Chapter 118: Landing, Coral Island!

On the deck of the three-masted warship

Pearson, who had been tightly bound by the Idar Navy soldiers, looked at Captain Jack standing before him with a face full of shock.

Captain Jack!

Alive!

Seeing Captain Jack, who had been captured by the Idarians earlier, standing there alive and well, Pearson's mind immediately started working.

Maybe if he pleaded for mercy, the Idarians might spare him too?

But… reality was crueler than fantasy. Before Pearson could even open his mouth to beg, Mal Cullen swung a club and knocked him out, then ordered the soldiers to drag him into the cabin.

"The Earl said that the Idarians only need one guide."

Mal Cullen casually swung the thick club in his hand a few times, seemingly offhandedly remarking.

Hearing his words, Captain Jack's face instantly flushed with embarrassment.

Damn it, this guy always has to bring up the worst topics!

Back when Captain Jack was training the Idar Navy, he had already learned about Mal Cullen's nasty habit constantly ridiculing him over this issue.

Was he cowardly?

No!

He was just being smart!

For the Idar Navy's first-ever naval battle, this was already an outstanding victory!

Not only did they capture dozens of surviving pirates, but they also seized two damaged pirate ships. Meanwhile, the Idar Navy suffered zero casualties!

Sure, their success was largely due to magic crystal bombs, but weapons and equipment are a key factor in measuring a military's strength!

More importantly, this battle gave the soldiers firsthand combat experience, which would be invaluable for their future training and battlefield cooperation.

One by one, the captured pirates were soon locked up in the makeshift prison in the lower deck of the three-masted warship.

Although Pearson himself was undoubtedly guilty of heinous crimes, Bruno had specifically ordered that he be taken back to Idar for trial.

The other pirates shared the same fate—they were forced to tie themselves up before being thrown into the ship's bottommost hold.

In Mal Cullen's opinion, the simplest solution would have been to execute the pirates immediately. After all, the Idar soldiers still had to assault the pirates' stronghold on Coral Island.

But…

Before setting sail, Bruno had given Mal Cullen explicit instructions on what to do after the battle, making him abandon his original idea.

Bruno still fondly remembered the Ninth Production Team!

That squad, composed entirely of Idar's former thugs, had become incredibly efficient under Shabi's training. But unfortunately, they had all been sent to Bethlehem, which was truly a waste…

However, the name and spirit of the Ninth Production Team lived on!

So, Bruno hoped that the captured pirates would become new members of the Ninth Production Team, continuing its fine tradition of backbreaking labor without pay.

"Set sail! Next stop Coral Island!"

Looking at the eager soldiers, Mal Cullen finally gave the order!

But this time, their sailing speed was intentionally slow.

Besides the Idarian three-masted warship, the two pirate ships they had just captured were also trailing behind.

According to Admiral Mal Cullen's plan, since Coral Island was the pirates' main stronghold, he decided that most of the Idar Navy soldiers would enter the pirate port aboard the captured pirate ships, launching a surprise attack.

Meanwhile, the remaining sailors on the three-masted warship would provide artillery support from the sea.

Captain Jack wholeheartedly supported this plan.

After all, the pirates lurking around Basel Kingdom's waters had never faced a real opponent at sea. Coral Island's defenses were lax, and even though the pirates outnumbered the Idar Navy, they still wouldn't stand a chance.

Thus, after a period of rest and reorganization, on the second night, under the bright moonlight, over a hundred fully armed Idar Navy soldiers finally sailed into Coral Island's port aboard the pirate ships.

—

Coral Island's Port

Two drunken pirates, who were supposed to be on watch, were casually playing a drinking game.

"Why is Lord Pearson back so soon?"

Pirate A stared in surprise at the pirate ship docking nearby.

"Pearson? Impossible! He just left for a raid!" Pirate B gulped down a fresh ale and shouted.

Patting Pirate A's shoulder, Pirate B laughed and said, "Old A, you're drunk!"

"But… that really is Lord Pearson's ship… Look behind it…" Pirate A rubbed his foggy eyes, feeling unsure.

"Where? Let me see…"

Pirate B finally staggered to his feet.

Then, he saw figures rushing toward them so many that it looked like a flood of shadows.

"Wait"

Before Pirate B could say another word, a dagger plunged into his stomach.

With a chilling squelch, warm blood gushed out.

One stab in, one stab out Pirate B collapsed, not even realizing he was dead. His beer mug fell to the ground.

Before long, fully armed Idar soldiers had taken over Coral Island's port without any resistance.

Now, the pirates were trapped caught like fish in a barrel.

The three-masted warship, which had been waiting offshore, finally sailed into the port.

With Mal Cullen's command, dozens of catapults were activated again.

Unlike naval battles, aiming was no longer an issue—

Each magic crystal bomb thrown landed somewhere in the pirate stronghold, instantly blasting unlucky pirates to pieces.

Explosions rang out continuously. Any pirate who tried to flee to the port was cut down like wheat by the Idar soldiers.

If Bruno had been here, he would have scolded Mal Cullen to no end!

Magic crystal bombs weren't meant to be used like this!

Each bomb required Idar's apprentice mages to painstakingly craft by hand.

Even though they had a well-organized assembly process, they could only produce twenty bombs per day.

Wasting two days' worth of production in one night?!

Even if they fought the pirates head-on, they wouldn't have suffered significant losses!

By now, the pirates had already lost the will to fight…

—

Coral Island's Central Fortress

Inside a crude castle, Kelvin Plato, the infamous pirate leader, was sound asleep.

The distant explosions finally woke him up.

Feeling the warm body beside him, he hesitated.

"Probably just thunder..."

His earlier nighttime activities had exhausted him, and he was still half-asleep.

BOOM!

Another deafening explosion finally forced him to sit up.

Ignoring the muttering woman beside him, Kelvin grabbed a coat and pushed open the castle door.

Then, he saw something he had never witnessed before in his life.

From the direction of the port, blinding flashes of light illuminated the night sky, turning it red as blood.

For a moment, Kelvin stood there in a daze.

Since taking over Coral Island, it had never faced war.

Even when pirates fought, they only clashed at sea.

"Bad news!"

A pirate stumbled in, panting.

"Idarians! They… they came on Lord Pearson's ship! They've taken the port!"

"What?!" Kelvin's face twisted with rage.

Idarians? Who the hell are they?!

He had never even heard of them before!

"It must be Pearson! He was defeated while raiding their salt field!"

Kelvin gritted his teeth in fury!

Damn it! Why didn't Pearson investigate first?!

But before he could finish his thoughts, a small, glowing crystal landed at his feet.

"What's this?"

Kelvin bent down, tapping it curiously.

"Kelvin, no!"

The pirate beside him fell to the ground, trembling.

FLASH!

Kelvin Plato was obliterated.