Chapter 470 - 197: "Cowardly Purple Flower

BOOM, BOOM-BOOM!

At Ronan’s command, the three mechanical cannons on the port side fired three shells in succession. They thundered as they traced an arc through the air, crashing into the sea three kilometers away and kicking up plumes of spray.

"The cowardly Wester Clan... whether you run or wait where you are, the choice is yours!"

Ronan wasn’t worried about them fleeing; on the contrary, he was rather hoping the Wester Clan would choose to do just that.

For one, it had been a long time since the crew had a good score. For another, after the pursuit by the Dawn Judgment Knight, the number of pirates on board had dwindled significantly. They were in desperate need of fresh hands, especially common sailors.

At that moment, aboard the Wester Clan merchant vessel that was in the middle of turning around, everyone froze when they heard the three cannon shots.

"Why are they firing? Has the Dawn Church started playing by pirate rules now?"

"What’s going on?"

Just then, a clear voice rang out, asking in a serious tone, "Fleming, get a clearer look. Is that really a Dawn Church ship or not?"

"Captain, the ship’s profile is definitely the *Kenzan Frolov*, the Dawn Church’s permanent vessel here on the West Coast. I couldn’t mistake it... Wait!"

A sailor in an undershirt shouted in surprise from the crow’s nest, "Captain, the sigil on that ship’s sail isn’t the half-sun crest of the Dawn Church! It’s a design I’ve never seen before—looks like a jester?"

"Damn it, you nearly got us killed!" A sturdily built woman in a dark green formal dress and a tricorne hat snapped angrily, "Stop the ship, now!"

"But, the ship’s figurehead..."

"Veniamin, did you not hear me? Stop the ship immediately!" A hint of killing intent flashed across the female captain’s face. "Or would you rather be the first one those pirates make an example of?"

"Yes, Captain!"

"..."

In the distance, Ronan watched the two ships slow to a halt. His triangular eyes drooped as he grumbled, "Just as expected of the ’Cowardly Purple Flowers.’ Not a shred of resistance..."

"Second Officer, they’ve stopped!"

Seeing this, the other pirates raised their weapons and cheered loudly. "Haha, after two months, we finally run into some unlucky sods! We’re about to make a fortune in gold pounds!"

"I just hope there are women on those ships. The kind they get for us, preferably..."

"Shut your mouth! You say that, and I’m about to stand at attention!"

"..."

Normally, under the old ship’s rules, they wouldn’t have been too concerned about a captured merchant vessel, since they only received a small fraction of the spoils.

But ever since their victory over Henrik of the *Storm Hunter*, they had been surprised to find that not only was their share of gold pounds not a single coin less, but they had also received several pieces of equipment as a bonus. Upon asking, they learned from Ronan that the captain had established new rules...

"Second Officer, should we inform the captain?"

"Almost forgot about that," Ronan said, a grin spreading across his face. "Someone go to the ship’s bottom and notify the captain!"

This was the method of contact Wei’en had told him about. In an emergency, he was to go to the ship’s bottom and find the dazed pirate, and then they would return to the *Leonard*...

A short while later, the *Leonard* slowly decelerated and came to a stop alongside the two three-masted schooners.

The difference in hull size was staggering to everyone from the Wester Clan. Compared to the *Leonard*, their two three-masted schooners, merely an eighth of its size, looked like children.

The sturdy female captain at the lead could not hide the shock on her face as she yelled, "I am of the Wester Clan, Antonella Wester! May I ask, which Pirate Gang are you?"

’It really is the Dawn Church’s *Kenzan Frolov*. To think someone would dare to seize a ship belonging to the Dawn Church!’

’Just what Pirate Gang has this kind of power?’

’Is it the Black Pearl, the Golden Dis, or Alanjia from the Western Continent?’

"This is Leonard’s Pirate Gang!" Ronan stood on the forecastle deck, looking down triumphantly at the ships below as he shouted.

"Leonard’s Pirate Gang?"

The sailors on the Wester Clan’s ship all looked confused, exchanging glances. "Have you ever heard of this Pirate Gang?"

"Never heard of them..."

"But a Pirate Gang that can hijack a Dawn Church vessel... It looks like a new, up-and-coming Pirate Gang has appeared on the Cordo Sea!"

"Huh? That guy... I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before?"

"Eh?"

"Isn’t that Ronan? The Mechanical Demon, Ronan! Look at his mechanical arm!"

"Ronan? That bastard from the *Golden Dis*?"

Within the crowd, some sailors who recognized Ronan’s identity had their expressions change. They were suddenly reminded of a news story they had seen not long ago...

"It’s the Red-Haired Captain!"

"The Red-Haired Captain who killed Captain Henrik of the Black Pearl?!"

"No wonder they dared to mess with the Dawn Church..."

Antonella stood at the bow, gazing up at the massive, white-and-gold-striped sailing ship. Listening to her crew’s murmurs, she too recalled the origins of this Pirate Gang.

’The Red-haired Captain...’

"Excuse me, this... Ronan..."

"*Second Officer*!" Ronan corrected her.

He was terrified she might call him ’Captain Ronan.’ If the real captain overheard and got displeased, that would be bad.

"Then, may I ask, Lord Second Officer, what is it that you require from us?" Antonella took a deep breath and looked at Ronan to ask.

’It seems this Mechanical Demon has completely betrayed the *Golden Dis* and chosen to join a new Pirate Gang.’

’Damn it. New, up-and-coming pirate gangs usually means they don’t play by the rules!’

"According to the rules of the sea, you’ll hand over half of everything on your ships. And..." Ronan stared at her with his triangular eyes and grinned maliciously. "I’ll also be taking one-third of your people!"