With the new banner unfurled, the Black Pearl swiftly turned its bow toward the nearest port.
After a day and a half of sailing, this former pirate ship encountered the Empire's naval warship—the same one that had been pursuing them relentlessly days before.
Following a tense standoff, the naval officers aboard the warship were astonished to see that the flag flying from the opposing mast was not the dreaded pirate's skull and crossbones but rather... a peculiar and unfamiliar emblem.
Soon after, the signalmen aboard the pirate ship sent semaphore messages requesting surrender—they declared they were no longer pirates.
From that point, matters became much simpler.
The naval captain ordered his crew to stand down and formally accepted the pirate ship's surrender. It was then revealed that the long-missing young noble of the Rowland family had been aboard this very ship all along.
Not only that, but this young lord had astonishingly taken command of a crew of pirates!
The naval captain's eyes widened in disbelief. According to imperial law, noble captives held the right to decide the fate of their prisoners—barring charges of treason or other grave offenses. To dispose of a few pirates, however? That was a trivial matter the captain was more than willing to overlook.
After all, this was the young master of the Rowland family—the eldest son of Count Raymond!
Count Raymond, a former admiral of the Imperial Navy's expeditionary fleet, was a man of immense influence and high regard among the naval ranks. No one aboard this warship would dare inconvenience the count's heir.
When the two vessels finally anchored side by side, Duwei was ceremoniously transferred to the warship via a small boat. For added security, two squads of imperial soldiers were dispatched to the pirate ship to keep its crew under watch.
"Master Duwei!" The naval captain, a stout and weathered man clad in a simple uniform, greeted him with a booming voice. His bronze skin, worn from years of sea spray and wind, matched the roughness of his calloused hands. "Our entire fleet has been scouring these waters in search of you! Orders from high command promise that the first crew to locate you will earn a month's leave at Walker Port! By the gods, what a stroke of fortune for me!" He erupted into hearty laughter.
Duwei was slightly taken aback. The entire fleet had been mobilized to find him?
While it was true that his father had once been a high-ranking naval officer and was now the Empire's second-in-command of military affairs, their relationship was far from warm. Would his father really go to such lengths to locate him?
Curiosity piqued, Duwei engaged the captain in a private conversation in the cabin, where he quickly pieced together the bigger picture.
It seemed he had become a critical bargaining chip in the Empire's delicate negotiations with the Mage Guild.
If he were found, the conflict would likely de-escalate. If not, tensions between the military and the mages would spiral into open hostility—an outcome no one wanted.
"And who are these two ladies?" The captain's gaze fell upon Vivian and Joanna, standing silently at Duwei's side.
"They're my friends," Duwei replied vaguely, skillfully dodging further explanation.
He certainly wasn't about to confess that these women were the very mages who had caused chaos at the military encampment—not to mention the armored one who had nearly taken his life. Revealing such truths would only incite trouble.
Now that Joanna's magic had fully recovered, if she were provoked, she could easily send everyone aboard both ships to a watery grave.
The naval captain, no fool, chose not to press the matter and shifted the conversation. "Well then, please make yourself comfortable. I've prepared food and fresh water for you. If you require anything, don't hesitate to ask. My younger brother once served under your father in the expeditionary fleet, and I hold the utmost respect for Count Raymond. He's a true pride of our navy!"
Before leaving, the captain couldn't resist asking one last question. "If I may, Master Duwei… what are your plans for the pirates? They're a band of desperate men, after all. Surely you don't mean to…"
"They're my prisoners," Duwei interrupted with a sly smile. "And as such, I hold the right to determine their fate. Coincidentally, I'll soon have a fleet of my own, and I intend to integrate them into it. Experienced sailors and crewmen are hard to come by, and I've taken a liking to their ship."
The captain hesitated, wanting to remind Duwei that, without a formal title, he technically couldn't maintain a private military force. However, such matters were often overlooked when it came to the Empire's noble families. After all, who would dare challenge the unwritten rules?
"This ship," Duwei declared, "I've named the Black Pearl. It shall serve as the flagship of my fleet."
"And what is your fleet's name?" the captain inquired hesitantly. "Forgive me if I overstep, but I'll need to document it for the naval registry, so these pirates are no longer flagged as targets."
Duwei's grin widened mischievously. Gesturing for the captain to follow, he led him to the deck and pointed toward the Black Pearl.
"See the banner flying from her mast?" he asked, his tone brimming with amusement.
"I see it," the captain replied, puzzled. "But I've never encountered such a strange emblem before. What does it mean?"
If someone from Duwei's previous life were present, they would surely faint at the sight of that flag—a massive, rounded, golden letter M!
"McDonald's," Duwei said with a straight face. "My fleet shall be known as the McDonald's Fleet. You may register that name officially."
The bewildered captain departed, leaving Duwei to relish his private joke.
One day, he thought to himself, when a dozen ships sail under the McDonald's banner, it will surely be a sight to behold.
After several days at sea, the ships arrived at Walker Port, a bustling harbor city on the Empire's southeastern coast.
Nestled in a natural crescent-shaped bay, the port was an ideal haven against storms. The docks were crowded with ships of all sizes—merchant vessels, privately armed trade ships, and more. The piers bustled with activity, from sailors seeking entertainment ashore to scribes, tax officials, laborers, and porters.
The city itself was teeming with life. Taverns thrived on every corner, and garishly dressed, cheap courtesans roamed the streets, ready to drain every last coin from the sailors' pockets.
When Duwei finally stepped onto solid ground, his legs felt weak after so many days at sea. Yet he was alive, and more importantly, he had returned safely.
He reached up and adjusted his new naval officer's hat, a finely crafted piece that complemented his fresh uniform—one conspicuously stripped of any rank insignia. To the casual observer, he appeared as a young and dashing officer, albeit one a bit too young and slender for the role.
Walker Port, unlike the Empire's grand capitals or the serene cities of the Rowland Plains, had a character all its own.
Here, the air was thick with commerce, the streets a chaotic blend of drunken sailors, burly merchants, and mounted tax officials. Shops of every kind lined the streets, each competing for attention amidst the city's ceaseless hustle.
The bustling sea trade had endowed Walker Port with an astonishing array of goods from every corner of the world. Here, one could encounter and acquire the most peculiar and exotic items imaginable.
To Duwei's surprise, this thriving port city even hosted a branch of the Mage Guild.
Under the watchful protection of a group of naval soldiers, Duwei had little opportunity to wander about and was escorted directly to the inn—a place entirely commandeered by the navy for their use.
And so, what came next?
Duwei waited patiently.
Two days later, Knight Robert and Jorlin arrived, having received news relayed through magical channels by the Mage Guild. They had traveled day and night without rest.
Robert looked visibly gaunt, having lost weight and appearing utterly fatigued and guilt-ridden. Jorlin, her complexion pale, bore the toll of a recently healed wound, compounded by the exhaustion of their arduous journey.
They brought with them a full regiment of private cavalry from the Rowling estate—1,000 light horsemen in total.
But they also carried grave tidings.
Duwei's misfortune had placed the Rowling family at the epicenter of conflict with the Mage Guild. To preserve their honor and dignity, the family had no choice but to openly challenge the guild, even if doing so was against their wishes.
This predicament left Count Raymond in an awkward and precarious position.
And, of course, in his eyes, all of this trouble stemmed from his son.
Knight Robert didn't come empty-handed. Alongside the cavalry, he delivered a stern reprimand from the count, accompanied by a decree:
Duwei was to return to the family castle on the Rowling Plains immediately and would be confined there for a full year. This was his punishment.
Furthermore, his allowance was to be suspended for the year—no more 300 gold coins per month.
He was also forbidden from meddling in any family business or estate affairs.
During this period of confinement, Duwei was to remain strictly within the boundaries of the castle grounds, under the supervision of the old steward.
And if he caused further trouble for the family? Harsher consequences awaited.
Duwei, however, was unperturbed.
He had anticipated the count's anger long ago.
Confined for a year? No matter. He had already planned to stay at the castle, quietly studying and making the most of the gift from Chris.
As for the allowance? A mere 300 gold coins a month? He cared even less.
"So, I'm confined and barred from interfering in family affairs… That's all, isn't it? Nothing more?" Duwei inquired.
Robert hesitated. "That… appears to be it."
"Good."
Duwei smiled, clearly pleased. "Oh, Jorlin, is your injury fully healed? Wonderful. I happen to have a task that only you can handle."
After dismissing the others, Duwei summoned Joanna.
"Joanna, meet your new partner," he said with a grin. "You won't back out now, will you?"
Joanna sighed, resigned. "Fine, kid. I owe you my life. But remember, this is a one-time thing. I'll only help you with this task."
The mission Duwei entrusted to Joanna was straightforward—she would take command of the Black Pearl and set sail.
Her goal: to hunt down and plunder every pirate she could find.
Duwei's reasoning was simple. Unable to engage in trade or manage family businesses, with no funds for magical experiments or expanding his McDonald Fleet, he had only one option:
To rob.
Not the Imperial Navy—Duwei wasn't that bold.
Not merchant ships—he wasn't looking for more trouble.
Pirates were the ideal target.
Plundering pirates wasn't just legal—it was encouraged by the Imperial Navy. There were even bounties for the heads of notorious pirate captains.
With Joanna's formidable skills and the Black Pearl's intimate knowledge of pirate waters, success was almost guaranteed.
Others might struggle to locate pirates, but Captain Jack Sparrow certainly wouldn't—after all, they had once been part of that world themselves.
The plan was clear:
Loot their gold, replenishing Duwei's empty coffers.
Capture their men—selling the uncooperative ones to the navy for bounty and recruiting the obedient into Duwei's private fleet.
Seize their ships—Duwei wasn't content with a single Black Pearl in his McDonald Fleet. If he couldn't afford to buy ships, he would take them.
Joanna's unmatched prowess was the linchpin of this operation.
Of course, Duwei couldn't rely on Joanna forever. Her assistance was temporary—a debt she would repay over the next three months before leaving.
For the long-term, Jorlin was the perfect candidate to manage this endeavor. A seasoned adventurer with experience in bounty hunting, capturing criminals, and navigating treacherous waters, she was well-suited for the task.
And with the Rowling family name behind her, the navy would think twice before interfering.
After setting his plans in motion and dispatching both the mage and the knight, Duwei turned his attention to a man who had been waiting anxiously outside.
The man burst into the room and threw himself at Duwei's feet, clutching his leg.
"My honorable master! I am your most loyal servant, Mad!"
Duwei looked down at the former stable hand and smirked. "Ah, dear Mad, it's been a while."
Mad had fallen on hard times recently, fully aware that his fortunes were tied to Duwei's. If the young master failed, he would be nothing more than a groom once again.
"Alright, Mad, you're dirtying my trousers… Pack up. We're going home."