Chapter 259: Quite Accurate
"Oh!"
Andviel responded, putting the document away, ready to deliver it to the elf Deputy Steward.
But before she could get up, there was a knock on the door.
Knock knock knock~!
The knocking was urgent.
Andviel opened the door and saw a short, stout figure standing outside.
He glanced at Wu Heng and gave a slight bow, "Captain of Squad 3, Orin, reporting to the Deputy Steward."
His voice was rough.
Just a bit too late—caught him at home.
"Come in," Wu Heng said.
He took a moment to size up the newcomer.
Dark brown skin, about 1.6 meters tall, looking very sturdy.
His fiery red beard was thick, and he wore dark brown leather armor, with a gray-feathered owl perched on his shoulder.
A short-handled battle axe hung at his waist, and a heavy crossbow was slung on his back.
A dwarf!
Likely a Ranger or Sentinel class.
After entering, the dwarf didn't sit and said directly, "Deputy Steward, we've found intel on the Sharktooth Pirate Crew. Tonight, they'll be trading outside the harbor, making it a perfect opportunity to capture him."
Wu Heng searched for the wanted notice on the Sharktooth Pirates.
Captain "Lier," a Tier 3 wanted criminal with a bounty of 445 silver coins.
His crimes included raiding merchant ships, trafficking humans, and attacking Guild members.
Given the intelligence gathering in this world.
If it's done without witnesses, it's hard to provide proof of crimes.
To have this many records in the Guild, his actual crimes must be far more.
"Tell me the details and what challenges you foresee in capturing him," Wu Heng continued.
The dwarf thought for a moment before speaking, "Lier is a Level 13 professional. It's unclear how many people he'll bring, but it likely won't be many. The main challenge is Lier himself; it's rumored he has merfolk blood, so if he senses danger, he'll jump into the sea where no one can touch him."
Level 13!
Not a high level.
Wu Heng was currently Level 10, while Skull-Crusher was Level 16 and Blood Axe was Level 14.
Killing him wouldn't be an issue.
But being at sea, he could escape by diving into the ocean when danger arises.
That's the tricky part.
"Is the intel reliable?"
"The intel is definitely reliable."
Wu Heng nodded, "Get ready. We'll meet at the gate shortly."
The dwarf was pleased, "Thank you, Deputy Steward!"
With that, he turned and left.
...…
"Master, it might be tricky to engage on a boat," Andviel said after some thought.
A Level 13 enemy wasn't the issue.
But being at sea was a whole different matter.
No matter how skilled you are, it's useless if you can't perform at your best.
If the target escapes, it would reflect poorly on Wu Heng as Deputy Steward.
"Don't worry. If the intel is right and they're near the harbor, it won't be a big problem," Wu Heng glanced at Andviel and continued, "Come with me tonight."
"Yes, Master!" Andviel put on her armor.
...…
The carriage creaked along.
Blood Axe sat outside next to the coachman.
Wu Heng and Andviel sat on one side, while Skull-Crusher and the dwarf Orin squeezed in on the other.
The rest of Squad 3 rode alongside on horseback.
Orin fed his owl a snack and asked, "Deputy Steward, do you have a plan?"
Wu Heng replied, "Tell me your original plan."
"I have two plans. One is to take him out from a distance, giving him no chance to flee, but that's tough due to nighttime visibility and the crossbow's limitations.
The second is to approach quickly and block his escape routes."
The dwarf took out a scroll from his pocket and continued, "I have an ice magic scroll that can temporarily freeze a section of water."
Two ideas, but neither had a high success rate.
Lier was notoriously hard to kill, or he'd have been dealt with long ago.
"Deputy Steward, what do you think of my plan?" the dwarf asked.
"Hmm, we can try both approaches when the time comes."
...…
Night fell.
The ocean turned pitch black.
The night breeze stirred the waves.
Outside the harbor, a wooden boat slowly moved forward under the oars of sailors.
The Sharktooth Pirate leader, Lier, sat on the boat's beam, stroking the head of a young girl like she was a pet.
At his feet were three young girls, their hands bound, huddled together, their eyes full of fear.
Their bodies trembled slightly, but they dared not make a sound.
Lier inhaled the cool sea air and said, "Behave. If you don't sell, I'll feed you to the fish."
Hearing this, the girls turned even paler, quietly sobbing.
The sound of their sobbing made Lier laugh heartily.
He thoroughly enjoyed their expressions of fear.
"Captain, there's a boat approaching," one of the sailors rowing said suddenly.
Lier looked ahead and saw a small boat with a light approaching in the dark waters.
It seemed the buyer had arrived.
Lier said, "Get closer, but be cautious. If there's any danger, act immediately."
"Understood," the sailor replied, rowing toward the other boat.
Soon, the two boats were side by side.
Someone on the other boat held up an oil lamp and asked, "Sharktooth?"
"Yes, did you bring the money?" Lier asked.
"Where's the cargo?"
Lier glanced at the other boat and kicked the people on the ground forward, "Right here."
"Alright, I want to inspect the goods."
"Go ahead."
The person holding the lamp moved forward.
Illuminating Lier and his crew.
Just then, Lier's pupils suddenly contracted, and he turned his head, reaching into the air.
Thunk~!
His hand grasped nothing, but half of Lier's face instantly disappeared.
Warm, sticky blood splattered over everyone.
Lier touched his face and immediately tried to jump overboard.
A second later, the sound of a projectile filled the air, and the back of Lier's head exploded, sending him crashing onto the deck.
...…
"Damn it, they killed the captain! Avenge him!" The rest of the Sharktooth Pirates immediately drew their weapons.
They shouted and charged at the other side.
The buyers on the other boat quickly realized what was happening.
With pirates leaping at them, there was no time for explanations.
They drew their weapons and met the attack.
On the dark, rocking sea, the clash of weapons and cries echoed in the area.
...…
From a distance, on the deck of a cargo ship.
Wu Heng watched through binoculars while Andviel lay prone, holding a sniper rifle.
Andviel was indeed talented at shooting.
At this distance, with the small boat swaying on the waves, hitting the target wasn't easy.
The first shot had been accurate.
For an ordinary person, that shot would've been fatal, but Lier was a Level 13 professional.
He still tried to escape.
Luckily, the second shot followed, hitting the back of his head.
Wu Heng, watching through the binoculars, saw the melee break out.
Speaking into his radio earpiece, he said, "The wanted criminal has been killed. There are hostages on the boat; don't hurt the wrong people."
"Roger!" came the dwarf's voice through the earpiece.
Shortly after, a small boat quickly made its way toward the fighting vessels.
...…
"Fire a few more shots; treat it as practice," Wu Heng said.
Andviel, impressed by the weapon's range and power, steadied her aim through the scope.
She took a breath and pulled the trigger.
Bang~!
The gunshot rang out, the recoil pushing Andviel's body, her firm hips rippling from the impact.
In the distance, a pirate's temple exploded, and the body fell into the sea.
"Not bad!" Wu Heng praised, sitting down beside her and resting his hand on her beast ears.
Andviel glanced sideways.
Her fluffy tail wagged, covering his hand.
She continued to pull the trigger, taking down distant targets.
She stopped shooting only when the dwarf squad arrived.
She kept watching the battle through the scope.
The pirates and buyers had been fighting for some time; many were wounded or dead.
The dwarf squad arrived.
Those with strength fled, while the injured were killed during resistance.
...…
The battle ended quickly.
Squad 3 brought the other two boats back to shore.
After counting the loot.
The dwarf approached and said in his rough voice, "Deputy Steward, the wanted criminal is confirmed dead."