Chapter 209 — New Dawn vs. the Blackfin Raiders
S.C. 1512 — Evening
Open Sea — East Blue Trade Route, 30 km from Fuschia Line
The sea was quiet.
Almost too quiet.
Gentle waves rolled beneath the New Dawn's flagship Azure Wind, its polished sails glowing silver under moonlight.
Kiro stood at the bow, cloak fluttering behind him, hand on the hilt of his sword.
Behind him, twenty elite operatives of New Dawn kept silent watch.
All carried light armor.
All stood straight.
All disciplined.
New Dawn was the pride of Meridian Group.
Their ship carried small crates of luxury wine, special cloth, and medicinal herbs—goods meant for a wealthy lord of the Norsin Kingdom.
Leo—now with falcon vision—stood at the mast top, scanning the horizon.
Kiro called up to him quietly.
"Anything?"
Leo narrowed his eyes, pupils adjusting instantly.
"…something's wrong," Leo whispered.
He leaned forward, focusing.
Three black shapes emerged from the mist.
Low.
Fast.
Predatory.
His breath hitched.
"Captain Kiro! Pirate ships approaching from west! Three of them!"
Kiro's expression sharpened.
"Positions!"
The crew snapped to attention.
1. The Blackfin Raiders Appear
Within minutes, the black ships cut across the wake, circling like wolves around prey.
Their flag showed a jagged shark fin.
The Blackfin Raiders—
Sea scavengers known for attacking merchant vessels.
Their captain, a tall man with metal teeth, shouted:
"Drop your cargo and we'll leave you alive!"
Kiro stepped to the rail, tone flat.
"No."
The pirate captain grinned.
"Then we'll take everything—starting with your heads!"
He raised his arm.
"FIRE!"
Cannons ignited.
2. New Dawn Holds the Line
Kiro's voice cut through the chaos like a blade.
"Brace!"
The operatives slammed shields into place, forming a tight formation.
Meridian's KEA-alloy shield set rattled from the blast but held firm.
The first volley struck harmlessly.
Leo called from the mast:
"Left ship preparing second shot!"
Kiro's eyes narrowed.
"Arci! Return fire!"
A woman with light hair and twin arm-mounted launchers stepped forward.
"Yes, sir!"
She fired two compressed-shock cartridges.
The blasts struck the left ship's side—
BOOM!
Splintering wood.
Shattering both cannons.
The pirates screamed.
"Who the hell are these people!?"
Kiro drew his sword.
The moonlight gleamed off the KEA-steel blade.
"New Dawn," he answered quietly.
"You chose the wrong target."
3. Mira's Wolves Arrive — The Flanking Strike
The right pirate ship tried circling around.
Leo's falcon vision caught the shift instantly.
"Right flank! They're trying to board!"
Kiro nodded.
"Enoch! Team two—take the small sailboat. Flank them!"
A small crew of seven leapt into the mini-boat attached to the side.
Among them, Mira's wolf-enhanced scouts—on temporary loan to New Dawn.
Their muscles tightened. Eyes sharpened.
Once on the water, they cut across the waves like predators, silent and fast.
Within seconds, they reached the right pirate ship.
"Board them," Enoch whispered.
The wolves vaulted up the ropes—
Claws gripping wood—
Movements silent and terrifying.
The pirates turned—
Too late.
The scouts swept across the deck like a storm, knocking men unconscious with precision.
No one was killed.
They cut the ship's lines, dismantled weapons, and signaled back:
"Right ship neutralized."
Kiro smirked at the efficiency.
"Good."
4. The Main Clash
Only the flagship pirate vessel remained.
It rammed forward, preparing to crash into the Azure Wind.
Kiro lifted his sword.
"Prepare for close combat!"
The elite fighters formed formation.
Pirates leapt onto the deck, yelling and swinging blades.
Kiro moved like a ghost.
His sword flashed—
Precise
Clean
Lethal without killing.
One slash disarmed.
Second slash cut rope anchors.
Third slash hit pressure points.
Every pirate who rushed him fell in seconds.
Leo fired arrows from above—
Each one hitting joints or elbows, stopping motion but not ending life.
Enoch's second team returned from the flank, sweeping across the remaining raiders.
Within minutes—
The pirate crew was on the floor.
Groaning.
Broken.
Defeated.
Kiro pointed his sword at the metal-toothed captain.
"You have two choices," he said calmly.
"Surrender and be reported to the Navy…
or continue fighting and lose more than just your crew."
The captain spat blood.
"…who are you people?"
Kiro's expression didn't change.
"Meridian Group.
Remember the name."
5. Aftermath — Cleaning the Sea
By midnight:
Two pirate ships burned.
One floated helplessly, stripped of weapons.
The sea grew quiet again.
New Dawn operatives tied the unconscious raiders, prepared a report, and salvaged supplies.
Leo descended, wiping sweat.
"We handled things pretty well."
Kiro nodded.
"You're improving fast."
Leo grinned.
"Think Ren will be proud?"
Kiro gazed at the horizon.
"…He'll give a quiet nod. That's his version of praise."
Leo laughed.
"And Zemo will jump on me."
"That too."
Kiro sheathed his sword.
"Set course north. We still have deliveries to make."
"Aye!"
The Azure Wind turned gracefully, sails catching moonlight.
Another victory for Meridian Group.
Another obstacle cleared.
End of Chapter 209