Chapter 124 - : Ambush II (2/2)
When Orff saw that that was the general opinion, he nodded. “Alright. Since we’re so near to the target already, I should tell you guys that I’ve received confirmation that the fifth piece of the map is in the hands of Bellomonte.”
“Bellomonte? The earl of New York, Ma.s.sachusetts, and New Hamps.h.i.+re?”
At first, some of the pirates did not understand what the name meant. But when they heard this question, they inhaled sharply. If there was a list of the most powerful people in the New World, then Belmonte would be among the top few. It was nearly impossible to take the treasure map from a man of such standing.
“Yes. He was also the one who sent Kidd to the gallows. After Kidd’s death, a large portion of the relics fell into Belmonte’s hands—not just the fifth piece of the treasure map, but also the clues related to the sixth piece of the map.” Then Orff threw out the final card. “What’s more, his net worth is no less than a piece of treasure. If we manage to capture him, we could, at the very least, get 400,000 pounds for his ransom.”
The number had everyone holding their breaths. Kidd’s treasure was still far away, but the ransom money was right before their eyes.
But it was Orff’s final statement that really played a decisive role. “Belmonte will leave his territory after a month and a half and go to Charleston to attend his youngest daughter’s wedding. That is our best chance. After we take the Scarborough, we can seal off the Port of Charleston and go ash.o.r.e to capture our man.”
…
“I must have lost my mind when I voted in favor.” Marvin’s hand trembled as he picked up the potato peeler. “We’re dead, right? Scarborough’s cannons will rip us to shreds, or the sailors would rush aboard and slaughter all of us. My G.o.d, I should’ve listened to you and voted against.”
“It’s useless. Even if you vote against it, they would still carry out the operation.” Zhang Heng said, holding a spoon and as calm as ever. If he could decide the direction of things, he would not have chosen this. Orff was the one who wore the pants on Sea Lion. Even though he had voted against, other than Marvin, he did not try to dissuade anyone else.
Now that things had gotten to this point, there was no use complaining. The only way out of this was to take down the entire the Scarborough together.
Since Zhang Heng’s and Marvin’s ‘less menacing face’, they were chosen to be part of the group acting as the crew of the merchant s.h.i.+p. They were now the cooks of the ‘French merchant s.h.i.+p’.
Zhang Heng took off his black clothes and handed all the weapons he had on him to the ambush group for safekeeping in the mezzanine. But as insurance, he kept a dagger in case he needed to defend himself; and that dagger was hidden under the pile of potato skins by Marvin’s feet.
After a while, they heard footsteps approaching the door. It was the record keeper Griffin coming down from the deck. “The Scarborough has taken the bait. They are approaching. Mr. Orff asked me to inform you to get ready. Don’t give anything away.”
Clearly, the poor man had not done anything like this before. He was so nervous he was stuttering a little. But given the circ.u.mstance, that they are about to encounter the British wars.h.i.+p, it was expected.