Chapter 229 - Last Minute Training

While looking for Ferdinand's fleet, the group couldn't quite move blindly without risking falling for a trap. So, the smuggler captain used his special routes at night to avoid detection. The only problem was that his routes were longer than usual, so the fleet wasn't moving as fast as before. Not to mention, they finally reached a part of the country where the islands were so small that few people lived in those, so Orleand influence is close to none. Not to mention, they couldn't offer soldiers and ships to help. Five days had passed since they began the pursuit, and Zaos was starting to get pissed again. Not to mention, his research still didn't give him any insight into the spell that he wanted.

"Hey, Zaos," Drannor suddenly appeared and then said. "We are having a meeting now."

"I will hear the resume of it later," Zaos said.

"Captain Erean is calling for you," Drannor said.

Zaos took a deep breath to calm down. He knew that it was his stress talking. Still, he felt like everyone was trying to get in the way of his research, bringing and talking about unimportant subjects. He was stressed to the point where he was starting to think that a strategic meeting was insignificant.

When Zaos finally appeared, he tried to keep his composure, but everyone could tell by looking him in the eye that he was on edge. They couldn't just head straight to where the main fleet of Ferdinand was facing the fleet of Sairus kingdom because they could fall for a trap. Unlike inland, a group of soldiers might break and escape an ambush even if they were surrounded by five times more soldiers. They just had to find the weak point of the information. However, when an ambush is planned by using ships, there are no weak points.

"We received some news from our smuggler… friends?" Erean frowned since he knew that Erean didn't like them. "It seems Ferdinand is easily making the fleet from our kingdom at bay. In the last five days, they lost more than thirty ships and the crew in them."

"How?" Drannor asked. "Did they use whatever they have been hiding on that island?"

"No, he just used the superior quality of his ships and the experience of his sailors and soldiers," Erean said. "Fortunately, he is only good on the ocean, otherwise, I would have to worry about a possible invasion of our kingdom."

"He isn't crazy enough to face us on land," Zaos said. "Even if… nothing."

Zaos almost told some valuable information to the people of another country. Usually, in the four bases that are found in the four corners of the kingdom, half of the soldiers there are basically recruits. Kids around ten and thirteen. While they were well-trained. Most of them couldn't face soldiers who have experience fighting pirates.

"I agree with that statement," Erean said. "Regardless, he still has the pirates and a trick upon their sleeve and he is probably planning on using both of them to crush all of us once and for all. That is why I am thinking of letting Orleand, Noemi and America return to the main island. We can't negotiate with any more people to help us, so it will be better if you guys retreat."

"That is not fair!" Ameria said. "Why can't we see this through until the very end?"

"He just said, because it is dangerous," Zaos replied. "No is questioning your accomplishments thus far, he is just saying that this time there are too many unknown factors that might make the battle harder and put you guys into danger. We might wipe out their entire fleet at the end of the day, but we will still lose if you three die in the process."

"Well, thank you for your consideration, sir Zaos," Orleand said. "But I am aware of the risks and I want to accept them anyway. I need to see this through in order to make sure that I will have sufficient motives not to let this whole situation repeat itself. Since Noemi will stay around for longer than me, I also think that she should see the end of this mess if she wishes to do so."

"I am not a sir," Zaos said.

"That is the only thing you want to correct?" Drannor asked.

"Yes," Zaos replied.

"Well, I can't give your orders, so you two can stay if you want to," Erean said. "As far as I am concerned, we only have this fleet thanks to you two. Still, as for Ameria…"

"You can't give orders to your future ruler, Erean," Ameria said.

"Princess… Please, be reasonable." Erean said. "If something were to happen to you and His Majesty learns that I could have avoided it, I will be lucky if only I was beheaded."

"My father is not cruel, Erean," Ameria said. 

"I know, but that from a perspective, it would be a soft punishment for making our country lose its future," Erean said.

"Don't worry, Captain," Drannor said. "I will protect Ameria that was my job to begin with. If Zaos agrees to help, since that was his job as well, I am sure you won't have anything to worry about."

"I am sure you can do that alone, I just want to find that bastard as soon as possible and this fight," Zaos said. "I feel like I have an ulcer in my stomach after getting this pissed for so many days in a row."

"Way to keep the focus, Zaos," Drannor said and then rolled his eyes. "Did you forget our job?"

"No, but I don't think Ameria needs protection," Zaos said. "She has the skills to protect herself against low-lives. I didn't waste four months teaching her for nothing."

"You just said that you wasted…" Ameria frowned.

"Well, it is just a figure of speech," Zaos said. "Regardless, she can enhance her body and with her good eyesight, she can dodge as many arrows as she wants."

"I don't know how to do that yet," Ameria said.

"It is the same process, just visualize the area that you want to enhance and then cast the spell," Zaos said. "If you enhance your arm, I would bet that you can win against Drannor in a contest of strength."