Chapter 8: The Wanted Criminal: The Demon's Child
*Woo woo woo...*
The ideal wind speed for warship navigation typically ranges between 10 to 40 knots.
Winds below 10 knots are too weak to catch the sails, even if water is splashed on them. Winds exceeding 40 knots, equivalent to a force 8 gale, require all sails to be furled immediately, and the ship must seek refuge in a harbor.
At this moment, the northeast wind was growing stronger.
Already surpassing 22 knots, a force 6 wind not only dispersed the sea fog but also whipped up large patches of white foam on the waves.
The murky waves rose and fell in layers, forming countless undulating hills on the sea.
A warship, like a climber scaling a mountain, charged through the increasingly恶劣 sea conditions, approaching menacingly from the northeast.
Byron's judgment was spot on—it was indeed the *HMS Stern*, a fifth-rate frigate belonging to the Hastings Kingdom's Channel Fleet.
On the much taller sterncastle compared to the pirate ship *Man-Eater Shark*, a gentleman in a silver wig and a coat with tortoiseshell buttons lowered his brass telescope and coldly issued orders to the officer beside him:
"Full speed ahead with a tailwind. We must not let a single remnant of the Lancaster faction escape.
I have specially requested a *Prophet* from the Tower Sequence to perform astrological divination, pinpointing a coastal coordinate in the North Sea.
If we arrive in time, neither the *Demon's Child* with a bounty of 5,000 gold pounds nor the *Pelican*, attempting to transfer Lancaster's assets, will have anywhere to flee.
Anyone who dares oppose the White Rose York family will find no refuge, not just in the Hastings Kingdom, but across the entire sea!"
On the mizzenmast beside them, a hand-drawn wanted poster was nailed firmly.
Who else could it be but Byron?
As the *Logbook* mentioned, in a world with supernatural abilities, there is no shortage of methods to confirm life and death or track locations.
Professions like the *Hunter* from the Wilderness Sequence, the *Medium* from the Graveyard Sequence, and the *Prophet* from the Tower Sequence are all experts in such matters.
After the York family ascended to power, they publicly announced that the Lancaster bloodline had been completely wiped out in that storm.
No one in the world could now threaten their claim to the throne and legitimacy.
This was, of course, understandable. After all, which victor wouldn't want to dress up history, that little girl, to their liking?
But behind the scenes, a few core members had already seen the reports from their supernatural hounds, tracking the remnants of the Red Rose faction.
They immediately began a covert and urgent hunt for Byron, the last Lancaster.
While issuing a high bounty within the navy, they also branded him with the sinister-sounding title of *Demon's Child*, ensuring that this thorn in their side would be dealt with swiftly.
Of course, this might also be the effect of Byron's title: *Enemy of York! Eternal Pursuit, No Mercy!*
Freedom was too far, and York was too close!
Byron, who had narrowly escaped death at the hands of pirates, was still far from safety.
On the *HMS Stern*, Captain Harold, a lieutenant colonel unaware of Byron's true identity and importance, hesitated before stepping forward to advise:
"But, my lord, the weather in the North Sea during late autumn is notoriously unpredictable.
Coupled with the lingering effects of that strange storm five days ago, the wind speed is still rising, and the waves are already nearing 2 meters in height.
Pursuing an enemy ship in such恶劣 sea conditions is extremely dangerous. If the wind exceeds 40 knots, it will be too late to seek refuge in a harbor."
His cautious demeanor bore no trace of the authority a captain, who held the lives of an entire crew in his hands, should possess.
But who could blame him? This self-assured Baron Adonis hailed from the newly ascended York family.
Even if he was only a hastily ennobled branch member, used to consolidate the family's power, he was still the only royal family recognized by the *Iron Law of Sovereignty: The Great Charter* in the Hastings Kingdom after the Lancasters' fall.
Hearing this, Baron Adonis, with his wig and eyes as blue as Byron's, stared coldly at Captain Harold for a long moment.
Surprisingly, the York nobleman, far from being the reckless and arrogant scion one might expect, gradually softened his expression and offered Harold a sincere smile:
"Captain, I apologize for my impatience.
Please believe that I hold your authority on this ship in the highest regard.
But let me remind you, during the decisive battle five days ago, you and your fifth-rate ship were not permitted to join the fleet engagement of fourth-rate ships of the line.
Had you managed to claim a few Lancaster heads, you might already be receiving a knighthood from His Majesty in the capital.
Ask yourself, having missed one opportunity, can you afford to miss another?
As a second-tier professional *Fortress Guardian*, I doubt you wish to retire on a mere fifth-rate frigate.
Moreover, I pledge on the honor of the York family to you and every officer and sailor on this ship..."
The baron's gaze swept over everyone present.
"In this mission, the royal family and I will not claim a single gold coin of the spoils.
All the treasures of the nobleman aboard the merchant ship, as well as the 5,000-pound bounty on the wanted criminal, will be granted to the *HMS Stern*.
My only demand is that, before other pursuers arrive, you assist me in tearing apart every enemy of the York family!"
In his heart, however, he was thinking:
*'This is the last Lancaster who can challenge the York family's authority under the *Iron Law of Sovereignty*.
By killing him, my title could rise by two ranks, and I might even inherit part of the Lancaster lands, becoming a powerful landed noble!
Compared to power, what are mere riches?'*
Hearing Adonis's words, the captain and officers, unaware of the true stakes, felt their hearts race, their breaths growing heavier.
This was at least 5,000 gold pounds plus an entire ship's worth of treasures!
In this era, a skilled veteran sailor's annual income rarely exceeded 20 pounds, and a farmer's income was often less than 10 pounds!
Moreover, the baron was right—fifth-rate ships in most nations were the backbone of privateer fleets and commerce raiding.
Plundering enemy merchant ships and disrupting sea lines of communication were their specialties; they were, in essence, official pirates.
This time, however, their target was a domestic merchant ship.
They didn't need to venture into the perilous outer seas, filled with headhunters, witches, sea monsters, diseases, evil spirits, and all manner of horrors.
By intercepting the fleeing ships of the Lancaster faction, they could rise in rank, amass wealth, and become some of the wealthiest men in the land.
And the *Demon's Child* was, after all, just a mere mortal.
With Baron Adonis's promise, the entire ship fell into a frenzy of activity, as if injected with adrenaline.
At that moment, the lookout stationed in the crow's nest on the mainmast reported:
"Captain, the *Pelican* has been spotted at two o'clock!
But it has already been attacked, is burning, and is about to sink.
A pirate ship is fleeing rapidly. Judging by the shark-riding skull on its flag, it must be the infamous *Man-Eater Shark* of the North Sea.
Its captain is the *Blood-Eyed* Salman, with a bounty of 4,300 pounds."
None of the officers paid any attention to the sinking *Pelican*.
A pirate ship? No!
They were merely transporters of wealth.
As half-pirates themselves, the navy knew full well that the *Pelican* had been stripped of all valuables and people before being scuttled.
As for the difficulty of the hunt, a small pirate ship and an armed merchant vessel were essentially the same.
Lieutenant Colonel Harold estimated the distance and speed, drew his command sword, and shouted:
"Men, show the baron the might of the *HMS Stern*!
At this distance and speed, we should catch them within two hours. Crush them!
For the gold... I mean, for the King!"
"Roar! For the King—!"