Chapter 216 - Patience (2/2)
“We need to investigate this matter first. I have a proposal. Since I am not accused of anything, I can ask my men to watch the bay…” Sam added, but before he could finish, Zhang Heng interrupted him.
“All of you have misunderstood my intention. I’m not here to accuse Captain Jarvis. I’m only here to break the news to you. I don’t care if you guys believe me or not, but I’m leaving with my men right now.”
“You want to leave? Now? How about the gold at the bottom of the ocean? And are your men sober enough to even climb on board?” asked a shocked Brook.
It was just then that Anne, Dufresne, and the rest of their party emerged from the woods. Anne still held onto her bloody dagger. As for Harry, a few strong pirates took turns carrying him back to the beach. Ramsay, on the other hand, had put in his best efforts to earn the double-reward he would get. He gathered all the Jackdaw’s pirates in the shortest time possible. Most of them were drunk, going on endlessly about how they’d be rich once they sold off the gold.
“You guys can keep the gold bars,” said Zhang Heng while pointing his gun at Jarvis.
“I’m sorry, Captain Jarvis. Please ask your men to lower their weapons. I will lower mine once my men are safely back on our ship.”
Jarvis did not expect Zhang Heng to be so decisive in a critical moment like this. He had no intention to reason at all. Technically, Jarvis had more pirates than Zhang Heng. Should the worst happen, he could order his men to force Zhang Heng to remain on the beach. By doing that, however, everyone would know that he was indeed the traitor. The other captains and pirates would not hesitate to fight him then. Although it was possible that Jarvis wouldn’t take such risks, Zhang Heng took no chances, ensuring that he made his men stand down.
It had been almost an hour since the little boat that Harry saw left Parrot Island. The more time passed, the more dangerous it was to remain there. Besides, Zhang Heng had spent an extra fifteen minutes on the beach.
He knew that it was time to leave this island immediately. Seeing that Anne and the rest of his men were back, Zhang Heng quickly asked Dufresne to send them back to the Jackdaw. The cramped boat could only fit around ten people, and they would need seven to eight minutes from the beach to the Jackdaw. In other words, a total of thirty minutes were required to take the entire crew back to the ship.
Thirty minutes was simply too long, and Zhang Heng knew they didn’t have the time. Suddenly, the Warrior’s ferry caught his attention.
“I’m going to borrow your ferry,” Zhang Heng suddenly said.
Without waiting for Jarvis’ reply, Zhang Heng instructed Anne to approach the boat. Immediately, a group of pirates from the Warrior jumped up and tried to stop her. Though outnumbered, she had no intention to retreat, quickly drawing her saber to resist. On the contrary, Zhang Heng had acted faster. He pointed his gun at Jarvis’s feet and pulled the trigger! The bullet penetrated his boot, causing him to scream in agony. Next, Zhang Heng took another gun from his men and aimed at Jarvis’s head.
“Do not test my patience.”