Starting from Zero

The fight is getting pretty intense. Sure, I was planning to learn something but...I can’t! These lunatics have no strategy or plans, they\'re just trying to take out each other as fast as they can.

The Indians have better weapons, while the other fleets have the bigger number. No matter who win, they won’t have many ships left at this rate.

"Should we join them?" Zirai asked.

I checked my EXP bar. I gained a level in the last fight. Yeah fighting pirates gives us way more EXP than killing monsters.

"Might as well make good use of them."

"So how should we do it?" Hawk asked.

"How should we do what?"

"Do we take on them all or help one to get rid of the other party?"

"Let\'s help one of them so we don’t attract both of their hate." I pointed at the Indian fleet. "That’s our target."

Everyone went back to their posts. We moved Bi-Lin 90-degree and began to support the other ships using our side cannons. We may be only one ship but each shot from our crystal cannon can turn an enemy ship into floating shreds, so our help definitely tipped the balance. Also, we picked the bigger Indian ships as priority targets.

"They\'re asking us to take out their flagship." The flagman suddenly spoke to me.

"Tell them we don’t know which one."

"...Captain, they said they will guide us with their cannon fire."

As they said, their next round of attacks all focused on a ship which has been hiding behind the Indian fleet. It was safe with all the other ships protecting it before.

"Crystal cannons, aim for that one ship and blow it up."

In the next moment, the ship I was talking about disappeared under several mushroom clouds. Even some other vessels staying close to it were damaged.

Since we\'re pretty safe here, I decided to try out the cannons myself. I went to a Dragon Punch cannon at the front of the ship, took aim, then pulled the trigger rope. The shot successfully hit the mast pole of the ship I aimed at, breaking it in half. Nice. The new Dragon Punch cannons are powerful AND accurate. 20 kilometer is their maximum range but the shots can still go where I want them. Good stuff!

"Captain, they sent a message, that the head of Caribbean pirates will make sure our ship stays safe from Atlantic pirates on their turf."

"Send our regards to them." I told the flagman and turned to Hawk. "Sweet. Pirates from the west huh?"

"Anyway, we found a really nice reward today." Hawk commented.

"The Caribbean pirates...So does that Russian man, belong to the Black Sea Fleet?" King exclaimed. "Well I\'ll be. I think we’ve met all of the biggest pirates in this game."

"Maybe they were having a meeting in this area and we happened to become their prey by accident." Red Moon said while watching the fight coming to an end. "That must be it. Even if our ship is packed with treasures, we should not attract the most famous pirate organizations in the whole game into chasing us all the way to the Pacific. Guess we are just unlucky."

"Well, I know one thing, they\'re not enemies now. Hey you there, don’t stop, keep firing until you can’t find a single Indian ship in you sight!" I ordered one of the cannon operators. Some of them are slacking off as the fight is as easy as target practice.

Our cannons started roaring again. Together with the other groups, we annihilated our targets fast enough.

"Chief mate! Disengage and put on some speed. We are leaving!"

Staying was a good choice. The fight wasn\'t really hard and everyone gained a level.

"Captain! A pirate flagship is approaching us!"

Only one ship huh? They have seen what we can do, so this time they must have something else on their mind.

"Captain! The flagships from the other two fleets are coming as well!"

"Do we avoid them?" Chief mate asked me nervously.

"No." Rose answered this one. "They came to talk. Flagships are big but aren’t good for anything offensive, and there\'s no way they can stop us from escaping."

"You sure about that? We can either fight or run at such distance... But it\'s another question if we let them near. We will definitely lose if they all board our ship."

"Captain! They\'re asking us to stop and speak with them!"

"Tell them to stop first and come to our ship on their lifeboats."

"Yes sir! ...And they agreed!"

"Chief, down the anchor." Now I\'m confident enough. "Three lifeboats can carry maybe thirty or so people. But we have thousands of sailors here."

But my confidence didn’t last long before the chief yelled: "Sir, they didn’t stop! And--they’re coming up faster!"

"Fuk. It’s a trick!" Hawk called. "Pull the anchor, we gotta move! You guys get back to the crystal cannons!"

Too late though. Bi-Lin has been staying in place, the pirate ships going at full speed soon reached us. Countless grappling hooks locked onto the railings around us. I only had time to order all combat sailors to get onto the deck before waves of pirates climbed onto our ship and began to force us towards the center.

The red-haired female and the bulky Asian guy both came to us. Must be the leaders of their own fleets.

"You promised you won’t target us right?" I asked the woman. The message came from her ship.

She is inspecting our Dragon Punch cannons with great interest, then she spoke without looking at me. She speaks our language too. But this is not surprising for NPCs, they always know multiple languages.

"Oh my. Did I?"

"You did, ma’am." One of her henchmen replied.

"Oh really?" She patted on her own head as if she just remembered something important. "I\'m very sorry, so forgetful. Alright then, a promise is a promise. Tell me dear, what exactly did I say?"

The henchmen repeated the message we received just now.

"Right." She nodded. "Now hear me! We will never attack their ship in our territory! However..." Her expression changed. "This is East China Sea. We don\'t break our promise if we attack you here."

Why is every NPC I met smart enough to trick me??

"You\'d better think about it!" I tried to play calm. "I have more than 10 thousand fighters on the ship, even if we lose we\'ll drag you down with us. How about we settle this in peace?"

"Ah is that so?" She looks surprised. "10 thousand you say? That’s a lot. Oh what should I do... I wonder if my 20 thousand level 600 pirates can defeat your level 414 sailors..."

(Sailor level = Captain level - 50)

"You...!" I’m trying very hard to suppress my anger. I don’t want to lose my ship. This is everything I have!

"My, my. Look at you. Calm down a little, handsome." She taunted. "I\'m just doing what a pirate is supposed to do."

As we\'re speaking, another Caucasian man walked to us. I think this is the new captain they appointed for the Russian pirates. He’s just as big as the last one.

"Rhona, must you trick anyone you meet like that? Just do your job."

"I wasn’t tricking him, big guy. Unlike you, I can use my brain. And I didn’t break any rules."

"Then we shall do it by the rules." The bearded man took off his upper garment, exposing those muscles that can make any fitness champion feel like a kid. "I\'ll go first. Objections?"

The woman just stepped aside with arms crossed.

"What-what are you doing?" I panicked.

He didn’t respond. While the third pirate, the Asian man, spoke to me: "Listen, kid. Pirates only obey the strongest, so we three leaders will take turns and fight you. Whoever can beat you while using the least time will take your ship as trophy. Of course, we will give you some small boats so you can get back home alive."

I looked between the Asian man and the warming-up Russian in doubt.

"What if I’m the winner?"

"...Baaah hahaha!" The woman slapped her leg. "You\'re kidding right?"

"I\'m asking, just in case."

The Russian huffed. "Same. If you win, the loser gives his entire fleet to you! But the rule is only for us pirates. Unless you want to become a pirate too?"

"Oh certainly, I hope you remember your words." I walked up to face the bearded Russian. "Now Bi-Lin is a pirate ship of mine. I hereby request a duel with you!"

"Ha-haha!" The woman laughed again. "I haven\'t met such interesting prey in some years. Hey kid, how about you come with me?"

"No thanks. I think I\'ll just win this thing and tell you to join me instead."

Although I\'m not sure I can do that.

"What’s your level anyway?" The Russian asked.

"464."

"I\'m 800. Look, I\'m not the type to bully the weak, so you can use any weapon, and I won’t use any weapon!"

"Any weapon?" I smiled.

"As I said, anything you like!" He held his head high. "And I\'ll let you go first. Three moves, I\'ll give you three chances to attack, before I fight back."

"Any weapon, my choice. You won’t regret that right?"

"I won’t! Rhona and Tang here are my witnesses!"

"Good. Now give us some space, please."

Everyone moved away to give us room to fight. Now the pirates are standing on one side of my ship, while our men are on the other.

"Last chance my Russian friend. Any weapon, you sure about it?"

"GAH! YES for Kraken\'s sake! Just get on with it!"