CHAPTER 210: CHAPTER 186: PIRATE ATTACK_3

Meanwhile, Lance was learning the Barbarian Tribes’ dialect from Boudica, essentially teaching each other their languages.

In the room, Lance was forcing Boudica to study hard, which for her was even more painful than receiving several punches.

Until suddenly, a series of urgent knocks interrupted them. "Lord! Pirates!"

Just my luck. Lance thought.

Lance no longer had time to worry about language lessons and quickly rushed out of the room.

Boudica, on the other hand, felt like she had finally been saved. Compared to learning, she preferred fighting. For her, a chance to hack and slash was ideal. Not to mention, she had been going stir-crazy from idleness these past few days. She instantly grabbed her War Halberd and dashed out after him.

As soon as Lance stepped onto the deck, he saw the sailors gathered and overheard their discussions.

"We can’t escape, can we?"

"Their ship is much faster than ours. It’s only a matter of time before they catch up."

Their faces were grim, except for the old captain, who looked as composed as ever. It seemed he wasn’t boasting; he truly had experience fighting Pirates.

Lance didn’t blame them. They had never encountered Pirates while running their river transports, so their reactions were only natural.

He briskly walked to the bow and took the telescope from the old captain’s hand. Looking out, he did indeed spot a ship. However, it wasn’t flying a Skull Flag, so how could they be sure it was a pirate ship?

Lance voiced his doubt. The old captain beside him pointed and explained, "That’s a fast ship, built for speed. Merchant fleets wouldn’t use such a vessel, and warships have their own markings—this one has none. Moreover, Lord, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but their sail pattern is strange. I bet their deck is filled with Pirates ready for a boarding action. Also, after spotting us, they didn’t immediately follow. Instead, they hung back for quite some time before approaching. As soon as they did, they kept gaining speed. Looking at their course, they’re clearly intent on intercepting us, regardless of whether we accelerate or turn around. It’s definitely a pirate ship."

Hearing the captain’s explanation, Lance understood quite a few things.

"They’ve pegged us as easy prey," Lance remarked, a mocking smile touching his lips as he eyed the approaching vessel through the telescope.

"Prepare for battle. We can’t escape this one," Lance said, handing the telescope back to the captain, who appeared not the least bit worried.

Lance had been somewhat concerned. He didn’t fear a fight, but he worried about the ship getting damaged. If too many people ended up overboard, few would survive. But after confirming that the opposing ship didn’t have any cannons, just an ordinary sailing ship, he felt relieved.

Lance’s audacious words left the sailors speechless, stunned into silence. What kind of merchant ship deliberately waits for a pirate ship to approach?

However, his command found support from two people.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!" Boudica roared, raising her War Halberd, shouting the words she had learned and remembered best over the past few days. She had been cooped up these past few days and desperately needed a fight to vent.

The old captain was advanced in years, but his spirit was undiminished. Faced with this situation, he unsheathed the curved sword at his waist. "I reckon there are no more than fifty or sixty Pirates on that ship. With so many of us here, each with a blade, we could chop them into mincemeat! Besides, with Lord Lance here, what’s there to fear?"

It dawned on the sailors then that this was no ordinary cargo run—they had over a hundred Guards on board, not to mention a powerful Barbarian Tribes warrior. They had also heard of her exaggerated exploits from the refugees. With Lord Lance right there before them, their initial fear of the Pirates was swept away, replaced by courage!

"Brothers, grab your weapons! Don’t let those bastards look down on us!" the old captain shouted, twirling the cutlass in his hand, seemingly recapturing the vigor of his younger days.

The sailors were eager for the fight, showing no fear. They were paid well for their service to the Lord, with additional compensation for injuries or death, freeing them from future worries. They might even gain the Lord’s favor with a Pirate’s head. Sometimes, the influence of personal reputation was just that powerful. Of course, the substantial rewards and security were even more tangible motivators.

"Signal the ships behind us: we’re about to engage! Tell them to stay alert and prepare to provide support!" Lance commanded. "As for the rest of you! Aside from the sailors needed to control the ship, everyone else get below! Use the miscellaneous cargo to build barricades! Have the Guards use long spears to block the access points from the rear! Don’t let a single Pirate below deck! And also..."

Lance quickly laid out his strategy. It was simple: he and Boudica would deal with the Pirates, while everyone else hid and waited for it to be over.

"Lord, these lads are top-notch; they won’t disappoint you," the old captain said, clearly not understanding the plan. The sailors’ excitement, once kindled, wasn’t so easily quelled, and they began to volunteer for the fight.

"Lord!"

"Let me do it!"

"Count me in!"

...

"We can’t afford casualties among you. Who would steer the ship then?" Lance stated, not giving in but instead dismissing the sailors’ pleas.

His reason for not wanting them to engage the Pirates was simple: he needed sailors to man the ship and maintain speed. Any casualties among them would slow him down.

The old captain understood the logic. Still, could two people really kill dozens of Pirates? He couldn’t help but caution, "But these Pirates aren’t like those refugees. These fiends are extremely brutal, with blood on their hands."

"That’s why I’ve ordered the Guards to form ranks with their long spears to hold the corridors," Lance explained. "The Pirates will only be able to fight me on this deck."