Gunpowder Plate Armor and the Magic Revolution

"The spoils from each raid are also distributed according to share, so no one will hog them. However, whoever boards the ship first can naturally grab more. The captain usually turns a blind eye to this and can keep it for himself."

"When dividing the spoils, the captain gets double, the quartermaster gets one and a half, the ship's doctor, carpenter, and gunners who have served in the army or know how to fire cannons get a quarter more than the ordinary sailors, and the rest are divided equally among everyone else."

"You guys are... actually quite fair?"

Noze didn't know what to say. He really didn't understand the pirate lifestyle, and was naturally shocked by this pirate way of life, which was completely different from what he had imagined.

"So you wouldn't... bully the weak, drink and gamble, fight... or engage in group sex or something like that?"

George smiled when he heard Nozer's words and continued to explain.

"The rules on the ship are very strict. Fighting in private is prohibited, as is gambling. Drinking is not allowed during peacetime. You can drink whenever you want and as much as you want. You can even drink after all the lights are turned off at 8 p.m., but you can only drink on the deck and you can't cause trouble in the cabins."

"But the officer on duty that day is absolutely forbidden from drinking alcohol; if caught, he will be whipped. I don't drink, but back on the ship, they could often drink a quart of alcohol a day, all kinds of alcohol."

"Women are also forbidden on board. Anyone caught doing so will be severely punished. Those who steal will have to pay double the value of the stolen goods as debt. In serious cases, they will be exiled to a deserted island. Anyone who intentionally injures someone or retreats during battle will only be hanged."

Noze listened quietly, his mind filled with astonishment.

He never imagined that pirates, who were seen as lawless and ruthless in the eyes of the world, actually had such a meticulous and strict set of rules, even fairer and more detailed than the rules of many merchant ships.

Perhaps in the unpredictable environment of the ocean, equality and democracy are the most advantageous.

As the sun gradually sank into the sea, it dyed the entire ocean a warm red and gilded the busy figures on the deck with a golden edge.

The carpenters had finally finished reinforcing the mast and were hammering in the last few wedges, making a crisp clanging sound.

After treating the last wounded soldier, George carefully tidied up the used cloths and scraps of bandage, bowed deeply to Nozer, and whispered, "Thank you for teaching me these things, sir."

"It's alright, it's not a secret. If you learn it, you can save more people. I'll consider it a good deed. Maybe one day you can even use what I teach you to save my life."

Norzer said to George, half-jokingly.

"If that day ever comes, I will do my best."

George packed his things, turned and left the Goldflint, returning to the Fang via the rope ladder.

In the distance, Lucas, carrying an empty bucket, walked by and nudged Nozer's arm, looking puzzled. "Why are you talking to a pirate for so long? None of these guys are good people."

Noze watched George's figure disappear at the end of the rope ladder, then turned to look at the sea in the distance, which was gradually being shrouded in twilight, and gently shook his head.

His previous understanding of pirates came entirely from his own imagination, which he imagined them to be a group of vicious and cruel people who treated human life as worthless.

But only today did he realize that this ocean was far more complex than he had imagined.

Those who were collectively referred to as "pirates" did not seem to be entirely villains who killed people and dogs indiscriminately.

They were definitely not good people, but they weren't as bad as Red Wolf either.

They have their own rules, their own order, and their own way of surviving in this ocean.

"Perhaps there are very few things in the world that are simply black and white."

After pondering for a while, Noze came to a conclusion that was hardly a conclusion.

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With the matter of the living on board settled, it's time to deal with the dead.

Everyone on the Shining Gold removed their hats and stood solemnly on the deck, silently watching the sailors who had died heroically.

Even Major General Bilkin was unusually quiet, holding his hat with his good hand and standing ramrod straight.

Noze saw the tailor on the Shining Gold carrying a roll of thick canvas and holding an iron needle threaded with coarse hemp thread as he walked up to the corpses.

Disposing of corpses was his most frequent task on the ship, besides sewing sails.

The tailor gestured to two sailors to lift the bodies onto the canvas spread out on the deck, wiped their faces and hands with salt water, and dressed them in their own "funeral clothes."

Every sailor keeps a set of clothes as a secret treasure, which they don't wear on ordinary days and always protect carefully, only wearing them on important holidays or major events.

But what important holidays could a poor sailor possibly have in his lifetime?

There are important things, like right now, after all, what could be more important than life and death?

Therefore, this garment became known as "funeral attire".

The moment the canvas covered the body, Norze heard the muffled sound of thick hemp thread passing through the canvas. The seamstress's hands were steady, sewing stitch by stitch, as if he were sewing a mainsail that could withstand a Category 10 storm.

When he reached the head, the old tailor suddenly stopped, took out a thicker iron needle from his waist, and threaded it with double strands of hemp thread.

The tailor, Fan, held the needle between his fingertips and steadily pierced the tip of the corpse's nose. Blood-stained hemp thread emerged from the other side, and he tied a tight knot.

This is a measure to prevent living people from being mistakenly thrown overboard due to fainting.

Soon, two 3-pound cannonballs were hung on each sail coffin and securely tied to the bottom of the coffin.

The weight of the lead weights made the canvas sag slightly. The first mate bent down, patted each shroud, removed his hat in salute to the corpses, and said, "Farewell, brothers. I hope you'll be reborn into good families and never have to make a living at sea again."

On the Shining Gold, apart from the sailors guarding the helm and lookout tower, the rest of the sailors took off their hats and stood on the ship's side.

No one spoke.

None of them cried.

They said they were used to death.

Captain Evan took a few steps forward, clutching a worn-out Book of Common Prayer in his hand.

"Let's carry everyone up here."

His voice was hoarse.

The sailors immediately sprang into action, carrying over several thick planks of wood. The planks were placed on the gunwale, one end facing inward and the other end suspended over the churning emerald sea.

Captain Evan opened the Book of Common Prayer, glanced at the people on deck, and finally landed on the churning grey-blue sea, reciting the prayer that every sailor was familiar with.

"We give their bodies to the sea, to dust, in anticipation of the resurrection at the end of days. When the sea gives up the dead within, they will receive immortal life, through our Lord Alistair... May the Lords receive their souls, and may the sea treat them gently."

Captain Evan closed the book and gestured with his chin toward the sailors carrying the planks.

"Let their souls return to the sea..."