843 Warship (1/2)
”Very good, Mr. Wilson. Welcome aboard!”
After a brief chat, Fang Yuan was already certain that Wilson was indeed a talent. Not only did he have ample experience sailing the sea, he even unexpectedly had a little management ability.
Such caliber was more than qualified to be a chief officer.
”I'll hire you as my ship's third officer!”
Fang Yuan certainly could not promote a new member to chief officer right from the start. Otherwise, how would the older members like Bill and Butcher feel about it? They were still senior despite only joining a few days earlier.
”As for remuneration, it will be one hundred gold coins as a settling-in allowance in addition to bonuses!”
Pirates naturally did not have wages. Their earnings were totally dependent on the division of the loot after each pillage.
”A hundred gold coins?” Wilson's eyes brightened. With a tone of urgency, he asked, ”Mr. Roche… could I get a thousand gold coins in advance? I truly need it, I…”
Fang Yuan gestured for him to stop, interrupting his words. ”Of course I know that you definitely have a tragic story, given that you're in this state and urgently need a huge sum of money. However, how does this concern me? You're only a crew member that I'm hiring. A hundred gold coins for a settling-in allowance is already a large sum that I could've used to find a whole group of sailors to cross oceans anywhere…”
”You're right!” Wilson smiled bitterly. ”Sorry…”
”As for the rest… believe me, as long as you show enough talent, you can quickly earn a thousand gold coins.”
Fang Yuan smiled. He also really needed someone to take on the role of the ship's steward.
So much so that if Wilson had sufficient value, he could possibly take action and help resolve his difficulties. Of course, now was not the time for this.
”No problem, Captain!” Wilson saluted respectfully.
”Great. I appoint you as my ship's third officer. Now, you have one thing to do…”
Fang Yuan looked up and happened to see the bartender leading a bunch of sailors over. ”You're to interview them and select suitable members!”
This was both to test him and to cultivate him.
After Wilson heard what Fang Yuan said, he immediately replied in excitement, ”I understand. I'll certainly do a good job.”
Fang Yuan was evidently giving him a free hand to cultivate his own people.
Otherwise, if a third officer were to head to the ship alone, especially to a pirate ship that was like a dark forest, the best outcome would be becoming a mere figurehead.
He also has some martial skills. That should be enough to keep those unruly sailors under control!
Fang Yuan watched Wilson heading toward the sailors and shouting loudly among them. Losing interest, he turned away and sampled the fine liquor on the table.
”Captain, there's a situation!” After some time, Bill squeezed in, his face pale. ”Michael backed out of our deal!”
”Hmm?”
Fang Yuan looked down, his eyes gleaming.
It was extremely unlikely to renege on a business deal that was already agreed upon unless he was facing external pressure that he could not defy.
”Wilson!” With this thought, Fang Yuan immediately got up. ”How's it going?”
”There are ten people that we can use!” Wilson replied calmly.
”Do you have any matters tying you down here?”
”No!”
”Good. Take those willing to leave with us right now to the dock!”
Fang Yuan took a deep breath, and there seemed to be a hint of bloodthirst in his eyes.
…
This night, the dock was particularly tranquil.
Only the dock and some ships still had some lights.
Fang Yuan took a deep breath. In the night breeze, he could sense numerous eyes spying on them.
”Captain?!” After seeing Fang Yuan board Mockingbird, Butcher was astonished. ”Boss, I thought you were going to spend the night in the port!”
”There's no need for that now! Immediately gather our people and prepare to set off!” Fang Yuan said in a deep voice.
”… Now?” Butcher was rather astonished.
”I won't repeat my command twice!” Fang Yuan's voice was cold.
”Understood!”
Butcher licked the huge cutlass in his hand, seeming to have a ferocious tiger roaring within his body.
Suddenly, Wilson's scalp became numb, feeling as though he had made a mistake but was in too deep to leave.
However, at this moment, not only Wilson, but the other sailors recruited had also already lost their chance to back out.
…
The breeze blew gently.
With Fang Yuan steering the ship personally, the ship slowly sailed out of the port and was soon far into the distance.
”Captain…” Bill gazed at this scene and was stuttering. ”Perhaps Michael was merely exerting pressure on us to drive down the price… Dearborn Port and the Rose Chamber of Commerce don't have any relations. And the navy and the friends of the Ferocious Tiger Pirate Team wouldn't come to attack us…”
In fact, what he meant to say was that after defeating the Ferocious Tiger Pirate Team, they were already the strongest pirate team in the vicinity.
”I only believe in my own judgment… Besides…” Fang Yuan gazed in a direction. ”… We're already a safe distance away from Dearborn Port, right?”
”That's right!” Bill subconsciously answered. Shortly after, he saw Fang Yuan produce a ball of bright flames in his hands. It then flew up high into the air and orbited around them to illuminate the nearby surroundings.
An alarmed cry was heard.
A warship had unexpectedly emerged in the horizon.
It was a typical third-level naval battleship. It was hanging the navy flag and aggressively charging toward Mockingbird.
”Impossible… why would the navy appear here?”
Bill's face was full of despair.