The air support from the "Storm Horn" immediately alleviated the crisis faced by the "Fortress."

From Major General Koverdale to ordinary soldiers with soot-stained faces, everyone breathed a slight sigh of relief.

However.

The battle at the river mouth was far from over.

Because the two Large Species responsible for the blockade, the "Iron Armor Sea Horse" and the "Ghost Shrimp," were still swimming near the river mouth, and even began to turn around after seeing their companions' attack failing.

Poof—!

Crack!

Even though the last nail in the defense of the river mouth, the "Fortress," was preserved, and while Hawkins' Sea Monster army stranded on the receding riverbed as the Major General wished.

As long as these two Large Species remained, Hawkins could retreat leisurely from upstream of the Leiden River.

However.

The current target of the two Sea Monsters was not the half-crippled "Fortress" that seemed like it would collapse with a mere breath.

Instead, it was Solomon and his Level 3 Battleship "Royal Guardian," which had arrived ahead of Aiven's "Storm Horn" from the other side!

Apparently, for them, handling the battleship on the sea was easier than dealing with the fortress on land.

However, the returning "Royal Guardian" now presented a rather strange sight.

Besides the golden long pennant of the Tyrone Kingdom on the main mast, all sails on the battleship were completely lowered.

Yet, the entire warship slightly elevated above the water, seemingly flying as it traced a long waterline at high speed!

On closer inspection, it was revealed that a giant, semi-transparent sea dog, seemingly made entirely of seawater, was peeking out from the water beneath the ship's bow.

The seawater-formed sea dog used water bands extending from its body to encircle the "Royal Guardian," transforming every ounce of energy from the surrounding waves into the driving force propelling the battleship forward.

Solomon's servant demon: Sais.

A Demon Species that took the form of a large sea dog-like Water Elemental Creature, with a body length exceeding 20 meters. It was also a servant of Baipa, one of the seventy-two highest-ranking Demon Gods recorded in Solomon's Golden Book.

Demon God Baipa, ranked as a Duke in the Lower Realm, had a true form of an Intelligent Merfolk in a demonic monster shape, possessing various maritime-related Extraordinary Abilities.

These abilities influenced its servant, making it an excellent assistant for sea navigation. Even without any other abilities, simply its speed-boosting assistance already qualified it as a "divine" servant demon.

Moreover, as a water elemental demonic monster living in the Lower Realm, its combat power was anything but weak!

Thanks to such an efficient servant demon, the "Royal Guardian" could return faster than the "Storm Horn," despite being further from the river mouth!

If Solomon hadn't always treated pirate hunting as a game, he could have long since driven the pirates to wail in despair. For once they entered his sight, escape was impossible.

However, clearly, facing such a grand "welcome ceremony" upon nearing the river mouth indeed startled Solomon.

Bear in mind that during the "Siren's Song" test at the "New Inn Port."

To safely confront a "Large Species: Sea Demon," the military deployed a luxurious fleet comprising one Level 1 and three Level 2 warships.

Although it was an enormous Sea Monster with a total length exceeding 240 meters, with one foot already in the Giant Species category.

Now letting the "Royal Guardian," a single Level 3 ship, face two Large Species with average lengths of 70 meters, regardless of one's reserve of trump cards, was simply suicidal.

Moreover, seeing the "Fortress" already half-destroyed, it couldn't be relied upon at all.

Solomon promptly issued orders.

"Everyone to battle stations! Gunpowder Chief, load the rounds! Target: The two Large Species Sea Monsters. Fire at will, open fire!"

Before the two Large Species could initiate their encirclement, the "Royal Guardian" had already launched an attack.

"What's going on? When did this perennial slacker become so proactive? Facing two Large Species solo?"

From tens of kilometers away, Aiven clearly observed the scene through the sea bird's field of view.

He had just given a three-part amazed praise for Solomon's newfound sense of responsibility at the critical moment, only to realize he was still too naïve.

Boom! Boom! Boom!...

The lax shots from the warship barely hit any targets.

Yet, the roar of the cannon fire successfully interrupted the two Large Species' attempt to encircle and pin down the battleship between them, chasing closely from behind, side by side.

"Sais! Head northwest, full speed ahead!"

Then, Aiven saw the "Royal Guardian" accelerating again, heading full speed... towards his position.

"Bertram, you bastard!"

Even with the assistance from the "Monsoon Goddess" figurehead, granting the "Storm Horn" a full 30% speed boost, it would still take about two hours to reach the river mouth.

Given the current distance and relative speed between them, it was estimated they would meet in just over 20 minutes!

This guy had no intention of being a hero who turns the tide, unleashing his Divine Power to directly kill the last two large species. He was clearly planning to drag the "Storm Horn" into the water for a two-on-two battle.

He might even hold a grudge from the previous encounter and seek revenge.

Truly, character is hard to change!

Behind the two Sea Monsters that were chased away, after a round of "Heavenly Justice," the "Water Cannon Humpback Whale" had resurfaced. However, it looked pitiful, with its fins shattered and its body in tatters. Even the hard shell wrapped around its big head had a very noticeable crack.

Most importantly, the bony "cannon tube" extending diagonally from its head was completely broken, now only able to squirt water and unable to shoot any more cannonballs.

Step! Step! Step!...

Facing this last enemy, the General couldn't shrink back any longer. He drew his longsword, cutting a long white line across the sea surface, and charged towards it.

Whatever the cost.

The horn of counterattack at the river's mouth finally sounded.

In the face of the Pirate King, who commanded a massive army of Sea Monsters, a mere five Sea Monsters were just a small fraction. Even if they managed to completely wipe them out, it wouldn't affect the critical battle on the Pirate King's side.

But as long as they held their defensive position and didn't let the Sea Monsters left here ravage the coast, they would have honored the military insignias on their shoulders.

Besides.

"Even if we die, let's leave Hawkins with a piece of flesh!"

It had become the stubborn last stand of the local officers and soldiers, led by Major General Koverdale, who were born and bred here!

.....

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!...

In Golden Lion City, no less than four "Giant Hammer Mantis Shrimps" were performing demolition work on the resplendent headquarters of the "Netherlands Bank Group." Although its construction might have cost dozens or hundreds of times more than the river mouth fortress, its sturdiness was far inferior.

If even the "fortress" couldn't withstand the hammer strikes of the "Mantis Shrimps," how could an ordinary building endure?

Especially when faced with an entire demolition team of four "Mantis Shrimps"!

In just a few minutes, the high spires, pointed arches, flying buttresses, and expensive transparent glass windows—the six stories tall "bank group headquarters building"—had been completely leveled!

In the center of this ruin was a stair-like circular pit made entirely of granite. At the bottom of the pit was a solid steel mechanical gate weighing over two hundred tons.

At this moment, the gate, which had been installed here since the underground vault was built, was exposed to the outside for the first time.

Thanks to the magical effect of Alchemy, the gate from a hundred and twenty years ago still shone with an extremely hard steel luster.

Solid, reliable, unmovable!

Moreover, it was clear that the site was now under the highest level of alert, locked completely from the inside.

No one could enter or exit, and the connection between the three-layered spaces of the vault was completely severed. Even if someone infiltrated, they'd be trapped within one of the underground layers.

Only if all sixteen board members of the bank group were present could they possibly open this gate together.

However, for Hawkins, the scene had already been rehearsed countless times in his mind. How could a mere gate possibly stop him?

Thud—! Thud—!

Amidst the shaking of the earth and mountain, the four "Giant Hammer Mantis Shrimps" pulled back, while two "Earthquake Two-headed Turtles" and four "Earth Belly Snake Lizards" moved forward.

Moo roar...!

Hiss...!

They formed two groups on the southwest and northeast sides of the gate, each circling it, and began... digging!

Each group of two "Earth Belly Snake Lizards" crisscrossed in opposite directions, forming a loop with one in the outer circle and one in the inner, while the "Earthquake Two-headed Turtle" stood outside the loop.

The "Earth Belly Snake Lizards" could easily turn rock to mud, and the "Earthquake Two-headed Turtles" could precisely damage the underground rock structure. With their combined efforts, torrents of mud surged from the circles, more efficient than any modern drilling equipment!

Clatter....

Soon, two pits with diameters of about ten meters gradually took shape.

The so-called Alchemy Technique that could transform rock to become as hard as steel posed little obstacle to the natural abilities of the Sea Monsters.

They were still controlling their strength deliberately to prevent the complete collapse of the underground vault.

Because Hawkins wanted the precious contents inside, not to destroy the vault.

Even so.

With the efficiency of these six giant beasts, it might not even take twenty minutes to completely open the first layer of the vault, which was fifteen meters underground!

Hawkins stood with his hands behind his back among a group of giant beasts, looked up at the resplendent "Cathedral" not far away, the only current potential source of opposition, and muttered to himself:

"I hope you zealots have the sense not to interfere with my affairs..."

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