Chapter 325
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Your tamed monster's Race level has increased.
Your tamed monster's Job level has increased.
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The day after we returned safely, I logged in after finishing my overtime, and the first thing I heard was an announcement that Cal had leveled up. Apparently, after we returned from rescuing the pirates, he went hunting with the Centaurs and Scars while I was logged out and gained experience. His next evolution also seemed close at hand. I was certain he would become even cooler and stronger.
As for the only Sawfin Hairtail we killed on the way back, Iris had already finished harvesting it. Two types of items were obtained from it. The results of 【Appraisal】 were as follows.
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Sawfin Hairtail's Extra-Large Dorsal Fin — Quality: Excellent; Rarity: S (Special Grade)
The large dorsal fin of a Sawfin Hairtail, with its dorsal and tail fins fused together.
The membrane stretched between the spines at its pointed tip is both flexible and tough.
When infused with magic, it becomes as hard as a metal plate.
It is a high-quality material for weapons and armor, but making good use of its special property is difficult.
Sawfin Hairtail's Razor Fangs — Quality: Excellent; Rarity: R (Rare Grade)
Long, sharp, silver-colored fangs that grew in a Sawfin Hairtail's mouth.
They have no poison or particular elemental affinity, but excel in hardness and sharpness.
They could be made into ornaments or arrowheads.
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One extra-large dorsal fin with the dorsal and tail fins fused together, along with about ten sharply serrated fangs, had dropped. It felt like a low rarity for such a powerful monster, but it had been a monster that swam in schools, so its numbers in circulation would probably be high. I found it a little unsatisfying, and for some reason I felt as though I had gotten the short end of the stick.
Incidentally, Iris planned to process both items into weapons. She had said there was a weapon she wanted to try making after seeing the dorsal fin, so apparently she had already decided what to create. The description said it was difficult to make good use of its special property, but what kind of weapon would she finish? I would not be using it myself, but I was looking forward to seeing the completed product.
That was the extent of yesterday's spoils. Next, I opened the forums. I searched them by the number of views over the past week, in descending order. As expected, the Twentino incident was at the very top. It was the conspiracy we had set in motion. I opened the article eagerly, but I couldn't hide my surprise at what was written there.
"After committing acts too disturbing to view, repelling the navy, exposing a new trading company's conspiracy, triggering a major manhunt in the city, the chairman dying a mysterious death in prison, and players being recruited to hunt them down... Nice, things are really heating up!"
It seemed players were in an uproar over the conspiracy we had set in motion. All kinds of speculation were flying around the forums. Some thought it was an event the administrators had started without warning, others that someone had triggered a large-scale event, and still others that the problems Twentino had been harboring had simply exploded. There was even a player conspiracy theory that had hit upon the truth, but all the names listed as the people behind it were unfamiliar to me. Hee hee hee hee! They haven't figured me out!
However, apparently one of the named players was saying things that hinted at their involvement. There was a limit to their shamelessness. At any rate, they seemed to be a celebrity, one of the few players above level 90. Opinions of them were divided, and it was impossible to judge them based solely on information from the forums. But one thing could be said for certain: they were an attention seeker.
That player would expose some flaw sooner or later, so there was no need to worry about them, but did they not consider the possibility of being attacked by the people who had assaulted the pirates? They probably thought that if they could drive off the pirates, they could handle things on their own. But those people used a ship equipped with optical camouflage. They almost certainly possessed enough firepower to defeat high-level players as well. It would be interesting to see what happened to that player from here on... though I had no intention of going out of my way to investigate.
Speaking of celebrities, hero Luke and his party, recognized by the 'Goddess of Light and Order,' were also taking part in this battle. Apparently, they had been making a name for themselves by clearing unexpected quests not only on the Luxresia Continent but on other continents as well. He was a man straight out of a story.
"One miscalculation was that the pirates themselves slammed the evidence down on the table. Who would've thought one of them would keep such meticulous ledgers...? Was it that smart-looking pretty boy, the second son? Damn him for sticking his nose in where it wasn't wanted."
The conspiracy was proceeding more or less according to plan, but the pirates' actions had been the only miscalculation. The best outcome would have been to make the players clash with the organization behind the pirates, then increase Conrad's influence in the city by funding the reconstruction of Twentino, which had become a battlefield. But that was probably no longer possible. If I were the organization, I would erase all the evidence and flee in the night.
There had been a good chance that the players would never notice the organization behind it, and the profit was something we would only receive if we were lucky, so there was no need to dwell on it. It was like failing to win a lottery with reasonably good odds. Besides, if Conrad profited too much, someone might realize the truth. Since we had matters we did not want anyone investigating, it was better not to get too greedy.
"In any case, there's nothing more I can do about this matter. From here on, it's the players', the pirates', and Ann's time to shine. I've finished setting everything up, so I'll sit back and enjoy the show."
My role in the conspiracy was over. In that case, perhaps I should take part in the construction work again today and make our base an even better place!
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Ever since Izam supplied them with provisions, the 'Austin Gang' had been raiding almost every day, attacking merchant ships indiscriminately. The governor, who had held back the military at Leon's request, panicked and sent out the navy, but the force he dispatched was beaten back.
Seeing that the guards were useless, the merchants scrambled to organize a player-led force to hunt the pirates down. Thomas and Conrad were among them, and their calls brought many players together. There were even top players whose levels exceeded 90. A force that seemed excessive had gathered in Twentino.
"Bro, word from the fishermen. They've gathered some tough customers in Twentino."
"It's about time to move on. We'll head for another sea."
Naturally, the 'Austin Gang' also knew that forces had gathered in Twentino to defeat them. Their own flamboyant rampage was what had caused the situation to grow so serious in the first place. They kept tabs on the city through fishermen who sold information for pocket change, and they knew that some of the players the merchants had gathered looked capable of slaughtering them all single-handedly.
They'll keep searching the waters between Luxresia and Flama until we're gone. So we might as well leave first. All their raids so far had been to stock up on the supplies they needed to escape to another sea.
"But just running away doesn't suit me. We'll give them one good hit before we make ourselves scarce. Got it?"
"We know, bro."
Although they had already decided to flee, they had no intention of sneaking away. By inflicting a heavy blow on the subjugation force before fleeing, they would demonstrate their strength and make it known that they had brought their raiding to an end openly and on their own terms. That was the way of pirates, for whom there was no point in anything unless they were feared.
Even so, fighting opponents at level 90 who were far stronger than themselves was far too reckless. But unlike players who knew nothing except fighting on land, they were specialists in combat at sea. They had a chance of winning.
"Heh heh! When that creepy monster showed up, I thought we were done for, but thanks to it, we're still alive! It's our savior!"
"We'll hide out on some uninhabited island for a while... Where should we make our next haul? Should we raid the coast of Terrastall like before?"
"No. With this thing, we're invincible at sea. Let's make a much bigger haul."
"A bigger haul... You don't mean the waters between Flama and Aquaria!? That's reckless! The navy and pirates there are all monsters!"
James's confidence stemmed from a device Izam had brought, which had been installed on the deck and covered with a cloth. It had yet to be used in actual combat, but the performance he had seen during its test firing was more than enough to bolster his confidence.
However, Richard still cautioned his brother that James's idea was reckless. The route between Flama and Aquaria that James had mentioned offered pirates riches, but it was even more perilous than it was profitable. There were two reasons for that: the formidable navy of the Aquaria Archipelago and the local pirates who rivaled it.
The Aquaria Archipelago was a cluster of small islands that could not be called a continent, but its total land area was far from small. It was a center of maritime trade, and consequently had superior naval power compared with the nations of other continents. The pirates who could hold their own against that powerful navy and plunder merchant ships were also incomparably stronger than pirates in other waters.
"Well, it's... No, you're right. I got a little carried away. Sorry."
"You don't need to apologize, bro. Besides, I'm not saying we should give up on the Aquaria Archipelago. We can build up our strength in waters with only weak navies, then take it on. We could join a large pirate crew right now, but... we'd probably be treated as errand boys until we died."
"Hah! They wouldn't do anything so kind. They'd take this thing from us and kill us afterward. That's what I'd do."
"You're scary, bro."
Having successfully talked him down, Richard let out a sigh of relief. James possessed the fighting skill to match his terrifying appearance and brutality, along with the charisma to command a band of roughnecks. But his willingness to listen to admonishment was arguably his finest quality as a leader. Unfortunately, he listened to no one but Richard, so if Richard disappeared, there would be no one left to rein him in.
"Anyway, we're heading out to raid again today. As usual, leave anything unnecessary on the island and send out every ship! If those clueless outsiders show their faces, we'll teach them a lesson they'll never forget! You hear me, lads?"
Uoooooooh!
The pirates were drunk on the excitement of violence and plunder, and their morale was at its peak. They could probably fight even if their opponents were players stronger than themselves. Simple men like them had tremendous momentum when things were going their way.
They went raiding again that day. It was also the day the players finally assembled and set out. The two forces would clash at sea that afternoon.