HOWL, HOWL, HOWL...
Suitable wind speeds for warships to navigate usually range between ten and forty knots. At less than ten knots, even throwing water on the sails won't help them catch the wind. More than forty knots, also known as a Force 8 wind, requires all sails to be retracted quickly to find a sheltered harbor.
At this moment, the sea wind blowing from the northeast grew increasingly fierce.
The Level Six wind had already surpassed twenty-two knots, not only dispersing the sea fog but also whipping up large patches of white foam on the ocean surface.
Murky waves surged, layer upon layer, forming countless undulating hills upon the sea.
That warship, like a mountain climber, battled against the now severe sea conditions as it charged aggressively from the northeast.
Byron's judgment was correct; it was indeed a Level Five cruiser from the Kingdom of Hightens' Strait Fleet—the *Stern Cruiser*.
On the sterncastle of the pirate ship *Man-Eater Shark*, which was much larger, a gentleman with a silver wig, wearing a tortoiseshell-buttoned dress coat, lowered his brass spyglass. He coldly issued an order to the officer attending him, "Sail downwind at full speed and pursue with all haste! We must not allow a single remnant of the Lancaster Party to escape. I specifically enlisted a Prophet of the Tower Sequence to cast stellar divinations, confirming a nearshore coordinate in the North Sea. As long as we arrive in time, neither the 'Child of the Devil' with a 5,000 Gold Pound bounty nor the *Pelican*, attempting to transfer the Lancaster Party's assets, will have anywhere to run. Anyone who dares to oppose the White Rose York Family will find no sanctuary, not just in the Kingdom of Hightens, but across the entire sea!"
Pinned firmly to the mizzenmast beside them was a hand-drawn wanted poster.
Who else could be depicted on it if not Byron?
Just as the "Sailing Logbook" states, in a world brimming with transcendent abilities, there is certainly no shortage of methods to confirm life or death and track individuals. Professionals such as Hunters of the Wilderness Sequence, Spirit Mediums of the Graveyard Sequence, and Prophets of the Tower Sequence are all experts in these arts.
After the York Family ascended to power, the official announcement was that the Lancaster bloodline had been completely severed in that devastating storm. No one else in the world was qualified to threaten their right of inheritance and legitimacy. This was understandable; after all, what victor doesn't want to embellish the annals of history?
But beneath the surface, a few core members had already seen the investigative reports on their archenemy, the Red Rose, compiled by the 'hounds'—Transcendent individuals from their various Sequences. They immediately began a clandestine and urgent hunt for Byron, the last Lancaster! While issuing a high bounty within the Navy, they also branded him with the nefarious codename "Child of the Devil," fearing that this thorn in their side, this festering wound, would not perish quickly enough.
Of course, this could also be the effect of Byron's title being triggered: "Enemy of York! Perpetual pursuit, unto death!"
Freedom was too distant, York too near!
Byron, having narrowly escaped death at the hands of pirates, was still far from safety.
Aboard the *Stern Cruiser*, Lieutenant Colonel Harold, unaware of Byron's true identity and importance, hesitated for a moment before steeling himself to offer counsel, "But, my Lord Baron, the weather in the North Sea is already quite volatile in late autumn. Furthermore, the aftereffects of that strange storm five days ago still lingered. The wind speed at sea continues to rise, and the waves are already approaching two meters. Chasing an enemy ship in such high sea states is extremely dangerous. If the wind speed exceeds forty knots, it will be too late to seek refuge in a sheltered harbor."
With such a cautious demeanor, where was even a trace of the captain's authoritative presence, the man who held the power of life and death over the ship's crew?
But what could be done? This Baron Adonis, issuing orders as he pleased, hailed from the York Family which had just risen to power. Even if he was merely a distant relative, hastily ennobled to consolidate the family's power, he still belonged to the only royal family in the Kingdom of Hightens recognized by the "Royal Iron Rule - Great Charter" after the extermination of the Lancasters!
Upon hearing this, the wig-wearing Baron Adonis, whose azure eyes were the same shade as Byron's, let a cold glint flicker within them as he stared at Captain Harold for a long moment.
Ultimately, and quite unexpectedly, this York did not display the brainless arrogance one might expect from a profligate young noble. Instead, he gradually let the coldness fade from his face and offered Harold a sincere smile. "Captain, I was too impetuous. Please believe me, I have the utmost respect for your authority on this ship. However, I must point out that in the decisive battle five days ago, you and your Level 5 Ship were not permitted to join the engagement involving Level Four battleships and above. Had you managed to claim a few Lancaster Party heads at that time, you might already be in the Royal Capital receiving a peerage from His Majesty. Ask yourself honestly: having missed one opportunity, do you truly wish to miss a second? I presume, as a Second Order Professional Rank Fortress Guard, you don't aspire to retire on a mere Level Five cruiser, do you? Moreover, I pledge on the honor of the York Family to you and every officer and soldier aboard this ship..."
The Baron's gaze swept over everyone looking at him. "In this mission, neither I nor the Royal Family will share a single Gold Coin of the spoils. The entire collection of a noble aboard the merchant ship, and the 5,000 Gold Pound bounty for the wanted criminal, will also be entirely gifted to the *Stern Cruiser*. My only request is this: assist me in tearing apart all enemies of the York Family before other pursuers arrive!"
This is the last Lancaster who could vie with the York Family for authority over the Iron Laws of Sovereignty. As long as I kill him, my title could be elevated by two ranks, and I could even take over a portion of the Lancaster Party's territory, becoming a truly enfeoffed Great Noble! Compared to power, what is mere money?
Hearing Baron Adonis's words, the captain and the assembled officers, unaware of the true circumstances, felt their eyes burn with excitement, their breathing growing noticeably heavier. This meant at least 5,000 Gold Pounds, plus an entire ship's worth of treasure! Consider this: in this era, the annual salary of a skilled, veteran sailor would not exceed 20 Gold Pounds, and a farmer's income was less than 10 Gold Pounds!
Moreover, the Baron was correct. Level Five ships of various nations were generally the mainstay of Privateer Fleets and for Breaking Off Engagement Battles. Plundering enemy merchant ships and destroying enemy maritime transport lines were their usual business—calling them official pirates wouldn't be an exaggeration. Only this time, their task was to intercept their own nation's merchant ships.
They wouldn't need to venture onto foreign sea routes teeming with headhunters, Wizards, Sea Monsters, diseases, Evil Spirits, and all sorts of strange phenomena. Simply by intercepting the fleeing ships of the Lancaster Party, they had the chance to gain promotion and wealth, potentially becoming leading tycoons. And that "Child of the Devil" was, after all, merely an ordinary mortal.
With Baron Adonis's promise, all dissenting murmurs aboard the warship vanished. The entire crew sprang into action as if injected with adrenaline.
Just then, the lookout stationed in the mainmast's crow's nest quickly relayed a message, "Reporting to the Captain! The *Pelican* has been sighted at two o'clock relative to our ship! However, it has already been attacked. It's on fire and about to sink! Another pirate ship is making a swift escape. Judging by the emblem of a shark-riding skeleton on its pirate flag, it is likely the notorious *Man-Eater Shark* from the North Sea. Its captain is 'Bloody Eye' Salman, a wanted criminal with a bounty of 4,300 Gold Pounds."
None of the officers paid any mind to the sinking of the merchant ship *Pelican*.
A pirate ship? No! They were merely couriers of wealth.
As fellow seafarers—practically colleagues—the Navy men knew full well that before the *Pelican* was sunk, it would have been stripped bare of everything valuable, including people. As for the difficulty of the hunt, a small pirate ship posed no essential difference from an armed merchant vessel.
Lieutenant Colonel Harold visually estimated the distance and their respective speeds, drew the command sword at his waist, and shouted loudly, "Men, show your mettle! Let the Baron see the valor of the *Stern Cruiser*! At our current distance and speed, we should catch up within approximately two hours! Crush them! For gold—I mean, for His Majesty the King!"
"ROAR! FOR HIS MAJESTY THE KING—!"