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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter Twenty-Four: The Shipwreck
"What happened?"
The sudden collision caused the ship to shudder slightly, and Dominic shouted loudly.
"It seems like the ship was hit by something," Leo said as he moved to the side and looked down, but there was nothing below.
"The ship is leaking! Sea water is flooding into the hold!" a pirate shouted from the stairs.
"Old Josen, where's the hole? Is it serious? Can it be fixed?"
Dominic hurried over, anxious as he asked.
Josen glanced at the hole and replied, "The hole is on the starboard side of the fourth compartment. It won't affect the overall buoyancy of the ship. I'll have someone move the cargo to make repairs. Also, we need to lower the sails; we can't proceed any further."
"Go take care of it," Dominic said quickly, then shouted, "Lower the sails!"
The pirates immediately sprang into action, some moving cargo while others lowered the sails, with Boatman in charge of the repairs.
This pirate ship had watertight compartments, which meant that the hull was divided into sections. If one area took on water, it wouldn't spread to others, allowing the ship to maintain its buoyancy.
Once the cargo was cleared away, they could begin repairing the hole.
Watertight compartments were essential for many ships in the One Piece world to guard against attacks from sea creatures.
This technology is not overly modern; it appeared in ancient China during the Tang Dynasty and became quite common in the Song Dynasty.
Water-tight compartments not only prevent leaks and sinking but also reinforce the hull, enhancing lateral strength and resistance to water pressure.
...
"How sturdy it is."
In the distance, a figure shook its head, feeling a bit of pain in its head—it was Xiaqiu.
This ship was sturdier than he had imagined.
Upon seeing the Pirate Ship, Xiaqiu felt an urge to swallow the pirates whole, hoping to gain more Enhanced Energy.
However, most of them were on board, and to devour them, he first needed to sink the ship.
The ship was about thirty-five meters long, with a solid hull weighing around one hundred tons, making it difficult for him to destroy it directly.
But if he aimed for a section of the hull near the Water Surface and smashed it, allowing seawater to flood in, that was still possible.
He was eighteen meters long and weighed around fifty tons. After three enhancements, his strength rivaled that of a thirty-meter-long sea fish.
It is known that in ancient times, incidents of Blue Whales sinking Sailboats were not uncommon; many wooden Sailboats had been overturned or destroyed by Blue Whales.
Moreover, Xiaqiu possessed massive horns that could concentrate force on a specific point, making it easy to smash through the hull.
Xiaqiu seized the moment.
However, it was harder than he had imagined. When he charged into it, he only managed to create a hole the size of a basin.
Moreover, judging by their expressions, this hole did not seem to cause them much trouble.
"Let's do it again."
Xiaqiu swam from the bottom of the ship, moving towards the distance, shaking his body as he prepared to charge once more.
With a splash.
Xiaqiu transformed into a shadow, continuing his rush towards the Pirate Ship.
"Boss, what is that?"
On the ship, Leo furrowed his brow as he looked at the distant Water Surface.
"What?"
Dominic followed Leo's gaze, squinting his eyes. "Is that a fish of that size? Did it just hit us?"
As they spoke, Xiaqiu had already approached again. He charged forward once more, and with a loud thud, the ship shook violently.
His protruding skull collided with the side of the ship, causing the planks to shatter and revealing a large hole through which seawater began to pour in.
"Hit again, Josen, what's the situation?" Dominic shouted.
"The nineteenth compartment is damaged. I've arranged for Boatman to make repairs, but we need to jettison some cargo," Josen said, peeking his head out from the stairs with a grim expression.
"Then let's throw some cargo overboard," Dominic yelled.
"Boss, we can't let that fish hit us," Leo interjected from the side.
"I know."
Dominic shouted, "Johnson, get the Cannon ready to attack the sea creature. Leo, you take the others and use the Spear Gun to strike."
"Understood."
Johnson and Leo immediately sprang into action.
Dominic raised his telescope, scanning the surface of the sea, but he couldn't spot any sign of the sea creature.
...
"What happened? Why has the Dominique Pirate Crew stopped?" On a distant Merchant Ship, the crew looked on in confusion.
"They seem to be in a panic."
Jozef raised the telescope to observe the ship, where the crew was bustling about. He frowned and said, "They're still throwing cargo overboard."
"Is it leaking?"
The captain raised an eyebrow, took the telescope, and looked again. "The sails are down; it must be a leak in the hold."
"Haha, they have it coming," Caver laughed heartily.
"An eye for an eye; they better drown out there," Marcel clenched his fists.
"There are usually watertight compartments, so a normal leak shouldn't be a problem. Besides, they have a lifeboat on board; if the ship sinks, they’ll be fine," Jozef added from the side.
"And we need to be cautious."
The captain lowered the telescope and said, "If their Pirate Ship sinks, they might come close to us to seize our Vessel. We need to steer clear of them."
Everyone quickly turned the helm to increase their distance, while Marcel took Jozef's telescope to continue observing in the distance.
...
"To the side, Port side!"
On the Pirate Ship, a pirate shouted loudly, and Dominic immediately ran toward the Port side to look into the distance.
Bang.
A massive shadow collided with the Pirate Ship.
"Damn it, where's the Cannon crew? Johnson, what are you doing? Shoot it!"
Dominic was furious.
Leo and several pirates raised their Spear Guns, aiming at the water, and pulled the triggers.
Puff Puff Puff.
The Spear Guns pierced the water, striking the Black Fish, but it did no damage whatsoever.
"Such an attack wouldn't even scratch me."
Underwater, Xiaqiu snorted coldly, diving to the seabed and swimming away into the distance, preparing for a fourth assault.
Xiaqiu struck the hull on the starboard side, creating two holes—one at the front and one at the back.
Port made a hole that staggered with the one on the starboard side. He intended to create another hole, making it four in total; he was confident it would sink.
Xiaqiu turned around, creating some distance before charging toward the ship again.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of Cannons erupted as three Cannonballs were fired, landing on the Water Surface around Xiaqiu.
Three cannonballs missed Xiaqiu, while the other three cannons quickly adjusted their aim at Xiaqiu.
Another three cannon blasts rang out.
Xiaqiu suddenly accelerated, dodging two of the cannonballs but getting hit by one.
However, the power of the cannonball was greatly diminished by the seawater and could not inflict any real damage on Xiaqiu.
Whoosh.
Xiaqiu's speed hardly decreased as it charged straight toward the Pirate Ship.
"Damn it, the cannon can't even hurt him."
Dominic watched as the shadow remained unharmed, his face darkening with anger as he slammed his hand against the ship's railing.
More cannon fire erupted, but Xiaqiu had already closed in on the vessel and crashed into it.
Boom.
The ship shook violently, and another hole appeared.
Water gushed in, and the Pirate Ship began to sink slowly.
With four holes flooding with seawater, the weight of the ship increased. The holes were distributed on both sides at the front and back, offset from each other, damaging four compartments. There was no large area left to provide sufficient buoyancy.
"Boss, four compartments have already encountered problems; they can't hold out any longer."
Old Josen rushed to the deck, shouting loudly.
"Can't we patch them up?" Dominic asked angrily.
Old Josen's face was troubled as he replied, "There's too little time. With four breaches, the ship is descending too quickly; it's difficult for us to repair it under the water pressure."
"How long until the ship sinks?" Dominic asked with a cold expression.
Old Josen said, "At most two minutes, and that's if we can maintain the four breaches."
"Bastard."
Dominic's face twisted in rage as he shouted, "Launch the lifeboats on the other side of the ship; abandon the main vessel."
"But two vessels can only take fourteen people," Leo interjected from the side. "And the fish are still below."
"Then let it be fourteen people."
Dominic snorted coldly. "Use the remaining pirates and the Pirate Ship as bait. We'll escape from the back and leave this place."
"Understood."
Leo nodded and began arranging for the lifeboats to be lowered.
"Boss, I..." Old Josen looked at Dominic, his eyes filled with hope.
"You are still useful; you can leave with me."
Dominic replied coldly. Old Josen was the best Boatman, experienced and reliable. If he left now, there would still be times when he would need him in the future.
"Thank you, Boss," Old Josen said gratefully.
Dominic pointed to a pirate and said, "Go find Johnson; I'll reserve two spots for you and him."
"Understood."
The pirate, thrilled at the chance of survival, hurried towards the cabin to find Johnson.
Dominic gazed at the tilted Pirate Ship, his expression fierce as he quickly walked toward the ship's position.
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