Chapter 37

"Will, ahead is the port of Tartus, one of the trading centers of the dark world."

The half-elf beauty's introduction did not make Luo Zhengdao feel particularly happy; instead, he felt a growing sense of pressure. After all, the situation was still unclear, and he was forced to take action immediately, which did not align with his usual style.

After enduring a series of hardships and setbacks, the pirate ships Yangwei and Chaoyong finally broke free from the negative energy environment of the Sea of Death and sailed into the adjacent Sea of Shadows.

Relatively speaking, although the environment of the Sea of Shadows was not exactly picturesque, it was far better than the Sea of Death, where undead creatures roamed. Not to mention, the absence of negative energy in the air was a refreshing change, making it a delightful experience.

Among the seven seas of the new world, the Sea of Shadows, in fact, has more land area than water. Especially considering the complex underground spaces beneath the land, it would not be inaccurate to describe them as rat holes or sewers. The geographical location of the Sea of Shadows is situated between the outer and inner seas. Like the pirate haven, the Sea of Light, the Sea of Shadows is also a hunting ground for pirates. The dim sky and the intricate network of underground caves provide pirates with places to hide their loot and evade the pursuit of powerful navies. The combination of these favorable conditions makes it easy to understand why this sea has become a pirate paradise.

Luo Zhengdao put down the telescope with a distracted look, his expression strange. He turned to the half-elf beauty and said, "Are you sure that acting here won't violate the terms of our privateer license?"

Before Vena Dubov could respond, the boatswain Zola, eager to fill his own pockets, interjected, "Sir, your license only restricts you from plundering ships, ports, and territories under the flag of the Yaling Empire. Tartus is a free port; no one would consider it Yaling territory."

Vena Dubov, not displeased by Zola's interruption, smiled gracefully and said, "Yes, Zola is right! The areas where the Yaling fleet patrols are not their territory. In the Sea of Shadows, the Yaling are also pirates, just under the guise of collecting tolls."

Perhaps influenced by the elven blood in her veins, Vena Dubov, like most half-elves, harbored a slight hostility towards the Yaling, who were known for their racial superiority. It was evident that she had no good feelings towards the Yaling Empire and would seize any opportunity to mock them. However, this did not detract from her professional competence. Luo Zhengdao's adoptive father, the previous Earl of Fulu, was not a corrupt noble. His benevolent governance and fair administration earned him the title of "Wise Lord," which was a significant factor in Qiongzhou's ability to resist until the end when the Light Dynasty fell.

It was clear that such a capable and respected figure would not hire a beautiful but empty-headed woman as a tutor for his only son and heir.

Knowing that the Yaling Empire's actions were not as despicable as everyone made them out to be, Luo Zhengdao did not object. Instead, he asked, "Have you found a suitable target?"

Zola Hegel chuckled and pointed towards the anchorage of Tartus Port, saying, "Sir, please look. The two-masted schooners moored on the right belong to the family fleet of the former Grand Admiral of the Light Dynasty, Harvey Boyle."

Luo Zhengdao looked at the boatswain with confusion and asked, "Didn't the human nobles all flee from the mainland?"

Having spent some time with the old earl, Vena Dubov was more familiar with such insider information. She took over the explanation, saying, "I heard that Harvey is not a hereditary noble. He long ago defected to the green-skinned ones and willingly served as their spy. When the green-skinned ones began to purge the human nobles, the Boyle family did quite well."

Luo Zhengdao nodded, understanding, "Oh, I see. He's a traitor."

Hearing Luo Zhengdao's words, the half-elf beauty was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter, saying, "A traitor? Will, that term fits perfectly."

In this new world of diverse races and cultures, nationalism and similar advanced ideologies had not yet taken root. Conflicts between different races were mostly based on real-world interests. Wars and massacres solely because of dislike for a particular race or ethnicity were unheard of. In the old world, nationalism emerged alongside the Industrial Revolution and reached its peak in the 20th century, with the two World Wars being closely linked to the surge of nationalist sentiments.

While Luo Zhengdao's novel and racially tinged term caught Vena's attention, she was merely intrigued by its novelty. She could not grasp its deeper meaning, and her understanding was superficial.

"How much loot can we expect from the Boyle family's ships?"

Compared to discussing abstract and philosophical topics, boatswain Zola Hegel had a much greater enthusiasm for tangible wealth. Hearing Luo Zhengdao's question, he smiled and said, "Of course, who doesn't know that the families of high officials are the richest? These scoundrels who exploit both sides are even more bloated."

The saying "murder and arson lead to a golden belt, while building bridges and roads leave no corpses" suggests that the more despicable a person is, the more likely they are to succeed in society. Being a scoundrel is a good survival strategy, provided one does not become universally despised. Otherwise, a miserable death is a just outcome.

Bullying the honest might make one feel guilty, but targeting a despicable traitor would not burden Luo Zhengdao's conscience. He nodded and said, "Good, send someone to keep an eye on them. As soon as they leave the port, we'll find an opportunity to strike."

Zola Hegel's smile was full of confidence and a strong desire for battle, like a shark that has smelled blood. His dark face contrasted with his white teeth as he said, "Hehehe, Sir, rest assured. We know what to do."

Piracy is a surefire way for pirates to get rich, and the number of pirates who fall to their own kind is probably even higher than those killed by the military. Therefore, being ruthless and heartless is a common value among pirates. The saying "fellow professionals are enemies" is particularly true for pirates.

Traitors like Harvey Boyle, whose reputation stinks for miles, are even despised by pirates who make a living from robbery. Such traitors who assist other races in exterminating their own kind are considered despicable even in the half-beast tribes, where loyalty is valued. In other intelligent races, they are even more despised. However, scoundrels have their own survival strategies. Harvey Boyle managed to gain significant benefits by betraying his own and avoided the potential threat of being eliminated by the Goblin Second Empire. Regardless of his moral flaws, his survival wisdom is commendable. Great villains are not roles that the incompetent can fill.

"Clang, clang, clang..."

Hearing the distant sound of the bell, the boatswain's smile grew wider. He uncorked the communication tube on the aft deck and shouted, "Sir, the Boyle fleet has sounded the departure bell."

Luo Zhengdao, who was fiddling with a magic card in the captain's cabin, heard the shout through the tube and raised his voice, "Good, I'll be right there. The fleet is under your command now."

"Yes, Sir."

Shortly after the clear and prolonged bell sound, eight identically styled two-masted armed schooners sailed out of Tartus Port, forming two parallel columns. Their black cannons were uniformly pointed towards the calm Ether Sea.

Faced with such a well-prepared and formidable formation, smaller pirate groups would hesitate, not wanting to risk a loss.

These agile and swift two-masted schooners can be classified as armed merchant ships. Their overall performance falls short of warships, not because the Boyle family lacks the funds to build warships, but because of their precarious situation. Traitors in the Goblin Second Empire have a difficult status and must keep a low profile.

Since the goblins became the new rulers of the mainland, the human civilians, who were reduced to slaves, naturally despised traitors like the Boyle family. Even in the imperial elite, there were goblin leaders who viewed them unfavorably. Rumors in the capital often mentioned that certain leaders proposed in the Senate to imprison all humans in concentration camps. The target of these rumors was clear. In such a precarious situation, the Boyle family had to be cautious and收敛锋芒, even if they had the financial means. They dared not risk angering their goblin overlords by building or purchasing powerful warships. That would be courting disaster.

The risk and return of investments are proportional, and this applies to piracy as well. Plundering requires a careful calculation of the revenue ratio. A Pyrrhic victory is not much different from a defeat.

Ordinary pirates are engaged in a livelihood, not a vendetta. They travel far across the Ether Sea to seek wealth, not to fight over trivial matters. Pirates do not easily attack a group of armed merchant ships, as it often results in a costly and unprofitable victory. However, today, the Boyle family fleet encountered Luo Zhengdao, a newcomer who was already in a confrontational mood. They could not rely on their background or the armament of their fleet to intimidate these new and fierce pirates.