Chapter 576: Caught up
Translator: Translation Nation Editor: Translation Nation
At this moment, a pirate known as ‘Skimpy’ Dake was already prepared and offered a fawning smile.
"Cap’n, everything’s prepared!"
While exclaiming, he kicked aside a wooden slab. Beneath it, was an average size ‘fishpond’ where a couple dozen of fishes were swimming within.
Sheyan nodded with a rigid expression while wearing a set of gloves. Then, he picked up an Aztec gold and stuffed it into a fish’s mouth.
Although the fish struggled painfully, Sheyan then proceeded to block its mouth with a wooden plug, before casually flinging the fish into the sea.
Evidently, this unlucky half-metre long fish was bound to die. Nevertheless, was it possible for it to painfully struggle and swim frantically for a hundred miles, two hundred miles before it died?
Actually, that wasn’t important. The crux was to infuse divided inclinations amongst the Black Pearl pirates when hunting down those ‘self escaping’ Aztec gold. That was Sheyan’s aim.
After issuing the order to set sail, Sheyan continued his activities at the ship’s bow. For some unknown reason, every movement he made felt rather rigid. However, others found it inconvenient to ask as he didn’t say a thing.
Prior to all these, Sheyan had forked out 10,000 utility points to acquire a crucial information with his military rank authority.
The pirates could only have a general sensing of the Aztec gold. It would be impossible for them to accurately pinpoint the specifics of it, and could at most sense several hundred square metres around that particular Aztec gold.
For example, if Sheyan had 880 Aztec gold here while another Aztec gold was lodged within a fish belly 300 nautical miles from here, the pirates would be able to sense the existence of Aztec gold in Sheyan’s location and another where the fish was. However, they wouldn’t be able to sense that Sheyan had more Aztec gold on him.
With their bellies filled with Aztec gold, more fishes were gradually released. Obviously, the pirates of the Black Pearl would start to become confused. They had to acquire every single piece of Aztec gold. This signified that for a long period of time from now, they would have to change the profession to become fishermen.
Sheyan halted after releasing seven fishes. In addition to the Dingyuan, this illusory art was more than sufficient. Right now, he planned to release another 7-8 fishes after sailing for another 100-200 nautical miles. While doing so, he would continue advancing towards the nearest continent.
Prior to this, some pirates had decided on their own to plunder the Black Pearl treasure trove after laboriously slaying the school of dugongs. Instead, they were ambushed by more dugongs after jumping into the sea and died bitter deaths. Hence, the rest could only sigh and depart with Sheyan. Fortunately, Sheyan had also obtained several valuable objects from this as well. For example, valuable objects like an ‘Ocean Heart’ that occupied a small space…...
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12 hours later.
The Dingyuan had long left the Phantom Isle Sea.
The blue sky and white clouds once again overlooked the horizon of the ocean. A cumbersome ship’s bow stabbed deeply against the azure ocean waves, upsurging huge splashes of white foam.
Along the sides of the ship, paddlers distributed into three rows as they swung their 6 metre long paddles; propelling their heavy big mate swiftly into the distance.
At present, the Dingyuan’s velocity could already be comparable to an average merchant ship after the series of upgrading. This meant that without external interference, it would be able to traverse approximately 1,300 nautical miles within two days.
"It is about time." Sheyan stood atop the ship’s bow as he muttered expressionlessly. "If the Black Pearl is truly as miraculous as what Shawen describes, then it would definitely be tailing our arse by roughly 50 nautical miles now."
At this moment, there was a cage by Sheyan’s side. Within the cage were seagulls. He proceeded to stuff the Aztec gold into tiny leather pouches, before tying them around the seagulls’ claws.
"Fly, my friends."
Within a short span, ten Aztec gold carrying seagulls and ten Aztec gold swallowing fishes were released. Their directions differed and Sheyan believed it would once again create a tremendous headache for Captain Barbossa and the Black Pearl.
"This method that we are utilizing, it seems that it would be impossible for Barbossa and his crew to chase up to us." Brother Black couldn’t contain his excitement.
Instead, Sheyan shook his head in response.
"That isn’t so. Perhaps initially, we would be able to mislead Barbossa. But after a good half of our voyage, Barbossa would definitely be able to deduce the sailing pattern of our ship; that our goal is to reach the nearest continent. He will realize we are trying to strangle the greatest superiority of the Black Pearl, and they will shift their pursuit towards the Aztec gold traveling on dry land. Under such circumstances, in lieu of the Black Pearl’s invincible speed supremacy, the gap between us would definitely be shaved away soon. If my estimations are correct, the real challenge would lie in the final 100 nautical mile stretch before reaching dry land!"
Brother Black suddenly suggested.
"How about we use the threat of tossing the Aztec gold into the sea against them. Didn’t the female lead do that in the movie?"
"She could do that, but we cannot." Sheyan calmly replied.
"Don’t forget, this is a world of magic. Sea creatures can be prompted to fish up the Aztec gold submerged within the deep sea, which I guess would possibly cost Barbossa immense efforts. Nevertheless, the main reason Barbossa relented to Elizabeth’s threat, was because he suspected her blood was the final prop to unsealing their curse. Hence, Barbossa was afraid of her committing suicide, and not about the Aztec gold!"
Hearing Sheyan’s answer, Reef glanced at him for a brief while. Then, he asked a random question.
"Why do I sense that you are becoming a little strange?"
Sheyan drooped his eyes to avoid his gaze.
"Is it?"
Reef exhaled slowly before frowning and scanning through Sheyan.
"I can’t that which part is strange, except....your actions seem to indicate a certain nervousness."
Sheyan’s lips twitched a little. Unknown why, that movement led one to subconsciously think about a dried twig falling down.
"Right, you do seem overly anxious."
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60 nautical miles from the nearest continent.
An hour after Sheyan had released another 10 bird and 10 fishes.
From far out at sea, the towering mast of the Black Pearl surfaced.
Under the monitoring of the naked eye…..Barbossa, the old sea wolf, was no longer tricked by cheap tricks. He had tightly locked onto the trajectory of the Dingyuan…..
Black and lofty, a sail that could seemingly pierce through the sky.
It was as if that patch of the sea was covered with sinister dark clouds.
The Black Pearl cometh!
For Sheyan and his crew to sail till here, they had already exhausted their fullest might. Still, it would be premature to say that would fail through a lack of final effort.
The atmosphere on board had turned solemn. Sheyan was standing atop the ship’s bow as he issued a list of commands.
"Bring Shawen here."
"Redbeard to your position, get the gunners ready."
"Sailors to your position."
"Nanuke get ready."
"All paddlers take your places, heave ho!"
"..."
"..."
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BOOM! RUMBLE! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A short minute later, 16 high-angled cannons were pushed and stacked towards the stern of the ship, as they simultaneously unleashed fire. This was the very first trial fire by Redbeard!
Most of the cannon balls fell short, as they incited soaring splashes around the Black Pearl. Yet one could tell, the gunning team assembled painstakingly by Sheyan wasn’t far off.
Redbeard’s raspy voice echoed once again.
"Argghhh, hinge ‘em....swap to ze’ chained cannonballs!"
Chained cannonballs were specially utilized for destroying the masts and sails of an enemy ship. They were like hammering meteorites, where two cannonballs were connected by a 3-5 metre long iron chain. Once unleashed, it would swerve speedily in mid air, and was exceedingly destructive.
Boom! Boom! Boom! The muffled cannons reverberated again. Black fumes pervaded but was dispersed in a flash by the sea breeze.
The volleying might of 16 cannons was relatively terrifying. One could observe one of the Black Pearl’s mast had been toppled, while the sail cloth beside was ripped. Instantly, its sailing speed plunged.
However at this moment, piercing whistling sounded into the air. The Black Pearl wasn’t one to passively take a beating and had commenced their retaliation. 2-3 clutters of black fumes spiralled from their bowsprit. Soon after, columns of water soared into the air 200 metres from the Dingyuan’s stern. In terms of cannon firing range, the Black Pearl was inferior to the Dingyuan.
Despite that, the onlooker hastily reported, informing that the Black Pearl pirates were mending their mast with astonishing pace. Its mast had already rapidly been restored. Shawen then spoke with sullen demeanor.
"I suggest employing half of the cannons to target the Black Pearl’s bowsprit. Once that area is wrecked, it is impossible to be mended by only carpentry capabilities alone but would have to rely on its gradual self restoration as well. It would probably take 12 hours to do so, and can instantly reduce the movement speed of the Black Pearl by 15%."
Sheyan immediately followed the good advice, ordering for only four cannons to continue blasting chained cannonballs at the Black Pearl’s masts. Meanwhile, the other twelve cannons would concentrate fire against the ship’s bowsprit!
After ten minutes of relentless firepower suppression….finally, a black fog spiralled up.
The pirates on the Black Pearl was currently racing about haphazardly like ants.
A miserably sharp boom thundered along the ocean surface. The bowsprit of the Black Pearl had been struck by another 5-pounder cannonball.
White fumes emitted out and congealed into the portrait of a mermaid, before distorting and wafting away. Evidently, the damages the Black Pearl had received so far, weren’t light at all.