Gunpowder Plate Armor and the Magic Revolution

Jeffrey's gaze swept over the pirates who had suddenly become agitated on the deck of the Fang, accurately locking onto a few of his trusted men and other wavering underlings in the crowd.

"Old Scar! Missing Tooth! You've been with me at sea for at least eight years. When have I ever let you fight the army head-on? When have I ever let you shed a life on your hands?"

"Red Wolf killed everyone on the White Gull, and the Federal Navy already knows! They've already issued arrest warrants, it's a fight to the death! If you follow Black Fang, you'll end up like Red Wolf, with your heads chopped off and displayed at Monsoon City harbor!"

Jeffrey's words were half true and half false, but the pirates couldn't tell the difference. Not to mention, with Bilkin and Monet in military uniforms standing behind him, even if it was a lie, it seemed true.

The pirate leaders who were named instantly turned pale, exchanged glances, and visibly loosened their grip on their knives.

They were old-timers who had followed Jeffrey from the beginning, and they were already dissatisfied with Red Wolf's killings that had brought the army into the mess. Now that Jeffrey had pointed it out, and with Red Wolf already dead and Jeffrey now involved with the army, their wavering was instantly written on their faces.

"Don't listen to him!"

Seeing this, Black Fang panicked instantly, raising his musket and pointing it directly at Jeffrey. "He's a Federation dog now! As soon as we get close, he'll have the Federation kill us first! Fire! Fire! Sink their ship!"

But the gunners behind him looked at each other, none of them daring to move.

"You dare to fire the cannon?"

Jeffrey took a half-step forward without flinching. "Black Fang! If you dare fire a single shot today, all the brothers on this ship will be killed with you! I swear to the soldiers, as long as you surrender, you'll be spared. But if you dare to resist, Red Wolf's fate will be your fate!"

"I'll kill you, you traitor!"

Black Fang was hit where it hurt by Jeffrey, his eyes turned as red as a mad dog's. He grabbed the already loaded musket, turned the muzzle around and aimed it at Jeffrey, and pulled the trigger hard!

"Bang!"

The moment the gunpowder exploded, Monet lazily yawned to the side.

Just as the lead bullet was about to pierce Jeffrey's skull, Monet used Deflection to forcefully change the bullet's trajectory.

The lead bullet grazed Jeffrey's ear and struck the mast behind him hard, sending up a spray of sawdust.

Jeffrey broke out in a cold sweat, his legs went weak and he almost fell onto the deck.

"A...magician!"

Black Fang stared in despair and horror at the unharmed Jeffrey, frozen in place.

On the Fang, Black Fang's shot completely ignited the pent-up conflicts.

"Are you crazy?!"

Scarface grabbed Blacktooth's gun barrel and roared angrily, "Are you really going to get us all killed?! The boss was right! Following you, we'll all be hanged by the navy sooner or later!"

In an instant, chaos erupted on the deck of the Fang.

Jeffrey's old men drew their swords and engaged Black Fang's cronies in battle, turning the entire deck into chaos.

"A great opportunity!"

Bilkin's eyes lit up, and he drew his command sword. "Everyone, prepare! Aim the cannons at the Fang's positions! They're in disarray! Fire!"

"etc."

Monet stopped him, his tone calm, "Let them fight it out. If we open fire now, it will only make them temporarily put aside their infighting and unite against a common enemy."

Sure enough, Old Scar and his men seized the opportunity and quickly subdued all of Black Fang's confidants. Several men rushed forward and pinned the frantically struggling Black Fang to the deck.

"Lower the flag! Lower the flag quickly!"

Old Scar ripped the scarlet pirate flag from the mast and waved frantically towards the Goldship, shouting, "We surrender! We surrender!"

Almost simultaneously, all the gun ports of the Fang were closed, and all the pirates threw down their weapons and squatted on the deck with their hands raised.

Bilkin burst into laughter, slapping Monet hard on the shoulder. "Well done, Monet! You actually managed to persuade these bastards to surrender without firing a single shot! Kids! Board the ship! Tie them all up! Inventory the cannons and supplies!"

"yes!"

The officers responded immediately, and Lucas was the first to jump onto the lowered rope ladder with his scimitar, leading his men toward the Fang.

Norze and Andrew followed closely behind, taking several artillerymen to inspect the Fang's cannons and gunpowder magazines to prevent any pirates from playing tricks and secretly leaving a way to blow up the ship.

In less than half an hour, the Fang was completely taken over.

Black Fang, bound hand and foot, along with more than a dozen of his die-hard cronies, was taken to the deck of the Goldship and made to kneel before Bilkin and Monet.

The remaining forty-odd pirates were kept under guard in the hold of the Fang, with soldiers assigned to watch over them.

Old Scar, accompanied by several of Jeffrey's old men, respectfully presented a heavy oak chest to Jeffrey. "Boss, this is what you ordered me to bring."

Jeffrey didn't even glance at the box. He pushed it directly in front of Bilkin, bowed his head, and said, "Major General, sir, I have done everything I promised. I'm handing all these things over to you. I only ask that you keep your promise and spare my life."

Bilkin gestured to the guard beside him to take the oak chest, and casually lifted the lid. Inside, it was piled full of glittering gems and the Orentia Great Gold Shield, so dazzling that it made one's eyes dazzle.

"We've accepted your belongings, but whether or not we release you isn't up to you."

Bilkin kicked the black-toothed man, who was bound hand and foot, and spat. "The people I hate most in my life are you pirates who plunder and pillage. Even if you succeeded in persuading people to surrender, it can't outweigh the sins of plundering for so many years."

Jeffrey's face paled instantly. Just as he was about to plead again, Monet reached out and patted Bilkin on the shoulder, then gestured with his chin, indicating that he should walk towards a secluded spot in the ship's deck.

"Major General, may I speak to you in private?"

Bilkin frowned, but still followed Monet to the sheltered side of the ship's deck, lowering his voice.

"What? You really intend to release this pirate leader? The Maritime Administration has issued a warrant for his arrest. If we just let him go, how are we going to explain this to the military?"

"Explain? To which military branch should we explain? The Navy or the Army?"

Monet chuckled, the dice spinning slowly between his fingers. "Our primary task is to safely escort these officers back to Monsoon City, not to apprehend wanted criminals for the Naval Maritime Administration."

"Jeffrey is an old man of the Pirate Republic. He has been drifting in these waters for almost twenty years. There are at least eighty to a hundred pirates who have benefited from his kindness, and he has quite a few men under his command who can be commanded."

"It's their own business if they betray us from within. But if we, in uniform, arrest him, it's fine if no one knows. But what if—and I mean what if—this gets out? Do you think the Pirate Republic will just stand by and watch us take their old Sea Wolf back to Monsoon City?"