I have to get lucky right away.

Chapter 387 Seedlings Growing

"George! My bounty has gone up again! A million! A full million! That's more than the entire fortune of the tax collector back home!"

"Shut up! Is it a good thing that the bounty has been raised?" George, sitting in the driver's seat, rolled his eyes, but still immediately logged into the public network.

"Bounty: Phantom George; Affiliation: Phantom Pirates (Those wanted by the Navy are also considered pirates); Bounty: 88, life or death not considered; Note: User of Illusion Fragment ability."

"Bounty: Jack the Depleted; Affiliation: Phantom Pirates; Bounty: 100 million, life or death not considered; Note: Depleted Fragment Devil Fruit user."

"Why is your bounty higher than mine, the captain's?" Although he said it wasn't a good thing, George was still quite defensive when he saw that Jack's bounty was higher than his own.

"Hehe, maybe my abilities are more lethal? How about we find another nobleman to beat up? This time you do it! You'll definitely raise the bounty!" Jack grinned foolishly, while George rolled his eyes and continued flipping through other news articles.

Unlike Jack, who only reads the bounty in the newspaper, he clearly understands that this is a standard tool for understanding world events.

Although he has become a seeker of the land and a favorite of the Earth Goddess, he still lacks a real sense of the "land search". His current plan is simply to follow the strategies of his predecessors, search for ruins everywhere and improve his technical skills.

“Jack’s abilities have great potential. If he grows up, he might be able to dry up the ocean with that divine magic… But at least for now, this guy is still far from it…”

Just as George was cautiously contemplating the future, the sentry system suddenly flashed red. Before George could say anything, Jack darted over, beaming with excitement:

"What's going on? Are there enemies? Pirates or a slave-hunting crew? Can we fight them?"

"Quiet down, I'm... blanching!"

"If it can't be done, it can't be done. Why are you yelling at me!" Jack was speechless at George's response, but George suddenly pressed the emergency button, issuing overclocking commands to the AI ​​while angrily rebuking him:
"Look closely, this is a naval warship!"

"Navy?" Jack stood up straight when he heard the word. To this day, he still remembered the helplessness he felt when he first saw the Navy on Torilla Island.

"What's there to be afraid of? We're not what we used to be!" At this point, Jack seemed to realize he'd spoken too confidently, and added:

"Hey, what kind of ship is this?"

“A standard-issue warship at the colonel level, without a custom figurehead or ensign, it must belong to a major.” George maintained his abilities while glancing at the sentry surveillance, drawing on his knowledge to arrive at the answer.

"What? A major? Isn't that two ranks lower than a colonel? Is he even a standard-rank officer?" Jack's expression immediately became arrogant upon hearing that it was a major.

In his mind, a general = outstanding, a lieutenant general = half-step outstanding, a major general = excellent and promoted, and a colonel = excellent and mid-level. According to this calculation, a major would at most be half-step excellent.

"Are you stupid? Anyone who can become a lieutenant at the standard level has connections, and a major is at least an outstanding officer!"

George grinned, about to say something more, when the ship suddenly trembled, and his expression grew increasingly grim—

"Alright, it looks like it's been locked down now! Are you happy?"

"Who, who's happy?" Jack knew this was getting complicated, but seeing the warship approaching, he couldn't help but add—

"Hey... how much will the bounty increase if I kill a major?"

"You should think about whether you can survive first!" George was speechless, but he simply stopped the overclocking mode.

"It's fortunate that the Sea People's warships don't carry missiles, otherwise it would be difficult to escape." Looking at the approaching divine magic ship, George sighed, set the AI ​​to automatic cruise, and then disembarked with Jack.

This is experience gained from fighting pirates and slave-hunting teams before. Fighting on your own ship, even if you win, you'll still lose money.

……

"Major, the target is charging towards us!"

The lookout on the warship, seeing Jack and George's movements, immediately issued a warning. The major, however, calmly replied:
"The Phantom Pirates are famous for their illusions. Since they're charging at us, let them come. Helmsman, ignore those two brats and keep chasing the ship!"

"Yes!"

Upon hearing the major's order, the warship immediately stabilized its course. More than five hundred combatants were already in full formation, and the sea god priests set up the altar. With the rise and fall of the waves, divine spells were cast upon them.

"I was saying this situation seems a bit ominous?"

As Jack rode the waves to the front of the warship, he belatedly realized what was happening and said something to George, who was momentarily speechless and could only sigh:
"What's the use of saying this now? Let's try to stall for time, and once the ship is out of the lock-on range, we'll jump into the sea and escape. I've already set the ship to autopilot and head towards Port Paravi. I've granted you access; if I'm gone..."

"stop!"

Jack immediately stopped George's nonsense, grabbed his hand, and the seawater that had been supporting them suddenly lost its buoyancy, causing them to fall into the depths of the ocean with a splash.

"Heh..." Seeing that the two little ones dared to dive in front of the sea god's followers, the major's face showed disdain. Without his prompting, the sea god's priest immediately activated the divine spell, and the whirlpool of the sea began to spin, while strange shadows swam in the sea.

Just then, the divine magic suddenly disconnected, and the major's expression changed drastically as he had been preparing to watch the little pirate struggle in vain.

The once high-spirited sea god priest collapsed silently to the ground. Although there were no external injuries, he was clearly barely breathing.

"Phantom George?" The major's expression finally turned serious, and his mental pressure spread out, extending his mental link with the combatant.

The warships of the Sea People carry combatants who are not just cannon fodder. Relying on these mortals is less effective than bringing more sea god priests to summon sea spirits to guard them.

Their true role, besides gaining practical experience, is to provide a boost of faith through their status as believers in the Sea God, enabling their superiors to unleash greater power without relying on divine favor.

"Snapped!"

Like a soap bubble bursting, George's illusion barrier shattered abruptly. The naval lieutenant commander didn't even bother with his usual sarcastic remarks before drawing his sailor's knife and slashing at him.

The blade, imbued with the power of the tide, traversed more than ten meters in the blink of an eye, while George, in his path, was instantly split into two...

"wrong!"

George's figure, which had appeared from the shattering illusion, shattered, and at the same time, a strong sense of desiccation locked onto the major!
(End of this chapter)