Chapter 155 - First Come, First Serve (1/2)

The Jackdaw had been moored at the harbor for three days. During that period, many pirates requested to get off the ship but Zhang Heng denied all of them. If a similar thing were to have happened back then, the crew would have definitely ganged up and force the captain to let them get off the ship.

Everyone was silent when Dufresne came over to hand everyone their profits. All the new recruits were glad that they made the decision to join the Jackdaw. None of them would be stupid enough to disobey Zhang Heng and lose their right to be part of this ship. However, this whole staying-on-the-ship thing could last only three days.

After three days of curfew, the pirates were at their wits’ end and decided that they had enough. Even if someone pointed a gun at their heads, it would not stop them from leaving. None of them would listen to Zhang Heng and Billy, where some pirates started to launch lifeboats and rowed to Nassau. Out of desperation, some even jumped into the ocean, attempting to swim ashore. After all, the Jackdaw wasn’t anchored too far from land.

Based on Zhang Heng’s calculations, the Gentle Wind should be safe by now. So, he did not stop his pirates from leaving the ship. Sensing freedom, they squeezed every bit of strength possible and rowed as fast as they could to get to Nassau’s harbor. The bystanders were excited to see that the Jackdaw’s crew was finally allowed to leave their ship. Everyone was eager to know how well their first voyage went.

Instead of stopping at the harbor once they landed on Nassau, all the pirates ran to where Gatsby, the moneylender stayed. Noticing a group of pirates running to his place, Gatsby quickly asked his guard to move a table in front of his house. He also carried a gunny sack with him.

When they arrived at Gatsby’s place, Dufresne handed him a paper containing the signatures of Zhang Heng and Carina. He then read and checked it three times before placing it into his pocket. This was the most exciting moment for all the pirates as they were about to receive their share of the money. Each pirate on the Jackdaw stood to get at least 40 Spanish gold coins, an amount equivalent to 320 silver pesos. It was way more than what they had expected. For the ones with specific tasks on the ship like the cook and the cannoneers, they were given an extra 160 pesos each.

Zhang Heng received a total of 120 gold coins. As the captain of the ship, he was eligible to receive double the profit. Also, he was one of the seventeen who took over this ship in Charleston. Hence, all seventeen of them received another 40 gold coins.

Technically speaking, this ship was the first thing that they plundered from the navy. However, it would be unwise for them to sell this battleship for cash. So, Zhang Heng came up with a unique way to compensate all seventeen of them. For three years, they were entitled to an extra share of the loot. This rule would not change even if Zhang Heng wasn’t the captain of the Jackdaw in the future. However, if the elders decided to leave the ship or were killed during a battle, they would no longer be able to receive the extra share.

As the boatswain and bravest pirate on the Jackdaw, Anne received a total of 80 gold coins. Since she was now wealthy enough to purchase her own property, she did not need to rely on anyone anymore. After that, she handed out 40 golden coins to Zhang Heng.

“Just like what I’ve promised you. I’m going to give half of my share to you since this is my very first yield.”

This was the promise that Anne made when she first met Zhang Heng, one that he had already long forgotten. He was surprised that she still remembered it. Throughout her stay with Zhang Heng, she hadn’t cost him too much money, and considering that the rent for the house had been paid, all he bought for her was a set of utensils. Truth be told, Zhang Heng probably spent a total of two gold coins on her. It was not a big deal for him.