The pirates made their presence known soon enough. One of them, recognizing the anxiety permeating the air, addressed the crowd. "Everybody, calm down. I understand that for many of you, this is your first brush with such a situation, and feeling nervous is expected. Just think of us as passersby collecting a toll. We're only interested in money, we don't harm people. It's our professional ethic. Your safety is our primary concern, absolute safety. But remember, money is non-negotiable."
"Damn, these pirates are alarmingly professional!"
"It's as though the world has civilized even pirates!"
"Something about a pirate saying this doesn't sit right!"
"Do you think Old Luo hired actors? Are we in the middle of a live-action role-play?"
"Would hired actors use actual guns?"
"How can you tell if they're real or fake?"
"Can't you see? It's glaringly obvious!"
With these words, the viewers began to buzz, their tension slightly diffused.
