He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 84

After repelling the pirates who had stormed the hideout, we were heading to the city’s harbor.

The reason, of course, was to seize a ship.

“Are we really going to steal a ship like this?”

The nobles following me looked uneasy.

I chuckled at their obviously frightened appearances.

“Yes, we are.”

“B-but there will definitely be more pirates there than before!”

Of course, there would be more. So what?

It was amusing to hear them making noises that were hard to distinguish between worry and complaint, especially since they weren’t going to fight themselves and didn’t have any other plans.

They were supposed to be nobles, yet they were so cowardly. They were the epitome of privileged heirs who lived off their family’s name.

“Stop it. You saw how he fought earlier, right? If we do well, we can definitely seize a ship!”

Only Sarah was rebuking them for being so pointlessly afraid.

However, Sarah seemed to be watching my reaction when she referred to me as ‘this person’.

She probably believed I was the Emperor, but it seemed awkward for her to call me ‘Your Majesty’.

Well, others were still doubtful, so it would be difficult for her to do so given the atmosphere.

“Actually, if you were determined, wouldn’t it be possible to take the city too?”

While Sarah was appeasing the other nobles, Hendrick quietly whispered to me.

“That’s right, but we shouldn’t.”

I could take the city if I wanted to, but to prevent the Pirate Duke from running away with the money, I couldn’t be too conspicuous yet.

Moreover, I didn’t want to waste my Imperial Soul [a unique power or ability] on dealing with such insignificant foes when I couldn’t use it often.

The Imperial Soul was powerful, but if I used it too often, I might not be able to use it when I needed it most.

In short, if possible, I should save it as a trump card to use against formidable enemies like the Spirit King.

“Besides, to solidify our control over the Southern Territory, we can’t just spoon-feed them everything.”

Why would I take care of the nobles from head to toe just because I liked them?

If Duke Orlant were still alive, it would be a different story, but since his fate was unknown, these guys were expendable as long as I had their assets.

Even so, the reason I was saving them was not only for their wealth but also because I planned to use them as quasi-slaves after the rebellion.

To do that, I needed to make them bleed and suffer a bit to tame them.

“Your Majesty, you’ve thought that far ahead.”

“Well, I added more details back at the hideout.”

The framework was discussed with Selena and the Empress Dowager at the Imperial Palace.

The specific plan on how to use them was devised here on the spot.

It was after hearing Sarah’s plan to gather the ‘navy’ she mentioned earlier.

“To do that, we need a ship first. We’re going to take that one.”

We had already arrived at the harbor.

There were many pirate ships in the harbor, and I pointed to the largest one, which was clearly their flagship.

“Since it’s docked, now is our chance to seize it. We need to eliminate the defending forces, though.”

Sarah, who had barely calmed the nobles, approached me and said.

“You don’t have to worry about that. But can you sail the ship once we capture it?”

“Yes, I can. The servants gathered here all have experience as sailors.”

That’s a relief.

I was worried about what would happen if we seized the ship but couldn’t sail it.

“Leave the fighting to me and Hendrick. You just take care of those guys and follow us appropriately.”

Leaving those words behind, I nonchalantly walked towards the harbor with the Holy Sword and the Mana-Triggered Pistol.

“Huh? Hey, you, who are you-”

Bang!

“Hello?”

Oops, the bullet went out before the greeting.

I walked right up to them, and they only noticed me when I was right in front of them.

Considering how loudly we stirred things up at the hideout, their defenses were too lax.

Ah, could it be that they didn’t even think we would steal a ship? That’s probably it.

“What was that sound just now?”

“Did someone fire a gun?”

“I did.”

“What?”

Thud!

Even with the gunshot that had just rung out, the pirates didn’t react quickly.

It was only when I walked right up to them and slashed their throats with my sword that they realized something had happened.

“Enemy attack!”

“Emergency! B-”

Shushushuk!

“Keuk!”

They immediately drew their swords and guns, but even that was already too late.

Because shadow blades were already flying in all directions.

“Shoot! Shoot that bastard down!”

Bang! Bang!

Of course, the ones who weren’t dead yet started shooting, but I used a corpse as a shield to block the bullets.

“Hurry up and support His Majesty!”

Bang! Bang!

Hendrick rushed forward, ordering the agents to provide covering fire from behind.

Of course, there was no need to wait for his support.

As soon as I pushed away the corpse that had finished its role as a bullet shield, I rushed towards them with high-speed movement.

Swish!

Thud!

The pirates who had already fired were hastily reloading, but many of them lost their lives to my sword before they could.

The ones who hadn’t fired yet or had barely finished reloading fired at me, but they couldn’t hit me.

[Mana Heart Output Amplification]

[Current Neural Acceleration Rate 154%]

[Continuous High-Speed Movement Deployment]

While my sense of time slowed down due to neural acceleration, I grasped the entire battlefield around me.

When the acceleration rate exceeded 150%, I briefly saw the bullets stop.

The trajectory of the bullets, the location of enemies and cover, the speed difference between the enemies and me, the expected attack routes, etc.

I grasped everything, and the optimal path was instantly drawn.

“That slippery eel- Argh, my arm!”

“Y-you’re too fast!”

Bang!

“Ugh!”

“Don’t let him take your gun!”

In addition to killing pirates with my sword, I also unleashed unconventional attacks, such as stealing and shooting guns with shadow blades, completely dominating the pirates.

On the other hand, the pirates couldn’t shoot properly due to my movements that cleverly utilized cover and the positions of fellow pirates.

Some of them tried to attack with swords instead, but there weren’t any skilled swordsmen, so they were even easier to deal with.

“We need to seize the ship first! Reinforcements will be here soon!”

As I stirred up the enemies, Hendrick naturally followed behind, and then Sarah led the rest of the group.

Most of the nobles following Sarah were not expected to contribute to the fighting, but some of them, including the servants, had mana pistols and could defend themselves to some extent.

“Hendrick! Clear out all the remaining pirates inside the ship! Sarah, prepare to set sail immediately!”

“Yes!”

“Understood!”

The pirates’ response was so disorganized that boarding the ship itself was quick.

However, the pirates weren’t stupid, so it was obvious that reinforcements would come to prevent us from taking the ship.

Unless we were going to wipe them all out, we had to set sail immediately.

“Hurry up and raise the anchor! You there! Climb the mast and unfurl the sails!”

As Sarah had assured, the servants who had followed the nobles moved quickly like experienced sailors.

Hendrick seemed to be handling the pirates remaining on the ship without any problems.

Soon, the ship we were on began to leave the harbor.

“I should play with fire a bit before we go.”

Whoosh!

The silver Holy Sword blazed with the flames of purification.

The pirates were rushing over, but I had no intention of burning them or the harbor.

What I was going to burn were the other pirate ships docked in the harbor.

If I set them on fire and left, I could delay the news from reaching the Pirate Duke appropriately.

Of course, it would be impossible for them to chase us right away.

“Then, shall we set it ablaze!”

Slash!

Whoooooosh!

As I swung the Holy Sword, the flames of purification swept over the ships, carried by the sea breeze.

Small and large fires broke out, and even the ships that were lucky enough not to catch fire had the fire spread to them from nearby ships.

“M-my goodness, was that magic just now?”

“He wasn’t just a knight?”

The nobles on board were dumbfounded when they saw that.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t magic but divine power, but well, that’s how it would look to others.

“We’re saved now. Originally, we would have had to shake off the pursuit, but… they won’t be able to follow us in that state.”

Meanwhile, the ship, which had been slowly leaving the harbor, picked up speed and was soon far away from the harbor.

Sarah looked at the burning harbor with the ships on fire and said.

“Good job. Thanks to you, the start isn’t bad.”

“You’re welcome, but… are you really that person?”

“Why? Still can’t believe it? That I’m the Emperor?”

“That’s…”.

Sarah had been doubtful in the hideout, but now she had a look that said she didn’t believe it but it seemed to be true.

“…At least, I don’t think you’d help us while lying.”

“Well, that’s enough. More important is what lies ahead. Your plan you mentioned in the hideout, I’m asking again now, but you have a detailed plan, right?”

“Uh, um… that’s…”.

Sarah seemed taken aback by my question.

Unlike Stella, she had a slightly cheerful atmosphere, but when a pretty woman who was quite noticeable showed such a look, I reflexively smiled.

“What, you said that without even having a plan?”

“I-it’s not exactly like that. I remember all the last locations where the navies were stationed. It’s just… I don’t know what state they’re in now.”

The Pirate Duke wouldn’t have impulsively backstabbed Duke Orlant without a plan.

Just looking at how quickly he occupied Millania, it must have been a well-planned surprise attack.

“Then there’s a high probability that those places were also attacked. I would have done that if I were him.”

“…That’s right.”

A dark cloud hung over Sarah’s face.

It wasn’t just because I was scolding her.

At this point, even she, who seemed smart, understood her current situation.

Whether Duke Orlant was dead or alive, the Orlant family had no power right now.

The same was true for the other nobles who had survived here.

Probably the same for those who had sided with Duke Orlant.

All they could rely on was my help, but just from the conversation we had in the hideout, they must have realized that I wasn’t someone who helped without expecting something in return.

Even if they managed to make a comeback later, a hefty bill was reserved for them.

Still, they probably thought that if they joined the navy she mentioned, they could at least have a voice.

“Even if they survived, it’s questionable whether they’ll still be loyal to the family.”

“…”

The guys who drove the ship and escaped might have become pirates or surrendered to the enemy.

In that sense, the expectations she had were practically futile hopes.

“But it doesn’t necessarily have to be the navy.”

“What do you mean?”

Sarah retorted with a slightly sulky expression.

I just smiled at her and said.

“Don’t you get it? Even after seeing that flag?”

As I said that, I pointed to the black flag hanging on the mast with my finger.