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Chapter 184: The First Act of War – The Enemy Raises the White Flag
🕑 Added 2025-01-13 03:22:23 +0000 UTCCenturies ago, Duke Guillaume, the founding Grand Duke of the Fars Empire, led an army across the sea, completing the seventh conquest of the Ingrima Islands, achieving the third unification, and establishing the Red Dragon Dynasty. As a result, the government system of the Ingrima Empire closely resembled that of the Fars Empire, sharing 80–90% similarities.
The two naval captains of the Ingrima Empire in this encounter were both ranked as level-five warrant officers. The older one, about thirty-five years old, was named James Cook, and the younger, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, was Francis Drake.
Both were high-ranking Transcendents, their ocean-based combat energy surging powerfully, nearly rivaling that of Annie Bretagne’s cousin, Clair Bretagne.
Their respective warships represented the latest designs of the Ingrima Empire—massive vessels built in recent years with superior firepower and outstanding performance.
Although the Old Continent’s overall technological level mirrored that of Earth during the First World War, the absence of scientific development was offset by the rise of alchemy and the world’s inherently extraordinary nature. This led to extremes in technological applications—while land transportation still relied on horse-drawn carriages, the navy featured a stark dichotomy in warships.
Most merchant ships and ordinary warships remained wooden sailing vessels, equipped with outdated cannons with an effective range of only a few thousand pimi.
However, the five major empires of the Old Continent spared no expense in building colossal alchemical warships for maritime supremacy. These alchemical warships, boasting steel-armored hulls, several Transcendent-level magical alchemical cannons, and magical propulsion systems whose mechanisms even Charlot Mecklenburg couldn’t fathom, surpassed ordinary sailing ships in speed by more than threefold.
On the open sea, if a fleet of ordinary sailing ships encountered alchemical warships, they stood no chance. The alchemical cannons’ range would destroy the sailing ships long before they could retaliate. Given the vast difference in speed, escape was nearly impossible.
This disparity explained why James Cook and Francis Drake, despite being mere captains, held such prominent positions.
Initially, Francis Drake was suspicious of Charlot, especially when Charlot claimed to be an envoy from the Fars Empire. Drake even suspected Charlot of lying. However, when six pirate ships appeared on the horizon, all doubts vanished.
Peering through his spyglass, Drake cursed loudly, “Damn Golden Rams Fleet! They’ve joined Byron!”
Relieved, Charlot thought to himself, “These two level-five warrant officers likely have no involvement in the slave trade. They probably don’t know about Chatham’s collusion with the local administrators of Ingrima.”
This conversation felt like walking a tightrope for Charlot. Every word carried the risk of setting off a metaphorical explosion, and if it did, he’d have no choice but to fight to the death.
Against two alchemical warships and their high-ranking Transcendent captains, his chances of survival were slim. Facing them in single combat was equally hopeless.
Inwardly, Charlot couldn’t help but consider rewarding Chatham, the slaver. Though the man was a sinner of the highest order, his perfectly timed appearance was ironically a godsend.
Charlot felt his joy at seeing the pirate fleet was akin to Jia Baoyu discovering Lin Daiyu falling from the heavens—ecstatic beyond words.
What was a Lin Daiyu anyway? Could it be eaten?
James Cook, being the older and steadier of the two captains, saluted Charlot with a formal imperial gesture and spoke courteously. “Thank you, Mr. Mecklenburg, for assisting the Ingrima Empire in reclaiming Cappadocia and repelling these damned pirates.”
“However, I must engage in battle now and cannot converse further.”
He gracefully returned to his ship, activating its magical propulsion system with a resonant hum as it advanced toward Chatham’s fleet.
Francis Drake remained on shore, showing no inclination to depart. Activating an alchemical warship cost a fortune, making these vessels true gold-eating beasts. Drake believed that an ordinary pirate fleet couldn’t possibly withstand James Cook’s firepower.
Smiling at Charlot, Drake remarked, “Mr. Mecklenburg, I assume you’ve never witnessed a naval battle involving alchemical warships?”
Charlot replied, “I’ve served in the city patrol guards and later joined the Knights Order. This is my first time at sea, let alone witnessing such a spectacular battle.”
“To witness Captain James Cook in action on the open sea will be a tale I can boast of for a lifetime.”
Initially wary of Charlot, Drake now found himself warming up to him. Laughing heartily, he said, “I’ve captained the White Sea Dragon for some time, yet I’ve only fought three battles, two of which ended with the enemy surrendering without resistance.”
“Can you imagine? The first act of war is the enemy raising the white flag.”
Charlot forced a laugh, thinking, “Surrender means survival; resistance guarantees death at sea.”
The five major empires hadn’t fought wars in forty or fifty years. No other nation or force could muster even a single alchemical warship, let alone match one.
Charlot and Drake chatted idly for over two hours before James Cook returned, escorting the six intact pirate ships into Cappadocia’s port.
As Drake had predicted, faced with the overwhelming power of an alchemical warship, Chatham’s first move after the battle commenced was to raise the white flag and surrender.
Seeing the six undamaged pirate ships, Charlot’s eyes gleamed. “I have an impertinent request. Could you two gentlemen grant me these six pirate ships?”
James Cook hesitated momentarily, but Drake laughed and said, “No problem. Consider them destroyed in battle by James.”
James Cook chuckled helplessly. “Alright.”
Overjoyed, Charlot promptly invited the two officers to the local administrative manor, treating them to a lavish banquet. That evening, when the two officers retired to their rooms, they each found a leather pouch containing 100 gold écus on their bedside tables.
The money, totaling over 3,000 gold écus, was seized from Domingo’s residence during the raid on the local administrator’s manor. The purchasing power of a gold écu was roughly equivalent to 21,000 yuan.
Charlot’s modest gesture left the two naval officers highly satisfied. The next morning, they praised Charlot effusively before departing Cappadocia two days later without questioning his temporary governance of the city.
After all, they were merely resupplying water. Such local affairs were outside the navy’s jurisdiction.
Had Charlot been less tactful, they might have arrested him. However, his exemplary conduct allowed them to turn a blind eye.
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