The Return of the Genius Ranker’s Myth Warehouse - Chapter 199

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 199
Chapter 199
Finding Pirate Island proved far more challenging than I had anticipated.
“Is this the place?”
“Yes, that’s correct!”
And for good reason—the entrance to Pirate Island, as indicated by the White Sea Pirate Captain, was located in an area known as the Sharp Reef Zone.
[ Sharp Reef Zone ]
It was completely covered in jagged reefs.
Sharp rocks jutted upward from the water’s surface.
No matter how I looked at it, this was no place for a ship to navigate.
If I forced the ship through those reefs, even the sturdiest vessel would be punctured and sink in no time.
Indeed, I could see numerous ships scattered throughout, half-submerged from recklessly attempting to breach the reef zone.
“So how do you pirates manage to get through?”
“We have our own passage! If you follow the route carefully, you can reach Pirate Island without any trouble from the reefs!”
“So that’s how Pirate Island has managed to survive all this time.”
“Exactly! Only those recognized as legitimate pirates are given directions to the passage, so only authorized pirates can enter!”
“Where is it?”
“I can show you the passage, but….”
When I asked about the route through the reefs, the pirate hesitated for a moment.
At that sight.
Crackle!
I generated a small spark of electricity, and the pirate immediately snapped to attention, answering urgently.
“There’s no problem showing you the way! But Baron Mir, aren’t you planning to attack Pirate Island?”
“What about it?”
“The pirates were just attacked, so if we head to the passage now, they’ll definitely have set up a defensive position there!”
“Hmm….”
“That’s not all! The passage has various traps installed to prepare for potential intruders. If they activate them, the passage could become even more dangerous!”
I found myself nodding at the pirate’s explanation.
Of course—they would never leave the only entrance to Pirate Island completely unguarded.
Sidrin, the Imperial Navy Admiral who had been listening to the pirate’s answer alongside me, spoke with evident concern.
“What should we do? The reef zone is too dangerous, and the pirates will likely have traps set up at the passage….”
As someone holding the position of Admiral, she possessed considerable knowledge of navigation.
Moreover, most of the Imperial Navy’s vessels, including the Black Dragon Ship, were considerably larger than pirate ships.
This made navigating the reef zone all the more difficult.
“Baron Mir, what will you do? Even with traps in place, we could force our way through. The Imperial Army will take the lead and serve as a shield!”
The Imperial Army offering to serve as a shield.
It wasn’t a bad proposal.
Even without that, if I continuously channeled mana into the Black Dragon Ship, the Great Shield magic installed on it could block most attacks.
However.
‘The losses would be too great.’
Walking into an obvious trap when I don’t even know the full extent of Pirate Island’s power would be foolish.
When I thought of conquering Pirate Island as a dungeon.
As a former First rank 1 player, I couldn’t tolerate such foolishness.
That’s why I devised a different strategy.
“I ask that the Imperial Army block the entrance and exit of Pirate Island and deal with any pirates attempting to escape.”
“Pardon? Then what do you intend to do, Baron Mir?”
“I plan to break through the Sharp Reef Zone and establish a foothold.”
“Break through the Sharp Reef Zone? That’s far too dangerous! No matter how superior the vessel, it will sink if it enters that place!”
“I have a method. Besides, the Sharp Reef Zone is just as dangerous for the pirates, isn’t it? In other words, if I secure a position in the Sharp Reef Zone, even the pirates won’t be able to approach.”
“That may be true, but….”
“I will execute the operation immediately.”
“Very well! I will trust only you, Baron Mir!”
“I, I….”
“Take this one with you as well. Have him guide the way, and afterward, you may execute him according to Imperial law or do as you wish.”
“Understood!”
“Aaaahhhhh!”
First, I handed over the White Sea Pirate Captain to the Imperial Army.
Under his guidance, I had them block the path leading to Pirate Island.
Immediately after.
“We now advance straight toward Pirate Island, breaking through the Sharp Reef Zone.”
“M-My lord! The Black Dragon Ship’s defensive magic is formidable, but it’s impossible to ignore all the reefs and pass through!”
When I gave the order to advance directly, the Captain responded urgently.
However.
“I have a method. Please set sail.”
My territory’s loyalty toward me had long since exceeded its limit.
The Captain was no exception.
“…Understood! I will move trusting only in you, my lord! Everyone, prepare to set sail!”
“Prepare to set sail!”
“Our target is Pirate Island! We break through the Sharp Reef Zone and advance toward the pirate vessels!”
“Understood, Captain!”
Through the power of their unwavering loyalty, the crew followed my orders without requiring further explanation.
The Black Dragon Ship advanced steadily toward the Sharp Reef Zone without hesitation.
In a situation where, in just a moment, the Black Dragon Ship would collide with the reefs and surely develop holes in its hull.
I called out Luke’s name, just as we had discussed beforehand.
“Luke, now.”
– Yes, Master.
As Luke moved, Black Flame engulfed the bow of the Black Dragon Ship.
The item I had taken out was being installed onto the Black Dragon Ship.
Not long after, the Black Flame dissipated, and the newly installed item on the bow of the Black Dragon Ship was.
“Is that a figurehead?”
It was a figurehead.
A sculptural ornament affixed to the bow of a ship.
The one I had installed on the Black Dragon Ship was a majestic bull figurehead.
And the reason I deliberately mounted a figurehead on the Black Dragon Ship was, naturally enough.
[ Cretan Bull Figurehead ]
( Non-tradeable )
Type : Figurehead
Grade : Legendary
Requirement : Level 500 or above, Legendary-grade ship or higher
Description : A bull figurehead crafted after the Cretan Bull, said to have been bestowed upon King Minos by Poseidon, the god of the sea.
To harness the item’s effects.
A legendary-grade figurehead—the Cretan Bull Figurehead.
Just as it was modeled after the Cretan Bull, its effect was precisely this.
‘Ramming Power Increase.’
Much like the commonly known ram tactic, it enhanced the ship’s ramming force.
To be specific, it was an ability that increased destructive power, defense, and durability during a charge.
Thanks to that ability, the reefs that touched the Black Dragon Ship.
Crunch!
Crack!
Craaash—
Were crushed mercilessly like tofu.
No matter how sharp the reefs were, no matter how large and thick, they could not obstruct the Black Dragon Ship’s path.
The reefs that had served as a natural fortress protecting Pirate Island until now were ground away helplessly.
“Th-that’s incredible! Those aren’t weak reefs by any means, yet you’re pushing through them so effortlessly!”
The enhancement wasn’t limited to attack power alone.
Even if powerful, a ship would inevitably sustain damage from colliding with such reefs.
But due to the Cretan Bull Figurehead’s effect, defense and durability surged dramatically during the charge, allowing us to push through the reefs without incurring significant damage.
Advancing steadily like that.
“Pirate Island has entered our firing range!”
“Lord, awaiting your orders!”
Pirate Island and its vessels had come within the Black Dragon Ship’s range.
Thus, having established an impregnable position through the reef zone.
“Open fire.”
Boom!!
We commenced our bombardment toward Pirate Island.
* * *
Pirate Island was known as a neutral ground exclusively for pirates.
Though pirates fought and clawed at each other outside, at least within Pirate Island and its surrounding waters, they united their strength.
That was precisely the unspoken code passed down among the southern pirates.
Thanks to that, Pirate Island had never suffered any attack until now, establishing itself as a sanctuary for pirates.
News of a rare defeat reached the waters near Pirate Island.
“Is everyone here?”
“I don’t see Black Hook.”
“That guy’s always missing, isn’t he?”
“But this time he’s been gone especially long.”
“Probably died somewhere remote. Don’t worry about it—let’s get started.”
At that, the great pirates of Pirate Island gathered.
An attack on Pirate Island was tantamount to challenging every pirate in the south.
Still, they didn’t take it seriously at first.
They assumed it was merely some careless underlings who had fallen to the Imperial Army.
“What? Completely annihilated by the Imperial Army?”
“They say the Empire set a trap? The men thought they looked weak and followed, then suddenly got hit with attacks that made no sense!”
“They’re good at making excuses.”
“I’m telling you it’s true! Big Giant was shattered in a single blow!”
“…Big Giant? Now that’s serious.”
It didn’t sound like an ordinary matter.
Big Giant was a pirate ship that, while not captained by a great pirate, was considered capable of rising to that rank if a position opened up.
Especially since its captain, a former shipwright, had built it with absurd size and durability—it was among the most formidable pirate ships on Pirate Island.
For such a vessel to be shattered in a single blow.
One way or another, the Empire must have prepared some incredible weapon.
“And they say the Empire keeps pushing toward Pirate Island.”
“Just in case, let’s scatter traps throughout the passages.”
“Good. And let’s position pirates at various chokepoints to prepare for an attack.”
“Well, how would they even know our routes? If they blunder around and get caught on the reefs and sink, we’re lucky. Hehehehe.”
Still, they thought the Empire wouldn’t be able to pass through the reef zone.
“They’re heading for the Entrance.”
“How is that possible?”
“Simple. They sank the lower ranks and captured one for torture.”
“Cowardly Empire bastards!”
“Cowardly… well, we’re not ones to talk. But it doesn’t matter anyway. We’re ready.”
No matter how powerful the Imperial Army was, it didn’t matter.
Even if they escaped the reef zone and found the Entrance, the pirates of Pirate Island already blocked the passages.
As they approached the Entrance, the barrels of gunpowder rigged to the buoys would explode, and concentrated fire from the waiting pirates would erupt.
But then.
“What? Why did they stop?”
“They got scared, they got scared.”
“No, their positioning is strange.”
“It’s almost like….”
The Imperial Army’s movements were strange.
They showed no intention of entering the Entrance.
If that were all, I’d assume they were just feeling uneasy and couldn’t enter, thinking they’d turn back soon.
But the formation the Imperial Army is setting up at the Entrance right now.
“Isn’t that an encirclement formation?”
“It looks like a formation designed to attack pirate ships escaping through the passage.”
“Do they really think we’re going to flee Pirate Island?”
“Are they idiots?”
It was an encirclement formation.
I couldn’t make sense of it at all.
Did they think the pirates would escape from Pirate Island?
Honestly, from the pirates’ perspective, there was absolutely no reason to do so.
Even if we were to wage a prolonged conflict, it wouldn’t change anything.
Pirate Island had considerable stores of food and fresh water, and the surrounding Sharp Reef Zone was famous for excellent fishing.
If we wanted to, we could hold out here for months.
Meanwhile, the Imperial Army couldn’t possibly endure that length of time.
I had no idea why they were deploying such a formation.
Then.
“Huh? What are those?”
Someone muttered as if entranced, pointing toward the reef zone.
The Sharp Reef Zone was so treacherous that even small boats struggled to navigate it—even the pirates only ventured out in dinghies to fish.
Yet in the very center of that reef zone sat an enormous vessel.
“How did such a massive ship even enter the reef zone?”
“How is the ship still intact after penetrating to the center of the reef zone?”
“More importantly, what is that ship?”
“It doesn’t have any Imperial Army insignia…”
A black vessel floating in the center of the Sharp Reef Zone.
The surreal sight left the pirates spellbound, their attention utterly captivated.
And not long after.
From that black vessel.
Boom!
Attacks began to rain down.
Crackle!
“Gahhhhh!”
Crackling lightning cannons electrocuted the pirates.
Crack!
Eerie frost cannons froze the sea and the pirates alike.
Boom!!
A colossal mass of water shattered an entire pirate ship with its overwhelming force in a single strike.
Against those impossible attacks.
“Ahhhhh!”
The pirates began to panic.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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