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After the defeat, the situation in Spain was nothing short of chaos.

The continuous mismanagement had weakened the royal grip, but the real issue was that with Málaga and Gibraltar becoming Ottoman lands, the Islamic Moors began acting like bandits.

Whenever troops were dispatched to suppress the bandits, they would inevitably flee to Málaga and Gibraltar, and even attempts to block their retreat fell flat.

“Blocking the way to the harbor is a violation of the treaty! Are you planning to break the peace agreement?”

With the Ottoman army storming in, I had no choice but to lift the blockade, which allowed the bandits to thrive even more.

The southern region was rapidly turning into a lawless zone, and people were quickly migrating to the Ottoman territories where they didn’t have to fear banditry.

Thinking about the rapidly increasing population in Málaga and Gibraltar made it feel impossible to figure out how to reclaim those lands, and I simply couldn’t overlook the news of Barbary pirates in the New World.

Charles V clenched his teeth and said, “Is it certain about the Barbary pirates?”

“Based on confirmed reports, yes.”

It seemed implausible how the Barbary pirates could move from the Mediterranean to the New World in such a short time.

Unless someone was orchestrating this.

“Damn Yusuf! If only he would gracefully exit while he still can! Bring me the letter that recently arrived from Ferdinand!”

“Understood.”

As Charles opened the letter brought by the attendant, he drummed his fingers on the desk.

It contained details about a conversation with Prince Kasim, the Grand Vizier’s visit to Buda, and the necessity for funds.

When I first received it, I scoffed. Considering the money lost due to the peace negotiations, I could jump up in bed just thinking about it, yet they asked to support the Ottoman prince financially.

It sounded utterly insane but my thoughts had shifted a bit.

“The next person in line must be someone who can communicate.”

If someone like Yusuf took the next position, I feared he wouldn’t live to see his own demise, so the choice was clear.

I decided to provide financial support to Kasim, but what was immediately pressing was not this.

“We’ll launch a pirate hunt before the Barbary pirates increase in number. We need to nip it in the bud, ensuring they can’t set foot in the New World.”

*

Biting into a handful of yellow fruit, sweet juice flowed out.

As Dragut chewed on one of the common fruits from the surrounding islands, footsteps could be heard.

“Captain! We’ve gathered all the matured prisoners!”

Spitting out the fruit seeds, Dragut followed his subordinate.

The coast was lined with ships docked behind a natural breakwater made of rocks, while makeshift wooden houses dotted the beach.

It was remarkable for a base constructed in less than six months, and Dragut looked down at those kneeling in the sand, amidst a bustling crowd.

“Nice to meet you all. Some of you may know each other, while others may not. For those familiar faces, you might not be so glad to see me.”

The two hundred-odd prisoners looked at the grinning Dragut with fear, twirling their pistols.

What about that fierce outlook when they were first captured? After a month without decent meals while seeing comrades succumb to injuries, all that remains was the will to survive.

The process of breaking their spirits is what they called maturation, and Dragut smiled kindly at the well-matured prisoners.

“There’s no need to be too afraid. If I meant to kill you, I could have done that much sooner. Just know I’m the captain here. Raise your hands.”

Of course, no one raised their hands.

It was the captain who tossed those captured straight to the sharks.

“See? No takers? Then let’s speak plainly. Do you see these gold coins? They’re part of the gold obtained from your captured ship. How much do you think you’d get if you just transported these like your lives depended on it?”

“Well, if I get a decent chunk of gold, I’d be grateful. Not much is left after the higher-ups take their cut.”

A pirate surrounding the prisoners replied. He had become a pirate through the very same process.

“Can’t even drink water without risk, and every time the wind changes, you’re sleepy from adjusting the sails? What is left for you? You’ll just die from illness before turning forty. So right now, this is an opportunity.”

Dragut casually tossed a jingling bag of gold coins in front of the prisoners.

“You can live lavishly on your ship. We share the loot fairly. Of course, those in special roles like the captain and navigator get more, but it’s only double the amount.”

“Is that really true?”

As a prisoner pierced through fear and voiced his greed, Dragut nodded.

“Why would I lie about something easily checked? Ah, but you should know this—part of the spoils must be presented to the Padishah.”

“Why must we do that?”

Most of the captured sailors were Spanish, and there was no way they’d hold reverence for the Ottoman Padishah.

Though they hadn’t even touched the gold yet, the idea of giving away some of it stirred discontent on their faces.

“Tch, think about it. Where will you get the weapons and gunpowder you need? Do you think there’s anyone other than the Ottomans who can supply that? And if you gather every bit of treasure and retire, where will you go? Back to your homeland?”

Once the secret of being a pirate is discovered, it’s clear they would face execution.

“The only place you can retire in peace is with the Ottomans.”

“But…”

“I know. You’re worried about living in a place where you can’t even speak the language and the cultures are different. If that’s the case, you can settle in Málaga, which is now part of the empire. The empire offers plenty of options for you.”

Having said this, Dragut put away the pistol he was holding.

“I’ve said what I needed to say. Those who wish to join me as pirates, stand up.”

At Dragut’s words, the prisoners slowly rose, and as those who had been hesitant also stood, no one was left sitting.

“Excellent! Now that we have new comrades, it’s a feast tonight!”

The pirates approached the newly admitted prisoners, loosening their binds and joining arms as they moved on.

After taking a swig of strong rum, the pirates began to chatter excitedly, bonding with their new mates.

Successfully wrapping up the hiring seminar, Dragut’s expression hardened as he turned away.

“Do not let your guard down for a while, and if any foolish movements are detected, execute them as a warning.”

“Won’t we just do that once or twice? You needn’t worry.”

Giving a few reassuring pats on his confident subordinate’s shoulder, Dragut gazed at the dock.

The pirate fleet, which had started with four ships, had already grown to ten. Six captured vessels had been claimed, already.

“Surely you must have begun to notice.”

“With the increasing number of vessels that don’t return, if you’re not a fool, you should.”

Moreover, there were vessels that had fled after sacrificing their companions on their voyage, so it would only be a matter of time before the hunter party arrived.

I wasn’t afraid. If I were scared, I wouldn’t be able to continue as a pirate.

“Let’s begin to move in earnest. The gifts for our friends should be ready by now, right?”

“The matchlock guns and gunpowder for our gifts have already been loaded.”

“I hope the native friends appreciate our presents.”

And preferably, those Spanish folk too.

*

The first place Columbus reached when setting out to find India.

A tremendous noise erupted on the island of Hispaniola, the second-largest island in the Caribbean.

-Boom! Bang!

“What, what’s that?!”

The Spaniards, sleeping side by side with the native Taino women, startled awake and bolted outside at the sound of gunfire.

Seeing the flashes of fire from the gun barrels, the Spaniards shouted in horror.

“It’s an attack! The Indians are attacking!”

It seemed surreal that the once meek natives, who had barely offered any resistance for decades, were now assaulting the settlement with weapons, but it was stark reality.

What stopped the Spaniards from arming themselves in response were the native women they had used as mere tools.

“Let go, you witch!”

As they struggled to break free from the grasp of one of the screaming women, a Spaniard who stumbled outside was met with the cold steel of gun blades.

With their anger, accumulated over the years, bubbling forth, the onslaught of the enraged natives set the Spanish settlement ablaze.

Watching the red flames lighting up the night sky and the black smoke from a distance, Dragut turned away.

“There’s still much to do. We must move swiftly.”

This day marked the beginning of uprisings across the Caribbean, a declaration of war from the Barbary pirates before the hunting party arrived.