Chapter 217 - A Decent… Human Being (1/2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Right until Zhang Heng fired his gun, the incident that happened in Na.s.sau not too long ago wasn’t of the minds of the crowd. Zhang Heng eliminated Wilton and his men of two hundred pirates, leaving unscathed. Those who were on the s.h.i.+p after the ma.s.sacre described the cabin as a slaughterhouse. The entire floor was awash with blood.

Throughout the entire hunting trip, Zhang Heng had been inconspicuous to the point that most forgot he was a man of his word. In a life-threatening situation like this, Zhang Heng had no interest in playing the Werewolves of Miller Hollow with Jarvis. He had done his part by informing Sam and the rest of the captains about this incident. Having them believe what he said was out of his control altogether.

From the gunshot, Jarvis saw Zhang Heng’s determination, which was why he wasted no time asking his pirates to make way for Anne. He only accepted the pardon after he figured out that he made enough wealth as a pirate. However, he would not be able to return to civilian life since he was a wanted criminal in all the colonies. Hiding from the authorities like a scared kitten, his heart was filled with fear whenever he returned to his hometown.

Now that he finally had the opportunity to clear his name by eliminating all of Na.s.sau’s famous pirates, he could eventually return to his hometown with pride and glory. Before he could do that, though, he had to stay alive until the navy came to rescue him.

Jarvis never once doubted Zhang Heng’s determination. From the beginning, Zhang Heng’s gun stayed glued to Jarvis’ head. Even though Sam and the other captains tried to talk Zhang Heng out of it, he failed to change his mind. Such determination caused alarm bells to ring among the others about what was to happen next. Sam planned to send his people to set up an observation point in the woods, wanting to monitor the s.h.i.+ps that sailed toward this island. At the same time, Brook was left in a profound dilemma. Due to previous bad experiences, Jarvis was one that Brook could never ever trust. For this reason, Zhang Heng trusted him most right now.

If Brook chose to leave, he wouldn’t get his hands on the gold bars. Throughout the entire trip, the Swordfish suffered the most damage compared to the rest of the pirate s.h.i.+ps. His s.h.i.+p’s hull was in a wreck, and repairing the broken masts wasn’t easy as well. It was hard for him to accept he wouldn’t get a single penny out of an operation that cost him so dearly.

In the end, Brook decided that the value of gold didn’t outweigh the value of his life. Immediately, he sent someone to inform his men about the impending attack. That said, he didn’t plan to stray too far from the island. He would linger nearby and observe the situation. The remaining two captains were still in a dilemma, this especially true for the one getting drunk at the earlier celebrations. Even the wave of a gold bar in front of him wouldn’t make him budge.

Time pa.s.sed swiftly, and soon, every captain had their own plans. To prevent further chaos, they decided to refrain from telling their men the details of the impending attack. Sam did best, having done a s.h.i.+pload of things with the limited time they had. He first retrieved the cannons he set on the beach before handpicking a few sober pirates to set up an observation post in the woods.

Although setting up a post at this time would be pointless, it was better than sitting there doing nothing nonetheless. The spotters would be able to spot a s.h.i.+p from a distance if it was day, giving enough time to inform the captains about an impending attack. Unfortunately, it was in the dark of night, and visibility was extremely low. The fleet would be too close once spotted, and it would all be too late.

The terrain on Parrot Island granted countless advantages when they ambushed the Spanish treasure s.h.i.+p. Now, it had become their biggest inconvenience. The tall ridge blocked them from viewing the port.

Sam actually sided more with Zhang Heng, having worked with him before, after all. Between Zhang Heng and Jarvis, one of them had to be lying. If Zhang Heng was the one, all they needed to do was to keep an eye on the Jackdaw, and the gold would be safe. However, if Jarvis was the one that betrayed them all, then they were in serious trouble.