Chapter 433: Section 220: Pirate Trial
Hun Tong watched as the Dragon-man youth and his companions left, the smile on his face gradually fading to nothing as his gaze became deep and enigmatic.
Beside him, Yi Yan spoke with an implicitly resentful tone, “My lord, why don’t we keep the White Bandage? This ship could easily serve as the flagship of the Patrol Fleet. Although we also have a Bronze Level demon energy ship, it certainly can’t compare to the White Bandage.”
“Although we’ve collected the undersea treasure, we’re really not short of money.”
“But ordering a demon energy ship from the shipyard on Gear Island is no easy task.”
“So many people are placing orders, at least it will take half a year before they get to us.”
The mention of undersea treasure made Hun Tong feel as if his heart had been cruelly stabbed.
He took in a cool breath and said slowly, “Even though we have the undersea treasure, there are too many places that need money.”
“The entire new island almost needs to be rebuilt.”
“We need to issue relief funds.”
“Those merchants are troublesome.”
“The Undead Mages have appeared again, and the Empire is likely to send emissaries to investigate. By then, I’ll need to engage in some bribery.”
“The most crucial things are the Light Cannon tower and the Golden Shiny; both require a hefty sum to hire alchemy masters for repairs!”
“All of these things require money.”
“The White Bandage is just Bronze Level, having one more ship doesn’t significantly enhance our strength.”
“Repairing the Golden Shiny is what’s most important.”
“With one Golden Level demon energy ship, more White Bandages cannot compare.”
“The performance of the Bandage Mercenary Group has truly disappointed me.”
“This mercenary group and the Iron Rod Mercenary Group, they’re too close to the guilds. Should we keep them around, for those annoying merchants to cause us even more trouble?”
“Of course, it’s not like I’m selling them off casually. The Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps is not ordinary; you’ve seen their performance in the melee, haven’t you?”
Yi Yan nodded, acknowledging the sentiment.
In his view, apart from the Golden Level, the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps had the most impressive performance among the Human Race forces.
The Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps had secured the docks and then agreed to Hun Tong’s recruitment, venturing deep underground in an attempt to sabotage the large Fishman spell. This action was much more reliable than that of the Iron Rod or Bandage Mercenary Groups!
The latter two would only act in their own interests.
By comparison, the lord’s side, led by Hun Tong, had a favorable impression of the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps.
Hun Tong, watching the increasingly distant ships of the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps, evaluated, “Although they’ve recruited Chi Lai and Menshi, Chi Lai’s Bloodline Concentration isn’t high; Silver Level is already his limit. Menshi’s Cultivation has been stagnant for over a decade, with zero potential.”
“But Long Fu and Lion Flag are different.”
“Lion Flag’s Fighting Energy already has a Golden sheen; with enough time, he could become Golden Level.”
“Long Fu must have excellent Bloodline for his backers to regard him highly and appoint him as leader, subjugating Lion Flag. During the previous battle, he even went head-to-head with Earscraper, just falling short.”
“In a few years, both of them might become Golden Level.”
“Selling them some good items is also beneficial for us.”
Yi Yan nodded repeatedly, “My lord, you think so correctly!”
A cold light flashed in Hun Tong’s eyes; he appeared calm on the surface but was restless inside.
Yi Yan had just brought up the undersea treasure, which, while painful to Hun Tong, also served as a reminder.
The matter of dredging up the undersea treasure was known to very few.
And even someone in the know like Yi Yan was unclear about just how much undersea treasure Hun Tong actually dug up.
“We must not let others know that the undersea treasure was just three copper coins!”
Hun Tong resolved to keep this truth hidden.
The marketplace is like a battlefield.
On the battlefield, once morale collapses, no matter how large the army, it will crumble and scatter in retreat.
The same principle applies to the marketplace.
Once he had suffered too many losses and let others become pessimistic, morale would scatter, and a run on resources and other terrible events would inevitably occur.
“Keeping this secret, making people think I’ve salvaged a great fortune, is to my advantage.”
“That way, at least in the eyes of others, I will still be seen as the winner.”
Hun Tong was filled with caution in his heart.
After the chaos of battle, his situation had become quite dire.
He didn’t have much capital left, even including his original investment and the proceeds from the auction.
Among these, he couldn’t spend the Devil’s Coins; he had to save them to deal with the Empire’s investigation.
After all, he had viciously backstabbed his allies in the fray, achieving the best record for cannon fire.
As he had explained to Golden Eye, there were too many places to spend money.
“Once my vulnerability is exposed, my fate—and that of the Bandage Mercenary Group—will probably not be any better.”
Thinking of this, Hun Tong looked towards the Bandage Team members at the edge of the dock, his eyes flashing colder still.
He ordered Golden Eye in a somber tone, “Not recognizing the situation, how foolish. Golden Eye, seize them all.”
Golden Eye hesitated, “My Lord, isn’t this a bit excessive?”
Golden Eye felt somewhat guilty and apprehensive.
Not only had they sold the other party’s flagship, but they were also about to arrest the victims; how was this different from what pirates would do?
But the next moment, seeing the icy gaze of Hun Tong, Golden Eye felt an inward chill and hurriedly obeyed.
Golden Eye, with a group of City Guards, would face no difficulty dealing with the Bandage Team mercenaries.
Because their bandage leader had already fallen in battle.
Hun Tong took to the skies, flying back up to the Golden Shiny.
He used his Golden Eye to perform a final reconnaissance on the ships of the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps still within the scouting range.
The results were not unexpected.
“The underwater treasure… isn’t with them.”
In order to probe the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps’ true situation, Hun Tong even deliberately helped them by arranging for many people to deliver supplies directly to their ships.
Now, combining the results of Golden Eye’s scout, the little doubt that remained in Hun Tong’s heart completely dissipated.
“So, the most likely are still the Naga Priest and the Undead Mage pretending to be an elder of the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce.”
The Naga Priest and the remnants of the Blue-Green Coral tribe had already left Twin Eyes Island, venturing deep into the sea.
Even if it were them, Hun Tong had no other plans.
However, there was still hope with the Undead Mage.
Thinking this, Hun Tong immediately used the alchemy communication device to contact the Empire’s spy, Shadow.
“When will you make your move?”
“The Undead Mage must have run far by now, right?”
“With Twin Eyes Island producing two Undead Mages in succession, and with solid evidence, it’s very likely the Empire will send someone to investigate.”
“When will you act against him? I can personally lend a hand.”
“If, when the Empire investigates Twin Eyes Island, I have the head of this Undead Mage in my hands, it would be beneficial for both of us, wouldn’t it?”
Shadow’s voice came swiftly, “Heh, my Lord, there’s no need to rush.”
“A mere Silver Level Undead Mage is not much of a concern.”
“Trust me, there’s something of even greater value behind him!”
“Without revealing too much, I’ve already made arrangements. Now that he has exposed himself, he has no chance of a peaceful life.”
“By the way, about those undersea treasures… Strictly speaking, we Spies have a share in those too, right?”
Hun Tong snorted coldly, interrupting Shadow, “Out of the question! Those treasures rightfully belong to Twin Eyes Island.”
The bitterness in his heart could not be spoken.
He had only fished out three copper coins, yet everyone around him thought he had struck it rich.
And he had to pretend that he really did!
The docks were in chaos.
With one glance, he had dispersed the Bandage Mercenary Group, and the City Guard behind him was busy capturing people.
The morale of the Mercenary Group was already low and faced with the City Guard’s arrests, they didn’t have the courage to resist.
Many were captured on the spot.
Some of the higher-ups managed to escape.
“Damn Hun Tong, he’s really coming down hard on our group!”
“Don’t be rash, let’s get out of here quickly.”
“Let’s go to the Mercenary Association to seek justice!”
“Let’s ask for help from representatives of the five major guilds!”
“And the Iron Rod Mercenary Group, their leader is also gone. If they don’t take action, they will end up just like us!”
The Clapping Pirate Group.
Hu Li weakly opened his eyes.
“What’s happened to me?” he muttered, his face full of confusion; the state of his body felt very wrong.
As his blurry vision gradually cleared, he was horrified to find himself sitting on a wooden chair, bound tightly and unable to move.
A group of Frogman Pirates surrounded him.
The leading Frogman spoke, “You’ve finally woken up.”
Hu Li glared at the speaking Frogman and anger surged within him, “Back Elephant, what are you trying to do?”
Seeing Hu Li struggle, the First Officer Back Elephant sneered, “Give up. The drug I’ve given you is the infamous Sigh Water. I’ve given you a hefty dose, and I believe that even a Gold Level would feel weak for some time and unable to use any Fighting energy. And what about you? My Captain.”
Hu Li narrowed his eyes, “You want to kill me to take my place? Back Elephant, you’re just a Black Iron!”
“I’m at the peak of Black Iron now,” Back Elephant sneered, holding up his thumb and pointing at his back, “Look at my spine, this is the characteristic of the Elephant Strong Bloodline! I will get to Silver Level sooner or later.”
Hu Li retorted, “Hmph, that’s something for later. If you kill me now, will you have the support of the others?”
The First Officer Back Elephant chuckled, “I won’t have to lift a finger. What awaits you next is a pirate trial! The outcome of the trial is decided by all the pirates!”
Hu Li was stunned, then hope for survival surged within him.
He was lifted, chair and all, and brought out of the cabin and onto the deck.
The night was deep, the moon full and bright.
All the Frogman Pirates gathered on the flagship’s deck, staring at Hu Li with complex expressions.
Back Elephant presided, “The trial shall now begin.”
Hu Li laughed loudly, “What crime have I committed?”
“It was I who built the pirate group from scratch, I who seized this flagship, and I who led you in raid after raid.”
“Slash, had I not saved you, you would have died three years ago.”
“Cool Skin, it was I who used my body to shield you from the Frost Breath, or you would have been frozen solid long ago.”
“And you, Che Li, I freed you from the iron cage. Otherwise, you’d be some Mage’s test subject by now, likely dead without even bones remaining.”
…
Hu Li spoke to the point of fervor, his speech growing faster.
Many of the named Frogman Pirates shamefully lowered their heads.
In the end, Hu Li looked up defiantly, roaring towards the moon, “It is because of me that the Clapping Pirate Group exists. It is because of me that you are all together.”
“What right do you have to judge me?”
“Who can pass judgement on my crimes?!”
The Frogman Pirates kept their heads down, silent.
Only Back Elephant narrowed his eyes with a dark tone, “Pirate trials are a tradition set by the God of Pirates, judging you in the name of the god. What do you have to object?”
“I admit, you’ve worked hard to create this pirate group, and you’ve been gracious to many.”
“But have you never done wrong? Have you never mistreated us? With every raid, you were the biggest beneficiary. We only got scraps and leftovers!”
“You are guilty, your biggest crime is that you didn’t make us rich!”
“The opportunity at Twin Eyes Island was so great, yet because of your stupidity, always thinking about robbing the Vinegar Pot, we almost got nothing!!”
“Bullshit!” Hu Li snorted coldly, “Short-sighted fool, with the Vinegar Pot we could have robbed more, your vision is too naive.”
Back Elephant shook his head, “I’m not here to argue with you.”
He turned around, surveyed the deck, and raised his arms, “Let us pass judgment.”
“Starting with you,” he said, pointing at a Frogman nearby.
The Frogman looked ashamed and faltered, “Guilty, guilty.”
“Hmm?” Hu Li glared furiously.
“Guilty, guilty.”
“Guilty.”
“I think he’s guilty.”
…
One by one the Frogman Pirates spoke, breaking down Hu Li’s composure.
At first, the Frogman Pirates hesitated, but gradually their verdicts became louder and more decisive!
Eventually, they even formed a chorus.
Back Elephant was the last to vote. He looked at Hu Li with a victorious smile, shrugged, and said, “You see, this is how you’re unpopular! You disregard everyone’s feelings, you don’t deserve to be our leader!!”
Boom.
The next moment, to everyone’s surprise, Hu Li suddenly burst free from the ropes.
He surged his Fighting energy and sent an unprepared Back Elephant flying with a palm strike.
Back Elephant spewed blood, hit the mast, then fell down, motionless.
The Frogman Pirates were in an uproar.
Hu Li stood proudly.
Back Elephant lay on the deck, looking up at Hu Li, “Impossible, I put so much Sigh Water in your drink, you’re just Silver Level, you couldn’t have recovered so fast!”
Hu Li sneered, “Should I tell you that I also possess a portion of the Poison Heart Bloodline?”
“I know, you’re strong enough to be a First Officer. You’ve always resented me for favoring my own kin, putting them above you in rank.”
“I was thinking of supporting you for the position of First Officer, too bad…”
“Traitor, die!”
Hu Li moved towards Back Elephant, about to deliver the final blow.
But in the next moment, he froze, turned into a statue.
A scantily clad Human Race woman with a long whip appeared.
“You, you’re… Sea Snake Lady?!” Hu Li’s voice was strained with shock, “Why are you…”
Crick.
The next moment, his neck was twisted by an invisible force.
Sea Snake Lady walked onto the creaking deck, towering over Back Elephant, “Didn’t you say you could handle it?”
“There was a little… mishap,” Back Elephant faced her, and in the moonlight saw her brown leather outfit shine, her voluptuous thighs, and the mountainous curves of her chest.
“What’s next? You don’t need me to remind you, do you?” the Sea Snake Lady smiled.
“Of course. First to contact the Jidian Pirate Group, the Stinky Sky Pirate Group, and then go slaughter that Undead Mage!” the Frogman Back Elephant said with hatred.