Chapter 287: We Must First Preserve the Fruits of Victory

High Priest Auguslatin wasn’t truly angry with him—what was the point of being angry with a mere pirate vice-captain?

In any case, those seven Radiant Arrows were undoubtedly High Priest Auguslatin’s masterpiece, obliterating the unfortunate vice-captain on the spot, leaving nothing but "void."

Of course, the seven Radiant Arrows didn’t reach the level of disintegrating matter. The primary reason for the destruction was the sheer intensity of the blast.

Charlot held both pistols in his hands and shouted, “Surrender and you live. Resist and you die!”

With that, he casually fired two shots, killing two pirates who stubbornly resisted.

The pirates, as expected, had no sense of loyalty, and very few possessed “unwavering devotion.” Faced with a Saint-rank fighter like Charlot, the vice-captain’s subordinates surrendered en masse.

Charlot immediately incorporated these pirates into his ranks, a process he executed as effortlessly and naturally as breathing or drinking water.

High Priest Auguslatin and Ban Lamorak had never witnessed such a seamless capture. Before they could even express their astonishment, Charlot was already directing the newly surrendered pirates to locate the vice-captain’s hidden treasures. Through the Mind Channel, all of the vice-captain’s wealth was sent straight to Machubi.

High Priest Auguslatin glanced at the scorched and desolate streets, barely able to reflect on the scene, when three top commanders of the Golden Rams Fleet who had remained on Saint Michael Island led their forces to attack.

Ban Lamorak, worried that High Priest Auguslatin might casually kill these enemies and leave him with nothing to do, charged forward with his lance and took down one of the commanders. The remaining two turned to flee upon seeing the High Priest rising into the air, but Charlot shot one of them in the back, killing him as well.

High Priest Auguslatin finished off the last commander with a Radiant Arrow before floating gracefully in the sky, smiling as he watched Charlot take control of the remaining pirates.

Charlot swept through the second level of Saint Michael Island, consolidating his forces before leading them toward the summit of the island.

The ancient Saint Michael Kingdom had carved the mountain into a fortress, with the summit housing the opulent royal palace. This architectural masterpiece, filled with countless artworks, had fallen into disrepair after being occupied by pirates. Herolf, the leader of the Golden Rams Fleet, had added crude defensive cannons, further degrading the palace’s aesthetics.

Herolf was absent, leaving behind only his personal guard—a unit composed of the most fearsome pirates he had handpicked over the years. While most of the guard had followed him to Britain, over a thousand remained, boasting immense combat prowess.

Not even High Priest Auguslatin could intimidate these desperate fighters.

The High Priest launched several Radiant Arrows, killing the fiercest among them, but the pirates merely shouted louder. Shrugging, he asked, “Shall I kill a few more?”

Charlot was about to respond when a protective barrier enveloped the entire palace. He fired a shot at it, but the shield remained impervious.

Cursing under his breath, Charlot shouted, “High Priest Auguslatin, can you break this turtle shell?”

From the air, the High Priest replied, “Perhaps, but I don’t recommend a direct assault.”

Charlot immediately grasped his meaning. If the Saint-rank High Priest exhausted his power, their rebel forces would lose their advantage.

Charlot commanded, “Move to the third level!”

Ban Lamorak hesitated. “Why don’t we keep trying?”

Charlot replied, “We must first preserve the fruits of victory.”

Though Ban Lamorak didn’t fully understand, he refrained from questioning Charlot’s order. His upbringing had taught him to follow his superior’s commands during war—unless he was certain his superior was an outright fool.

Indeed, this was precisely how Count Lamorak had educated his son.

Charlot led his forces back to the second level but didn’t stop there. Instead, he thoroughly looted it again before advancing to the third level.

The third level of Saint Michael Island housed mid-tier pirates, dark merchants, slave traders, and other mysterious, high-profile guests. It was also the commercial hub, filled with taverns, casinos, slave markets, and pirate trading posts.

With the rapid expansion of Charlot’s forces after absorbing the vice-captain’s troops and three top commanders’ subordinates, resistance was futile. The dark merchants, slave traders, and shadowy guests found themselves too intimidated by the overwhelming strength of the rebels to fight back.

After all, High Priest Auguslatin floated above them, radiating a deterrent force comparable to a nuclear weapon on Earth.

Charlot’s forces swept through the district, forcing everyone into the Infinite Mirror World. While transporting so many people through the Mind Channel would cause chaos in any city, the Infinite Mirror World posed no such issue—there was nothing inside it.

The Van Gogh Clan was infamous for fighting in the Infinite Mirror World. Within that realm, they wielded godlike powers, often defeating foes far stronger than themselves.

Those familiar with the Van Gogh Clan’s reputation would never willingly step into the Infinite Mirror World to fight them. Once inside, the only way out was to kill the realm’s owner.

The Mirror Spirits themselves were subject to many restrictions. For instance, they couldn’t leave the Infinite Mirror World unless they killed their original master. Only then could they replace them in the real world. However, the Van Gogh Clan not only freely entered and exited the realm but often controlled multiple such worlds and could disguise their true identities, making detection nearly impossible.

Being sent into the Infinite Mirror World was akin to being imprisoned in a supernatural jail. Unless someone killed Charlot, there was no hope of rescue.

As for the wealth, resources, and treasures from the third level, Charlot sent them all to Machubi.

After clearing the third level, Charlot advanced to the fourth.

The fourth and fifth levels contained barracks and warehouses.

By now, both High Priest Auguslatin and Ban Lamorak had deduced Charlot’s plan. Charlot intended to empty Saint Michael Island of its population and resources, leaving it a ghost city—except for the impenetrable first level.

Everyone knew Charlot practiced Blood Glory, derived from vampiric secret arts. Both the Saint-rank High Priest and the so-called "Young Lion of Britain," renowned as the strongest among his generation, had received extensive education on the capabilities of vampires.

The Van Gogh Clan was traditionally portrayed as elegant, mysterious, and elite assassins. Yet Charlot’s crude and brutal use of the Infinite Mirror World left both men astonished.

Atop Saint Michael Mountain, the Golden Rams Fleet’s fiercest pirates had been prepared for a desperate stand. Despite Charlot’s forces including a Saint-rank, they were undeterred; Saint Michael Island itself was a colossal war machine equipped not only with a protective barrier but also the most fearsome artillery.

What they didn’t anticipate was Charlot’s refusal to engage in a frontal assault. Watching the rebel forces loot their way across the island, the pirates began to wonder, “Who are the real pirates here?”

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