A sudden shout halted all movement in the tavern, freezing the pirates inside. Two rival pirate crews, moments ago on the brink of a brawl, exchanged glances and, as if in silent agreement, turned and dashed outside.
At a time like this, William wasn't concerned about resupplying—his life was more important than rum.
The streets were swarming with pirates. The experienced ones, quick to react, sprinted toward the docks, while the rookies, slower to catch on, remained puzzled.
The second mate, Bamonde, had lost his earlier bravado and looked frantic, but William had no time to laugh at him as he also dashed forward.
William's crew, the Danton Pirates, were no match for the navy pursuing them. Their ship was damaged and low on supplies, trapped at the docks mid-plunder. The pirates had neither the will nor the strength to fight, and most understood this grim reality.
Their captain, Danton, had been keeping an eye on the outskirts near the docks, ready to escape at the first sign of trouble. Any pirate who failed to reach the ship in time would likely be left behind.
Fortunately, William was prepared. With Ajin, Aramis, and Vallon nearby, they ran a short distance and soon spotted the dock and their ship, its sails unfurling.
"Damn it!" Bamonde and Aramis cursed simultaneously.
Luckily, the multi-masted ship took time and crew to set sail. With limited crew on board, they barely managed to get the vessel moving, resembling a ghost ship as it sluggishly departed.
A few pirates left behind onshore begged loudly for the ship to stop, with some even diving into the sea, frantically trying to swim toward the ship. But it was clear they wouldn't catch up.
Under the command of the navigator, William and the other pirates worked the ropes, adjusting the sails. Captain Danton stood on deck, ignoring the faint cries of those left behind. Those stranded pirates were as good as caught by the navy on this unfamiliar island—they were sitting ducks.
As the ship left the docks, a navy warship appeared in plain sight, sending a wave of dread through the pirates. They knew they couldn't escape the navy in this rundown ship, but to their surprise, the navy didn't pursue. Instead, they fired a few token cannonballs and turned toward the island.
...
In the small town, the remaining pirates had been wiped out. But the townsfolk didn't feel relieved. Gathered around the docks, they watched as navy soldiers in sailor uniforms and blue neckties loaded supplies and valuables onto the docks.
The navy officer, a short but dignified figure with a white coat and gold epaulettes, calmly smoked a cigar from a sofa he had commandeered. He watched, satisfied, as the soldiers hauled treasure and supplies from the town.
Some of these items were stolen by pirates from other places, but most had just been taken from the town. Yet, the short officer had no intention of returning anything to the residents.
The townspeople, still shaken from the recent raid, dared not voice their anger. Finally, pushed by the crowd, the surviving town mayor, frail and hunched, mustered the courage to approach the officer.
The mayor, old and bent, tried to appear non-threatening. "Sir, the town is grateful for your help in driving off the pirates. We'd like to invite you and your men to the tavern for a drink as a token of our thanks."
The officer raised an eyebrow, expression unreadable. "That sounds nice. We'll come after we finish here."
The mayor hesitated, then suggested, "Since you've just defeated the pirates, perhaps you could rest while the townsfolk reclaim their belongings."
The atmosphere grew tense. A nearby officer stopped his writing, and several soldiers glanced over, their expressions hostile, causing the mayor to shrink further.
The officer waved off the clerk and replied with a smirk, "These are pirate loot, recorded for public funds."
"But these items were just stolen from the town…"
The officer cut him off, jabbing the mayor's shoulder forcefully. "Can you prove all of it belongs to the town?"
The mayor shook his head reflexively.
"Then we'll take these items until we can investigate. Once verified, we'll return what's yours."
The mayor bit back his protest, knowing he couldn't challenge the officer's word.
The officer ordered two burly soldiers to remove the mayor, then turned to his aide. "All searched? No maps or navigators on any pirate?"
"Yes, sir. Seems they figured out we were herding them."
"Let's let them rob a few more villages," the officer said, eyeing the stockpile of loot. "Might as well use them to gather some more spoils before we finish them off."
...
Aboard the Danton Pirates' ship, William and the crew were finally out of sight of the navy and the ravaged town. After working on deck, William was heading below when he ran into Bamonde, who deliberately bumped his shoulder in a show of defiance.
But both knew this wasn't the time for a fight. Not with the navy on their tail, and Captain Danton wouldn't tolerate disruptions. Bamonde smirked triumphantly and walked away, leaving William to chuckle disdainfully as he watched him go.
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