Chapter 309 - Ambush, Raid, Assault!
The first day of the pirate ship assault training was a success. All eight squads of the Second Combat Unit achieved complete victory. Each squad had to surprise and seize a single ship, then return secretly to complete the high-difficulty operation. There's no other way to describe it: they did an excellent job.
After returning to the mother ship, we anchored far from the area teeming with pirates, hiding behind an uninhabited island. Despite the positive results, everyone had their own thoughts. Now, it was time for the post-training reflection meeting.
"Surprise attacks using this method are effective. Moving by boat at night and then approaching from underwater should work even against warships. What do you think, Mary?"
Siegrune only directed the conversation to Mary at the beginning, then observed the proceedings with me.
"Agreed. Warships are taller, so climbing them takes more time, which is a bit concerning. However, the surprise attack method is nearly flawless. In a near-complete magic suppression state, even if the pirates have detection magic tools, it would be difficult to spot us. To be thorough, we should approach by boat from a greater distance and disperse while moving underwater to reduce the chances of being detected. What do you think, Violante?"
"I concur. If the enemy has better detection capabilities, we should act in a way that can't be distinguished from aquatic beasts."
Even with a complete victory, there's always room for improvement. Our real battles will be against more skilled opponents.
"Another strategy could be a diversion. For example, a decoy could cause chaos on the deck, or start a fire in one of the cabins."
"These pirate ships aren't large, but if we assume a larger ship with more crew, such tactics could be useful."
"Dealing with unexpected magic tools in a confined space is harder, but a wider deck can make it easier to handle."
The Second Combat Unit includes Mary, the leader, Violante-gochou, another Gochou, and three assistant officers. There are also veteran members and enthusiastic newcomers, leading to a variety of opinions and feedback.
Not being satisfied with just the results and harboring dissatisfaction with an easy victory is a testament to Mary's influence. Her attitude of seeking challenges and overcoming them is truly impressive.
"Tomorrow is the next step. I'm curious about their reaction. It will be interesting to see what kind of precautions they take after today's surprise attack."
The marking we placed on the pirate ships will last for four to five days. We plan to attack the same ships again tomorrow, and the key will be whether we can penetrate their maximum alertness.
We have many more training scenarios in mind. Today's perfect surprise attack, tomorrow's attack on a fully alert target, a forced assault after being discovered, a frontal battle by approaching with the mother ship, or a melee battle initiated by the pirates—our goal is to experience as many scenarios as possible.
It's still the first day of training. After reflecting and discussing, we decided to rest. We secured enough sleep time for the morning and then explored the uninhabited island, getting some exercise. It turned out to be a good hiding spot.
Another night arrived, and it wasn't raining, but the waves were a bit high. We all donned our dry suits and other equipment and set out in boats towards the pirate ships. Valeria looked pale on the swaying boat, but it wouldn't be for long, so she should be fine.
After conducting a wide-area magic detection, it seemed none of the pirate ships had fled. From their perspective, the attack must have been incomprehensible. We didn't take anything, didn't kill anyone, and didn't cause serious injuries. They must be struggling to understand the purpose of the attack. With our large goggles, our faces were unrecognizable, adding to the mystery.
A one-sided attack from an unknown enemy with unknown motives must be terrifying, even for outlaws like pirates.
And tonight, they will experience that terror again. Our target is the same pirate ship as yesterday.
We applied the lessons from the reflection meeting and moved the boats to a much greater distance from the pirate ships. Yesterday, we approached to about one kilometer, but today, we stopped the boats at a distance of three kilometers. Even in daylight, the ships would only appear as small dots, and the darkness and waves would further conceal our approach. No matter how much their vision is enhanced, detecting us would be difficult.
After preparing our equipment on the boat, we followed Mary's signal and dove into the water, spreading out as we moved underwater. Being alone in the dark sea can be unsettling, but with the ability to detect even faint magical reactions, we felt reassured by our teammates moving in the same direction.
The anti-monster equipment we wore functioned well, and there were no signs of unnecessary combat with aquatic beasts, just like last night.
Mary and I met up with Violante near the bow of the pirate ship and carefully observed the target. Since magic-based detection is the norm, sonar-like devices that use sound waves are not common. If they were, we wouldn't have been able to approach so easily.
Hmm, there are a lot more people around.
The effects of yesterday's attack were evident. There were more lookouts, and the number of ships had increased from three to four. Despite this, our approach went unnoticed. So far, so good, but the challenge was how to board the ship without being seen. In a normal situation, it would be impossible to reach the deck undetected.
But there are always blind spots.
Even if they think they've eliminated all blind spots, it's unlikely that everyone will remain vigilant indefinitely. There will always be a gap, or one will appear.
This is a training exercise. We aim to succeed in a surprise attack without resorting to brute force.
We could secretly eliminate lookouts from the sea, but since this is a training exercise, we won't use that method until the time limit is up.
First, we continued to observe from underwater to determine the positions of the lookouts. Using magic skills, we explored areas that could serve as blind spots and gradually mapped them out. We didn't rush.
With careful observation, we could determine the deck's structure to some extent based on the movement of magical reactions.
Members targeting the same ship occasionally came to Mary to confirm their findings and plans.
After about three hours, the lookout near the bow showed a different movement. Whether it was a shift change or a break, Mary didn't miss the opportunity. There was no sign of attention from other ships, and it was getting late, so their focus was likely waning.
Mary threw a grappling hook and quickly climbed aboard. It was a swift move, almost too quick to see. Violante and I followed, and as usual, we put on our earrings after boarding.
Once inside, the ship was ours.
Mary moved from cover to cover, taking down lookouts from behind while being mindful of the bridge and other ships. It was a challenging task.
However, once the lookouts were down, the members in the water could board. From positions where other ships couldn't see, they quickly joined us, increasing our strength. Repeating this process, the deck was soon clear of enemies, and the pirates were still unaware.
Without constant communication, each member infiltrated the ship and began the suppression as they had the previous day.
The biggest challenge was getting from the water to the ship. Once that was overcome, the ship's interior was full of blind spots. As long as we weren't detected, our superior magic detection and suppression skills made the surprise attack almost too easy.
"Phew. Being in the water for so long was a bit tiring. I was just watching, though."
"Considering it as a training exercise, three hours might have been short, but the tension made it more exhausting."
We've spent longer in the water during previous training, but Mary was right. The presence of enemies made the fatigue different.
"I prefer being on the ship."
Despite being used to it, Valeria still didn't like being on the boat. I couldn't help but stroke her damp hair, and Mary's expression softened, though she didn't let her guard down.
"Everyone is back on the deck."
Mary confirmed from the bridge window, and the observer, Valeria, and I nodded. With that, today's training was over.
"Mary here, first squad, withdrawing! First squad, withdrawing!"
We swam back to the boat without being noticed by the other ships and returned to the mother ship, chatting along the way.
In the post-training reflection meeting, it became clear that boarding the ship was the most challenging part for other squads as well. Some squads couldn't find a gap in time and resorted to brute force, but that was part of the planned scenarios, so it wasn't a problem.
The next night, we conducted another attack that was just a training exercise for us but a baffling assault for the pirates. Tonight, we would begin the first phase of the forced assault training.
"This one seems a bit more challenging."
The boat headed towards the pirate ship, cutting through the calm waves as the members chatted.
Despite the water splashing on us, the early summer sea was warm, even at night. Once in the water, it was manageable, but the dry suits were quite hot and uncomfortable.
If it had been winter, it would have been much harder. We were grateful for the current season.
"Since we'll be discovered during the surface approach, we might struggle to avoid attacks while boarding."
"Water does limit our mobility."
We targeted the same ship again. Repeatedly attacking the same target was ideal for training.
After discussions, we increased the difficulty. Long-range attacks from the water were strictly forbidden, as we couldn't kill the pirates in the real operation. While we could control our attacks, it wouldn't be as precise as in close combat. To avoid any accidents, we decided against long-range attacks.
Before the third attack, we observed that the pirates had called for reinforcements, making the operation even more challenging.
It was understandable why they didn't flee. Pirates have their territories, and moving to a new area would be difficult without significant power. If they fled and returned, they would be mocked and underestimated by other pirate groups.
The multiple pirate ships being attacked by an unknown force couldn't be kept secret. Being defeated one-sidedly wouldn't allow them to live comfortably in any industry.
As the sea breeze and water splashed against us, I listened to the chatter and pondered the situation.
The pirates we had beaten were humiliated. Considering their pride as outlaws, they wouldn't be satisfied with just being attacked and fleeing. Their desire for revenge and to uncover our purpose would likely drive them.
For us, they were convenient opponents. We could beat them without repercussions, and they wouldn't run away. Although their individual combat skills varied greatly, their movements on the ship could still provide some useful insights. A direct confrontation would yield even more valuable information.
They were the perfect opponents.
While it was unfortunate for them, they would have to endure the pain.
"Let's wrap it up here."
At Mary's command, the boat stopped, and the anchor was dropped.
"To avoid damaging the boat, we'll enter the water from the same distance as yesterday. We'll intentionally make ourselves visible about five hundred meters from the target. If they don't notice, we'll use a single magic attack. Is that acceptable?"
"I'm just an observer. I'll leave it to the squad leader."
There were no objections. We all nodded and prepared the same equipment as before.
Mary dove into the water first, and everyone followed. She swam slowly to acclimate to the water, gradually increasing her speed. Our swimming abilities were exceptional, and we could cover several kilometers in a short time if we pushed ourselves.
As planned, we splashed and made noise about five hundred meters from the target, slowing down but still moving forward. The sea was calm, and the pirates would surely notice us.
After about thirty seconds, a flare shot up from the pirate ship, but we had closed the distance. Their reaction was slow, but they were alert, and the ships began to reposition, likely to surround us. They might be trying to draw us into range or pull us closer, but they hadn't attacked yet.
This part of the plan was predictable. The real challenge was about to begin.
As we approached the target ship, spreading out, we were about fifty meters away when the attacks started. A rain of magic, arrows, and harpoons rained down, powered by brute force.
Without our usual cloaks, we couldn't rely on our overwhelming defense for a reckless charge. The water made movement difficult, and the attacks felt threatening. The pressure from multiple ships was intense. These country pirates were more capable than expected.
Diving underwater to avoid the attacks was risky. This was their territory, and even a slight dive wouldn't protect us from the powerful attacks. The arrows and harpoons were heavy and fast, and our dry suits offered limited protection.
This was much harder than expected!
"Oh, this is getting fun!"