"What do you guys think?" Zhang Heng looked for Billy and Dufresne and told them about Karina. There was no need to hide it from the core members of the Sea Lion, and there was no way to hide it.
"The black-market alliance is not a secret. I asked a few friends about it this morning, and what she said is basically true. New captains and new ships like us are at a disadvantage in this matter. Before the black-market alliance was established, the Sea Lion's loot was sold at the third price range. Although we are not as strong as the Sea Lion in the past, we have much more potential for development. We can easily sell our loot at the third price range. But now, we can only accept the lowest price. I'm a little worried about the members' opinion."
Billy was even more direct. "Let's not talk about the veterans like us for now. The newcomers will definitely come because we have warships, and they will be able to earn more money. However, if they find out that they can't get a good price for their loot, or that their income is lower than what they deserve, they will definitely be dissatisfied. If it's just the number of people we have right now, we can still control the situation. However, if we want to continue to grow, we will definitely have to compete with the other major pirate groups on the island for talents. Before that, we have to solve the problem of remuneration."
The helmsman paused for a moment. "Actually, some people have been contacting our crew in private. They think that our first voyage won't end well, and they want to poach us. And it's not just about the price of our loot, but also …"
"Also, I look young and inexperienced. The first thing I did when I got the authority was to recruit a female boatswain. That's to make people think that I won't be able to hold this position for long," Zhang Heng finished what Billy wanted to say. "That's pretty much it.
We trust you not only because you saved our lives, but also because of the calmness you showed in the face of danger. On the way back from Charleston to Nassau, you have proven that you can grow into a qualified captain. The others, on the other hand, didn't sail with you, so it's inevitable that they will doubt you. The situation now is unfair to you. The other new captains usually have more time to prepare and get used to each other, "Billy said.
Billy said, "Owning a warship is a perfect starting point, but it will also make us a target for everyone. Many people on the island are waiting to see us make a fool of ourselves. If we don't get what we want on our first voyage, we will face the problem of losing people and having a hard time recruiting good people."
…
An hour and a half later, Billy and Dufresne walked out of the study, greeted Annie and Karina downstairs, and left quickly.
Last night, she had basically told Zhang Heng everything. However, Zhang Heng did not immediately say anything after listening to her. He only said that he needed to discuss it with the crew.
So, Karina didn't return to the hotel. Instead, she stayed the night and waited for the results.
Zhang Heng had a whole new level of respect for her. The girl had lived a good life since she was a child. According to her, until her father's accident, she was no different from the ladies of the upper class. Every day, she would attend balls, listen to operas, or have afternoon tea with a few of her best friends.
Last night, she found three stools and put them together, forcing herself to sleep on them. When she woke up this morning, she noticed that there was something wrong with her neck. She had been rubbing the back of her neck for the whole morning.
After the two left, Karina hurriedly went upstairs. She tidied up her clothes in front of the study, and Zhang Heng's voice came from inside.
"Come in."
Karina took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
Zhang Heng's so-called study was simple. There was only a table, a few stools, and a bookshelf in the corner. It was a new one he built before he left for the last voyage. Now, there was not a single book on it. Fortunately, the room was well-lit. The afternoon sun shone through the window and landed on Zhang Heng's shoulders, gilding the ends of his hair.
Zhang Heng was using a ruler to measure the distance between several points on the nautical chart. He looked no different from when he was doing exercises in the library. Karina was stunned when she saw him.
She had been in Nassau for two months now, and she had met her fair share of pirates. Most of them were uncouth and uncultured. Most of the time, it was difficult for her to even communicate with them. However, this young man in front of her was an exception. During their conversation last night, she could already feel his clear logic and sharp observation skills.
Zhang Heng was someone she had never seen before. If it weren't for the short musket hanging on his chest and the scar on his arm, she wouldn't have associated him with a pirate.
"The time has been set. We will set sail in three days." Zhang Heng's voice pulled her back to reality. Karina's heart was racing. The situation on Nassau was different from before. There were only a handful of capable pirates who didn't join the alliance. The remaining pirates were poorly equipped, and they lacked manpower. Basically, they wouldn't be able to snatch anything valuable. In other words, if Zhang Heng rejected her, her trip to Nassau would be a failure. Not only would she lose her father, but her family would also go bankrupt.
"My helmsman and quartermaster suggested that we negotiate with the Alliance and try to raise the price because they don't believe in your ability. If it was your father here, they might be willing to take the gamble. But since it's you, you're too inexperienced. You've never done anything like this before …" Zhang Heng's words made Karina feel as if she had fallen into an icehouse.
Although she was mentally prepared, Karina still felt like the world was spinning around her. At this moment, she was finally defeated. A deep sense of defeat engulfed her, and she collapsed into her seat, sobbing.
She had been busy for more than two months, but to no avail. When she saw the Jackdaw docked at the port, she thought she had finally found a ray of hope. Little did she expect that her hopes would be dashed. Now, all she could feel was despair.
Zhang Heng felt a little apologetic, but he had no other choice. Choosing a future partner was something every captain had to be careful about, especially when Billy and Dufresne weren't optimistic about Karina's chances. He needed to know if Karina was worth investing in.
To his surprise, Karina only broke down for half a minute before she lifted her head again. Although tears were still welling up in her eyes, her gaze was no longer helpless. It was as if she had regained the determination she had when she was sleeping on the stool. "There must be another way. Is there anything else I can do?"
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