Chapter 153

Chapter 153: Midi Takes Action

Midi had remained a detached observer until now because his relationship with the Star of the South was purely transactional. He paid, they transported him. As long as the ship reached its destination on time, how they navigated was their own affair.

No personal ties meant no obligation to help Sonia.

At his current power level—capable of slaying level 50 peak experts and rivaling all but the mightiest demons, Apostles, or gods—few in the human Kingdom could threaten him. Even if the Star of the South fell, Midi would remain in an Undefeated Position.

As a commander, he’d also wanted to study genuine naval tactics firsthand, which meant avoiding interference.

But the ironclad’s tactics had sparked his interest.

The small fleet’s commander had first used two fore-and-aft rigs to pin the Albatross, then overwhelmed it with superior firepower—a flawless display of the King’s Path strategy.

When the Star of the South broke the blockade with lightning speed, the ironclad’s commander adapted instantly, baiting Sonia into close range before exploiting the ironclad’s armor and equipment to capture her ship. A clever gambit, but one requiring preparation: disguising the ship as ordinary, hiding its rotating ballistae to lure her in.

Skillful command, advanced technology, and restraint—despite the battle’s intensity, casualties were absent. The enemy sought captives, not destruction. Whether motivated by desire for the captains or cargo, Midi didn’t care.

His focus was the commander.

“Warm up,” Midi said abruptly, breaking his silence.

“We’re jumping in, boss?” Dickson’s metallic voice rumbled with excitement. The bald, level 42 mercenary leader of the Iron Blood Mercenary Corps looked brutish but thought like a strategist. Months fighting alongside the Hawk Brigade had sharpened his grasp of Midi’s intentions.

“Wait,” interjected Kelvin, the magic scholar, adjusting his glasses. “Let more harpoons hit first.” He understood Midi’s focus lay on the ironclad, not rescuing the Star of the South.

Midi nodded. “You’ll handle the ship.”

Dickson and Kelvin were corps-leading experts, not mere bodyguards. No detailed orders were needed.

The Star of the South shuddered as three steel harpoons smashed through its deck. Splinters flew, crewmen hurled aside by the impact.

“Hold the line! Gunners, suppress that ironclad!” Sonia barked, calm but tense.

Warriors swarmed down the ironclad’s ballista cables, eagles diving to prey. Their leader was a white-bearded judo expert, weaponless yet hurling charging crewmen like sacks across the deck.

The Star of the South’s crew froze under the invaders’ guns and Sonia’s raised hand cannon. The old man smiled. “My young master claims both ships and crews. Surrender now, or face the consequences.”

“Who are you?” Sonia demanded.

“The Flying Sail Family!” he declared.

In an instant, both the usually confident female captain and the crew members wore grim expressions. The Flying Sail Family was one of the major families controlling maritime affairs on the West Coast, but why would such powerful families target a free sailor like herself and attack like Pirates?

Sonia found no answers and momentarily felt lost.

Fight or surrender?

As Sonia hesitated, a lazy voice cut through the tension.

"Capture that old man. Keep him in one piece."

Midi stepped forward, his tone calm.

"About time."

"We’ve got this."

Dickson unsheathed his gleaming longsword while Kelvin adjusted his glasses and raised his staff.

What were these three planning?

Both allies and enemies shared the same bewildered thought.

Under the stunned gazes of the Star of the South’s crew and the invaders’ scornful stares, Midi moved. He didn’t dodge, circle around, or draw his sword—he charged straight at the white-haired elder.

"Fool!" the old man bellowed. As a renowned judo expert, he’d never faced such brazen disrespect. He dropped into a stance, right palm open and left fist clenched at his waist. His sleeves billowed as a surge of energy burst forth!

Grapple Cannon—a judo technique.

He’d crush this brat in one strike, then grind his face underfoot to teach him respect.

But his mighty attack met empty air.

As the energy wave roared toward him, Midi simply raised his right hand, fingers pointed like a blade. With a flick, he deflected the old man’s full-power attack.

Before the off-balance elder could react, Midi leaped lightly over his shoulder like a dragonfly skimming water. Another jump carried him onto the iron chains, racing back along the invaders’ path toward the ironclad.

Impossible!

The white-haired elder stared in shock. His signature move had been neutralized, not dodged. This youth’s skill far surpassed his own—how could someone under twenty achieve this?

Sonia and her crew reeled.

A level 40+ judo expert used as a stepping stone?

Who was this man?

The battle cries died. The Star of the South fell eerily silent mid-conflict.

Snapping back to reality, the elder shouted, "Stop him!"

Midi’s path to the ironclad could only mean one target—their young master. But as the elder tried to retreat, Kelvin and Dickson moved.

A paladin soared overhead like a cannonball, his armored form crashing onto the deck to block the invaders’ retreat like a human barricade. Nearby, the magic scholar’s staff glowed with charged energy.

The elder sensed their superior auras—these two outleveled him. Reaching Midi now was impossible. Worse, surviving their combined assault seemed unlikely.

He could only hope the young master’s guards reacted swiftly.

Resigned, the elder focused on his immediate threats.

Meanwhile, the ironclad’s commander anticipated trouble. Seeing Midi scaling the chains, crewmen aimed heavy crossbows and shotguns at the easy target.

The timing was perfect—trapped on narrow chains above open sea, even experts couldn’t evade such firepower. Any defense would leave Midi vulnerable to follow-up attacks.

But tactics meant nothing here.

Midi crushed their plans through sheer force.