As Fang Senyan still had some spare cash on him, he took the opportunity to visit every bar in Tortuga, managing to sample only three of the drunkards' stipulated drinks: "Rambouli-clime," "Lemon Heart Rum," and "Moulantan." Fortunately, he also gleaned information about the other two—the "Rams Potato Rum" could be acquired from the British warship anchored in the harbor, and the "Cusbar Rum" was held in reserve within the Tortuga fort.

However, obtaining this intelligence came at the cost of his purse shrinking significantly once more. At this moment, Fang Senyan keenly felt the importance of a high Charm value. This was no longer just about saving money; it was about dramatically conserving time and even acquiring richer, more extensive information at a smaller price... He could only shake his head helplessly at his meager single-digit Charm score. While it wasn't the absolute lowest, it was far from sufficient for his needs!

The importance of a team also became apparent here. If he were in Kree's team, they could naturally dispatch the person with the highest Charm to gather intelligence, the one with the highest Strength as the assault element, and the one with the highest Stamina as the main force for breakthroughs. Such clear division of labor, with internal cohesion, would undoubtedly reduce the mission difficulty substantially and allow for a deeper and faster excavation of potential.

But! While a team is vital, what Fang Senyan desired was a team entirely under his control! Being stuck in the awkward position of "others eating meat while he sips the soup"—a fate where he could be discarded at any moment—was absolutely not what he wanted.

Shaking his head, Fang Senyan forcefully pushed away the (miscellaneous thoughts) in his mind. He continued gathering intelligence on the harbor streets, observing the routines of the Tortuga guards, when suddenly, the three legendary pirate ships anchored in the harbor hoisted their Jolly Rogers! Immediately following this, they fired their cannons in a rhythmic sequence: three long blasts and two short ones. Before the smoke had even fully dissipated, various colored signal horns erupted from each ship, with only The Flying Dutchman using a single, massive conch shell.

A shock ran through Fang Senyan upon hearing the cannon fire. He instantly suspected the pirates had reached a consensus and were about to launch a direct assault on Tortuga. Yet, he immediately dismissed the notion in his mind. From every perspective, the timing for attacking and looting Tortuga was far from ripe! The pirates, already a loose collection of scattered sand, could not possibly possess such efficiency to form an alliance and reach a consensus! This meant something else must have happened—a major, unexpected event triggered by another Contractor!

At this distance, he could also see the "Bell and Goblet" hoisting its sails. Boatswain One-Eyed Kalon was standing on the lookout tower, blowing mightily on a horn fashioned from a water buffalo’s horn. Though Fang Senyan had only recently joined and didn't know what this signal meant, returning to his own ship was undoubtedly the correct move.

When Fang Senyan stepped onto the deck of the Bell and Goblet, he immediately received a prompt from the Nightmare Mark:

"Identity verification in progress...."

"Contractor No. 1018 has gained the approval of Armand; current status: Crew member aboard the pirate ship Bell and Goblet."

"Contractor No. 1018 has qualified to enter the Historical Scenario Battlefield: The Downfall of the Armada (Prologue)."

"Contractor No. 1018, do you wish to follow the pirate ship Bell and Goblet into the Historical Scenario Battlefield: The Downfall of the Armada (Prologue)? Yes/No."

Historical Scenario Explanation: With the advent of the Age of Exploration, Spain amassed vast wealth through naval conquests. By the end of the sixteenth century, Spain controlled 83% of the world's precious metal extraction. This wealth undoubtedly fueled significant domestic prosperity. To secure its maritime trade routes and overseas interests, Spain established a formidable naval fleet comprising nearly one hundred warships, over three thousand cannons, and tens of thousands of soldiers. This fleet dominated the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, proudly calling itself the "Invincible Armada."

As Britain rose, it severely threatened Spain's monopoly over its colonies, drawing the enmity of King Philip II of Spain. At the time, Britain’s naval strength was insufficient to match the Spanish fleet, relying instead on pirate syndicates to raid and intercept Spanish ships carrying gold and silver—engaging in piracy while the British Royal Navy slowly grew stronger. The conflict between the two nations eventually became irreconcilable.

To vie for maritime supremacy, Spain and Britain engaged in a world-renowned, fierce, and spectacular naval battle. In this engagement, Spain initially held a decisive advantage, but the outcome was surprisingly a devastating defeat for Spain; the "Invincible Armada" was almost completely annihilated. From that point on, Spain went into sharp decline, and its position as the "Master of the Seas" was usurped by Britain.

The historical scenario battlefield about to be experienced is the prelude to this magnificent sea battle!

Faced with such a monumental opportunity, Fang Senyan clicked "Yes" without hesitation. A series of explanatory prompts followed:

"Historical Scenario Battlefield: The Downfall of the Armada (Prologue)"

"Three merchant ships that sailed from the New World are currently navigating one hundred nautical miles away. Their holds are piled high with gold, emeralds, and treasures plundered from the New World. Due to their deep draft, their speed is extremely slow; even the slowest pirate ship could easily overtake them."

"However, the owner of the merchant fleet, Fernandes, is an incredibly shrewd man. When setting sail, he recognized the immense risks involved in the voyage and spent a fortune hiring four warships from the Invincible Armada for escort. After a long journey, they are nearing home, but regrettably, at this moment, they have been spotted by a fast frigate belonging to the British Royal Navy. This intelligence was swiftly relayed to the Revenge, the flagship of the British Royal Navy fleet anchored in Tortuga. The Revenge quickly informed the pirates also stationed in Tortuga, leading to the formation of a temporary alliance between the two parties to sail after the Spanish..."

It is imperative to mention the delicate relationship between the British Royal Navy and the pirates at this time. Under normal circumstances, piracy against merchant ships is illegal, meaning their relationship is inherently adversarial, much like that between the police and thieves. However, some pirates were themselves fallen nobles of Britain, often possessing "Letters of Marque" issued by the Queen of England, which meant they were legally protected by Great Britain as long as they did not attack British vessels—or, if they did attack a national ship, as long as the incident was kept secret. These pirates were typically allies of the British Navy. Moreover, even the most depraved pirates could secure a knighthood if they showed sincere repentance and offered a portion of their plunder to the Queen.

With these factors intertwined, the simple truth is this: the conflict between the British Navy and the pirates was an internal contradiction among the populace; there was room for negotiation. But the Invincible Armada was the common enemy of both parties—an external conflict. Therefore, when the Revenge realized it would be difficult to handle this incredibly wealthy Spanish convoy alone, leaking the information to the pirates was a natural course of action. The two sides already knew each other well! Faced with such immense profit, they readily struck a deal, forming a temporary alliance to act in concert!

The sea wind was strong, and the sails of the Bell and Goblet were fully bellied, swelling tautly and powerfully driving the ship through the waves at high speed. This medium-sized, northern three-masted square-rigger had a slender hull, and with its ramming prow, it resembled a flying fish with broad gray and dark blue stripes, gliding swiftly across the surface, occasionally breaching the waves, and at other times skimming elegantly and lightly over the water.

The atmosphere on board was tense. The gunners were constantly checking the loaded ammunition, ensuring powder kegs were placed within easy reach yet protected from incoming fire. One-Eyed Kalon bellowed loudly, ordering the crew to sharpen their cutlasses and swords. For the Bell and Goblet, which prioritized speed, close-quarters boarding and melee combat were clearly the pirates' primary means of attack. A monstrous ship like the Revenge, carrying nearly two hundred cannons, would naturally rely on its superior firepower to shatter the enemy first.

At this point, Fang Senyan became the center of attention. These pirates had seen too many landlubbers turn into weak-kneed wrecks, vomiting uncontrollably on the rocking deck. Most were displeased with his earlier act of killing to establish authority, so many stood nearby waiting to see him fail. Yet, Fang Senyan walked the swaying deck as if strolling on level ground, seemingly at ease. He even went about tying ropes and securing the bulwarks for others, appearing completely like a seasoned seaman.

..................

Heh, sneaking in an early chapter update. There will be an extra update at 12 tonight. (To be continued, please visit: for the latest chapter.)