Fortunately, "Shipwreck" had split into two, but it had broken in the middle.
Both ends, the stern and the bow, were now standing at a 45-degree angle towards the sky, and had not sunk into the water.
Rein immediately turned his head and asked, "Major Mary, is the loot from the knighthood assessment considered personal property, or does it belong to the Empire?"
"Ah?" Mary, who was still fuming, did not expect Rein to suddenly ask such a question out of the blue.
After thinking for a moment, she responded, "It's personal property, of course, unless it involves something related to national security of the Empire; then it must be turned over."
Rein nodded, "Thank you, Major Mary. I think I need to go find my loot. Would you like to come with me?"
"Hmm? Uh... sure!" Mary was taken aback, but quickly nodded in agreement.
Indeed, 'diverting attention' is a good way to stop a woman from nagging you.
Rein had often used it on his mother, Emma.
Now it seemed, this was a 'universal skill'.
"Shipwreck's" captain's quarters.
Although it was Mary's second time seeing the Diviner's body, she couldn't help but exclaim: "Knight Rein, how on earth did you... "
While speaking, Mary pointed to the empty skull of the deceased.
"Just a secret technique. By the way, I should have no problem getting an excellent evaluation for the assessment, right?" Rein didn't wish to elaborate on his methods and used 'diversion of attention' once again.
"Of course, in my opinion, you deserve a higher level of evaluation. Unfortunately, the highest grade in the knighthood assessment is 'excellent'." Major Mary said with a slight smile.
"Bloodsail's" stern deck.
Baron Xilva's face was livid as he gazed at a ripple quickly moving away hundreds of meters out at sea; he knew beneath the surface was a newly developed device from the Eagle Federation, capable of short-duration underwater navigation.
It seemed that his ships stationed at the open sea would probably not be able to stop the Federation's approach.
The raid had not been fully successful—a pity indeed!
However, looking at 'Bloody Hand Willy' sprawled beside him, like a mud doll, Baron Xilva's complexion finally improved a bit.
At least, he should be able to extract some useful information from Willy's mouth.
"Report, general: We've found a batch of new matchlock guns. Judging from the material and craftsmanship, they're likely from the Eagle Federation," a Messenger reported.
Xilva nodded without saying much.
Meanwhile, the battle on Meritet Island was gradually reaching its end.
And the task of compiling statistics was being rushed through overtime.
Especially on "Shipwreck's" side, Major Mary had to ask her colleagues for help to fish out the floating corpses and the half-dead Bloodsail pirates.
The male naval officer was directing the assault team members, originally meant to attack "Shipwreck," in clearing the surface of the sea.
Rein was quite lucky; the first mate with the full face of flesh and the bearded boatswain were both fished out.
The veteran Knights' robust bodies allowed them to survive, having avoided the center of the explosion.
However, heavily injured as they were, they did not escape the Empire's navy search and were captured on the spot.
According to the statistics rules of the knighthood assessment, it had to be either witnessed by a recorder or corroborated with distinctive items or corpses.
Now, the "three giants of Shipwreck" had all been accounted for and recorded under Rein's kill list.
The new knights participating in the assessment were gathered once again and boarded the navy warship heading back.
Unlike on the way there, this time they were on a large four-masted sailing ship of the Imperial Navy.
Inside the cabin, some could not hide their joy, while others were downcast.
"This time I killed six Bloodsail pirate leaders and got a good evaluation—I should have no problem!"
"Alas! I only killed eleven common pirates; I'm afraid I might not make it this time!" a young man said, unable to hide his disappointment.
"That's what happens when you choose 'Little Fortress.' It's safe, but there are much fewer pirates inside than on a ship, and too many of you went there!"
"Not surprised by your outcome," said another slightly older young man, with a hint of disdain.
Many people are always like that, wanting big rewards without taking any risks.
He had gone to "Hook's Might," killing seven Bloodsail pirate leaders and eight common pirates, securing a good evaluation for himself!
"Did you hear? The red-haired girl Evelyn killed the boatswain of 'Bloodsail' and several pirate leaders."
"That fierce? Doesn't that mean she's definitely getting an excellent evaluation! Tsk tsk, that's a direct barony title right there, so envious!"
"Yeah! Many knights serve decades for the Empire and only end up with a barony," said another young man enviously, glancing sideways at the red-haired girl.
However, what puzzled him was that the red-haired girl Evelyn's eyes kept darting to a black-haired young man beside her.