Volume Two: The Iron-Blooded Baron Chapter 126: Thieves from the Sea (Part Twelve)

Heeding the advice of my editor and fellow authors, I will update at least four thousand words a day, keeping individual chapters concise. Starting today, I will post two chapters daily, totaling over four thousand words. Thank you all for your support!

Asedan stood at the prow, wiping away tears before striking the railing twice with force. He bellowed, "Put your backs into it! The sooner we make land, the sooner we can hack those Brik bastards to pieces!"

"Don't you worry, Old Man Asedan!" the pirates roared in unison.

Most of Asedan’s crew were young men between the ages of fifteen and thirty. They held deep respect for their fifty-year-old leader, whose agility remained sharp. Asedan balanced his strict discipline with genuine care and concern, earning a devotion from these pillagers that mirrored the bond between a father and his sons; hence, they called him "Old Man Asedan."

Seeing his men respond with laughter and spirit, Asedan grinned. "Good, you pups! May the Goddess of the Sea grant you her favor, so you’re still alive to drink with me when this is done!"

"Hahaha!" The men roared with laughter, bantering back at their leader.

"When that time comes, I’ll drink Old Man Asedan under the table—though I’d never be able to take him in a fight," one young pirate joked.

Another pirate, straining at his oar, shouted back in a gruff voice, "I’ve got a different plan. I’m going to chop off that swinish lord’s head and, while Old Man Asedan is passed out drunk, shove it into his bedroll."

"Hahaha! That’s too cruel! Why not send the lord’s wife into Old Man Asedan’s bed instead?" a comrade beside him laughed.

The pirate rolled his eyes, then smirked wickedly. "Then I’ll just hold that Brik woman and crawl into the bedroll with Old Man Asedan myself."

The comment was met with a brief silence, followed by an explosion of raucous laughter. The sub-leader standing nearby, directing the oarsmen, laughed so hard he doubled over, and the pirates on neighboring boats joined in the merriment.

Asedan gave the man a light flick with his whip, though he didn't use any real force. "You lecherous pups, save your strength! Don’t just waste it on jokes about your old man; you’ll have nothing left for the fighting!"

"Don't worry, Old Man, we won't!"

"Exactly! What do we have to fear from these weaklings?"

"Right! We’ll take their castle by tonight and sleep with their women!"

The pirates accelerated, their laughter echoing across the water. Soon, they reached the Forest Lake and located the pier previously built by Berion and his men. After sending scouts ahead to ensure the area was clear, Asedan ordered them to make landfall.

The Toba pirates were born warriors. Because Toba Island was small with limited arable land and plagued by annual storms, it could not support a large population. The descendants of the New Gal nobility, who had conquered the island’s natives, relied on their formidable combat prowess to raid New Gal Island.

What began as raids against ancestral enemies soon revealed that looting was more profitable than farming or herding. The entire island adopted this way of life, and over a century, Toba Island developed a social structure predicated on external predation. Boys were destined to be warriors from birth, and every healthy male began training at the age of five.

After ten years of rigorous combat training, they were ready to join the adults on raids by fifteen. These highly skilled, lethal machines often made short work of Brik and Valundian forces; they were, after all, professional killers.

It was not only the men. Young, strong women also practiced martial arts from childhood, giving rise to shield-maidens similar to those in the legends of Berion’s previous life. These fierce warriors were tall and immensely strong. Near the Krivo Hills, a band of just five Toba shield-maidens had defeated over a dozen armed infantrymen led by a knight, decapitating the nobleman himself and losing only one of their own in the process.

It was this knowledge of the Toba pirates' terrifying combat ability that had prompted Berion to order a retreat upon learning that fifteen hundred of them were approaching. He knew that with his current, battered forces, he stood no chance against such fierce warriors.

These men, who spent most of their lives in conflict, quickly established a defensive perimeter upon landing to prevent any surprise ambushes while the rest of the fleet docked. They were consummate professionals, clearly seasoned in the art of war.

Once everyone except the ship guards had landed, the pirates cut timber to rapidly construct a simple camp. Though it appeared rudimentary, it was fortified with caltrops, pits, and other defenses that would prove deadly to any unsuspecting force attempting a night raid.

The search for a landing site had taken considerable time, and by the time the camp was established, darkness had fallen. Asedan knew that no matter how impatient he was, he would have to wait until morning to launch his attack; his men were exhausted.

After Asedan ordered them to rest, the pirates gathered in small groups around campfires, drinking and eating. They knew this was their last night of leisure before the relentless fighting began at dawn.

Every move the pirates made at the Forest Lake pier was observed by Balin and his men. Once it was clear the pirates were settling in for the night, Balin left two squads to maintain surveillance.

The remaining four squads of the reconnaissance unit took turns resting in shifts, while Balin himself headed to Greenhill Village to report to Berion.

Indeed, Berion was not at Norlanden Castle on Stormwind Peak. He had stationed the Norlanden Infantry and Cavalry regiments in Greenhill Village. As for Norlanden Castle, it was nothing more than a delicious, poisoned bait, waiting for the pirates to take a bite.

When Balin arrived at Greenhill Village, Berion was in a civilian house, discussing strategy with Bess, Barrett, and Gamlin. After waiting outside for a moment, he was spotted by Bran, who was carrying dishes from the kitchen, and was ushered inside.

After Balin briefed them on the situation, Berion smiled. "Just as we anticipated. The pirates will camp by the lake, rest for the night, and attack tomorrow."

"Since everything is going according to plan, let us prepare to serve our guests the two grand surprises we have in store."

"Hahaha!" The group laughed in unison, while at the Forest Lake pier, Asedan remained blissfully unaware of what the man he hated so dearly had prepared for him.