Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 348 Hunting Pirates
As night fell, the firelight in the conference hall gradually died down.

As everyone left with their documents and orders, Elliott was about to follow them.

“Elliot, stay.” Louis’s voice came from behind.

He paused for a moment, then immediately turned around and closed the door, leaving only the two of them inside.

Louis looked up and smiled. "Don't stand there like that. It's not an interrogation. Sit down."

Elliott hesitated for a moment before sitting down, still sitting upright and appearing reserved.

Even after spending a long time together, he still maintained a deep respect for Louis.

"How is the fleet's armament?" Louis asked in a calm tone, as if inquiring about routine matters.

"Six flagships of the Dawn and one light cruiser have completed their armor-fitting." Elliott reported clearly.

"Each Dawn is an armed ship, equipped with twelve main guns in two rows, eight secondary guns, and rotary ballistae and magic-powered explosive launchers."

Each ship has a crew of eighty, including forty sailors, twenty gunners, and sixty knights who will accompany the ship in groups to be responsible for boarding and defense.

Ammunition and magic explosive shell reserves are sufficient for three rounds of simultaneous firing from the entire ship. Coastal artillery and ballista positions have been calibrated and are ready to support surface fire at any time.

Louis nodded, silently calculating in his mind.

Everything went almost exactly as he had envisioned, and even slightly better than expected. He could finally be confident in the configuration of this fleet.

“Very good.” Louis walked to the window, pushed it open halfway, and let in the cold wind carrying the smell of salt.

Then he turned to Elliott and said, “Last night a caravan came to me for help, saying they were attacked by pirates in North Bay and several ships were hijacked, one of which was carrying the merchant’s family.”

After looting the goods, the pirates fled south, but our reconnaissance ship spotted them at the edge of the fog belt, and they appeared to be heading this way.

Louis spoke as if it were a trivial matter: "They probably thought we were the next prey."

He paused, his gaze falling on the port lights outside the window. The Dawn Harbor defense system, which he had personally helped design, was faintly visible in the night.

This defensive system is primarily practical, with crossbow towers, stone throwing platforms, and oil troughs along the outer edge of the dike. The inner harbor is equipped with thick wooden and stone walls and fire ditches, and some fortresses are also fitted with magic explosive launchers.

While not as powerful as the magical defenses of the capital, they are sufficient to withstand small-scale attacks by merfolk and pirates.

Everything seemed perfect on paper, but Elliott still felt a little nervous.

This will be the first time Dawn Harbor has faced a real attack, not just a drill.

He immediately stood up, his expression serious, and said, "Sir, should I order a state of alert?"

“Of course we need to be on guard,” Louis smiled and gestured for him to sit down, “but don’t be too nervous. It’s not that serious.”

He returned to his desk, tapping his pen lightly on the surface: "Let's treat this as an experiment. The Dawn's firepower, rudder speed, communications, boarding coordination... it's time to see if the ship we built can withstand the waves."

"It sounds like a battle, but you describe it so calmly."

“Because we are prepared,” Louis replied with a smile. “Just follow the usual pace, no need to be nervous. This is an opportunity, not a threat.”

Other ships can directly use magic bombs to destroy enemy ships, but the main ship must be preserved, and no one is allowed to accidentally damage it.

Its intact structure is crucial for testing the knights' boarding and coordination; more importantly, I want the prisoners on that ship alive. These pirates can't escape our fire net anyway.”

Elio nodded, his voice filled with respect: "Understood. I will arrange the fleet's rhythm and will not let you down."

“Okay.” Louis stood up and patted him on the shoulder. “Relax. If things really come to a head, I’ll be on the ship too.”

Elliott's expression changed slightly. After hesitating for a moment, he still spoke up: "My lord, forgive my impertinence, but you shouldn't have boarded the ship yourself. Even if the risk was small, you shouldn't have exposed yourself to the sea."

Louis paused for a moment, then smiled and waved his hand: "I'm not that fragile, Elliott. How would you know the results of your efforts if you didn't see them for yourself?"

Elliott was silent for a moment, then finally bowed his head: "Understood, sir. But... please be sure to take care of your safety."

“I assure you, I won’t take any risks. I just want to see if they work out as I wish.” Louis then chuckled and waved for him to get back to work.

After Elliott left, he didn't go back to his room to rest. Instead, he went straight to the dock and summoned his adjutant and helmsman to begin adjusting the night's departure plan.

Louis was the only one left in the room. He reached out and closed the window, keeping the cold wind out.

The caravan's request for help was a fabricated excuse; the real reason was to conceal the source of their intelligence.

Moreover, according to yesterday's daily intelligence system alert, the ship was not just a simple raider; intelligence indicated that there was an alchemy master on board.

The title of Master Alchemist is extremely rare, even in the entire empire and the world.

With his unlimited resources, Hilko may have become quite skilled in magic bombs and even possessed the strength of an alchemy master.

Those people possess rare formulas and principles; no matter which area they specialize in, they are invaluable assets.

If that person can be captured, the Red Tide's technological advancements in that area will leap forward by years.

This is the real reason why he had the Dawn Fleet lay a tight net.

If the goal is simply to eliminate the enemy, a single round of magic bombs would suffice.

But he needed that flagship to capture the alchemist, and also to take the opportunity to test the Dawn's firepower, pressure resistance, and combat coordination.

"Killing two birds with one stone," he murmured, his voice a mixture of calculation and anticipation.

…………

The night was thick, and sea fog rolled over Broken Wave Bay, as if brewing a silent storm.

Twelve black sailing ships bobbed on the waves, their masts casting shadows, and the animal bone decorations on their prows creaked as the tide lapped against them.

Bag stepped onto the railing, the flask jingling in his hand: "Hahaha, sixty brothers, twelve ships, that's enough to give them a good scare."

The crew responded, their shouts mingling with the sound of the waves. Some tapped the barrel lids with wine, while others brandished long knives.

Laughter and curses rose and fell, carrying a long-suppressed frenzy.

"Boss, are we really going to move now? The fog is so thick, nobody can see anyone else," the second helmsman whispered, leaning closer.

"Can't see them? That's perfect! They're in the light, we're in the shadows—a golden opportunity!" Bagg grinned. "If we take Dawn Harbor tonight, I'll treat the brothers to three days of drinking!"

These words caused an uproar among the fleet.

The sailors banged on their oars, and their whistles and shouts created a chaotic cacophony.

Bag raised his binoculars and aimed them at the dark shadows in the distance.

The fog churned over there, and the harbor lights flickered on and off, as if taunting them.

He saw no patrol boats and heard no alarm bells; the emptiness only fueled his growing fervor.

He grinned, turned abruptly, and roared, "All crew, listen up! Maintain formation and follow me into port!"

The twelve black sailing ships responded and began to move, their sails billowing and the waves splitting beneath them.

The roar of oars echoed through the fog, and the crew shouted, cursed, and shoved each other, the atmosphere as volatile as boiling oil.

"Tonight we'll drink the blood of the Empire!"

"The Mad King's teeth are still there!"

Bag laughed loudly, flicking his flask and spilling the liquor into the sea: "Forward! To hell with them!" The fleet roared forward through the fog like wild beasts, oars thundering and sails trembling, their laughter and shouts mingling together.

However, a low, strange sound came from the distance on the sea the next moment.

boom!
A magic bomb exploded on the sea in front of them, the explosion creating huge waves that capsized the nearest branch ship on the spot.

The flames from the explosion spread through the darkness, the seawater was steamed into white mist by the high temperature, and shattered wood chips fell like rain.

The pirates on that ship barely had time to scream before the hull broke in two, half of the deck was torn off by the blast wave, and the mast was engulfed in flames, turning into a giant fire stick that sank into the sea.

The air was filled with the smell of burnt wood and scorching meat.

Another nearby ship was struck by the surging waves, its mast tilted, and several sailors were thrown directly into the flames.

Someone was struggling and shouting for help in the water, but was swept away by the shockwave of the second explosion.

Bag was jolted and nearly fell, gripping the railing tightly with both hands, staring wide-eyed at the flames, his throat dry as if it were burning.

"Boss, is that a magic bomb?!" someone shouted, their voice trembling.

“Yes, but this power… is not right!” Bag gritted his teeth, his eyes glowing red in the firelight.

Flames surged, the fog was completely torn apart, and he could see it clearly.

A complete ship disintegrated in the explosion, its planks turning to ashes.

He had seen the Emerald Federation's magic bombs before, but those things could at most flip the deck, while these looked like they were going to flip the entire sea.

He swallowed hard, swallowing a mouthful of salty air, and muttered under his breath, "They're fucking blasting the sea."

The explosions continued to spread, one after another, but they didn't hit their flagship; instead, they exploded around their fleet.

Each explosion was accompanied by a tearing scream and the sound of wood breaking, as the tightening ring of fire enveloped them.

More explosions flashed in the distance, one after another, but they did not strike their main ship directly. Instead, they drew arcs on the sea surface and fell into the surrounding waters.

The explosions linked together, and the shockwaves, carrying waves of intense heat, approached. Only then did they realize that this was not a mistake, but an encirclement.

The pirates' laughter completely disappeared.

Some people were so frightened that they knelt down, while others clung tightly to the mast. Their previous arrogance was completely shattered, leaving only fear.

"Hold on! Everyone hold on!" Bag roared, his voice almost swallowed by the sound of the waves. "They're not targeting us; they want to trap us here to die!"

The fog was illuminated by the explosions, and the sea surface outside Dawn Harbor turned into a huge ring of fire, with rows of cannon fire flashing one after another, forming a complete encirclement.

"We've fallen into their trap!" Bagg turned around abruptly, his voice hoarse. "All crew, listen up! Break out at all costs! Don't let them trap us!"

His response was met with a series of explosions and screams.

Bagh's heart pounded, his sweat mingled with the seawater, and as he looked up, he saw a colossal silhouette emerge from behind the fog, the cannon fire on the breakwater forming a line, and the outline of Dawn Harbor lit up in the smoke and fire.

In the fog, an ironclad warship broke through the waves, its iron hull reflecting the firelight, its massive mast casting a shadow on the sea.

The Dawn appeared directly in front of them, like a steel behemoth crawling out of the deep sea.

The bow lantern illuminated the sea, its white light piercing the fog, allowing the pirates to see the behemoth for the first time—its thick armor and numerous cannon ports. It slowly turned, its main guns aimed at them.

“What is that…” someone murmured, their voice trembling.

Before Bagg could even curse, the cannon flashed.

boom!
Six Dawn-class warships stood in neat formation, their iron hulls gleaming coldly in the firelight.

Strangely, their gunfire was not directed at Bagh's main ship.

The explosions circled around them, forcing their ship to squeeze further and further towards the center.

“They didn’t miss…” Bag felt a chill rise from the soles of his feet. “They did it on purpose. They want our stuff on this ship, or they want to capture us alive.”

"Counterattack! Counterattack!" he roared, ordering his crew to grab the cannons.

Several old naval cannons and ballistae mounted on wooden frames fired simultaneously, the shells flying out and landing on the Dawn's iron armor, only scattering a few sparks.

The sound of the crossbow bolt striking metal was so faint, like a toothpick breaking, utterly meaningless.

"Damn it, this thing is impossible to penetrate!" the co-helmsman shouted, looking in horror at the ironclad ship that didn't react at all.

The Dawn was closing in, its shadow looming over their ship like a mountain.

The pirates frantically loaded gunpowder and heavy crossbow bolts, only to find that their firepower was a joke, and all their attacks were easily swallowed up by the thick armor.

“What kind of hell is this…” someone said in a trembling voice.

Bagg's face turned pale, and the rudder in his hand creaked as he gripped it tightly. He was now filled with regret.

He regretted not honestly completing the task given to him by the Mad King, and regretted his momentary greed.

If the cargo had been sent back to the Mad Fang ship back then, he might still be drinking rum now, instead of watching death approach.

Bag gritted his teeth, his pupils reflecting the approaching ironclad warship, and roared hoarsely, "Break through! All ships, break out at full speed! Don't wait to be caged by them!"

"Full speed! Charge!" The sailors were in chaos, ropes flew everywhere, and sails burst in the gale.

But the undercurrents entangled them like chains, fixing the ship in the center of the storm.

The pirates pushed, shoved, and cursed each other. Some frantically tried to light their cannons in retaliation, but were overturned by the shockwave.

The sounds of oars, roars, and explosions mingled together.

The Dawn's cannons flashed again, but this time the shells landed on the crest of the wave in front of them, creating a wall of fire that nearly capsized the ship.

Subsequently, six Dawn-class warships gradually approached, the sound of their metal hulls scraping against each other echoing in the sea fog, like invisible chains tightening.

The boarding bridge was lowered, and the iron chains crashed into the seawater, splashing up waves. The Red Tide Knights stepped onto the iron bridge and leaped onto Bagg's flagship.

Their voices were loud and cold: "Hands on your head and squat down! Otherwise, you'll be executed on the spot!"

The pirates were thrown into chaos. Some dropped their weapons in terror, while others hesitated for a moment before trying to fight back, only to be torn apart by blades slashed by their fighting spirit.

Blood filled the air, and firelight reflected off the knight's armor, like a cruel trial.

"Hands on your head! Hands on your head and squat down!" a knight shouted, and the pirates at his feet were so frightened that they knelt down and covered their heads with their hands.

Those who still held weapons had their throats or chests severed by fighting spirit within moments, without even being able to utter a complete scream.

Bag looked at the scene before him, his face turning deathly pale.

He knew in his heart that this was no longer resistance, but a massacre.

He trembled all over, put down the scimitar in his hand, knelt down, and slowly buried his head in his hands.

A cold sea breeze swept by, and droplets of blood splattered onto the back of his neck.

Two Red Tide Knights stepped forward, dragged Bag up, and tied his arms with thick ropes.

The sound of the thick rope tightening rang in his ears, but Bag had neither the strength nor the courage to resist, and his heart was filled with despair.

(End of this chapter)