Chapter 427: The Battle Begins

At this moment, inside the Alliance Wing fleet, things were not as calm as Angela had imagined.

"These are my final terms. As long as you help us seize the Dawn, or even just disrupt the destroyer's combat capability, I can guarantee the safety of your cargo and ships. From now on, you only need to pay us a tax. The three pirate groups—Battleaxe, Gray Wolf, and Blackfire—will, in the form of a Styx Covenant, ensure the safety of your cargo ships in these waters."

"Please think it over carefully. These terms are already quite generous, and I will not increase the stakes. If you agree, then act as soon as possible. I will wait only until eight o'clock tomorrow; after that, all promises will be void. I have said my piece. You all must look out for yourselves—"

After the paper that had taken human form burned to ashes on the wooden table, the breathing of the few people in the captain's cabin grew heavy. They exchanged glances, their eyes heavy with hesitation.

"I think Mr. Cassari Gates is quite sincere. If he wanted to deceive us, he wouldn't use this tone or these terms."

"Of course! Since we're about to sign a Styx Covenant, the chance of him backing out is extremely small. But the problem is the Mitchell Group. Did you all see? The interaction between that Miss Angela and our团长—they're a couple now. I believe her warning was serious. No one should underestimate the determination of a woman in love."

"The Mitchell Group is very powerful. On the west coast of the Antoria Continent, they have two hunter groups, an armed force of 110,000 men, three full regular armored divisions, and four regular mixed brigades. It's said that behind the Phantom Angel Pirate Group, which has 120 ships, is also the Mitchell Group."

"Bullshit!"

"If we don't accept the Battleaxe Pirate Group's offer, we'll only end up destroyed. If we accept, we'll just die a little later."

"I think we don't need to worry too much about that Miss Angela. After all, she's not Mr. Mitchell himself."

"But she's the sole heir of the Mitchell Group. I think if Miss Angela has the will, Mr. Mitchell could just give a casual order and crush us."

At this moment, someone asked thoughtfully, "I want to ask you all: do you believe what our团长 said?"

"Ha! He said this situation is exactly what he wanted to see, that he could deal with those pirates? Does he take us for fools?"

"It's hard to believe. A brat who rose to power just a few months ago without family support boasts about taking down those three pirate groups. His current strength is considerable, but not to that extent."

"Then I think dying later is better than dying sooner. The Mitchell Group is indeed an irresistible force, but the deadly danger is right in front of us."

"If the Mitchell Group really wants to hunt us down, we can find a way to deal with it, can't we?"

At this moment, the people in the cabin fell into dead silence.

While the many captains of the Alliance Wing fleet were discussing, Cassari Gates stood on the upper deck of the armed merchant ship 'Aglaea' inspecting the magic arrays there.

Not far from him, Adam Hydra was also wandering around the deck, observing.

"Solomon's Scepter? Gates, you even got your hands on such a good thing? An ancient relic like that must be worth several billion, right? If I'm not mistaken, you're trying to usurp Robert's divine authority over the 'Wind of Battle'?"

"Just a little attempt."

Cassari Gates's face showed an expectant look: "As for Solomon's Scepter, I borrowed it from someone through connections. I hope I succeed."

"That's not fair, Gates."

Hydra's expression was displeased: "We were invited here, risking our lives to besiege that 'Blood-eyed Angel,' and you're secretly plotting this, trying to take the benefits for yourself?"

"Haha, my friend. Since I brought you onto this ship, I never intended to hide it from you. How can you say it's secret? Ultimately, whether I can seize Robert's divine authority this time depends on your cooperation."

Cassari Gates laughed loudly, then held up a finger: "Help me with all your strength this time, and I'll pay your Gray Wolf Pirate Group one billion gold shields."

Hydra's eyes instantly glimmered: "This is divine authority! Without at least five billion gold shields, don't expect us to help you."

"Three billion! If it fails, that's one billion as compensation; if it succeeds, that's three billion."

Cassari Gates's voice was firm: "I can offer at most this amount. Hydra, my money doesn't come from the wind."

"Deal!" Hydra's face regained its smile: "I promise to do my best to help you, but I won't let our legendary advisor be put in danger because of this promise. You understand, right, Cassari?"

"Of course!"

Cassari Gates smiled: "Shall we sign the contract now?"

"Alright!" Hydra nodded: "But I'm curious, how do you plan to convince Blackfire? Although they cooperate with you more, they might not agree easily. By the way, the people from the Alliance Wing fleet you contacted—do they agree to turn?"

"Whether they turn or not is actually irrelevant. Our primary goal right now is still the Blood-eyed Angel."

Cassari Gates sneered: "As long as she shows up here today, we win. The Alliance Wing fleet and that lucky Andre—we can deal with them later."

At that moment, Cassari suddenly felt a stir in his heart, looked in a certain direction, and then his gaze sharpened.

"Is this telepathy? No sooner did I speak of this woman than she arrives. It seems this loyal maid cares far more about her young master than we imagined. Less than a day and a half—too fast. She didn't hesitate at all."

...

About fifty kilometers from Cassari Gates, a black-haired woman in a maid's uniform gazed coldly into the distance at the shadowy 'Battleaxe' fleet hidden in the thick fog.

Just as she tightened her grip on the Thousand Mechanism Umbrella and prepared to move forward, a figure suddenly appeared nearby.

"You shouldn't have come, Katarina."

It was a middle-aged man with golden hair, wearing glasses, and possessing a refined temperament. His expression was gloomy, and his voice carried a sigh as he called the Blood-eyed Maid by her original name: "I know you have the keenest intuition for danger, so you must also sense that this is a trap set for you. They are waiting for you to walk in, like a moth into a spider's web, to capture and kill you."

Robert Yvonne glanced at him indifferently, a hint of surprise showing on her face, then she continued flying through the air with a cold expression. Behind her, cyan wind wings appeared, and with the aid of the gale, her flight speed instantly increased to Mach 3.

But then the middle-aged man flashed and blocked her path.

"Don't be so foolish, Lina. If you go now, there is no outcome other than death."