Seeing Zhang Heng put down his musket, the old pirate grinned. "Wise move." He then turned to Marvin in front of him. "I don't mind standing here and talking to you. But what if someone happens to pass by the corridor? How are you going to explain that?"
The farmer's son had lost the ability to think due to fear. He turned to look at Zhang Heng, and when he saw the latter nodding, he quickly moved his bloated body to make way for the old pirate.
"Thank you very much." The old pirate took off the hat on his head, walked sideways into the house, and closed the door behind him. "To ensure that our communication can proceed smoothly, I'll say this first. I'm not friends with the guy in the barrel. In fact, I don't like some of his behavior. But we're here to be bandits, not to make friends. You can't possibly like everyone on this ship, right?"
"How did you find out?" Zhang Heng asked the question he wanted to know the most. "You are very calm.
"You're very calm. You're obviously young, but it's as if you've experienced a lot. I've only seen two people who are naturally calm. One is you, and the other …" The old pirate paused and did not continue. "But your friend is almost the same. Especially when you were seasick, he took care of you all the time. It's very touching. But for him to visit you seven or eight times a day, that's a little abnormal. Especially when I see him being so anxious every day. I can't help but ask myself, what makes a chef so nervous? Is it tomorrow's menu?"
Marvin's face turned pale when he heard the old pirate's words. He looked like he was about to cry. He suddenly fell to his knees. "Don't believe what he said. This has nothing to do with me. I was forced to do this. I didn't do anything from the beginning to the end. The wound on my back was added by him …"
The old pirate was a little surprised. He glanced at Zhang Heng and saw that the latter was just standing there, staring coldly at the kneeling Marvin.
The farmer's son grabbed the old pirate's trousers and cried for a while. Realizing that something was wrong, he looked up awkwardly. Zhang Heng patted him on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry. If I really wanted to uphold justice for Vic, do you think I would be the only one outside the door when I opened it?"
"What do you want?" Zhang Heng did not want to continue watching Marvin's clumsy performance, so he took the initiative to bring the topic back on track.
"It's very simple. Just a little kindness and a few insignificant favors." The old pirate said, "As you can see, I'm already very old. After I go back this time, I don't plan to go to the sea again. I'm going to start preparing for retirement, so I need someone to help me collect the debts I've been owed."
"Is that all?" Heng frowned.
"I'm not a person who likes to take a mile when given an inch, not to mention that the person you killed is someone I hate. So yes, it's that simple."
"You should have a lot of friends on the ship. Why don't you ask them for help?"
"You have to understand that once money is involved, the situation will always become complicated … But newcomers are different. If you dare to swallow my money, I naturally have a way to make you spit it out," said the old pirate. "I like the marksmanship you showed on the deck. Our cooperation will become very pleasant."
"It seems like we don't have any other choice."
"You're a smart person. It's always easy to communicate with smart people. But to be cautious, I still need to make sure that our cooperation is safe." The old pirate shifted his gaze to the wooden barrel on the other side. "I already understand the trouble you've encountered. Why don't you let me handle it?"
"What do you mean?"
"I know what you're worried about. We will arrive in Nassau tomorrow. By then, someone will be taking inventory of everything on the ship, including the food reserves. If you don't get rid of the things in the barrel by tonight, your secret will no longer be safe. Unless …"
The old pirate paused for a moment. "Unless someone knows the person in charge of the inventory, ask him not to take inventory of the things in the kitchen, and then find someone to secretly pull the barrel off the ship and dispose of it. Not many people on the ship can do that, but fortunately, there is one in front of you."
"After that, you can use the things in the barrel to threaten us for the rest of our lives," Heng said calmly.
"As I said, I'm already planning to retire. After this, I won't look for you again. Perhaps compared to a harmless old man, you should be more careful of the people on the ship."
"Such as?"
"Such as our passionate black friend, Goodwin. He's very likable, isn't he? Despite his unfortunate past, he's still able to face life positively. His optimistic attitude infects everyone on the ship, and he always appears when you need him the most." The old pirate smiled. "I don't like to sow discord, but I did hear similar rumors.
Our beloved cannoneer friend wants to replace Orff as the new helmsman of the Sea Lion. He has already gathered quite a number of people. If this matter goes through the voting process, he will need your vote. Hmm, and the other three. As survivors on the same ship, it's very likely that you'll choose to advance and retreat together. If you're lucky, he might be able to get four votes at once, and all he has to do is say a few kind words. This deal is not a bad deal no matter how I look at it. "
This time, Heng was a little surprised. "Why are you telling me all this?"
"Before you fulfill your promise, I have a reason to ensure your safety. Also, let me give you a piece of advice. It's best that you don't get involved in this matter. Our captain is too capable. Many people think that Orff, the helmsman, has done nothing good over the years. In fact, it's the opposite. Orff is a very smart man. He knows how to perform his duties under a strong captain. Anyone who underestimates him will pay the price in the end."
"Who are you?" Marvin couldn't help but ask.
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