Chapter 99

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Pirate ships spotted!"

"Clang, clang, clang..."

Suddenly, the goblin guard on the watchtower jumped up as if electrocuted and began frantically waving a red flag. Some of the goblin soldiers who received the alarm ran to ring the warning bells, while others shouted and called for reinforcements.

The pirate flag in the new world is a personal and distinctive identity marker. In simple terms, the black flag represents danger and slaughter, which is universally recognized by sailors. The skull and weapon patterns symbolize the end of life and naked force. Apart from these three classic elements, the design of pirate flags is entirely up to the whims of the pirate captains. Drawing a voluptuous nude woman on the flag is not unheard of. Luo Zhengdao chose the classic black pirate flag with a skull and crossbones for his privateer fleet, a design unfamiliar to the people of the new world. However, as the five battleships of Luo Zhengdao's fleet lined up and advanced at full speed, cutting through the waves under the golden glow of the setting sun, this grand and symbolic scene would surely be etched in the minds of the witnesses.

"Aim at the enemy ships, launch the rockets!"

The goblins, who value bravery and sacrifice, are never afraid of or avoid battles. Of course, they dislike losing even more. Choosing to retreat when they realize they cannot win is not cowardice; the opposite would be brain-dead.

At this moment, a goblin officer drew his sword and loudly ordered his soldiers to operate the rocket launchers. As the torches ignited the fuses at the rear of the rockets, these weapons, rich in goblin technology, began to unleash their power.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."

Flames of orange and yellow rapidly spewed from the rear of the vehicle-mounted cluster launch tubes, followed by a sharp whistling sound. Streams of fire shot up into the sky, and countless goblin rockets flew out of the launch tubes, heading straight for the approaching pirate fleet.

The reason the goblin rockets trail a thick smoke of gray and black is due to the incomplete combustion of the fuel. Although the accuracy of a single goblin rocket is extremely poor—some even mock that the probability of hitting the target is the same whether aiming at the enemy or the moon when firing beyond two hundred yards—goblin rockets are still the preferred equipment for large-scale battles in the goblin army. The advantages of this weapon are its low cost and ample supply, which are crucial for the army. Training a qualified archer takes one and a half to two years, and training a proficient musketeer takes three to six months. Teaching a soldier how to ignite and launch a goblin rocket only requires them to point the launcher at the target and light the fuse. For the Second Goblin Empire, another hidden advantage of goblin rockets is that they do not consume the limited supply of stone pine spore powder in the arsenal.

The stone pine spore powder in the goblin arsenal is a precious strategic resource, mainly sourced from increasingly scarce imports. Once the stock is depleted, the goblin army's cannons will become mere decorations. Despite their poor performance, goblin rockets are an excellent substitute due to their unlimited supply.

From a technical standpoint, the goblin rockets, which are old-fashioned, have a direct lineage from the first Goblin Empire, using cheap alchemical compounds as their driving force. They are one of the few technological weapons that have survived from the first Goblin Empire and are also a cost-effective long-range weapon, especially suitable for large-scale battles.

Even though goblin rockets are notorious for their poor accuracy, it would be bizarre if they missed entirely in a vast battlefield where a random stone could hit several heads.

Charging under the hail of goblin rockets was no easy feat. Even though Luo Zhengdao knew the rockets were inaccurate, the sight of the rockets streaking through the sky, trailing long tails and whistling sharply, was nerve-wracking.

The goblin rockets, launched in high density, had flight trajectories that were deeply philosophical, resembling Brownian motion. The chaotic trails were mesmerizing to the spectators. Hitting a fast-moving ship with a goblin rocket relies more on luck than the shooter's skill. After the first round of rocket bombardment, both sides, through the smoke, discovered that only a handful of goblin rockets had hit the pirate ships. The few rockets that struck and exploded were quickly extinguished by the pirates, and the actual damage from this round of long-range attack was almost zero. However, the initial strike, though more form than substance, was helpful in boosting morale.

"Prepare for a volley!"

An eye for an eye! After being pummeled, Luo Zhengdao gritted his teeth and nodded to the half-elf beauty. After calculating the relative positions of both sides amidst the whistling rockets, Vina Dubov waved her command flag and shouted:

"Left one, scale two. Ready... Fire!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom..."

The flagship Avenger, leading the pirate fleet, was the first to strike. The three-decked artillery of this Elven fifth-grade battleship began to fire in sequence. The cannons on the same deck fired in order from front to back, followed by a synchronized volley from the entire pirate fleet. After the Avenger finished its attack, it turned left to make way for the next ship, the Yangwei, to continue the assault. The continuous roar of cannons echoed across the sea. Only with a squadron of this size did these massive battleships truly display their dominance over the ocean.

The thunderous cannon fire temporarily ceased, and the white smoke from the burning stone pine powder floated on the water, like a cloud rising from nowhere. The pirates, catching their breath, watched as countless large and small stones flew along parabolic trajectories toward the port.

A few seconds later, the stone-built fortifications and goblin warships in the harbor were hit by the falling stones, sending debris and splintered wood flying. The chaotic and violent scene resembled the end of the world.

Seeing their own artillery positions being suppressed by the enemy's naval gunfire, the goblin soldiers on the port grounds had to seek cover. The goblin officer on the front line, realizing the situation was dire, quickly ordered the goblin soldiers:

"Set fire to the slave ships."

The goblin soldiers, known for their high obedience and discipline, carried out the suicidal mission without complaint, shouldering oil drums and torches, and charging toward the slave ships at the end of the pier.

"Boom..."

With the sound of kerosene igniting, one of the slave ships burst into flames. The cries of the prisoners trapped in the sealed cabins, hoarse and desperate, added to the hellish scene.

"Lord Count, should we..."

Seeing this, Vina Dubov hesitated, while the Elven overseer, Sally Byrne, silently polished her military knife, indifferent to the brutal scene. Similarly moved by the tragedy in the port, Luo Zhengdao's heart tightened, but he remembered the ancient adage that compassion has no place in command. If a commander acts on personal feelings, it will eventually lead to the death of everyone. He tried to calm himself and said coldly:

"Tell everyone to follow the original plan."

Seeing Luo Zhengdao make the difficult decision, the half-elf beauty could only shake her head in disappointment, gazing at the tragic scene on the dock and saying dejectedly:

"Yes, Lord Count."

Hearing this, Luo Zhengdao, whose mood was equally terrible, had to force a smile and comfort Vina Dubov, saying:

"Come on, Vina, don't be so down. Our war with the goblins has just begun. Everyone has a chance to die in war, and sacrifice is inevitable. This isn't a fight with the greenskins; it's a battle to decide who will survive in this world. Do you understand?"

Vina gave Luo Zhengdao a glare and seemed to put down some heavy burden, saying:

"I understand, Lord Count. No more preaching, please."

Seeing this interaction, the Elven overseer smiled slightly, put away her military knife, and walked toward the middle of the deck. The battle to capture the port ultimately depends on the warriors. The fleet's long-range firepower can destroy a city, but to occupy the land, soldiers must set foot on the port.

"Victory! We won! Hooray!"

After nearly an hour of intense fighting, the unnamed goblin officer, realizing his forces were about to be annihilated, chose to commit suicide to take responsibility for the defeat. Before dying, he ordered the destruction of the nearby arsenal, leaving no weapons for the pirates, a true example of fighting to the bitter end.

With the organized resistance of the goblin army ending, the pirates who landed in the port threw their hats in the air, fired their guns into the sky, and celebrated their hard-won victory. The once picturesque Blood Coral Port, with its swaying coconut trees, was now a scene of devastation, with craters and debris scattered everywhere. In the area near the battle, there was no flat ground to stand on, showing the extent of the short but brutal fight.

Faced with the ruins, the surviving locals could only weep quietly in mourning for their lost loved ones, while nervously welcoming the new conquerors.

The goblin army defending Blood Coral Port was almost entirely annihilated by the pirate fleet. Luo Zhengdao, dressed in a flamboyant outfit, stepped off the ship. Remember the grand film "The Golden Armor" from the old world? This elaborate and complex noble attire, designated by the Bright Emperor, made Luo Zhengdao look like a modern art sculpture. Luo Zhengdao didn't want to criticize the穿越者 emperor's taste, but if not for the need to display his background, he wouldn't have bothered to wear this cumbersome and useless costume.