Landing on the Island

Translator: Cinder Translations

...

"Target the warehouses on the dock. Hopefully, there'll be something flammable inside."

Captain Quik of the Hope gave this order to the gunnery officer.

After the gun barrels had cooled down, a new batch of solid shot ammunition was heated until glowing red and quickly loaded into the cannon chambers and fired away.

Soon, a large fire broke out on the pirates' dock.

The pirate leaders who had just been in a meeting arrived near the dock at this moment and watched the entire process of the warehouses catching fire.

The old pirate said angrily, "Why hasn't the white flag been raised yet?"

A lackey reported with a mournful face, "The brother who was just sent to deliver the order went into the warehouse to find a piece of white canvas, but that strange ship also targeted the warehouse. It looks like he won't be able to come out."

"You! Immediately find any white objects you can and wave them vigorously. Make sure they notice."

...

Officers on the Hope quickly spotted the movements of the pirates on the dock through their telescopes.

A large group of people took off their white clothing and tied them to poles, waving them continuously. Some even took off their white pants.

"They... seem to want to surrender."

"What should we do, Captain? Should we cease fire?"

Quik rubbed his thick beard thoughtfully. Surrendering on their own accord wasn't bad. Although the battle hadn't even started and the enemy was already surrendering, it lacked excitement. However, forcing the enemy to surrender entirely with just one ship would definitely be a great achievement.

"Hehe, for you all still resting at base, Quik won't be polite."

With a decisive clap, he ordered, "Cease fire!"

Then he commanded, "Approach the dock! But maintain a safe distance. Who knows if they're feigning surrender."

"Yes, Captain!"

...

Seeing the enemy cease fire, the pirates on shore breathed a sigh of relief.

The Hope began to approach the dock, and the pirates shouted out to the sea, "We surrender! We surrender!"

However, the enemy stopped not far from the dock, causing the pirates' hearts to jump to their throats once more.

Then, a dinghy was lowered from the strange ship, with two people aboard slowly rowing towards the dock. The enemy was indeed cautious.

Once the two people landed, they stood still on the gangway.

The pirates were about to surround them when old Donaldson hurriedly stopped them, "If we all rush up, what if they think we're trying to seize them?"

He sighed, "You all stay here. I'll go talk to them."

Donaldson stepped onto the gangway, and immediately both Alden men aimed what looked like firesticks at him. He knew these were deadly weapons capable of firing projectiles that could easily take his life. Pirates of the Northwest Bay feared this weapon.

"Are you here to surrender?" one of them asked arrogantly.

Despite the unfriendly tone, this wasn't the time to save face. Donaldson carefully chose his words, speaking cautiously, "Yes, esteemed lords from Alden, you have triumphed, and we have failed. You may now dispose of us as you wish."

In this situation, negotiating surrender terms seemed almost comical. Donaldson decided to go all in.

The two Aldens stepped off the gangway and onto the land, with Donaldson following them.

"Very well. I will now convey our captain's orders. Immediately gather all your men and come here to drop your weapons carried on your person." The naval soldier pointed to the ground at his feet.

"This is basically all of us here. Oh, we didn't bring the slaves. I'll have them come over to surrender their weapons."

The naval soldier pointed to a nearby area. "Then kneel down with your hands behind your head on that flat ground."

"Kneel... kneel down with our hands behind our heads?" Donaldson's face briefly showed displeasure. Such a humiliating posture, were they being overly bullied?

The two naval soldiers noticed his change in expression and gestured with their firearms.

Seeing the dark barrels swaying in front of him, Donaldson reluctantly said, "Very well, we will obey your orders."

...

A group of pirates knelt on the ground. The two naval soldiers counted them, totaling 87 individuals.

They signaled to the ship that everything was going smoothly, and the Hope slowly docked at the pier.

Quik and several officers led more than thirty people ashore in a commotion. Sailors with rifles guarded the surroundings while surrounding the pirates.

"Isn't that Leader Quik? Hey, Leader Quik, do you remember me?" Someone recognized the former pirate leader Quik and stood up to approach him.

The sailor next to him kicked the pirate who stood up and shouted, "Behave yourselves! This is our captain!"

The pirates all looked towards the naval captain circling around them, and soon surprised exclamations and whispers filled the air.

Especially those leaders who had dealings with Quik's gang and the Mudfish Gang before recognized him. Due to the Alden army's high standards for its soldiers' appearance, coupled with long-term queues and military posture training, Quik's demeanor had changed significantly from his pirate days. His stubble was neatly trimmed instead of being a messy clump, and his laid-back expression made him seem like he hailed from a respectable family.

Thus, those pirates who knew him didn't recognize him at first glance.

"I didn't expect the rumors to be true!"

"Quik actually surrendered to the nobles? Wasn't he the one who hated those parasites the most?"

The voices of the captives grew louder until a gunshot rang out, silencing them.

Quik put down his still-smoking rifle and said loudly, "The pirate leader you knew is dead. Now standing before you is Captain of the Alden Navy's Hope Warship."

"Let me tell you, our Alden military is always generous with prisoners, as long as they haven't committed heinous crimes... Hm? What's going on over there?"

Quik had just intended to announce the new guidelines for managing prisoners issued by the Staff Headquarters to the captives when he suddenly noticed figures in the distant grove peering over at them. He immediately ordered someone to investigate.

Several sailors went off and quickly returned, holding a few half-grown boys.

"Let us go! We're not bad people," the boys protested continuously.

Saluting Quik, the sailor reported, "Captain, we've caught a few young pirates."

"You're the pirates, your whole family are pirates!" The boys retorted with a look of injustice.

"Release them! You're not with the pirate brats? Who are you?"

As the boys rubbed their wrists, which had been tied tightly, they hurriedly reported their identities, "We were abducted by pirates and brought to this island as slaves. Please save us."

"Calm down, calm down. At least let me know your names and where you're from?"

The boy with brown hair said, "Are you soldiers from Alden? My name is Alan, he is Tom, and he is Payne. We're from Little Bay Village in Skano. Pirates raided our village and took us as slaves. There are many other slaves on the island from various places in the northwest. Can you take us back to the mainland?"

"Kids, take us to where the slaves are detained and tell them that the army under Earl Grayman has come to rescue them."

Quik boldly waved his hand.

(End of the Chapter)