Chapter 9

As the two parties in conflict stood at an impasse, on the verge of a bloodbath, a man suddenly stood up from a corner of the tavern and said:

"Alright! Alright! Those who have had too much to drink should go outside to sober up. Sir Captain, how many sailors do you need?"

Hearing this, Luo Zhengdao shifted his gaze to the dimly lit corner of the bar. The man who had spoken up had a peculiar hairstyle reminiscent of a mohawk from the old world, and his darker skin suggested he had some non-human ancestry.

Luo Zhengdao's expression softened as he sized up the stranger. He said, "I need to recruit one hundred and fifty sailors, more if possible."

The rise of the Gnome Empire on the main continent was too recent, like a stone thrown into a pond, the ripples had not yet fully spread across the entire surface. The influence of this major event was still in its early stages. Realizing the great danger posed by the rise of their former enemies, the Gnomes, the Elven Empire and the Elf Federation simultaneously raised their guard. Both sides implemented a series of trade embargoes on the newly conquered main continent, and the Gnome Empire, in turn, imposed trade blockades on these two old enemies, prohibiting the outflow of strategic materials. These tit-for-tat trade embargoes severely impacted the bustling trade activities in the Starry Sea, bringing them to a standstill.

Truly capable people do not need to rely on connections to make a living. No matter where or when, excellent sailors never have to worry about finding work. The Elven Empire prided itself on its pure bloodline, and the Royal Navy fleet was exclusively manned by Elven soldiers, refusing to accept non-Elven crew members.

In the relatively relaxed and vibrant society of the Elf Federation, the military's requirements were not as rigid. Even half-elves with human blood and pure-blooded human sailors, as long as they met the Federation Navy's recruitment standards, could do well in the Elven fleet, at least in the soldier ranks, they would not encounter any glass ceiling. Therefore, in the recent wave of unemployment sweeping the Starry Sea, the more competent sailors all went to the Elf Federation to join the military, making it harder for Luo Zhengdao to recruit the remaining sailors.

The middle-aged man with dark skin, a mohawk, and a body with smooth, agile muscle lines, resembling a resting cheetah, stood up and approached Luo Zhengdao. He smiled confidently and said, "Hehe, Sir Captain, the number of sailors you need is too large; it's hard to find them in Ambon Port!"

Hearing this, Luo Zhengdao smiled slightly and waved his hand dismissively, "If I can't find them here, I'll go to the next port to continue recruiting. There will always be someone willing to board the ship."

Seeing Luo Zhengdao's confident demeanor and his attire, which suggested a noble background, the mohawked mixed-race man bowed respectfully and said, "Sir Captain, my name is Zola Hegel, the former first mate of the privateer ship Golden Doe. The ship I served on unfortunately ran aground and sank in the Shimmering Sea three months ago. Now, my men and I are out of work."

During the voyage from Tahuna Island to Selan Island, Luo Zhengdao did not idle. He spent each day studying with his half-elf tutor, learning both culture and social norms. His knowledge of the new world had improved significantly since his arrival, and he understood what the man was saying.

In the new world, privateers were essentially pirates, but the term "privateer" sounded more neutral and acceptable. Armed privateers were a beneficial supplement to the navies of major powers and a fundamental means for many small countries to maintain regional maritime power. In the military system of the new world, the status and role of privateers were similar to those of coast guards, maritime patrols, and fisheries enforcement in the old world, handling tasks that regular military forces found inconvenient or beneath them. Zola's introduction, using the rhetoric of "stealing books is not stealing," skillfully cleansed his past.

Luo Zhengdao was not a moral purist with a severe case of OCD, and he was well past the age of being easily riled up by injustice.

At this moment, a meaningful smile appeared on Luo Zhengdao's still somewhat youthful face. He nodded at Zola Hegel and said, "Pleased to meet you, Mr. First Mate. How many men do you have?"

It was natural for the unemployed to seek re-employment, and Zola Hegel was not shy about promoting his men. He seemed unconcerned about Luo Zhengdao's suspicions of his motives for bringing a group of men on board. He said straightforwardly, "Including me, there are sixty-three men, all experienced sailors. There is nothing they cannot do on a ship."

Luo Zhengdao nodded in satisfaction. Now, as a fugitive noble and the captain of a new privateer ship, even though he had not personally experienced such events, he had seen enough related information in films and novels in the old world. He was not lacking in practical experience to draw from. Recruiting an already established group of men was a double-edged sword. If used well, it could be a powerful weapon; if mishandled, it could be a suicidal move. The benefit of recruiting these former pirates was the rapid formation of combat capability and默契的配合, but the concern was that they might gang up against him, the captain, or even stage an armed mutiny, taking control of the ship. This was not a matter to be taken lightly.

Often, life's choices are difficult. Moving forward might lead to a fog, but stepping back might lead to a bottomless pit. The harsh situation forced him to choose the less terrible option between two bad outcomes. This is life!

A few days ago, Luo Zhengdao was trembling in fear under the gnomes' blades, fighting for his life. He was not forgetful enough to have already forgotten the cruel methods of the gnome pursuit fleet. The gruesome scenes of the intense naval battle, with limbs and organs flying across the deck, often haunted his dreams.

Needless to say, human exiles with noble backgrounds like Will Needham were top-priority targets for the Gnome Second Empire, akin to the old world's Osama bin Laden, who was hunted for a decade. If Luo Zhengdao fell into the hands of those green-skinned creatures, who were not much better than cannibals, he would be lucky to escape being chopped into pieces. Survival was a distant dream. Since the gnome pursuit fleet could launch a long-distance expedition to capture the distant colony of Tahuna Island, the likelihood of them continuing their pursuit was not low. Luo Zhengdao needed to find a relatively safe path in this dilemma.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Luo Zhengdao's eyes became resolute. He made up his mind and said, "Alright, Zola, I'll take you and your men."

Hearing this, Zola Hegel, who had just arrived, did not act formally. He said straightforwardly, "Sir Captain, let's talk about the profit-sharing ratio!"

Luo Zhengdao, who only had a basic understanding of the new world, looked at Vena with confusion. Seeing her shake her head, he understood. He would have to decide on his own. A leader who cannot make decisions would be seen as incompetent, and incompetence was one of the greatest disgraces. Luo Zhengdao could not tolerate being seen as a useless puppet. In short, this was about saving face.

"Profit-sharing? What do you suggest?"

"Following the old pirate rules, all spoils are divided equally. The captain gets five shares, the quartermaster gets five shares, the first mate gets three shares. The boatswain, gunner, and navigator each get two shares, the doctor and carpenter get one and a half shares, and the remaining sailors each get one share."

Hearing this, Luo Zhengdao laughed, shaking his head. "This profit-sharing is unreasonable. Since the ship is mine, don't you think I should get more?"

Hearing this, Zola seemed to have heard a great joke. He pointed to the dock where a two-masted schooner, the Super Brave, was being towed to the shipyard for repairs. "Sir Captain, are you talking about that broken ship?"

Luo Zhengdao took a deep breath, exchanged a glance with Vena Dubov, and managed to suppress his anger. He said calmly, "Of course not. I bought a second-hand Elven battleship, which is being refitted in the shipyard. It will be ready for use soon."

Compared to the formal fleets that must consider national prestige and royal dignity, pirates valued the practicality of their ships more. They often chose agile, lightweight vessels that were good for chasing fast prey and escaping from enemies.

The Super Brave, which Zola Hegel despised, was not small in tonnage. In fact, it was a sturdy and durable ship. Its main drawback was its slow speed and less agile maneuverability compared to other ships of similar tonnage. It was suitable for merchant and passenger ships but not for chasing merchant fleets or engaging in prolonged battles in the vast Ether Sea.

The Elven Empire was the undisputed maritime superpower in the new world. Even the once-great Human Bright Dynasty Navy and the newly formed Gnome Fleet could not compare. The powerful economic strength of the Elf Federation, which maintained the world's second-largest navy, also had to admit the superiority of the Elven Royal Navy.

The shipbuilding technology, which combined advanced enchantment techniques and secret manufacturing methods, was unparalleled. A sixth-tier battleship, though the lowest tier, had extremely fast speed and powerful firepower, more than sufficient for pirates. Comparing the clumsy Super Brave to the unnamed Elven sixth-tier battleship was like comparing a Chery QQ to a Lamborghini Gallardo in the old world. Frankly, apart from both having four wheels and a license plate, there was no comparison.

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