They don't want me to try anymore.

He was so startled that the scalding hot coffee in his hand spilled onto his pants.

Richard sighed and helped release a water elemental. After the latter recovered, he said, "Let's change course and turn around to protect the merchant ships coming from the south."

"However, don't reveal your destination right away. Keep circling around and then change course under the cover of night. Also, don't reveal that this is my order!"

Richard used the "Black Chancellor" trait.

However, even if he didn't do it, Buford wouldn't dare refuse.

For several days, the captain had been feeling quite nervous, having led the prince on aimless wanderings without any results, and was afraid that people would speak ill of him to Henry II.

Now that the prince has given the order, he's too busy trying to curry favor with him!

As a result, the three medium-sized sailing ships of the Connaught Navy immediately turned around.

At first, White thought it was just another futile roundabout journey, but after a night, he found that the ship had arrived at the traditional route south of Connaught.

By then, even if he were to tip him off, it would be too late after the information had been relayed through the board of directors of Standard Fruit...

Finally, the following afternoon, after wandering the seas for so many days, the Connaught Navy encountered their first enemy.

"Wow, what a huge ship..."

Even from a great distance, the sailors could see the flamboyant black skull and crossbones flag, and the three-story-high hull with dozens of menacing cannons protruding from it.

Richard then noticed the magical runes on the hull and canvas.

That Evil Wind Pirate Crew is really something!

No wonder he was able to stand out in the pirate Red Sea on God's Grace Island, making someone as powerful as Veronica hold her back.

On the other side, the Evil Wind Pirates had obviously also spotted Richard's fleet.

Although the quality of their ships differed greatly, Richard had three ships, and the pirates had no intention of engaging in a direct confrontation. So they simply hoisted their sails and left, indicating that they would leave each other alone...

No way I'd make a fuss!

You pirates, you're robbing ships that come to our port to unload their cargo!

Richard immediately decided to pursue them.

However, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that the sailors on deck all looked fearful, and even the captain and commander-in-chief, Buford, had a protruding belly and looked very embarrassed.

He understood.

Due to the royal family's long-term poverty, the Connaught navy was poorly equipped and paid, which made them demoralized and prone to fear when facing pirates.

It's understandable, but we can't let it go unchecked.

Richard took a deep breath and floated into the air.

"Your Highness?"

"Gentlemen, if we let these pirates go today, they might turn their cannons on our own people tomorrow! They could cut off the trade routes that our city-state depends on for survival, and then everyone will go hungry!"

After briefly stating the necessity, he shouted and summoned Big Black.

A giant dragon spreads its wings and roars above the warship!

"Therefore, we must not let these pirates escape! Next, I, Richard Targaryen, Prince of Connaught, champion of the Imperial Resurrection Tournament, will lead the charge. Please follow closely behind me!"

Do you lack courage?

Okay, then I'll be the role model!

Is this year's champion, who dominated the Imperial Youth League, qualified?

When Richard rode the dragon across the sea, the crew on the flagship cheered, their morale soaring!

Buford, who had initially been somewhat hesitant, saw that the prince had already rushed out and, for the sake of his future, immediately called on his men to cooperate in the attack.

In the blink of an eye, Connaught's three warships followed closely behind the Black Dragon, charging menacingly towards the Evil Wind Pirates.

Boom boom boom!

One cannonball after another exploded on the water's surface on either side of the Evil Wind Pirates' ship.

On the opposite deck.

"What's wrong with those cowardly Connaughts? It's hilarious! Do they think we're retreating because we're afraid of them?"

"Ha, a direct artillery duel? We only need to fire one salvo and they won't be able to hold out!"

"Wait, what's that? There's a dragon!"

"No, that's Little Targaryen! The one who beat William!"

As the saying goes, a person's fate is determined by the shadow of the tree. The pirates who had initially looked down on the Connaught Navy became nervous after recognizing Richard.

Until heavy footsteps sounded behind them.

"What are you guys afraid of, boys?"

midair.

Richard only felt a flash of white light, and then he saw a burly man with iron wings on his back, holding a shield in one hand and a giant axe in the other, blocking his way and smiling at him:

"You little brat, have you lost your mind? Why are you chasing me in such a hurry?"

Is this Captain Joseph of the Evil Wind Pirates?

Richard's lips curled slightly as he pulled out the gleaming dagger.

"The navy fights pirates openly and fairly, why all the nonsense!"

Chapter 108 This is what fanatical fans are like.

As soon as they engaged in combat, Richard assessed Joseph's situation.

He's at the high-level Silver rank, but he's probably only recently been promoted. His strength is clearly weaker than William's, and he doesn't have any super-level trump cards like elementalization.

Their profession is gladiator, which is common among adventurers and mercenaries, but not many are high-level. They excel in small-scale battles. With high emotional intelligence, they are both flexible and strong, and have a strong ability to survive. With low emotional intelligence, they are mediocre in all aspects. They are a miniature version of a hexagonal warrior.

Of course, Captain Joseph was no ordinary gladiator...

Dang Dang Dang!

With the help of the wing-shaped alchemical equipment on his back, Joseph soared freely in the sky, using his axe and iron feathers to fight back and forth with the black giant's sharp teeth and claws.

Richard stood on the dragon's back, using the Ghostly Thorn to summon three dragonflies to help harass the dragon, and then had Starfire set up an array to prepare for a big attack.

However, upon seeing Richard's action, Joseph immediately changed his aggressive fighting style and retreated to the vicinity of the pirate ship below.

On the deck, several pirate mages chanted continuously, activating the magic circle engraved on the ship's hull and setting up a light blue, eggshell-like protective shield.

When the meteors summoned by Richard fell like rain, they were all blocked by the "eggshell" with a crackling sound.

Then, Connaught's three warships opened fire to help, and just as they were about to crack the eggshell, the pirate ship fired two rounds of fire, but instead broke the mast of one of the warships.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Joseph rushed toward the three warships, forcing Richard to rush over and stop him.

For a moment, the two fought a spectacular battle in the sky above the roaring sea, leaving the crew below dumbfounded.

But Richard felt increasingly uncomfortable with it.

He figured that if he were to fight Joseph one-on-one, he would likely have the upper hand thanks to the sheer number and strength of his summoned creatures.

However, with the pirate ship supporting him, his advantage could never be converted into a victory.

Joseph's plan was to use his own ships as a shield, retreating when in danger and attacking the relatively weaker Connaught Navy when it was safe, thus mobilizing Richard to come to the rescue.

No, this is too passive...

Richard had a sudden thought, and then he unleashed a series of large-scale spells, summoning more than a dozen wind elementals that attacked the pirate ship fiercely, forcing Joseph to keep his head down.

After more than ten minutes, he pretended to be out of magic power, recalled the large group of starfire, had Big Black block the way, and then rode the dragonfly back to drink his medicine.

The handover process was somewhat delayed.

Joseph seized the opportunity and rushed out!

"Kid, have you been arrogant enough?"

As someone who had never personally witnessed Richard's battles, he couldn't imagine how abundant a Silver-ranked summoner could be in terms of magic power.

Therefore, he concluded that Richard at this moment...

There must really be no magic left!

Pretending to be out of magic and then launching a surprise attack—that's impossible, absolutely impossible!

Even so, he did not attack Richard, who had a dragon by his side, but instead turned around and used his axe to chop down the masts of the remaining two Connaught ships.

"Without these three wrecked ships, let's see what you'll use to chase me!"

Would it be okay to use cough syrup?

Richard mentally grumbled, but outwardly appeared "caught off guard." Only when he saw his teammates were about to be in trouble did he silently mutter...

The [Source of Hatred] trait is activated, causing Joseph's attack to be redirected towards me!

With the [Destiny Writer] trait activated, and the [Guerrilla Master] buff, I can evade my opponent's attacks 100% of the time!

"Um?!"

Joseph suddenly realized that the alchemical wings on his back were not obeying his commands, causing him to lose control and turn around, slashing at Richard again.