Chapter 8: Ambition

Footsteps finally sounded. Behind the bearded giant emerged an old man who was slightly hunched. His pale yet rosy complexion indicated that his health was not inferior to that of the giant ahead of him. His eyes, which were occasionally opening and closing, seemed listless, but upon closer inspection, one could detect a cold glint deep in his eyes—combined with his weathered appearance—proving his status.
“Mr. Gott? I’ve long heard of your fame.” Facing this pirate king who had ruled the seas for decades, Koemer suddenly felt a strange sensation—as if this man was a reflection of himself decades later. His eyes, filled with experience, seemed to record all the storms he had endured over the years. Taking a deep breath, Koemer stood up and stepped forward. “Meeting you today fills me with endless emotions.”
“Oh? My lord, I’m puzzled as to why you, a lord, would place such high regard on me, Gott.” His gleaming eyes swept over Koemer like the sea, yet this aged and frail pirate leader gave Koemer an impression of profound depth—a presence that was hard for Koemer to accept.
“Mr. Gott, I admire greatly how you turned the Gray Skulls from obscure pirates into what they are today. Though our paths differ, those who excel in any field achieve success through hard work. Only the person involved can truly understand the hardships along the way. I never expected Mr. Gott, a one-legged man, to reach such heights—it’s truly an extraordinary feat.” Koemer’s sincere expression held no pretense, which filled the old man with surprise, as well as a hint of pride.
“I didn’t expect that even Gott’s secrets were known to you, my lord. It seems the effects of the Thousand-Mile Mirror exceed my own expectations.” The old pirate’s witty words immediately bridged the gap between them, making the atmosphere much more relaxed, even for Koemer.

After leading the old man into the room, the bearded man wisely left. He knew that the chief had made an exception to come to the continent just to have him return that Magic Mirror of a Thousand Miles. Kudan had already tried it before returning it; the feeling of being able to see everything under the sky was beyond what ordinary people could comprehend. As an elite pirate, he naturally understood the immense military value of such an item, especially at sea—detecting the enemy or target a few minutes earlier was already a miracle. With this device, one could detect enemies and targets at least half an hour in advance, and under special circumstances, even several hours ahead. How much could be accomplished with that head start? The sense of being prepared versus unprepared was simply exhilarating. It was as if it expanded the range of vision countless times over. He could even imagine how excited the chief would be to obtain such a treasure. No wonder the chief had broken a twenty-year tradition to come to the continent and meet this remarkable man who had recreated the Magic Mirror of a Thousand Miles.

However, along with the Magic Mirror of a Thousand Miles, Kudan also received a bill for payment. Just the material cost amounted to 30,000 gold shields, while the processing fee was even higher at 50,000 gold shields. Although the Gray Skulls were not short of money, such a high expense still surprised Kudan. Yet the other party seemed unwilling to negotiate at all. Fortunately, Kudan knew that such a treasure could not be measured in money, so he generously accepted their price and immediately asked on behalf of his organization to order ten more, but was politely declined due to insufficient materials and time.

“Lord, to be honest, I am quite satisfied with your work. But for our entire organization, such an item is merely a drop in the ocean and cannot solve major problems. If you could spare the time to create ten or more, Gott is willing to pay any price to acquire them.”

Gott certainly knew that such magical devices were not something ordinary people could create. Though he didn’t understand magic, having dealt with all kinds of people over the years, he had seen many rare treasures. The strong magical aura surrounding the Magic Mirror of a Thousand Miles couldn’t be hidden from him, and the unhidden craftsmanship allowed him to easily determine that the mirror he had obtained was a genuine, brand-new piece.

Especially the clarity of it left Gott itching after the experiment; he wished he could wear it even while sleeping. During the day, he could simply stand by the window to clearly see the sentries on various posts carrying out their duties. Gott even saw his cheating cook and the maid from the back streets standing behind a wall, indulging in their pleasures. The maid, who usually appeared dignified and honest, had her fair, firm breasts trembling wildly in front of him, causing even him, who had long been indifferent to women, to feel thirsty and his heart to stir.

Yet he knew that such a treasure could probably only be created by the person who boasted about it. If anyone else could make it, they would have brought it up during the last negotiation when Kudan requested the construction of docks in Mardan. As for having this lord create ten himself, Gott wasn’t even sure he could pull that off.

“Mr. Gott, you must know that it took me two months to complete this. It seems you can’t understand the effort involved. Ten? Do you expect me to work for another two years just for your needs? Oh, that would be a nightmare. I can’t fulfill your request,” Komer said, knowing the other’s intentions and firmly rejecting his demand.

“Hehe, my lord, I believe we can always find common ground. I urgently need your support, and I’m sure you also need my help. On this point, I’m certain we can reach an agreement.”

The faint mockery on the hunchbacked old man’s face and the confidence in his eyes made Komer realize it was pointless to try to outwit such a person. In the face of real interests, everything could be exchanged equally—give me what I need, and I’ll give you what you want. That’s all there is to it.

“Straight to the point, Mr. Gott. I understand what you mean. But given my limited energy, I doubt I’ll have time to create such things again. Of course, nothing is absolute. I’d like to hear what Mr. Gott has that’s worth me giving up everything to complete this task for you.” Finally reaching the core issue, Komer decided not to keep him in suspense.

Nodding in satisfaction, Gott knew this was probably the best he could hope for. As the lord of the Caucasus region, it was already a huge honor for the other party to lower their status and craft a Thousand-Mile Mirror for him, though the cost was significant. With the Thousand-Mile Mirror, the strength of his organization could immediately reach a new level. Having been suppressed by Katrina’s group recently, it was time to regain his pride. If he could create that legendary magic cannon, his wish would truly be fulfilled, and he would die without regret.

“Lord, I understand your difficulties. It seems Duke Philip is intent on suppressing you. In the vast Caucasus, this is the only route to the outside world, so your lifeline is firmly in the hands of someone who holds deep hostility toward you.” Sitting leisurely in his chair, the old man’s rotating eyes showed he was already thinking about the costs of the deal. “If you want to regain your pride and firmly establish yourself as the lord of the Caucasus, transportation is the top priority. Although we’ve helped you now, this isn’t a long-term solution. For the Caucasus to develop in the future, it needs its own routes.”

Komer’s expression brightened considerably. Truly a smart man—he immediately pointed out his weakest point, which was likely also the basis for the other party to demand a price. Without this, he wouldn’t have any leverage to negotiate.

“Hehe, Mr. Gott, everyone has difficulties. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here talking. I’ve also heard that Katrina in the southern seas is growing increasingly powerful and aggressive. It seems they’ve monopolized the slave-trading business in the southern part of the continent. They’ve even allied with the colonies across from us, advancing north along the coast of the Vast Continent. Now, those slave-traders can be seen in Odessa and Cyprus. Do they really consider you, the Gray Skulls, to be nothing?” With a loud laugh, Komer wasn’t planning to reveal everything right away. It was necessary to weaken the other party’s momentum before confronting them head-on; otherwise, they wouldn’t agree to his proposal so easily.

A shadow passed over the old man’s cheeks, and not even the slight muscle twitch at the corners of his mouth escaped Comer’s keen observation. He knew his words had struck a sore spot—Katerina’s sudden rise as a pirate leader had placed immense pressure on the Gray Skulls. Especially after she allied with the colonies and slave hunters on the opposite continent, she launched frequent attacks, plundering wildly along the southern coasts and extending her influence inland. She not only seized vast amounts of wealth but also reaped huge profits from the slave hunters’ share of the spoils. Her arrogance was so great that it even made Comer feel suffocated. Over the past decade, many elders had retired, and the new generation, having never experienced true warfare, had undermined the organization’s combat strength. In several naval clashes with Katerina, he had suffered little loss but still failed to gain the upper hand. As she had said, Katerina’s forces were advancing northward, and if he did not counterattack, the era of the Gray Skulls dominating the Abyssal Seas would soon come to an end.

“Lord, I never expected you to be so well-informed. I’ll speak truthfully—right now, the Gray Skulls are indeed facing some troubles. But I believe that with your help, we can quickly overcome these difficulties and reach new heights. I’m sure you can do this.”

“Mr. Gott, it seems we’re both sensible people. Our common needs have brought us together. This cooperation is just the first step toward greater collaboration in the future.” At this point, Comer was completely open, treating the other man not as a pirate leader but as a true ally. “Matdan is my gateway to the world from the Caucasus—a naturally excellent port. It’s connected to Bahomun by sea, and by land, it links to the coal mines in Ugru and the Vot Mountains. Its population is growing faster than ever before. I intend to make Matdan the cornerstone of my Caucasus’ foreign trade, and for that, I need Mr. Gott’s full support.”

Clearly unprepared for such a difficult challenge, Gote’s expression grew even darker. Since the other party had raised it, they were undoubtedly determined to succeed. If he refused, their cooperation would likely end there. A Thousand-Mile Magic Mirror could indeed improve his own and even his flagship’s command capabilities, but relying solely on it was not enough to reverse the disadvantage in his confrontation with Katrina. Yet opening the port was also no trivial matter—it meant he could no longer attack merchant ships passing through, which would mean opening this long-sealed land to trade, with merchant ships coming and going continuously. This was equivalent to exposing his base to everyone. Middelburg was only three hundred miles from Rhode Island, reachable in a day and night; with favorable weather, one could set out early in the morning and arrive by dusk. Although Gote didn’t think the other party had the strength to attack his base, no one wanted a thorn planted in their throat, even if it seemed harmless.

Between two evils, one must choose the lesser. While opening Middelburg carried many risks, it wasn’t entirely useless. At least his logistics supply could become more convenient, and with the cover of merchants, his activities could sometimes be protected. After all, Katrina in the south was the real threat. Judging from the other party’s current momentum, if no new forces joined them, the Grey Skulls would likely disappear from the stage sooner or later. It was impossible to stay at the peak all the time, but the real skill lay in identifying problems in low times, adjusting strategies, and restoring glory.

“Lord, it seems you’ve forgotten how we make a living. If we agree to open Middelburg as a port as you suggest, it means our right to plunder in this sea area will end. How do you plan to sustain our lives?” Politeness had always been Gote’s hallmark. Though he had already made up his mind, he wasn’t ready to give up.

“Mr. Gott, does the Grey Skull still rely on what can be harvested in these waters to survive? As far as I know, no legitimate merchant fleets have appeared in these waters for many years. How can you possibly make a living by fishing?” With casual sarcasm, Komer put an end to his laughter. “Plundering can only sustain you for a while—unless you keep expanding your territory. I don’t see any signs of you expanding northward. The group led by Katrina has already restricted your movements. Under such circumstances, how would merchant fleets dare to enter these waters? They’d rather take the land route. That’s probably your biggest problem now.”

Shaken, Gott finally dropped his contempt. This young lord seemed to have studied him carefully. He thought he already knew him well, but it turned out he was still at a disadvantage. The Grey Skull’s situation had been worsening over the years—its cooperation with colonies and slave-catching fleets had been taken away by Katrina, and the northern waters were off-limits due to an agreement with Philip. Relying solely on the meager income from the port of Bruce River on the Nise River and Odessa, they could barely make ends meet. But that was far from enough to rebuild and grow stronger. More importantly, their organization lacked opportunities for training and experience, and the new generation couldn’t break free from the shadows of their predecessors to take charge. That was what worried Gott the most. Although life now carried fewer risks, as a pirate, he would never fear risk. But not fearing risk didn’t mean acting recklessly—Gott understood this better than anyone. To strike a proper balance between the two required sufficient wisdom and experience.

“Lord, since you understand this so well, do you have any better suggestions?” There was no time for Gott to overthink things. The Grey Skull had dominated the seas for decades, and he couldn’t tolerate its decline any longer. As long as they could break through their current predicament, opening a port was nothing. Pirates never stayed confined to any land-based location—the vast oceans were their true stage. Moreover, this young lord was ambitious and bold. Just by daring to come to Middelburg, his willingness to take risks was evident. It seemed there might even be support from the kingdom’s central authorities behind him. If he cooperated with him, they might be able to create a new realm in these seas.

“It’s simple. Once Mardan opens its ports, I’ll find a way to create three to five Magic Mirrors of the same standard for Mr. Gott within three months. I believe I can provide him with the first Magic Armored Cannon within half a year! However, due to my limited financial resources, I hope Mr. Gott can provide some funding in advance to help me acquire specialized tools and materials and recruit professionals. If things go well, I might have even bigger surprises for him.” Komer nodded steadily and laid out his conditions all at once.

Now that he had made up his mind, Gott showed the demeanor and generosity of a pirate king: “No problem. I’ll instruct Mr. Kudan to transfer 500,000 gold shields to you as soon as possible. We, the Gray Skulls, agree to Mardan opening its ports! But I hope Lord will produce as many Magic Mirrors and Magic Armored Cannons as possible at the earliest. If there’s a shortage of funds or materials, Lord just needs to give Mr. Kudan a call. I believe we, the Gray Skulls, will become Lord’s most loyal allies.”

Although the Magic Mirrors can help anticipate the enemy’s moves, it is still direct combat that determines who the true ruler of the seas is. The emergence of Magic Armored Cannons will completely reshape the balance of power at sea. Archers, even magic archers and trebuchets, will no longer be the ultimate weapons in naval battles. The scenario where boarding actions determine the outcome of a sea battle will become history, replaced by more powerful and long-range Magic Armored Cannons and long-distance attacks!