In the last week of March 1544, the privateering fleet led by the Nemesis left the port of Saint-Domingue after being resupplied with food, drink, and supplies, and began its return voyage to Europe. It can be said that this ocean-going adventure voyage, which lasted more than six months to the Atlantic Ocean, the islands off the coast of West Africa, the Caribbean Sea and the islands of the Americas, was a complete success.

When she sailed from Plymouth Harbour last September, Isabelle Walton had only a small Galen armed merchant ship, 10 duke's guards sent by the Duke of Richmond to assist her, £3,200 in arrears and the ambition not to believe in a whole set of seafaring superstitions and taboos. In addition, without the strong support of the famous Hawkins family of Plymouth, I am afraid that she would not have been able to achieve her wish very smoothly.

In March of this year, the fleet returned with four small armed merchant ships. However, each merchant ship was loaded with large quantities of hides, spices, sugar, and gold jewels that could be exchanged for great wealth. On the Isabel "Nemesis" merchant ship, it also carried the newly purchased 120 Spanish Mushkert heavy muskets and supporting auxiliary equipment. Combined with the arquebuses and ancillary equipment she had purchased earlier, she had enough thermal weapons to equip 240 musketeers.

In addition to wealth, weapons, and several treasure chests full of gold jewels placed in her captain's cabin, there were several books in Portuguese bought from the University of Santo Domingo City and a book on Spanish Castilian grammar given to her by a trading partner. What is even more amazing is that during this ocean voyage, she also created the first naval infantry regiment in the history of the Kingdom of England Army.

During this time, she also stole some land from the Spaniards in the western part of the island and the entire island of Torti in the adjacent seas. Plundered the property of Spanish plantation owners, raided Portuguese slave merchant ships, killed large numbers of Portuguese sailors, captured Portuguese navigators, blew up and sank several Portuguese merchant ships, etc. After all these murderous acts, she has perfectly transformed into a pirate leader who talks about it.

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The waves crashed against the hull, the sails remained angled, and the sailors steered the Nemesis privateer on the return journey of the "triangular trade". Portuguese navigator Pedro Almeida walked from the navigator's cabin in the aft tower to the captain's cabin on the aft deck, stood uncomfortably at the captain's desk, and looked at Isabel cautiously, "Captain, you... Looking for me? ”

Still with her legs diagonally in the lower right corner of the table, Isabel spread out a Portuguese book on her laps and flipped through it slowly. Then, unhurriedly, he raised his chin and glanced at the navigator, and spat out a series of Castilian dialects in northern Spain, "Mr. Almeida, why didn't you choose to disembark when the fleet docked in the city of Santo Domingo?" ”

At this time, there was a slight shaking of the hull, and a "squeak" came from the hull on both sides of the captain's cabin. Squeak...". Pedro stood quietly at the table, pondering and said, "Captain, that's Spanish territory, and I... Didn't want to stay there. ”

"You can sit down and talk to me." Isabel glanced at one of the seats to the left of the navigator and raised her chin, "So, do you want to go back to Portugal?" ”

"Captain, can I go to England?"

"Well, that's a good choice. But have you figured out what career to pursue to keep yourself alive? ”

"Aside from vendors, I think I'll probably have to be a navigator anymore."

Isabel stared at the page, then looked up at the other party, "Well, actually, navigator is a good job. In a few more years, I hope to become a maritime lieutenant or captain. ”

Pedro smiled lightly and nodded, "Captain, I love the ocean, it can take me to any land or island I want to go. ”

"If you are willing to swear allegiance to the King and Queen of England, I can make you a navigator and an explorer." At this time, Isabel no longer deliberately concealed her true identity. In contrast to her aristocratic status, the merchant captain who was a navigator and explorer was only a merchant, a second-class "burgher" below the gentleman, along with lawyers, doctors, university professors, and university graduates.

Through the past few months of contact and conversation, Pedro has long decided that she is definitely not the daughter of an ordinary businessman. Although he has no way of knowing her true identity, he believes that his judgment will not be wrong. He stared at each other with some excitement, "Captain, I know you are not an ordinary woman. Therefore, I am willing to pledge my allegiance to the King and Queen of England. ”

Isabel's expression was still calm, and her smile remained reserved, "Pedro Almeida, for now I can only let you be a navigator under Captain Hawkins, get acquainted with life in Plymouth, and then consider your allegiance." ”

"That's fine." Pedro leaned forward, scrambling to agree.

"Pastor told me you learn English very quickly, don't you?"

"Yes, Captain."

Isabel closed the book, stood up and walked to the porthole behind her, and turned to look at him again, "Very well, now you can go talk to the sailors a little more and be their companion, Captain Hawkins will be fair to you." ”

Looking at the back of the navigator as she left with a happy smile, Isabel hesitated for a moment and did not say what she wanted to say. In fact, she originally planned for Pedro to teach her Portuguese. But, on second thought, a Portuguese trader-turned-navigator probably had a serious lack of reading and writing skills. So, she didn't hold on any longer.

The long return journey was four weeks long, and Isabel had to practice swordsmanship and bowery again in order to pass the time on the sea. While the musketeers of the Naval Infantry Regiment are gradually relying on hot weapons, Isabel, as the commander of the Naval Infantry Regiment, is wielding cold weapons to practice her skills, which has to be said to be a spectacle.

On the afternoon of the second Sunday in April, the weather was clear, and the crew members who stayed below the open deck ran to the open deck to bask in the sun and chat. The chaplain also left the service room and went to the deck to talk happily with the crew.

At this moment, the priest heard a soft "ding-ding-ding" sound, and quickly turned his eyes to look in the direction of the stern where the sound was made. On closer inspection, the captain and the maritime lieutenant were each holding a gauntlet bayonet sword with a glittering cold light and were engaged in a "life-and-death battle".

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