Chapter 469: Ark Project

Finally, Henwell turns to Tigger. “You’re naturally free-spirited and love adventure. Being a pirate is a family tradition for you. I have a good job for you. Take five of the best-condition warships and head to another port I’ve leased in Lumir.”

“Your mission is simple: lead the fleet to explore as far as possible, charting a large area. Find any islands… or perhaps a continent! I’ll provide ample resources and all the support you need. There’s no time limit. Your mission code name is Ark.”

Hearing the strange code name, Tigger quietly repeats it to himself several times.

At first, when Henwell assigned him only five warships, Tigger felt a bit dissatisfied.

His skills match the other two, and when it comes to seamanship, he might even be more skilled.

After all, his grandfather’s generation were pirates, and he was practically born on a pirate ship. He learned to walk crawling all over the deck.

Now, hearing Henwell’s unusual task, he feels both surprised and curious about the reason behind it.

But since Henwell doesn’t explain, he doesn’t dare ask openly.

Henwell continues to the three, “Your warships will receive a new round of upgrades.”

“Are they the powerful warships?”

“The destructive weapons?”

“The miraculous machines?”

Suddenly, Henwell’s gaze sharpens, his aura surging. Phantom chains materialize, binding the three tightly to the ground.

“Do you want to die?!”

Though no one knows exactly what happened, everyone present senses that these three have angered Henwell deeply.

Several Grand Knights step forward, their blades half-drawn.

At Henwell’s signal, the three will be executed on the spot.

The three show terrified expressions, struggling to crawl on the ground and beg for mercy.

After a moment, Henwell gestures for his subordinates to step back, his body blazing with fierce crimson-gold flames.

“This is your only warning. Before those things appear, you’d better bury them deep in your heart. If you get drunk and talk nonsense, I suggest you quit drinking now! If you talk in your sleep, then don’t sleep too deeply! If this happens again, when you realize you’ve slipped, I guarantee that will be the moment your head falls!”

The three struggle to lift their heads, staring up at Henwell, who looms over them like a burning demon.

His crimson-gold eyes flicker coldly with murderous intent.

Then Henwell releases the chains and returns to his seat.

The three feel the bindings vanish; their clothes are soaked in sweat.

Only now do they realize that anyone connected to someone like Newwood can’t be ordinary.

And for the lord of Blood Hill to survive amid the rival nations, Henwell must be an extremely ruthless presence.

Henwell lightly taps the table. “Alright! Get up! I’m a fair man. I believe in rules. If you do well, I won’t hesitate to reward you. But if you mess up, you’ll face punishment just the same. I like order, so you’d better follow it.”

“I know you’re pirates, used to freedom and chaos. But from now on, you’re no longer pirates. You’re my naval commanders. What I need is an army—disciplined and orderly—not a bunch of unruly pirates. For your own future, for your dreams, you need to start changing now. Understand?”

The three nod quickly, promising they’ll follow the rules.

Henwell gestures for everyone to sit down.

He takes a sip of tea and continues with instructions. “Your missions require cooperation from various departments. First, about your fleets. Your warships won’t change for now, but the armaments will. “

”Metal armor isn’t suitable for naval combat, so I’ll have a batch of high-quality leather armor made for you. For you leaders and mid-to-high-level commanders, I’ll get some extraordinary leather armor from the Western Federation.”

“As for bows and crossbows, I’ll equip you with special rust-resistant heavy crossbows for firepower during boarding battles. The original ballistae on the ships will be replaced with new models developed by Peace Haven. “

”There are two types: the Mighty Crossbow, five per warship, and the Rapid-Fire Crossbow, ten per warship. You’ll see the samples soon. Meanwhile, you and your men need to quickly familiarize yourselves with their construction.”

“These weapons are expensive and not disposable. You must learn maintenance, parts replacement, and basic repairs. As for your melee weapons and other gear, the weapons development department will customize them according to your needs. “

”Rawkins will take you to inspect the weapons and handle personnel replenishment. New recruits will be selected from Joey’s river patrol team!”

Henwell then points to Chick. “He’ll be in charge of setting up intelligence points. From now on, you’ll deal with his people directly, no longer with Peace Haven itself. As for supplies and funding, Mortis will allocate part of the budget from the covert trading caravans.”

“Your safe houses will be supervised by Marnes’ team to ensure they’re secure and discreet, with safe escape routes. They’ll also build several secret warehouses for you to store sensitive goods. For official matters, you’ll coordinate with Victor’s people, who will establish offices at both ports.”

Finishing, Henwell scans his subordinates. “Everyone clear?”

They all stand and salute in confirmation.

Henwell then looks back at the three. “Because of your perspective, I can’t explain too much. Just know that you’re part of a great transformation, a monumental cause. Trust me! In the future, your names will be remembered across the continent! Your descendants will take pride in your names. They’ll thank you more than once for the choice you make today!”

Tigger and Barbosa stand, removing their hats in the sailors’ traditional salute.

Orlando, raised in nobility and a formal officer in the Billie Kingdom’s navy, stands and strikes his chest with his right hand, then snaps to a continental military salute.

Seeing their determined, fearless expressions, Henwell relaxes his stern demeanor.

He smiles and speaks lightly, “No need to be so tense! Like I said, I’m a man of reason and rules. If you ever find yourselves in a desperate situation, just pull back with your elite forces. As long as you reach Peace Haven, no one can harm you. There, people matter more than gear and gold. To me, you are the most valuable assets!”