Chapter 231: Borch Will Handle It
Lynn returned to his cabin.
Instead of lying on the bed, he sat on the floor and entered a state of meditation.
This allowed him to be ready to jump into battle at any moment.
He chuckled self-deprecatingly: "I can't believe I ran into pirates on my first sea voyage. My luck is truly something else."
After some time, there was a series of violent knocks on the cabin door, accompanied by a sailor's shouting.
"Sir Witcher, the captain sent me to inform you to gather on deck immediately!"
Lynn opened his eyes, unlocked the cabin door, and joined the sailor on deck.
He noticed that Borch and his two Zerrikanian female bodyguards were already there.
All the sailors were also on deck, armed and ready.
However, seeing their nervous and uneasy demeanor, Lynn doubted how much they would be able to contribute when the actual fighting began.
Lynn walked over and exchanged greetings with Borch and his two companions, and the captain.
"Sir Lynn, please take a look at this."
The captain handed the spyglass to Lynn.
Lynn took it and, looking through the spyglass, saw that the ship that had been trailing them now flew a new flag:
A black flag with a skull, and a small sun emblem beside it.
Sun emblem?
This was the exclusive emblem of Nilfgaard.
Only those officially affiliated with Nilfgaard would use the sun emblem.
The captain's face beside him had already turned incredibly grim.
"I thought they were Skellige pirates, but I never expected them to be Nilfgaardian privateers."
Assuming Lynn wasn't familiar, Borch explained:
"The Nilfgaardian Empire issues privateering licenses to some pirate captains. This allows them to legally raid ships from 'non-empire-friendly' nations."
Borch squinted: "They've brought out their ballistas, quite a few of them... Their firepower is comparable to proper warships serving in the navy... Captain, how much firepower do we have on our ship?"
At the end, Borch turned to the captain.
He saw the captain's distraught face.
"What are you thinking, sir? This is a merchant ship. Where would we get ballistas? Only warships can be equipped with those. Merchant ships like ours aren't even allowed to transport ballistas; if caught smuggling them, it's a death sentence."
Sailors who spent their lives at sea naturally knew what ballistas were.
Those things could easily punch countless holes in their ship from afar.
And their accuracy was astonishingly terrifying.
How could they possibly fight?
The sailors, who had little experience with naval combat, instantly panicked.
"Captain, what do we do?"
"Quickly, use your wisdom to think of a solution!"
"Captain, should we just surrender?"
"I heard the Nilfgaardian Empire prides itself on being civilized and enlightened. Surely they won't be more savage than pirates?"
"Even pirates allow us to buy back our safety with ransom. Perhaps the Nilfgaardians only want our cargo."
Before falling into true despair, humans always cling to unrealistic hopes.
Instead of relying on their own efforts, they always place their hopes on others.
"Gentlemen, I don't know what you're thinking," Borch said in his relaxed tone, "but I have no desire to surrender to the Nilfgaardians."
"If we're captured by the Nilfgaardians, do you know what awaits us? We'll be thrown into their mines, digging until we die."
"Compared to being worked to death, I think drowning in the sea is a pretty good option."
One sailor still refused to give up the fantasy.
"Sir Borch, you don't understand. We're just a merchant ship, not a warship. Our long-range firepower is far too inferior compared to theirs."
"They can easily sink us like shooting ducks."
"Then we just don't let them utilize their long-range firepower advantage, right? We'll engage them in a boarding action directly."
Borch pointed to himself and his female bodyguards.
Then he pointed at Lynn.
"With four skilled swordsmen on your side, what are you still worrying about?"
Another sailor, however, shook his head: "Sir Borch, if we turn, they'll know what we're planning to do. You're not a man of the sea, so you don't understand how much time it takes for a ship to turn."
"That time would be enough for them to fire several volleys of concentrated fire."
"Regarding that, I have an idea that might..."
Lynn explained his plan to the others.
"Well, can it be done?"
The sailors looked at each other.
Finally, the captain spoke for the others, voicing their concerns.
"Theoretically, yes, it's feasible, but this is just a merchant ship... And besides, no one has ever done this in reality."
Lynn spread his hands: "But isn't it a way? Besides, what time is it now? If we don't fight desperately, are we really going to wait to become fish food?"
The sailors looked at each other.
The witcher's words still hadn't dispelled their worries.
Lynn's plan, in theory, certainly had some operational feasibility.
With no one able to come up with a better solution, this was their only chance to turn the tables.
However, if it failed...
But then again.
They were already at a complete disadvantage.
Hoping for a hundred percent success rate from a plan was indeed wishful thinking.
"Perhaps I'm mad, gentlemen. Let's proceed with Sir Lynn's plan."
Seeing that the captain had also given the order, the sailors, despite their lingering doubts, had no choice but to comply.
"Sir Lynn, I hope the sea gods bless us," the captain turned to Lynn and said.
Lynn patted the captain's shoulder: "Don't worry, we'll defeat these guys. When we reach the Duchy of Arcane Shores, I'll buy you a drink."
"No, no, no, I'll be buying you a drink then, sir."
After the captain walked away, Borch came to Lynn's side.
He glanced at the confident witcher.
"Are you so sure your plan will succeed?"
"Of course."
Lynn smiled and said: "And I believe you; when things are beyond salvage, you will act."
Borch: ???
Lynn, however, did not explain further.
His confidence, of course, stemmed from the fact that Borch was a dragon, and a golden dragon at that.
If they were in the world of Dungeons and Dragons, Borch would definitely belong to the chaotic good alignment.
He would not stand by and watch everyone on this merchant ship be killed by the Nilfgaardians or taken as slaves.
Borch wouldn't even need to do anything special; a simple dive from the sky or a burst of fire directed at the privateer ship would be enough.
....
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