I was in my cabin for my daily armament haki training. I had already gotten rid of the sandbox and used a stone column for a punching bag and the best part about this was that the column was grown as a part of the Queen so anything I managed to break, Queen just absorbed it back and repaired it.
Unfortunately, I don't have the same kind of physique as a human from One Piece so my body doesn't get absurdly strong just because I work out, however, this world has runes to make up for that kind of difference and is my priority to figure out for the time being.
For now though I was done for the day and went outside my cabin.
I relieved Donny from the helm duty and took over. Sometimes I felt like sailing Queen myself. It was a relaxing experience. Just because I don't get bored doesn't mean I shouldn't enjoy and indulge myself every and then.
A second was all it took for me to lose my relaxed state.
"Quartermaster."
Helga quickly came up to the helm.
"Yes, captain."
"Call over our guests now and assume battle stations."
She realised something bad was coming and steeled herself.
Helga pov.
"MAN YOUR BATTLE STATIONS! GET READY FOR ENEMY ATTACK NOW!"
I ordered the sorry lot that got caught the same way that I did. Well, they got caught because of me but whatever. These idiots would've done the same thing even without me.
I ran down to the lower deck to fetch the passengers. I don't know why the captain even took this job. We are a 450-strong crew. We could be attending to a lot more profitable ventures.
Not that it mattered. Anyone who took the Captains deal and broke it doesn't get a share from the booty we plunder. Instead, we just get some allowance for drinks whenever we make port. Anyone needs a new sword, gun, medicine or something specific and they make an order through me and I requisition it.
That amount of money isn't even worth a quarter of what we usually make. If I wasn't such a stupid bastard I could have a hell of a lot more today.
I put thoughts of my stupidity aside because the more I think about it the more I want to just go back in time and suck the captain's dick like a whirlpool made from a hurricane.
"Hey landlubbers. Captain wants you all up top. We got hostiles incoming."
I didn't talk to them any more than necessary. It's not like they would stay permanently. I ran back outside and froze at the sight of two Hyrisian scout ships.
The trio came up as well and ran to the captain manning the helm. I was worried of what might happen to us now. These Hyrisian ships didn't have cannons but what they lacked in range, they made up for it with mobility as they could sail under the seas and use the sea surface as natural shields.
Most civilian ships didn't even notice their presence before they surfaced and immediately boarded. The only saving grace for most ships was that Hyrisians were isolationists, so they were rarely seen.
They were already trying to board by flanking us from both sides of the ship to prevent escape.
All my worry vanished when I saw the Captain smiling from ear to ear in anticipation. Yeah, that's right. Why am I even worried? If there is one thing I know about Captain Edward it is that he never despaired and if he looks ready for a fight it means he is sure of his victory.
Edward pov.
"HALF SAIL, KEEP THE WIND AT OUR BACKS, SHARPSHOOTERS GET READY TO FIRE AT RANGE, READY THE CANNONS YOU WORTHLESS BILGE RATS, YOUR LIVES DEPENDS ON IT!"
I turned to my guests who stood at my side.
"Ladies, I don't intend to make you fight but this a battle. If it comes to it, you'll have to fight for yourselves. Now, either make yourselves useful or stay out of our way."
Gloria seemed as stubborn and stupid as any teenager when they were told they couldn't do something. She made a determined look and made her choice be known.
"We'll fight as well."
Maria had an exasperated look at that and questioned her charge.
"Are you sure about this Gloria? You know you never killed. This isn't practice."
I laughed at that.
"HAHAHAH. Well, no time like the present. Let's get you bloodied girl, prepare yourself."
I turned my attention back to the two ships. They got too close too fast but Queen was a big girl and they couldn't board us that easily due to our size. These were just scout ships but they were fast.
Seeing that they couldn't board so easily the one on the left stayed still, and the one on the right tried going for a ramming maneuver.
"ENEMY RAMMING, KEEP YOURSELVES STEADY! WAIT ON MY MARK!"
Since we couldn't escape we'll give as good as we got. The ship on the right rammed to our side some demi-humans with aquatic features like starfishes, urchins and gills jumped on our deck. Not too many could but it was enough.
Before they could attack my crew, and their ship pull back for another attack, I gave my order.
"FIRE!"
Our cannons roared from both sides and the scout ships took heavy damage to their hulls but even when they started taking water they didn't slow down. Sinking these ships will be difficult when they are designed to be sunk.
"CLEAR THE DECK AND RELOAD!"
The few Hyrisians who made it on my deck tried going for my cannon crew but isolationists they may be they were a known element in these seas and we knew they would go for the cannon crew.
Before they could attack anyone they were caught by fishing nets we had on hand and stabbed to death while bound.
Not even looking behind me I snapped a finger in Maria's face and pointed my thumb behind my back. She saw a fishman climbing the stern of the ship with a dagger in his mouth.
Just after he landed on deck before he could do anything Maria pulled out her pistols and shot both his kneecaps dead center. Turning to Gloria she gestured her to get it over with.
Gloria seemed like a nervous wreck and was just about hyperventilating but eventually worked up the courage and stabbed her standard crossguard sword into the fishmans chest and watched as life left his eyes.
"Hey princess?"
She stiffened at that. Wait, is she a princess? I just said that to get a rise out of her. I chose to pretend I didn't notice that and continued.
"A bit of advice. Next time? End their misery before they decide to make sure you suffer as well just before they pass."