

Goo goo goo...

Suddenly, Bess, who had been quietly sitting in the captain's cabin, suddenly called out twice, interrupting Milan's next words.

The light mist in the crystal ball completely dissipated, and the two looked up sharply.

"That signal? Pirates have come again!"

With no hesitation, Aiven immediately tapped into the sea bird's vision at the first moment, and Milan also released "Mind Connection" to do the same.

Whoosh—

Visuals switched, from a high-altitude view deep in the sky, looking down through the sea bird's perspective, two ships were chasing and escaping on the vast sea.

The small ship ahead had theoretically faster and more agile speed, but its main sail was filled with holes like insect infestations, and the foremast had even collapsed at its base, drastically reducing the ship's speed.

Conversely, the chasing battleship behind seemed loaded with something heavy, with a deep draft, and its speed was slower than that of a normal battleship.

Overall, the speed of the two ships was nearly equal, leading to this prolonged stalemate status.

"A Level 3 Battleship?"

In Strong Country Navy, sometimes even Level 3 Ships can't enter the main battle line.

But during large-scale ocean escort missions, they are enough to become the flagship, even qualifying for solo ocean navigation, almost the strongest battleship one could encounter under ordinary circumstances out there.

"Have we bumped into fellow travelers? No...

At first glance of this scene, Aiven thought it was a navy battleship chasing down a pirate ship, but on second glance, he found both a large and a small ship flying black sails.

A pirate civil strife play was unfolding right before his eyes!

At this moment, Milan's voice came through the "Mind Connection":

"'Iron Bone' and 'Skeleton Tomb'!

Has that monster Basem finally set his sights on William, with his special identity and troubled encounters? Absorbing the life of the strong, intercepting their destinies, preparing for the promotion to the third-tier 'Deceitful Fate Wizard'?!

Has he already reached this stage? No way!"

Although Milan was not on the ship when Aiven and the others encountered the "Iron Bone," his insight immediately recognized which ships belonged to whom.

Moreover, he seemed to be quite knowledgeable about the mysterious actions of the great pirate Basem.

Aiven was also not unfamiliar with these two pirate ships, one was an old acquaintance, and the other was one of the top names on the wanted list.

At this time, he had already realized that his previous understanding was purely a misunderstanding. Iron Bone William had not joined the Pirate King's forces to participate in the "White Whale Port Massacre" because his name was indeed not on Ilya's wanted list.

And the guy chasing him, although on the wanted list, was the "big fish" he had long anticipated, but this fish was a bit too big...

"Basem, Tier 2 Peak Transcendent, reportedly a transcendent suspected to be linked to the 'Necromancy School' and related paths according to military intelligence. He possesses various magical abilities and a battleship filled with 'corpse monsters' acquired from some country.

Powerful, mysterious, terrifying... Many negative labels have been associated with him, including from his fellow pirates.

Even in the pirate alliance organized by Pirate King Harkins, he's a prominent figure, and calling him the strongest under the Pirate King wouldn't be an exaggeration.

After the massacre, Ilya's bounty on him saw a significant increase, with a price for one person and his ship reaching an astonishing eight thousand Golden Lions, not even counting the value of his battleship!"

One could say that as long as he succeeds in this action, Aiven's top title as the "Navy New Star" would be secure, unless... someone takes down the Pirate King.

However, what Aiven was considering now was whether or not to take action, and if he did, what were his odds of success?

Yet watching such a big fish slip away, how could he be content?

"Aiven, let's go for it!" Suddenly, Milan's eager voice came through the "Mind Connection" to request the fight.

"Huh? Against such a ferocious guy, since when did you become so proactive?"

However, since Milan was in support, Aiven hesitated no longer, confident in his trump cards.

After moving out of the Sea Bird's sight, he decisively ordered the crew:

"All hands to Level 3 combat readiness, engagement expected in an hour! 'Big Thumb' fasten onto 'Conch,' heading northeast, against the wind at a six-compass-point angle, full speed ahead!"

Because they were currently in the deepwater area near the open sea, the depth had long exceeded the normal anchor limits of eighty meters.

The sails of "Conch" and "Big Thumb" unfurled in opposite directions on the foremast and mainmast. The mainmast generated thrust opposite to the direction of travel, braking the sailing ship, drifting slowly with the wind and ocean current.

The current distance from the two pursuing ships was less than thirty kilometers. With the current speed of "Conch," heading in the opposite direction and leveraging the effect of the "Ship's Figurehead: Seasonal Wind Goddess," zigzagging against the wind, they would likely meet within an hour.

While a sailing ship utilizes wind as its sole propulsion, it can still sail against the wind. The principle is:

By coordinating the longitudinal and transverse sails and swiveling the ship, forming an angle with the sails, one side of the sail catches the wind full-on, while the other side faces less pressure. The vessel advances using this pressure differential.

However, when advancing this way, there is inevitably a deviation between the ship's forward direction and the target direction, necessitating adjustments of the sail direction to change course periodically, proceeding in a zigzag pattern.

Having climbed up to his command position, Aiven had made up his mind.

On the ocean, waiting for a 98% success rate to act would mean accomplishing nothing. As long as the risks remained within controllable limits, Aiven was willing to take the gamble!

First, while the great pirate Basem was indeed powerful, his extraordinary level was at most on par with White Shark Skuk, which was no longer insurmountable for Aiven today.

Second, the battleship had an absolute firepower advantage with more and larger-caliber shipborne artillery. Though there were three ships on their side (including "Iron Bone"), coordination should prevent them from being easily crushed.

Third, the combination of Mist Silver Lamp, Alchemy Firearm, and Sea Bird Bomber provided sufficient assurance.

Finally, Milan had just swiftly informed Aiven through the mind connection about the forces backing Basem.

From the name "Deceitful Fate Wizard," it's clear that it was also a transcendent path taking the destiny route. What Milan said seemed mysterious, but to Aiven, it was readily comprehensible, similar to a saying from his previous life: "Animosity for blocking one's path is irreconcilable."

And Milan's "Prophetic School" and the "Yellow Sand Sect" which Basem belonged to, were undoubtedly mortal enemies!

If Basem, who had reached the peak of Tier 2, successfully hunted down William, no one could say if he wouldn't immediately ascend to the third tier's "Deceitful Fate Wizard." At this critical juncture meeting Milan, he had to be stopped!

This was the main reason that Milan, uncharacteristically, suddenly had the courage to challenge a formidable foe!

Alright!

If they won this battle, William could keep his life, Milan could receive a rightful "gift" from the manipulation of fate, and Aiven could claim the top spot of the "Navy New Star" with undisputed superiority!

Watching the sea and setting out to sea are different; the former is giving your sight to the ocean, while the latter is giving your life to it.

Without a spirit of adventure, why set sail in the first place? Whether it's pirates gambling their lives for fortune, isn't the navy the same?

Don't be cowed, get him!

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