[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-if-you-don-t-try-hard-how-can-i-become-pirate-ki":3,"chapter-if-you-don-t-try-hard-how-can-i-become-pirate-ki-if-you-don-t-try-hard-how-can-i-become-pirate-ki-chapter-12":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","If You Don't Try Hard, How Can I Become Pirate King?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2339996,4574,"Chapter 12: Submit or Die","if-you-don-t-try-hard-how-can-i-become-pirate-ki-chapter-12",12,"\u003Cp>The next second…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pirate ship, as if struck by a cannonball, had a massive hole blasted through its deck—planks flew apart, the mast snapped clean off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zang Gao dodged the flying wood shards, his gaze locked on the cold, stern figure at the deck’s center, a chill crawling up his spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the newcomer said nothing, the aura radiating from him made Zang Gao feel as if he were facing Keluo head-on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mind churned as Zang Gao slowly connected the young man’s face with a wanted poster buried in his memory:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Knight Gao Wen? Bounty eight million?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice trembled as he spoke the number.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My own bounty’s nine million—how could a pirate with an eight-million bounty radiate this kind of terrifying killing intent?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zang Gao knew he was no match—he had only one chance to survive: wait for Keluo’s reinforcements!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can explain—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Submit or die!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen stared at Zang Gao with cold eyes, his tone indifferent—he wanted to crush these pirates as swiftly as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the potential of everyone on his ship was spent; he needed fresh blood, and these pirates were perfect fodder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for good and evil, who on this sea could truly tell the difference?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never considered himself a good man—refraining from exploiting civilians was already the limit of his morality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zang Gao swallowed hard, but before he could speak, the surrounding pirates raised their flintlock pistols, their faces twisted with malice as they turned on Gao Wen…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a series of rapid gunshots, Gao Wen’s figure vanished from the deck. As Zang Gao stared in confusion, a cold voice came from above:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like you made the wrong choice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen lightly swung his knight’s sword, releasing a silver-white blade aura that surged forward with razor-sharp force, filling their entire field of vision…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ssshh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A crisp sound rang out—the pirate ship, over fifty meters long and nearly ten meters wide, split cleanly in half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two unlucky pirates, unable to dodge, were struck directly by Gao Wen’s slash—leaving behind one arm and half their torsos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood gushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crimson hue and the sinking ship snapped the others back to their senses; as they stared at the slowly descending figure, only terror remained in their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Monster!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A monster just like the captain!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zang Gao stood on the deck, watching Gao Wen land—his eyes held nothing but fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even his captain, whom he believed invincible, could never achieve such a feat with mere sword and blade!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Run!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone screamed—suddenly, the others snapped out of shock, but the sea was vast, the ship destroyed—where could they possibly flee?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen’s words echoed again in Zang Gao’s mind—he made his choice without hesitation:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We submit! We submit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Watch out for Keluo—he has a skill called Spoon. It’s fast—too fast for the naked eye to track.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen raised an eyebrow:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Faster than me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zang Gao shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d never fought Keluo—he couldn’t judge—but he knew just how terrifying Keluo was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That man was a ruthless strategist; every battle, the Black Cat Pirates held all three advantages—timing, terrain, and manpower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logically, under such conditions, casualties in the Black Cat Pirates should’ve been minimal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the opposite was true—each battle cost them horrific losses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of them didn’t die at enemy hands—they fell to Keluo’s indiscriminate ability!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I admit you’re strong, but Keluo is a real monster—his bounty and his power don’t match at all!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Over the past few years, most missing pirates and Marines in the East Blue have become Keluo’s prey!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zang Gao’s expression turned grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Betraying his captain carried no guilt—he simply believed that bowing to strength was the instinct of most pirates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen gave no reply, glancing at the pirates still struggling in the sea:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Try to survive—hold on until this fight ends. I’ll go test Keluo’s strength…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen stomped hard—his force crushed the pirate ship’s wreckage beneath him into the sea, and using the recoil, he shot toward the warship a hundred meters away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One pirate tossed Zang Gao a life ring, then turned to watch Gao Wen’s retreating figure and asked, confused:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss, are we really betraying the captain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Betray?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zang Gao clutched the life ring, a sly smirk curling his lips:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If Gao Wen wins, we hand in our loyalty oaths. If Keluo wins—who here would dare report this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either way, we don’t lose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, you don’t actually think Keluo trusts us, do you?—those little schemes the Cat Brothers pull behind his back—he knows perfectly well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just doesn’t care. To him, everyone in the crew is just a tool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just realized it now—when Keluo completes his plan, we’ll be his only weakness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What do you think will happen to us, given Keluo’s nature?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pirate froze, then a cold dread rose from his gut—colder than the seawater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>THUD!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen landed steadily on the warship, his clothes untouched by water, while the pirate ship chasing them had already been swallowed by the sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His astonishing feat made the crew nearly worship him as a god—fear and awe on their faces, but also a new surge of confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as the captain stands, the Gao Wen Pirates will never fall!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen noticed the crew’s excited gazes but paid them no mind—he turned to his first mate:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How’s the situation here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first mate bowed respectfully:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our men haven’t learned to operate the warship’s cannons yet—poor aim. The Black Cat Pirates are poorly equipped—they can’t even damage the warship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To decide the outcome, we need to board—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re coming!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the lookout screamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Black Cat Pirates’ flag was speeding toward them—they clearly intended the same boarding tactic as the first mate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his sharp eyes, Gao Wen could clearly see the slender, cold-faced man standing on the enemy deck, his expression dark and brooding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On his fingers he wore strange claw-blades; their razor edges forced him to push his glasses with his palms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this awkward motion only made his aura seem even more monstrous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not Monka?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far away,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keluo on the deck froze, his face darkening instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not Monka—but on Monka’s ship. The man’s attire clearly wasn’t Marine. What happened needed no explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No wonder the attack earlier didn’t look like Monka’s style.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forget it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pirate vs. pirate, both sides crippled—Keluo’s death by injury, though less reliable than arrest by Marines, is still acceptable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1097,"2026-06-20T23:03:52.332Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4b6dc9f010e0090dc6684b19040683376129f3d1caf9572fa92182d2d2ce3e09","if-you-don-t-try-hard-how-can-i-become-pirate-ki-chapter-13","if-you-don-t-try-hard-how-can-i-become-pirate-ki-chapter-11",469,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fif-you-don-t-try-hard-how-can-i-become-pirate-ki-cover.jpg"]