Chapter 234: The Compass That Doesn't Point North
[At this moment, including yourself, no one could have imagined that this seemingly ordinary act of privateering would have an extremely profound impact on the political landscape of this world, and even on its history. This ship, whose full name was The Concorde of Nantes, was not only transporting 516 captured Africans and a large amount of gold dust, but—if you hadn't intervened—on its next voyage it would have been captured by one of the most notorious pirates in maritime history, Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard. He would have renamed it Queen Anne's Revenge, turning it into a legendary vessel feared across the seven seas.]
[The dark sorcerer aboard the Nantes was no ordinary man, either. His name was Mason Hicks—Europe's most famous warlock and alchemist at the time, and a close friend of the renowned scientist Isaac Newton. Not long ago, he had taken part in an assassination attempt on King Louis XIV of France, fleeing afterward to Port Royal. If history had gone unchanged, he would have become Blackbeard's trusted magical adviser, playing a key role in teaching him black magic and helping him become a master of the craft.]
[At this point, you had no idea of The Concorde of Nantes's origins. On Bequia Island in the Grenadines, you put ashore the French crew members who refused to join you, giving them a single-masted sloop along with enough food and water to make their way back to Martinique. Like Blackbeard would have, you took The Concorde of Nantes as your flagship, renaming it the Pineapple, flying a flag with a skull topped by a pineapple crown. You couldn't quite explain why, but you found the name inexplicably cool. (You have obtained the World Milestone reward: History Changer.)]
[You have obtained the title: History Changer. This title is exclusive to the Reward World. In the Simulation World, you will find it easier to intervene in historical events that shape the world order. Participating in such events grants you an additional 10% exploration bonus.]
[This title can be upgraded after participating in 5 historical events. Current progress: 1/5.]
[July 28, 1716 — At the suggestion of your first mate, Joshamee Gibbs, you made a brief stop at Bequia Island to resupply and refit before sailing the Pineapple north through the Lesser Antilles. You conducted trade around Saint Vincent, Saint Lucia, Nevis, and Antigua, seizing opportunities for privateering whenever possible. Your fleet continued to grow steadily.]
[While passing through the pirate haven of Nassau, you stayed for two months. Due to your prior profession, you had some expertise in weaponry, and you were able to improve your ship's cannons with relative ease—adding recoil buffers, refining the bore, and making them more stable, accurate, and longer-ranged than most others. Though you considered inventing a steam engine or improving sails, you knew your limits—such advancements were still nearly forty years ahead of their time in the First Industrial Revolution.]
[From September 29, 1716, to August 9, 1718, your exceptional leadership and remarkable criminal talent earned you the admiration and loyalty of pirates and privateers alike. Elegant in speech, fair in dealings, immensely charismatic, and fond of wearing a black pirate coat, you became known as the "Black Viscount." Compared to others, your raiding style was relatively gentle, with minimal killing, and sometimes you even gave money to impoverished captains you encountered. Your reputation was excellent. Believing firmly in strength through numbers, by July 5, 1718, your privateer fleet had grown to nearly 20 ships—a size unmatched by most pirate kings.]
[During these two years, you deliberately studied black magic under Mason Hicks. Fortunately, your talent was decent—you reached the intermediate level in less than a year. You have obtained the skill: Basic Black Magic (Intermediate).]
[September 2, 1718 — In the Lesser Antilles, you unexpectedly crossed paths with Blackbeard, Edward Teach. Without hesitation, you attacked him, ultimately winning the battle—at the time, he commanded fewer than five ships. His weapon left a deep impression on you: when he swung his sword, the rigging and sails of his ship seemed to come alive, writhing like snakes, sometimes hoisting sailors into the air. But personal combat skill could not make up for the disparity in crew numbers. During the boarding battle, your trusted lieutenants, Joshamee Gibbs and Mason Hicks, led a large contingent to kill Blackbeard, seizing his weapon and presenting it to you with both hands. (You have obtained the Epic Weapon: Triton's Sword.)]
[Killing Blackbeard left you with no guilt whatsoever—compared to you, his conduct was far worse. Every time he captured a ship, he would slaughter the entire crew, and in fits of cruelty, he even turned on his own men. It was said that whenever he buried treasure, he would take a sailor along and, halfway through covering the hoard with earth, stab the man in the back, burying him alongside the loot. This earned him the title "Demon of Murder."]
[Triton's Sword turned out to be a rare and pleasant surprise. With its power, the Pineapple seemed to come alive—its rigging and sails could adjust themselves for speed, and even the ship's cannons could aim automatically, albeit with imperfect accuracy. At last, your ship had the qualifications to become a true legendary vessel.]
[Your victory over Blackbeard and your high-efficiency privateering naturally caught the attention of the British. Governor Weatherby Swann summoned you once again, urging you to increase your raids on Spanish fleets. It was during this meeting that you first met his daughter, Elizabeth—just thirteen at the time. To a girl just beginning to awaken to romance, your charm was devastating, though you preferred mature women over young girls.]
[November 6, 1718 — You returned to Port Royal. Your bedmate, Jenny Poe, was generously rewarded for her loyalty, receiving a large amount of gold and treasure. You had never been stingy with those who had helped you. Through Mason Hicks's introduction, you met a witch in Port Royal named Tia Dalma. She told you she had a magical compass for sale, though the price was steep—2,000 gold louis.]
[A magical compass? Your first thought was of the one that would one day belong to Jack Sparrow—the compass that didn't point north. It could not show cardinal directions, but would always point to the thing you most desired in the world. You happened to have exactly 2,000 gold louis in your possession. Should you spend your entire fortune to buy it? After only a brief moment of thought, you decided—emptying your pockets, you bought it. You have obtained the Unknown Artifact: Compass That Doesn't Point North.]
[However, when you tested it, the compass was a bit of a letdown—it spun wildly, never stopping for even a moment. You were taken aback. Could it be that you truly were a man of endless desires?]