Chapter 400 - 374: Traitor

Carlos spread his wings, his immense shadow blanketing the ships below.

Even though no one had boarded their ship, and most of the pirates were free to move, they didn’t even have the courage to resist in the face of Ronin and the Giant Dragon.

Ronin pressed his longsword to Dick’s throat. "Who is Joss?"

"He’s Viscount MacLaren’s Honorary Knight! A Knight of Screaming Island!"

Dick didn’t dare hide a thing, confessing everything.

"Back in November of last year, Lord Joss gave the order. We were to let any ships from Rapids Island heading south pass, but any ships from Rapids Island going in any other direction were to be destroyed with the Magic Energy Cannon on sight."

Ronin sneered. "So it was him."

At that moment, he recalled Joss.

’If I’m not mistaken, he’s the Knight who is always standing by Viscount MacLaren’s side.’

’Selling me ships, buying cheap lumber from me, and ordering people to destroy my ships so I have to keep buying from you... MacLaren has quite the head for business!’

Ronin had only just earned a little over seven hundred Gold Coins from Screaming Island, and now he was about to lose two ships—a loss of nearly ten thousand.

If he bought more from Screaming Island, he’d have to sink another ten thousand Gold Coins or so into it.

All told, that amounted to a loss of twenty thousand gold.

MacLaren’s scheme was to make Ronin earn money from Screaming Island only to spend it on Screaming Island, not letting him take a single coin away.

’No, that’s not it. He clearly wants to turn Rapids Island into a bottomless pit and drain my entire fortune.’

"The Blood Sail, Ghost Tide, and White Whale... what is the relationship between these three major Pirate Gangs of the Screaming Sea?" Ronin asked.

"We were all fostered by Screaming Island."

Dick spilled everything. "Me, Hed of the White Whale Pirate Gang, and Selcan of the Blood Sail Pirate Gang were all secretly fostered as Knights by Screaming Island. You can think of us as a single entity, just operating under different flags, much like how the Knight Orders in a Marquis’ Domain are numbered."

"You’re certainly thorough."

Ronin chuckled. "I’m curious, how did you know ships from Rapids Island would be passing through here recently? Don’t tell me you’re so bored you just sail around the sea every day."

"It... it was a message from a Message Bird from Crescent Island."

Ronin had heard of that island. Its lord, Patridge, was a Meteor Knight and a vassal of the Earl of Scream Island.

He frowned.

’Crescent Island is nowhere near Rapids Island. How did they get such precise information on our movements?’

"Who sent the message to Crescent Island?"

Ronin narrowed his eyes, releasing his aura. The immense pressure of his Fighting Qi made Dick extremely uneasy.

"It was Laren! Laren from Rapids Island!"

Dick said in a panic, "As far as I know, Laren has been in contact with Lord Patridge for a long time. He’s the only one who could have passed on the information."

Hearing that name, Ronin felt a surge of anger.

When he had led the pacification of Rapids Island, Laren hadn’t been as excessive as the White Flower Association. Ronin had considered recruiting him, which was why Laren had been spared from judgment and saved his own life.

To think that bastard would betray him, siding with the people from Screaming Island.

’No wonder Karda considered him a troublemaker. He was probably hoping Karda and the others would be buried at sea so he could take over the management of Rapids Island, wasn’t he?’

"In that case, you don’t need to live anymore."

Those words scared the piss out of Dick. He began begging for his life in terror.

Ronin explained, "I was talking about Laren just now."

Hearing this, Dick relaxed slightly. "My Lord, you gave me a scare! If you spare me, I swear my undying loyalty to you!"

Ronin shook his head. "I have no love for pirates like you, and even less for traitors. Laren doesn’t need to live, and neither do you."

A flash of the blade, a spray of fresh blood, and Dick’s head rolled across the deck.

It’s not that enemies can’t be recruited. Tom and Joffrey were good examples.

But some people were too complicated, having committed too much arson, murder, and plunder. The word ’loyalty’ probably didn’t exist in their minds.

Laren’s betrayal was one thing; he was only a Bronze Knight, after all.

But Dick was a Golden Knight. If he were to suddenly betray him, the losses would be immense.

With Laren’s betrayal fresh in his mind, Ronin had no desire for this kind of person’s allegiance.

With Dick’s death, an aura of death enveloped everyone on the ship. They wanted to escape, but there was no escape.

Even those who fancied themselves good swimmers knew that jumping overboard here was a death sentence.

With a few more flashes of the blade, Ronin used Dick’s longsword to end the lives of several nearby Knights. He didn’t, however, touch the captains or crewmen.

The ship from Rapids Island drew near, and Lusen and a few of his Knights boarded.

They stared at the bodies of the pirate Knights lying scattered in pools of blood on the deck. Among them were Golden Knights and Silver Knights, yet before their Lord, they had been slain without any ability to resist.

Standing beside Ronin now, even though he wasn’t releasing any pressure, they still felt an immense weight.

Lusen mustered his courage and asked, "My Lord, what should we do with the rest of them?"

"Order them to sail their ships and return with us to Wubei Territory."

Ronin said, "The construction of Wubei Port needs more laborers. They’re a perfect fit."

"Yes, sir!"

After a period of reorganization, the two pirate ships, along with the vessel from Rapids Island, set sail for Wubei Territory. The Knights also finished their search of the ships.

"My Lord, aside from a little over one hundred and twenty Gold Coins, we didn’t find anything else of value on board."

Ronin waved his hand. "You, the Knights, and Vic’s men can split these Gold Coins."

Lusen was stunned for a moment, then saluted happily. "Thank you, my Lord!"

Ronin couldn’t be bothered with such a small amount of gold, but for Lusen and others of common birth, it was a rare prize.

To Ronin, the two ships and the two Magic Energy Cannons before him were far more valuable than this pittance of gold.

He now had four Magic Energy Cannons in his possession. The strongest was the Fire Dragon Devouring Heaven given to him by Lurans; the other three were all seized from Pirate Gangs.

Now that Ridder was a Proud Sun Knight, with Macken assisting him, the value of this Sixth-level Magic Energy Cannon was negligible.

Ronin planned to take it to Rapids Island and give it to Karda.

"When we return, I’ll have Reis take some men with you to wipe out the Ghost Tide Pirate Gang’s base."

"It is our honor to fight for you!"

Lusen hadn’t expected they would be campaigning at sea for the Lord so soon. This was a good thing.

"My Lord, what about Laren?"

Lusen asked, "Should we wait until after we’ve wiped out the Pirate Gang to return to Rapids Island and deal with him?"

"Carlos has already taken my letter to Karda. I don’t give traitors a second chance."

Lusen couldn’t help but look up at the sky. ’No wonder the Giant Dragon was gone. He went to deliver a letter.’

Thinking of Laren’s fate, Lusen felt a sense of satisfaction. That guy had disobeyed orders several times and always wanted special treatment; Lusen had been sick of him for a long time.

’Now, everyone on Rapids Island can be considered one of our own. Implementing the Lord’s plans will be much smoother.’

"My Lord, will we go to war with Screaming Island?"

Ever since Lusen and Karda learned that their Lord had a dragon, they had guessed he would never be content with an ordinary life. In the future, they would have a vast stage on which to perform.

But they didn’t know what Ronin was thinking.

Today, they had been plotted against by Screaming Island. Although they had annihilated its Pirate Gang, the mastermind hadn’t been harmed at all.

Ronin smiled and asked, "Do you think I should go to war?"

"You should!"

Lusen said immediately, but he seemed to realize his words were inappropriate and quickly lowered his head to amend his statement.

"I just feel that since they dared to make a move against you and tried to kill you at sea, this enmity cannot go unavenged! Of course, the choice is ultimately yours. Our longswords will only be drawn for you!"

Ronin laughed heartily. "No need to be so formal."

In truth, he could launch an attack on Screaming Island just by having Carlos carry Ridder and Macken.

But according to the principle of "every grievance has a source, every debt has a debtor," he could, at most, kill Joss and MacLaren. It wouldn’t be appropriate to move against the entire Fleming Clan.

In other words, the territory of Screaming Island would still have a master.

And even if the entire Fleming Clan were wiped out, the land would ultimately belong to the Oduin Royal Family.

For a moment, Ronin suddenly understood why there were always people who feared the world wasn’t in enough chaos.

Sometimes, peace really can be a stumbling block for the ambitious.

He shook his head and thought, ’I’m no warmonger. I’m just a farmer.’

Ronin clapped Lusen on the shoulder. "Keep improving yourself. Your day to shine will come."

A glint flashed in Lusen’s eyes. He pounded his chest heavily. "Yes, my Lord!"