However, just when everything seemed ready, they awkwardly discovered a new problem.

"The spoils are too rich, and two hundred people can't crew three warships, especially since there's a battleship among them!"

The sail system of this era's sailing battleships is complex, and without enough crew, they simply can't operate. Even a simple sea maneuver requires perfect cooperation between the rudder and the sail system, and any small mistake can result in a very awkward situation.

Therefore, the feat of Jack Sparrow and William Turner sailing away with a warship all by themselves is practically a cheat.

According to the normal crew allocation, to achieve the basic three-shift rotation, a standard Level 4 battleship normally requires 350 permanent crew members.

No choice but to count all the sailors on hand now, making do with only two shifts for continuous sailing, and the other two warships would have to lower their sails and be towed by the battleship.

In non-emergency situations, the battleship towing two isn't much of a problem, especially with the "Ship's Figurehead: Seasonal Wind Goddess" assisting, it shouldn't be much slower than normal sailing.

"Hoist the sails and set sail!"

"Hey... hey... hey..."

Soon, the loud shouts of the sailors echoed on the ship as they worked together to hoist the sails, getting this big guy moving again.

The towing rope linked the "Storm Horn," "Conch," and "Big Thumb" in a line, all heading east towards the coastal direction.

The successful defeat of Basem had raised Aiven's achievements to a level others couldn't reach, and he was relieved, not taking the hunting operation too seriously anymore.

The former crew of the "Reef" were genuinely envious, their original warship sunk by pirates, they intended to return home on a fellow ship, but in a blink, they witnessed their rescuers settling into a Level 4 battleship.

Colleagues who were implicitly lower in status than themselves suddenly qualified for the main battle line, while they were left as scattered soldiers losing even their ship.

The disparity was something those who hadn't experienced it couldn't relate to.

But thinking too much about it now is unnecessary. They should perform well on the ship, hoping that when Captain Aiven returns to the fleet, he could put in some good words for them at headquarters to mitigate the impact of defeat and capture.

However.

The enthusiastic fleet, braving the waves, had to come to a halt less than half an hour after sailing on the sea.

"What happened?"

Thunk, thunk, thunk...

Before even running up to the poop deck, Milan was already shouting to Aiven, who had just issued the sail break command.

"See for yourself!"

In the mind connection, through the sea birds' vision, they looked at the sea below.

Beneath the vast white clouds was a large expanse of azure blue sea, on which a massive fleet with filled sails was cutting diagonally southward.

The white sails connected like clouds falling onto the sea, quite spectacular!

At a glance, there were at least over sixty sailboats. It was a massive fleet composed of over fifty heavily-laden merchant ships and a dozen escort warships of various sizes.

"What a large fleet!"

This sea area called "Storm Cape," as the name suggests, isn't a pleasant place with favorable weather; its nature is unpredictability in weather changes.

This complex sea condition greatly affects the outlook and the visual range of the scouting network's sea birds, and the rising mist from the sea allowed Aiven to only discover this massive fleet when they were within 20 kilometers in distance.

Though such a large-scale fleet is indeed rare, it's not the reason for Aiven to order the ship to stop.

The key point is the identity of this fleet!

The flagship of the escort fleet, judging by its size, is at least a Level 3 battleship, with its foremast full of various General's Banners, Noble Banners, Fleet Banners... while the flame-patterned pennants on the main masts of all the warships behind it unmistakably revealed their origin—

The Great Treasure Fleet of the Kingdom of Hilus!!!

"Eye of All-Seeing above! What kind of luck is this, encountering the Great Treasure Fleet returning from the New Continent! On this route, were they drifted off course accidentally?"

Aiven, however, did not have Milan's carefree attitude, as the sudden sea fog dissipated with the approach of noon, improving visibility, he observed more and thought even more.

In the sea birds' scouting network, there appeared far more than just this Great Treasure Fleet at sea. Across several dozen kilometers, at the extreme distance where the lookout could recognize flags with tools, there were many more smaller vessels of indistinguishable identity following at a distance.

This doesn't seem to be a harmonious scene at all!

Hilus, as the current overlord at sea, organizes two large-scale fleet expeditions annually, in spring and autumn, connecting their vast colonies and the homeland.

They depart with guns, linen cloth, and other goods from the homeland to various colonies, and return loaded with gold, silver, gemstones, and other items like spices, tobacco, silk, especially the gold and silver produced overseas, which all the great pirates and enemy nations covet intensely.

Every return voyage from the New Continent has countless spies watching.

Eyeing the lucrative interests, enemy nations, disguised powerful transnational organizations, renowned Great Pirates, and even some daring small pirates, like hyenas, all covet to take a bite of this juicy feast.

In fact, on this perilous sea, even the invincible Hilus fleet has not been immune to downfall. Sudden storms, sea monsters, and ambushes by formidable enemies!

If luck is on their side, even small pirates have a chance.

Of course, their mentality is akin to gamblers, betting their chips and hoping for an all-in win.

The Hilus Navy, tasked with escort duties, naturally must be on high alert, although this return journey involves only a small fleet; the treasures carried are of immense value, tied to the kingdom's vast military budget for the year, with any disturbance causing them to be on their highest level of alert!

Certainly, the defensive power of the fleet, as the dominant force at sea, inherently serves as the greatest deterrent, enough to make hungry wolves hesitate before intervening as their only option before unstoppable external factors appear.

Just as this escort fleet, apart from the accompanying cruisers, is led by a quasi-legendary battleship "Guard Commander"!

Three decks, equipped with 70 shipborne artillery, a crew of 520, and a displacement of 1500 tons, it ranks among the mainline battleships in the navy sequence of nations, apart from the intermediate Level 3 Battleship.

This class of warship represents the perfect combination of firepower, speed, and cost in this era, not to mention it is a quasi-legendary battleship with extraordinary power!

"Commander! As in previous years, after we smoothly departed from the open sea, we sensed the growing number of prying eyes along the way.

Though they maintain a distant presence, hanging behind the fleet, it's uncertain if there are any ambushes behind them.

Do you think we should allow the cruiser to leave the fleet and autonomously expel these madmen on the sea?"

The adjutant enters the captain's cabin of the flagship "Guard Commander," reporting the latest intelligence to the fleet commander, Viscount Lavender, the quasi-legendary battleship captain, Great Knight Vice Admiral Adonis Auston.

The tall and mighty fleet commander, who nevertheless carries a scholarly charm at his core, does not immediately express his stance after hearing the report. Instead, he turns to another person in the room, asking in a tone of equal respect, "Mr. Anduin, what do you think?"

In the high-backed chair sits a middle-aged man dressed in a black robe with short white hair, with fair and well-groomed hands crossed on his lap, unrestrained in the presence of a fleet commander and Great Knight level extraordinary.

Hearing Vice Admiral Auston's words, Anduin smiles slightly:

"While expelling them all might be prudent, we could first observe who these uninvited guests are and then decide what to do."

As he speaks, he has his own plans.

This return from the New Continent is aimed at representing his school to meet His Majesty, the King of the foremost maritime power, Hilus, seeking some unspeakable cooperation.

His power is undeniable, yet he seizes the opportunity to showcase it to enhance leverage in future negotiations in front of the esteemed Vice Admiral.

"Oh? Do you wish to go to the lookout?"

Uncertain about Mr. Anduin's intentions, the general pursued further.

"Hehe, please watch!"

Without intending to deceive, the man in a black robe directly cuts his finger, flicking a drop of blood.

Drip—

However, this drop of blood does not fall to the ground; instead, it merges into the air before the trio, like ink dissolving in water, gently unfolding a blood-red glow.

Within a few breaths, a frameless, elliptical half-length mirror forms.

The images in the mirror portray the sea surface near the large fleet, providing a panoramic view at 360 degrees.

The sixty-five merchant ships and warships belonging to the fleet continue to diminish in size, while the mirror's view extends further, encompassing five kilometers, ten kilometers, fifteen kilometers...

Gradually surpassing the range the lookout's naked eye can observe, it keeps expanding.

Suspicious vessels aligning with the fleet's movements are entirely exposed. Though intricate details remain unclear, one can discern each ship's affiliating forces based on flags and styles.

Furthermore...whether there are hidden fleets beyond them presents itself.

"'Rainbow Trout' Pirate Gang, nearby Akamado Kingdom...all are insignificant figures.

There are two Level 5 cruisers from the Sak Empire, a privateer warship from Atlant...and a Level 4 battleship flying both a black sail and Phaletis military flag over there, hmm, it's a fleet?"

The adjutant, familiar with the large and small forces on the Black Sea, swiftly identifies their names, expressing unabashed amazement at the mysterious person's means.

As an experienced navy officer, how could he not realize what such ability signifies for navigation?

Anticipating the enemy enables obtaining an absolute battlefield advantage, not to mention...

'With such capability, achieving long-range precision strikes beyond visual range combined with Guard Commander's extraordinary ability is not a dream!'

What he envisions, the general naturally considers too.

Suppressing his amazement at the guest's magical prowess, he laughs and says, "Hahaha, Mr. Anduin, worthy as the secondary seat of the Curse School! Today, let's spill some big fish blood, scaring those monkeys daring to dance before us!"

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