Chapter 369 Hunting Order
Cerdeaux, Cerdeauxia.
"How many ships have we lost?" Acellin, the Trunk of Cerdeauxia asked through clenched teeth.
His tone strained as he fought to control his anger.
He knew that letting his anger erupt now wouldn't help the situation. Nevertheless, the veins still pop up on his forehead.
Currently, the atmosphere in the opulent office was not very comfortable for anyone to stay inside.
On this particular day, the opulence of the room seemed overshadowed by Acellin's mounting frustration.
The captain of the merchant ships stammered in response, his voice trembling with fear, "T-twenty ships, sir."
He was acutely aware of his employer's intense disdain for losses in business.
lightsΝοvel.cοm Acellin's eyes blazed with frustration as he heard the captain's reply. "Twenty..." he muttered under his breath.
He closed his eyes briefly.
His fingers tapped rhythmically on the polished wooden surface of his desk while his mind raced, swiftly calculating the immense value of the goods that he had lost.
In conclusion, the loss was staggering.
The profit was not solely for his personal wealth but it also played a pivotal role in financing the operations of the Blackout and ensuring Walter could comfortably sit in his presidential seat.
Meanwhile, the captain of the merchant ships watched nervously as the tapping sound took over the entire room.
Losing twenty ships was a catastrophic blow, one that his employer couldn't easily overlook, especially considering the substantial investments that had gone into those voyages.
The room remained enveloped in uncomfortable silence until Acellin finally broke it with a stern inquiry, "You said it was pirates that attacked you?"
"Y-yes, sir. Pirates, for certain." The captain of the merchant ships, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, responded with a vigorous nod. He then proceeded to describe the pirate he encountered.
Acellin's brows furrowed in deep thought. "That's weird... I'm pretty sure all the pirates are on my payroll." His words carried a note of disbelief.
It was common knowledge that pirates were motivated by greed, and Acellin had long maintained a financial arrangement with them.
However, he knows pirates are a bunch of untrustworthy people. Simply paying them may not guarantee them from attacking his vessels.
As such, he lured the pirates by offering them an additional amount of money to attack his competitor's fleet instead.
This way, the pirates can continue their plundering activities and he can keep his fleet safe.
It's a win-win situation and it had worked remarkably well for years.
Acellin scrutinised the captain's face intensely, searching for any sign of deception but he found none.
It was evident that the captain was speaking the truth which led him to consider the possibility that these pirates might be newcomers from another region of the sea.
"Tell me about their ships," Acellin pressed, his tone firm. The financial situation of the pirate groups can be judged by their ships.
When he first started funding them, he noticed a peculiar pattern. Most of them first spend the money on their ships, then weapons and finally rations.
The captain cleared his throat before responding, "Y-yes, sir. Their ships appeared to be like any normal wooden vessels that pass through our trade routes. There was nothing particularly outstanding about them, except for... their weaponry."
Acellin's curiosity was piqued. "Their weaponry?"
The captain nodded, "Their cannons were notably larger and more powerful. It's difficult to say where they acquired them, but they certainly weren't typical equipment found in black market. As for their skill, it was... impressive. Far more than the pirates I have ever encountered."
Acellin's mind raced with the new information. He couldn't shake the feeling that the sudden appearance of these new pirates in the region was a mere coincidence.
Pirates who roamed the Levianic Sea had well-defined territories, and trespassing into someone else's territory was a surefire way to provoke the anger of local pirates and potentially turn everyone into their sworn enemy.
No one dared to do it unless they were ready to face a full-scale war.
Acellin realized that he needed to contact all the pirates he had employed and order them to hunt down these newcomers.
He couldn't allow the order he had established to be challenged, especially not in this critical moment.
Every single coin was valuable and had an impact on his operation.
Acellin hastily shooed the captain away and, with a grim determination, made his way to the presidential office.
He didn't bother with the formalities of knocking or announcing himself.
He barged into the office with an air of entitlement that came with his immense influence.
The sudden intrusion startled President Walter Thompson, or Russell as is his real name. "M-Mr. Acellin! You didn't inform me that you would visit," he stammered.
His initial shock gave way to attempts at maintaining a facade of composure. He knew better than to defy the man who had played a significant role in putting him in the presidential seat.
"And why the hell should I inform you?!" Acellin's response was laced with a distinct air of disrespect.
He scoffed at the notion of having to inform Russell of his visit, clearly implying that such formalities were beneath him.
The room crackled with tension as Acellin took a seat, making it abundantly clear to Russell that he held all the real power in this republic.
"What do you need me for, sir?" Russell asked, his tone respectful despite how he was treated.
"I want you to move the republic's navy and hunt down pirates for me," Acellin replied bluntly.
"Hunt down the pirates?! But aren't the pirates..." Russell's voice trailed off as he voiced his shock and confusion.
But before Russell could finish his words, Acellin cut him off with a firm and commanding tone. "Not my pirates, obviously. There's a new group that's been causing trouble in this area. I want you to hunt them down and extract all the information from them. I need to know where they came from and why they're so daring."
Russell nodded vigorously, understanding the urgency and gravity of the situation. "Yes, Mr. Acellin, I will see to it personally. These newcomers won't remain a mystery for long."
Acellin gave a curt nod. "I see that you don't disappoint me, Russell. Do it as soon as possible. My operations depend on this."
As Acellin turned to leave, he asked one more question, "Did you people send across the border as I told you to?"
Russell nods firmly, "I have, sir. They're clear with their mission, to take advantage of the situation and fan the flames."
"Good, Russell. Make sure they stir up enough chaos."
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