Chapter 92

When General Samuele informed Crown Prince Gaius about the details of the small armored high-speed boat, the prince contacted them, expressing his desire to see it in person.

Ricardo consulted with the general and decided to head to the port of Yaro, the capital of the Yorgul territory, on the small armored high-speed boat. Ricardo, the general, and four of the general's subordinates boarded the boat, which set off for Yorgul.

With the speed of this boat, they would arrive in Yaro in about an hour. At the port of Yaro, Crown Prince Gaius was waiting.

"Ricardo, you've worked hard."

The prince observed the small armored high-speed boat as if appraising it.

"Can I board it?"

"Of course."

After inspecting the boat, the prince expressed his desire to test the ride, circling the harbor. After experiencing the boat's speed, the prince nodded in satisfaction.

"The speed surpasses that of pirate ships. However, relying solely on the magic cannon with the [Thunder Vortex Steel Bullet] spell is a bit unsettling."

General Samuele looked perplexed.

"However, with this size, we cannot mount other weapons."

Warships were sometimes equipped with ballistae, but the small armored high-speed boat was too small to carry one.

"Wooden sailing ships are weak against fire. Can we prepare a magic cannon with a [Fire] spell?"

Upon hearing this, Ricardo furrowed his brow. Magic cannons with [Fire] spells had already been created, such as the [Flame Soaring Bullet] (an upper-level beginner spell) and the [Explosive Flame Bullet] (a lower-level intermediate spell). However, they had short ranges. Ricardo also thought that integrating long-range advanced magic into a magic cannon was currently beyond their technology.

Ricardo was determined to cooperate in any way he could with the pirate suppression. If the prince needed more weapons, he would make them.

"Will you help us suppress the pirates, Your Highness?"

In response to Ricardo's question, the prince, with his usual villainous expression, replied,

"If the anti-pirate force prepared by His Majesty fails, I intend to do so."

The general turned his gaze to the prince.

"I don't think the anti-pirate force will succeed. General Udolpho is a smooth talker, but a second-rate soldier."

"But not all of General Udolpho's subordinates are incompetent. We are preparing a force to deal with the pirates in case of an emergency."

The prince seemed frustrated that the king, his father, wouldn't entrust the matter to him. However, he didn't seem ready to push his father aside and take control of the country.

The prince seemed to like the small armored high-speed boat.

"Still, the combination of this magic furnace and the magic-driven flywheel is revolutionary. If this technology is utilized, it could significantly boost the country's power, don't you think?"

Ricardo knew that the Industrial Revolution on Earth was due to the development of several production technologies and the invention of the steam engine.

As the prince said, the two technologies Ricardo developed could be a driving force for the country's growth, but the current king might find it overwhelming. It might be dangerous to spread the technology until the prince becomes king.

When Ricardo conveyed his concerns to the prince, the prince smiled wryly.

"There's no way to argue against that. I can't say the current administration is managing the country well."

Ricardo thought the Kingdom of Romanus was similar to Japan's Sengoku period, a time when the authority of the Ashikaga Shogunate declined and the Sengoku daimyo rose to power.

While the Romanus royal family wasn't as fallen as the Ashikaga Shogunate, a careless mistake could lead to the country being taken over by the Duke of Melvis in the east or the Duke of Octavius in the north.

Nobles above the rank of viscount, once called guardian nobles, received land from the king and were responsible for protecting the people. However, with the decline of royal authority, the guardian nobles now governed their territories almost independently, starting wars and fighting over land.

The current king, from the previous generation to the present, had created this state of affairs.

After a while, the conversation about the magic furnace and the magic-driven flywheel became lively, but the topic returned to the pirate problem, and the prince looked grim. Seeing this, General Samuele mentioned a concern.

"The disruption of maritime trade is affecting the lives of the common people in the capital. If we don't resolve the pirate problem soon, the Eastern Vixen or the Northern Old Fox will take advantage of it."

"I understand. However, if I interfere and forcibly create another anti-pirate force, His Majesty will get angry and take it away."

The prince seemed to plan to inform the king about the small armored high-speed boat when the anti-pirate force failed and ask to be entrusted with the task of suppressing the pirates.

However, this would delay the suppression of the pirates and increase the number of victims.

Listening to the conversation, Ricardo had an idea. He thought about creating a secret force to deal with the pirates. After suppressing the pirates, the force could be quickly disbanded to avoid detection by the royal family.

When Ricardo proposed this to the prince and the general, they began to consider it.

"However, a considerable amount of funds will be needed to create such a force. Of course, I will contribute if it is decided to create it, but I cannot cover the entire cost."

To create a force with two small armored high-speed boats, they would need more than thirty people, including combatants, a base of operations, catalyst cartridges for training and combat, and maintenance costs.

The general, who had been listening silently, suggested,

"Why not approach the heads of the Milan and Naspetti financial groups for cooperation? They also operate maritime businesses, so their interests align."

"Hmm, we can convey the request for cooperation to the Milan group through Bernaldo and the Naspetti group through the general."

"We can make them promise to keep the involvement of the prince a secret."

The discussion concluded, and General Samuele was to take the lead.

Returning to the capital, Ricardo began developing a magic cannon.

Improving the magic cannon based on the [Thunder Vortex Steel Bullet] spell to create one that spreads flames instead of electricity was not a difficult task. It only required changing the magic circuit.

Crown Prince Gaius named the new magic cannon Ricardo created the 'Flame Steel Magic Cannon' and the original [Thunder Vortex Steel Bullet] magic cannon the 'Thunder Steel Magic Cannon'.

Ricardo sent twenty Flame Steel Magic Cannons and their dedicated catalyst cartridges to the prince.

Crown Prince Gaius and General Samuele secretly gathered personnel and formed a force called the 'Patriotic Self-Defense Corps' to deal with the pirates. The two financial groups had agreed to provide the funds.

Currently, the Patriotic Self-Defense Corps is repeating training in operating the small armored high-speed boats and shooting the Flame Steel Magic Cannons, waiting for their moment to act. The members are former monster hunters and soldiers with combat training.

A month passed, and news reached the capital that the anti-pirate force created by General Udolpho had engaged in a naval battle with the pirates. The result was a crushing defeat for the anti-pirate force.

King Althibald summoned General Udolpho to the audience chamber. In the audience chamber were General Samuele, several royal guards, Baron Alfred, and high-ranking nobles.

General Udolpho knelt on one knee in front of the throne, his head bowed, waiting for the king's words. Only the royal guards were allowed to be armed in the audience chamber, so General Udolpho had no sword at his waist.

"You failed, I hear."

General Udolpho, pale-faced, trembled.

"I am sorry."

General Udolpho repeatedly apologized. Each time, the king's face turned red with anger.

"Do you think an apology will suffice? You useless man!"

The king's anger was intense. General Udolpho trembled and shrank back.

Seeing this, the king became even angrier and stood up from the throne. He walked briskly to the kneeling General Udolpho and kicked him in the head.

"Are you just all talk?"

Seeing the king's anger, the others turned pale.

General Udolpho seemed to panic. He let out a strange cry, stood up, and rushed at the king.

General Udolpho pushed the king to the ground and began to strangle him with both hands.

"What are you doing!"

General Samuele shouted and rushed over.

"Your Majesty!" "Guards, what are you doing!"

Shouts rose from among the high-ranking officials.

King Althibald, his face contorted with fear, struggled to free himself from General Udolpho's hands. General Samuele drew his sword.

"Traitor!"

General Samuele swung his sword at General Udolpho's back. A large gash appeared on Udolpho's back, and blood splattered, some of it hitting the king, turning his face red.

"Ah!"

The king screamed as General Udolpho's hands released his neck.

The royal guards pulled General Udolpho away from the king. King Althibald continued to scream, his face contorted with fear.

"What are you doing? Call a magic doctor!"

"Take His Majesty to the inner chamber!"

The high-ranking officials gave orders in a panic. The castle of Vizel was in an uproar.

General Samuele ordered the castle to be sealed to prevent rumors from spreading outside.

Meanwhile, the news of the anti-pirate force's defeat caused an outcry among the residents of the capital.

"What is the king doing?"

"If this continues, business will be impossible."

When the news of the anti-pirate force's defeat reached the prince in the Yorgul territory, the Patriotic Self-Defense Corps received orders to begin operations.

Ricardo volunteered to participate in the Patriotic Self-Defense Corps' operation. When he received a message from the prince, he waited on a beach near the breeding grounds, and a small armored high-speed boat came to pick him up.

The leader of the Patriotic Self-Defense Corps was a man in his thirties named Moratti, a former monster hunter.

"Leader, nice to meet you."

"Likewise. It's a great help to have Ricardo, the developer of this boat, joining us."

Ricardo respected Moratti as an adult. He thought that if a boy said he would join in suppressing pirates, he would be considered a hindrance.

At this time, Ricardo was completely unaware of the major incident that had occurred at Vizel Castle. The members of the Patriotic Self-Defense Corps were also unaware.

The Patriotic Self-Defense Corps received information that pirate ships were appearing on the route between the capital of the Boniperti territory, Berio, and the capital. Ricardo and his team headed to the port town of Jibka and then to Kilmon.

Ricardo and his team gathered information about the pirates in the coastal towns and patrolled the vicinity of the Belseb Islands for two days. On the afternoon of the third day, a lookout member, standing on the armor, spotted what appeared to be pirate ships.

"Pirate ships sighted on the port bow!"

Upon receiving this report, the members began preparing for battle.

There were three pirate ships, all chasing a single cargo-passenger ship heading to the Boniperti territory.

The leader, Moratti, gave the order, and the two small armored high-speed boats pursued the pirate ships at full speed. The wind was a crosswind, and the waves were high, causing the small armored high-speed boats to rock as they increased their speed.

While the small armored high-speed boats were in pursuit, the cargo-passenger ship was captured by the pirate ships. The sails of the cargo-passenger ship caught fire, and its speed dropped sharply.

The largest pirate ship approached the cargo-passenger ship and boarded it. The pirates began attacking the crew and passengers. Some of the crew resisted with weapons, but it was only a delaying action.

Another pirate ship also approached and boarded the cargo-passenger ship. The passengers screamed, and the situation was dire.

The pirate ship that had not yet boarded the cargo-passenger ship noticed the approaching small armored high-speed boats. It was the smallest of the pirate ships but much larger than the small armored high-speed boats.

The pirate ship headed towards the small armored high-speed boats, seemingly underestimating them.

Moratti, the leader, shouted while looking at the pirate ship.

"Let's take them down!"

The members responded with a loud "Yeah!"

Ricardo noticed that communication between the small armored high-speed boats was difficult. The armor made it impossible to signal with flags, and the member at the stern had to blow a horn to signal.

"If only we had a radio..."

Ricardo muttered. He briefly considered making a magical device but realized it would take decades with his current knowledge.

The two small armored high-speed boats split and approached the pirate ship from the port and starboard sides. As they got closer, numerous arrows were fired from the pirate ship. The arrows, flying in an arc, hit the armor of the small armored high-speed boats and were deflected by the sturdy scales.

Inside, Ricardo only heard the clattering sound of the arrows hitting the armor. The armor was undamaged.

The members loaded the Flame Steel Magic Cannons with catalyst cartridges and aimed at the pirate ship through the gunports. The high waves made it difficult to aim.

The triggers of the Flame Steel Magic Cannons were pulled, and five streams of flame-wrapped steel vortices shot out from the gunports on one side. Three missed, but two hit the side of the pirate ship and exploded.

Holes about thirty centimeters in diameter were opened. If they had been closer to the waterline, seawater would have flooded the ship.

From the opposite side, the small armored high-speed boat fired at the pirate ship's mast, setting the sails on fire.

The two small boats began circling the now slower pirate ship.

In this situation, a magic spell, likely an [Explosive Flame Bullet], flew from the pirate ship and hit the armor, exploding. The armor deflected the explosive flames, but the small armored high-speed boat shook violently, and the explosion deafened Ricardo. The other members also seemed to be covering their ears.

"Damn, we should have brought earplugs."

Ricardo cursed, his hand on his ear, and glared at the pirate ship through the gunport. He took out a death prod and a catalyst and aimed at the pirate ship.

He released his magic and aimed. It took some time to sprinkle the catalyst, but he managed to fire a [Sun Flame Bullet].

The Sun Flame Bullet flew towards the pirate ship and hit the bow, turning it to ash. Not only that, but the pirate ship began to burn.

The pirate ship started to sink from the bow.

"Quite impressive. I can see why the prince ordered you to join us."

Moratti, the leader, called out to Ricardo.

"Huh, what did you say?"

Ricardo covered his ear, indicating he hadn't heard. Moratti also thought earplugs were absolutely necessary.

The two small armored high-speed boats left the burning pirate ship and headed towards the cargo-passenger ship. On the pirate ship that had boarded the cargo-passenger ship, the pirates who had moved to the cargo-passenger ship were returning.

Once all the pirates were back, the pirate ship left the side of the cargo-passenger ship and headed towards the small armored high-speed boats.