Chapter 43: The Kite Tactic

Mirtar and Wah-Wah simultaneously pulled the ropes, triggering the fire mechanism of the cannons. The alchemical gunpowder was ignited almost instantly.

"Boom..."

The thunderous sound of three cannons fired together, and the projectiles, propelled by immense force, sped across the 1,500-meter stretch of sea, striking different parts of the Swordfish on the starboard side.

The two 24-pound cannons hit the upper deck and the foremast of the Swordfish, passing through the ship's hull. Meanwhile, the 18-pound cannon struck the stern and ripped through the waterline, causing havoc below deck.

The captain of the Swordfish, now panicked, began shouting orders to change course and flee.

It wasn't that the three cannonballs scared him – after all, the range was long, and the target wasn't a giant ship – but the fact that a ship could accurately strike across nearly a mile and a half of open sea was what truly terrified him. He realized: "This is a trap!"

He cursed the greed and stupidity of the Golden Sail's captain, but his frustration was tempered by the harsh reality: "You aimed at the wrong ship, it's the Golden Sail you should be after... Not us!"

Ian, however, wasn't concerned with the opposing captain's thoughts. His goal was simple: intercept and isolate the ships, pushing them into the western sea.

He was satisfied with the results of the first barrage; the damage to the Swordfish's rear mast had compromised its stability and speed. It wouldn't escape now.

As Ian listened to Lia report on the results, he and Mirtar worked quickly, cleaning the cannon barrels and reloading the next round.

"Same target," Ian muttered under his breath. "Cut off one finger before we break the rest." He would disable one ship first, then focus on the second.

"Boom..."

"Hit! Struck the stern!" Lia reported crisply.

The first round had been lucky, given the rough sea conditions. Despite being within the alchemical cannon's optimal range, the rolling waves and the Swordfish's sharp turn meant the accuracy was bound to be lower than expected.

"Close in to 1,200 meters," Ian ordered, paying no mind to the other ship still fleeing on the west side.

At this point, all three ships were sailing against the wind. The merchant ships, propelled only by sails, couldn't exceed 7 knots, and were zigzagging. The Leviathan, however, with its sails lowered, cut through the wind at 11 knots and sailed almost in a straight line.

"Boom... Boom... Boom..."

As Ian closed the distance, the Swordfish captain seemed determined to prove his worth. He launched a return salvo, but it was far too weak – the closest shot fell hundreds of meters short of Leviathan.

Ian sneered. "Fire!"

"Boom..."

"Two hits! One struck the waterline near the bow, and the other hit the main deck's gun mount and capstan," Lia reported excitedly.

Mirtar, thrilled with his first real taste of battle, howled in excitement.

At this point, the Swordfish, taking on water from multiple hits, had slowed further. It wasn't going to sink just yet, but with no explosive rounds, sinking a wooden-hulled ship was a lengthy process.

"Keep going..." Ian ordered.

Using the Leviathan's superior speed and agility, they continued to circle the Swordfish, getting even closer, and launching a few more rounds. Thanks to their proximity, nearly half of the shots hit their target.

The Swordfish was in shambles, and its crew had already raised a white flag.

"Don't stop, continue!" Ian's cold voice rang out. Although the Swordfish raised the white flag, they had yet to lower their sails – clearly still holding onto hope.

Each of these armed merchant ships carried nearly a hundred crew members, while Ian's crew consisted of just three. They wouldn't board to claim the spoils just yet.

"Boom..."

"Hit the mainmast!" Lia exclaimed excitedly.

"It's not going anywhere now. Turn around and chase the other one," Ian ordered calmly.

Less than half an hour had passed since the skirmish began, but the naval battle was almost over – a rare occurrence in the era of sails.

Even though Leviathan was chasing the Golden Sail, it was still nearly 7-8 miles away. But the wind had started to die down, and the Golden Sail's captain could only watch in despair as Leviathan closed in on him.

Both ships continued their pursuit, heading northwest. Within an hour, Leviathan was within the optimal firing range.

"Boom..."

The sound of wood splintering filled the air as the cannonballs struck. The Golden Sail's crew was hit, and the deck was drenched in blood.

The Golden Sail, no stranger to the life of a pirate ship, had managed to excite its crew with the promise of a share of the spoils – a fortune far beyond their meager wages.

However, having tasted the thrill of victory in previous skirmishes, they were now facing something far more discouraging – taking hits without being able to fight back. It was utterly crushing.

Try as they might, the Golden Sail could neither flee nor fight back. Leviathan played with it like a kite, constantly tugging it in different directions.

Several times, the Golden Sail attempted to close in for boarding, but it was always in vain.

The cannonballs continued to rain down, like deadly notes in a grim symphony. The white flag may have been raised, but it could not stop the rhythm of the cannonfire.

The Golden Sail was badly damaged, but it still floated, its speed reduced to just 2 or 3 knots. Still, it would not sink.

Ian decided to slow the pace. He stepped aside and let Wah-Wah, Mirtar, and Lia take turns firing the cannons. It was a perfect opportunity for them to practice.

To his surprise, Lia proved to be the best shot. Mirtar, too, was improving with each round. His exceptional intuition, honed by his extraordinary skills, made him a natural marksman.

Wah-Wah, on the other hand, relied on his knowledge of the ship's structure and showed a decent accuracy.

Mirtar, though lacking experience, was a quick learner, and with time, he was becoming more skilled.

"Boom..."

"Hit the powder magazine!"

From over a kilometer away, Ian and the others watched in shock as the Golden Sail erupted into a massive fireball, splitting the ship in two.

Mirtar jumped for joy. "That's it! We got it!"

Ian stood still, watching the burning wreck of the Golden Sail drift apart. Debris and desperate sailors floated in the water. This was all his doing.

Ian had always considered himself a decisive person, someone who wouldn't hesitate when dealing with enemies.

But as he stared at the wreckage, a thought lingered: "Were there any innocent people on that ship?"

His mind drifted to his own family. "Innocence doesn't belong in the Sea of Wonders. There's no right or wrong here, only sides."

"If you choose to oppose me, you're my enemy. If you stand to gain from it, you must also bear the consequences. After all, every choice is a gamble. If you lose, you must accept the price."

He glanced over at Lia, who seemed concerned.

Ian met her gaze, offering her a reassuring look. His eyes grew sharp again. This was just the beginning.

"Turn around. There's another ship waiting for us."