Translator: CinderTL
Taking a deep breath, Roland suppressed his inner turmoil and resisted the urge to act impulsively.
The smooth victory in this battle was no accident.
While the bonus buff Observing the Sea had allowed him to predict the dense fog in advance, the true key to their success lay in the Seabird's experienced crew.
For the past two days, they had tirelessly piloted small boats to scout the area, gathering detailed intelligence on the movements of the three pirate ships.
It was this meticulous information that enabled Roland to devise such a comprehensive plan, ensuring their triumph.
As for the Howling Gorge...
Theresa and Hoby had provided rough descriptions of its internal terrain and structure, but Roland refused to make any hasty judgments until he had seen it with his own eyes or obtained more precise information.
Unlike before, he was no longer a lone wolf but the captain of a ship carrying over a hundred crew members.
Any rash decision could not only endanger himself but also condemn these hardworking sailors to a watery grave—a fate he was determined to avoid.
With these thoughts in mind, he descended from the quarterdeck and stepped onto the main deck.
The cleanup was nearing completion.
The crew members were excitedly chatting as they moved the spoils of war into their proper places.
Even those wounded in battle showed no signs of pain; instead, they proudly displayed their injuries, loudly boasting of their bravery.
For these veteran sailors who had retired from the front lines of maritime life, nothing boosted morale more than a decisive victory.
"Captain Roland!"
"Captain!"
The moment Roland's figure appeared, the once-noisy deck fell silent.
The crew turned to him, their gazes now carrying not just the simple admiration they had shown when he was diligently honing his seafaring skills, but also a genuine respect.
They had witnessed every detail of the battle firsthand:
His calm command, his clear orders.
In their eyes, this new captain's strategic acumen already rivaled the brilliance Trevor had displayed when he first took the helm.
"Thank you all for your hard work!"
Facing the assembled crew, Roland bowed slightly in gratitude, then promised details about the upcoming rewards.
Amidst the resounding cheers, he approached Hoby.
The halfling was holding a thick stack of parchment, rapidly recording notes while issuing concise and efficient commands. Under his direction, the hundred-odd crew members worked in perfect coordination, methodically cleaning up the aftermath of the battle.
"Hoby, how's the cleanup going?"
"Mr. Roland?" Hoby looked up at the sound of his name, his face immediately lighting up with excitement. "Everything's proceeding smoothly! Though these pirates were practically penniless—there's hardly anything of value among the spoils."
Roland felt no disappointment at this news. His purpose in clearing out the pirates had never been about financial gain.
"What about the prisoners?"
"They're all locked up on the Bloodclaw, guarded by Miss Theresa. No trouble there."
Hoby's face filled with deep admiration as he recalled the Silver-Haired Woman's fierce sword techniques. Though he had been traveling with Roland's group for some time, this was the first time he had witnessed Theresa's combat prowess firsthand.
"If Miss Theresa is this formidable, what about Captain Roland himself...?"
From Theresa, Avril, and Galvis's daily words and actions, the halfling had long sensed that they all deferred to Roland as their leader.
Roland paid no attention to the curious, probing look in Hoby's eyes. After giving a few quiet instructions, he turned and walked toward the ship's rail.
The boarding action had already secured the two ships tightly together with grappling hooks.
Judging the distance, Roland leaped across, landing on the deck of the Bloodclaw.
Uncleaned bloodstains left a sticky sensation underfoot, and the acrid stench of blood mingled with the thick fog, making it hard to breathe.
Roland merely frowned slightly as he stepped through the gore, quickly reaching Theresa's side.
The Silver-Haired Woman stood with her rapier in hand, her icy gaze fixed on the group of pirates huddled on the deck, their hands clasped behind their heads.
Though she hadn't uttered a word, her aloof demeanor and the ruthless efficiency she had displayed earlier had silenced the dozens of pirates into a terrified hush.
After a brief nod of acknowledgment to Theresa, Roland surveyed the scene and asked, "Where's the Pirate Captain?"
A flicker of disgust crossed Theresa's eyes as she raised her rapier slightly, pointing to a fierce-looking middle-aged man.
Thin, precise cuts marked both wrists of the man, blood seeping steadily from the wounds.
"Ha! I never imagined the mastermind behind this attack would be some greenhorn kid!"
Seeing the others' deference toward Roland, Pirate Captain Barton immediately recognized his status. He snorted coldly and roared in a gruff voice, "Listen up! Whoever you are, you won't pry a single word from my lips! Unless..."
A cunning glint flashed in his eyes.
"You prepare a small boat for me right now, so I and..."
He glanced around at the other pirates.
"...my brothers can escape this place safely!"
As a pirate who had committed countless acts of arson, murder, plunder, and every imaginable atrocity, Barton harbored no genuine loyalty or brotherhood. For him, preserving his own life was paramount. Of course, if he could also drag along these battered remnants of his crew to retain some strength for future resurgence, all the better.
Since Roland's men hadn't executed him on the spot, Barton reasoned he still had value. He wouldn't hesitate to grasp this lifeline, even if it meant betraying the captain he had served for decades.
He would do anything to seize even the slightest chance of survival.
"Heh... not entirely foolish after all."
Seeing that the pirate captain before him had already guessed his intentions before he even spoke, Roland chuckled softly and turned to the silver-haired woman beside him.
"It's up to you, Theresa."
"Understood, Mr. Roland."
Theresa nodded slightly, her gaze immediately losing focus as if piercing through Barton and staring into the void behind him.
Within moments, detailed information about the pirates in Howling Gorge flowed from her mouth, clear and cold.
As she spoke, the smug confidence on Barton's face rapidly crumbled, replaced by uncontrollable terror.
"Captain Harim's sudden change in temperament has led to widespread desertion among the pirates in Howling Gorge. Now..."
Listening to Theresa's account, Roland tapped his knuckles lightly against the hilt of the sword at his waist, lost in thought.
"So, aside from those we've already eliminated, Howling Gorge now holds only three ships and... a few dozen pirates?"
"I never expected this adventure to go so smoothly, but..."
Recalling Theresa's description of Harim's sudden and inexplicable shift in temperament, Roland frowned slightly.
This notorious captain, despite his long list of crimes, had always been renowned for his cunning and resourcefulness.
Without such traits, he could never have roamed the seas of the River Domain Nations for so many years unscathed.
Why would such an old fox suddenly abandon his carefree life of plunder to serve the Wolf King of Mistland? And why would he choose to hole up in a hellhole like Howling Gorge, a place even seabirds shun?
"Mr. Roland..."
Theresa's cool voice snapped Roland out of his thoughts.
She gracefully sheathed her rapier.
"What should we do with these prisoners?"
"Them?"
Roland snapped back to attention, his gaze sweeping over the trembling pirates before him. A cold smile curled his lips.
"Bind their hands and feet, then..."
His voice, sharp as shattering ice, plunged the pirates into a frozen abyss of terror.
"...throw them into the sea to feed the fish."
(End of the Chapter)
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