Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence-Chapter 627 - 368: Overwhelming Force (Part 2)

The firepower of the Dawn far exceeded expectations, and his fleet had lost formation.

Although he still didn’t know where exactly he lost, he understood that if he didn’t flee, it would be a total defeat.

He gritted his teeth and ordered, "All ships that can move, retreat south at full speed! Ignore the rest!"

The Wave Eater turned and accelerated, petroleum at the stern was thrown into the sea to cover their tracks. Thick smoke and flames obscured the view, and he no longer looked at the chaotic sea behind.

The remaining burning ships were left behind, the cries of the crew and explosions were dispersed by the wind.

But Kavier only wanted to escape, no matter the cost.

However, the fleet of Dawn Port did not stop.

Several light pursuit ships broke out from the array, sails instantly unfurling, the sound of the wind slicing through the night fog like a knife.

Louis’s order was clear and calm: "Leave no survivors except for the main ship."

So the Dawn squadron led by Eliot quickly advanced, the fire line advancing like a tide.

Every cannon shot landed closely along the trail of the Wave Eater, with columns of water from explosions constantly rising behind the ship.

Kavier looked back, almost able to see the glowing Red Tide Emblem on the bow of the Dawn.

It was a sense of oppression, as if even the god of the sea seemed to stand on the enemy’s side. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

The fleet of the Dawn pursued swiftly, like a wall of steel pressing forward, slicing the waves into straight lines.

Kavier’s mind was in chaos, finally realizing that the combat power of the Dawn was beyond his understanding, a gap that could not be bridged by numbers and firepower alone.

But now it had come to this, only the last resort was left.

The deck was in chaos, pirates instinctively sensed something was wrong.

Someone shouted to abandon ship, some jumped into the sea, others desperately shook the cannons, trying to fire another round of counterattack.

Kavier then mustered his emotions, then threw his head back and laughed, his laughter hoarse: "Mutually assured destruction! Let them sink with us!"

His voice was like tearing iron, crashing in the flames.

Several lieutenants looked at him, their faces pale, understanding that the mad king was going crazy again.

"Ignite the oil tanks below deck!" He roared, hurling a torch to the ground, oil splattering, flames immediately rising.

Several pirates frantically tried to put out the fire, but he drew his sword and shouted them away: "Anyone who wants out, get out!"

The ship began to sway violently, the fire quickly spreading, the flames lighting up every face of despair.

Just when everyone thought the mad king was going to go down with them, his gaze suddenly returned to calm.

Kavier quietly said to two confidants, "To the aft, prepare the dinghy."

The tone was as calm as giving an ordinary sailing order.

Amidst the chaos before the explosion, he and his confidants quietly slipped to the stern, lowering the dinghy that had long been prepared.

The flames below deck had already reached the bent wooden beams, and the sound of wood cracking came from above deck.

He took one last look at the burning deck, at the screams, curses, and flames, a nightmare he directed himself.

"Full speed, flee north with the current." He ordered, once again becoming that calm commander.

The dinghy sailed away from the battlefield with the current, the sound of the oars almost drowned out by the echoes of explosions.

The Wave Eater suddenly exploded behind, the entire ship torn in two, flames shooting into the sky.

The few sailors who escaped struggled on the sea, drawn into the sea of flames by the shock wave.

Kavier did not look back, he knew he was defeated, utterly defeated.

Not even he knew whether he lost to strategy, tactics, firepower, or to the young lord he had never met.

"Avoid that fire line, full speed!" he whispered to the confidant steering.

The dinghy rocked on the waves, finally leaving the light of the war zone.

Just as he thought he had escaped, a metal net was cast from the side, firmly entangling the dinghy.

The confidant was pulled down by the net, Kavier without even a chance to react, was thrown into the sea.

He gulped down two mouthfuls of salty water, struggling to lift his head.

A few Red Tide Knights were already looking down at him from the deck, their spears glistening coldly in the moonlight.

The sea returned to silence.

Only the wreckage and charred wooden pieces floated on the sea, the smell of petroleum lingering in the night wind.

Of the thirty-seven black sails, twenty-three had become ashes, the remaining few either sunk or broken, only masts swayed in the waves.

The fleet of the Dawn was arrayed in neat formation, the firelight illuminating the sea.

Louis stood on the deck, looking down at the pirate king dragged onto the deck.

The man was disheveled, a metal jaw burned red, eyes full of ash and blood.

"Spare me... I admit defeat... I beg you..."

He lay on the deck, throat continually forcing out pleas for mercy, intermittently, hoarse and tearful, unable even to form complete sentences.

Louis didn’t speak immediately, just quietly watched him.

Kavier slowly raised his head, finally seeing him clearly, the young count stood tall, black hair lifted by the wind, cloak still stained with soot.

On that young face, there was no anger, the firelight reflecting in his eyes, like a mirror that could not be penetrated.

His heart suddenly tightened, the whispered name flashed in his mind: "Red Tide Count... Louis..."

At this moment, he realized he was not facing an ordinary lord, but a plunderer who appeared only in the eye of the storm, just wrapped in the shell of nobility.

Suddenly Louis smiled faintly, the smile cold and with a hint of malice.

He bent down, tone as calm as casual gossip: "I know about your wife and daughter, in the Jade Federation’s Serell Port."

Kavier froze suddenly, first stunned, then breathing heavily, the color on his face slowly draining away.

He lifted his head, pupils shrinking to pinpoints, voice so hoarse it almost shattered: "You... how do you know..."