Chapter 78

In fact, Luo Zhengdao didn't really care how much money it would cost. He couldn't even be sure if he would one day die suddenly due to the curse of the荒神 (wild god). So why bother saving money so hard? Was he going to be a miser and keep gold coins as his coffin money?

At this moment, Luo Zhengdao waved his finger at his subordinates and said firmly:

"I have made my final decision. Don't argue anymore. The tragedy of the Chao Yong has happened once, and that's enough. We will buy the largest ship our money can afford. If money were not an issue, I wouldn't agree to lower the standards."

After Luo Zhengdao rejected the suggestion, Foul Chopin recalled the suspicious scene he had witnessed that day and said to Luo Zhengdao with lingering fear:

"Lord, on the day you fainted, the mysterious laundry worker, Yasha, acted suspiciously, as if she had malicious intentions towards you. She is likely a spy or an assassin."

Hearing this, Luo Zhengdao shook his head and smiled bitterly. He knew very well that keeping a woman of unknown origin on his ship was dangerous. However, as a leader, you can't handle everything with a free and easy attitude! Those who casually beheaded others often ended up the same way, though it wasn't necessarily a direct result of their cruel actions. Learning from history can help us understand gains and losses, and it's best to avoid such things happening to oneself. Yasha was indeed suspicious, but Luo Zhengdao couldn't just have her thrown overboard. This matter needed a proper resolution.

After pondering for a while, Luo Zhengdao rubbed his forehead and said with distress:

"Well, I originally planned to let her off the ship in Male, but... anyway, we'll send her off at the next port. No matter who Yasha is or what she's up to, it's fine to send her away. We can't just kill someone on my ship because they are suspicious!"

Foul Chopin felt that Luo Zhengdao's decision was lenient towards criminals, but for those in higher positions, magnanimity was undoubtedly a virtue. No one liked a boss who could turn ruthless and kill without hesitation. Therefore, he bowed and said:

"Then we'll handle it as you wish, Lord."

After settling the internal dispute, Luo Zhengdao turned to the boatswain and said:

"Zola, how far is it to the nearest supply port?"

The boatswain, with more sailing experience than the first mate, Bran de Fiamme, answered without hesitation:

"Socotra. If the wind is favorable, we'll arrive in five days."

Luo Zhengdao recalled the terrifying moment in Male and sighed:

"I hope everything goes smoothly. Alright! Everyone, please work hard these few days and keep a close eye on the ship. No more trouble."

"Yes, Captain."

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"Boom—"

The outcome of a small boat with a hull thickness of only one and a half inches being hit by a 12-pound explosive shell was not hard to guess. The instant the shell exploded, it ignited the ammunition barrels stored in the boat's hold. In a moment, the golden explosion turned the armed boat into a brilliant firework, and the thunderous sound could be heard clearly from several miles away.

"Captain, the enemy ships have been repelled."

Zola Hegel was adept at commanding small-scale naval battles. Even without knowledge of advanced gunnery, his years of experience and various tricks were enough to confuse and disorient the enemy.

Hearing this, Luo Zhengdao sighed repeatedly, his hand on his forehead:

"Alas, when will the next wave of enemies come? Are these guys crazy? They'll do anything for money!"

For days, the constant harassment by bounty hunters had left Luo Zhengdao mentally and physically exhausted. He had to admit that in a world with prophetic magic, the life of a fugitive was far from comfortable. Like the bounty hunters who kept appearing on the Yangwei's route, they launched wave after wave of attacks on the 50,000 gold coin bounty, like a swarm of vultures and hyenas circling a rotting corpse. Although the sixth-level Yaling battleship Yangwei was sturdy and powerful, with fast speed, the sailors' energy was limited and could not withstand endless harassment. Most bounty hunters were determined to stick to their targets, even if they didn't bite, they were still a nuisance.

Hearing Luo Zhengdao's soft sigh, Zola Hegel's face turned dark, and he said to himself:

"Captain, to shake them off, we need to take a risk and take a shortcut."

The shortest path in the world is often the most dangerous. When Luo Zhengdao heard the boatswain's suggestion, his eyelids twitched uncontrollably. He calmed himself and asked cautiously:

"Zola, where are you talking about?"

Pulling out a rough sea chart from his pocket, Zola Hegel pointed to a black area with a white skull drawn on it and said solemnly:

"Here, the Dragon's Gorge."

Located in the particle-rich zone of the Aether Sea, mysterious floating objects constantly appear. Larger objects form floating islands, while smaller ones are reefs. Between these, solid accumulations that are neither islands nor reefs often form various bizarre geographical features at the surface of the Aether Sea. The "Dragon's Gorge," with its rugged and towering peaks, is one of these. In this strange sea between the Starry Sea and the Floating Light Sea, various rocks, pebbles, and mud clumps are scattered at different heights, resembling an asteroid belt in the old world's space.

These floating objects are in constant Brownian motion, and no known route can be guaranteed to exist a few months later. The unpredictable movement of these objects can turn a clear path into a dead end at any time. Continuous change and movement are the only constants in this place.

"Zola, are you sure that if we go through the Dragon's Gorge, the bounty hunters won't follow us?"

After hearing the boatswain's explanation, Luo Zhengdao didn't take it lightly. His question didn't trouble Zola Hegel too much, and the boatswain answered confidently:

"Captain, even the gods can't accurately predict the conditions in the Dragon's Gorge. Of course, it's safe."

Hearing this, Luo Zhengdao looked at the danger signs on the chart with some doubt and said:

"Besides the complex terrain, are there any other risks?"

As a professional pirate, Zola Hegel was a typical daredevil. He only cared about the rewards and didn't take the dangers seriously. He grinned and said casually:

"Risks? There are many floating dragon nests in the gorge. They regularly go to the Floating Light Sea to feed and then return to this area to sleep. As long as we don't deliberately provoke the floating dragons, the risks are minimal."

The situation was dire! Although Luo Zhengdao was reluctant to take the dangerous and remote route through the Dragon's Gorge, if they didn't, the Yangwei would likely have to endure at least three more days of constant harassment by bounty hunters. Even if the battleship reached a supply port, it could still be surrounded and trapped by a larger number of bounty hunters. At this point, there was no perfect solution, and the lesser of two evils had to be chosen. Luo Zhengdao weighed the pros and cons and said solemnly:

"Since that's the case, let's go through the Dragon's Gorge."

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"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

As they approached the Dragon's Gorge, Zola Hegel directed the Yangwei's gunners to continuously fire at the bounty hunters who were following like scavengers. These bounty hunters, after being hit repeatedly, became more cautious. They no longer used the fragile armed boats that could be destroyed with one shot but instead used single-masted schooners to harass.

These ships were very fast. Even with the "True Magic Pattern" sails, the Yangwei's size made it difficult to match the agility of these small sailboats. The fearless bounty hunters, driven by money, could take shortcuts from other directions to intercept. Even though their weak firepower couldn't damage the sixth-level battleship, the constant harassment left the pirates on the Yangwei deeply exhausted.

Holding a cup of tea, Luo Zhengdao slowly walked to the boatswain's side and said:

"Zola, conserve the ammunition. These bastards are endless."

Zola Hegel understood this well. He was maintaining the morale of the pirates to avoid them becoming numb to the constant harassment by the bounty hunters. If the enemy noticed this, they could secretly attack, causing serious trouble.

"Lord, look ahead, it's magnificent."

Bran de Fiamme, holding the steering wheel, suddenly pointed out to Luo Zhengdao. Luo Zhengdao and the boatswain turned their gaze to the bow, where they saw a spectacular sight that was not often seen.

A giant creature, as large as a first-level battleship, gracefully glided over the Aether Sea, like an eagle soaring in the sky. This enormous floating dragon, a type of wyrm, was different from its marine cousin, the leviathan, which lived in the Floating Light Sea. The floating dragon's large, flat, paddle-like limbs propelled it through the Aether particles, providing both lift and thrust. Its body was as agile as a fish in water, and this seemingly clumsy giant was actually a graceful swimmer in the Aether Sea. Although the floating dragon's movements might seem slow at first, considering its massive size and streamlined shape, it was clear that these creatures could move with terrifying speed.