The Jackdaw was anchored at the port for three whole days. During that time, many of the sailors petitioned Zhang Heng to disembark, but all of them were rejected. If this had happened in the past, the sailors would have banded together to pressure Zhang Heng. However, when Dufresne, the quartermaster and bookkeeper, calculated everyone's earnings from the voyage, everyone quieted down.
The newcomers were especially thankful that they were lucky enough to board the Jackdaw. They didn't want to lose their right to stay on the ship because of something so trivial.
However, this situation only lasted for three days. After three days, even if someone pointed a gun at their head, these pirates would no longer want to stay on the ship. No one listened to Zhang Heng, the captain, or Billy, the helmsman. Seeing that the boat was about to be taken over, some even prepared to jump into the water and swim to the shore. After all, it wasn't too far from the port.
Zhang Heng calculated that the Gentle Breeze should be safe by now, so he didn't stop them. So, the pirates rushed to the ferry boat and rowed to the port as fast as they could. The onlookers on the shore were excited to see this. For the past few days, everyone had been curious about the Jackdaw's harvest. After waiting for so long, they were finally going to see the results.
But the pirates that came ashore didn't stop at all. They swarmed to the residence of the mortgage merchant, Kasby. Fortunately, Kasby was prepared. When he saw the commotion at the dock from afar, he ordered his guards to move a table and a sack out of the dock.
Dufresne handed over the piece of paper with Carina and Zhang Heng's signatures. Kasby took it and checked it three times before putting it in his pocket. After that, it was time for the pirates to hand out the money that they had been waiting for.
For this voyage, every pirate would receive at least 40 Spanish gold coins, which was equivalent to 320 silver pesos, far exceeding their most optimistic expectations. Furthermore, those with duties such as cannoneers and cooks would receive an additional 160 silver pesos.
Zhang Heng received a hefty sum of 120 Spanish gold coins. Other than being the captain of the ship, he also received a portion from the elders. This was an extra bonus that only the seventeen pirates who first captured the Jackdaw could enjoy.
Logically speaking, this warship was the pirates' first spoil of war, but because there was no way to convert it into cash, they could only distribute it in installments. According to the rules, the elder's share would last for three years, and it would not change according to the captain's change. Once the captain disembarked or died, it would automatically be canceled.
As for Anne, as the boatswain and the bravest person in this battle, she also received 80 gold coins. The red-haired girl was lifted out of poverty overnight. She had been living under someone else's roof, but now she had become a rich woman with some assets on the island.
But then she generously handed 40 gold coins to someone. "According to our previous agreement, I'll give you half of the loot from my first voyage."
This was the promise that Annie made when they first met. However, Zhang Heng had long forgotten about it because it had been too long. He did not expect the red-haired girl to remember it.
However, Anne did not spend much money staying at his place during this period. He had already paid for the house's rent, so all he needed to do was to add an extra set of cutlery. The total cost was about two gold coins, and it was a piece of cake to him.
But when he looked into Anne's eyes, he knew that she was more serious about this than he thought.
Unable to reject the money, Zhang Heng had no choice but to accept the half-bag of gold coins.
… …
Soon, the entire Nassau knew that the Jackdaw had returned with a bountiful harvest. Many were taken aback by the result.
Less than two months ago, most people thought that the newly formed pirate crew was too young and inexperienced. Even those who were interested in joining the crew were hesitant to do so. They wanted to wait until the Jackdaw's first voyage was over before making their decision. But now, all of them regretted their decision.
This was especially true when a sailor from the Jackdaw lost 20 gold coins in one night at the island's casino. That sparked a wave of pirate crews in Nassau.
However, these people did not have a battleship, and they did not have reliable manpower. Even the captains were hastily chosen. They relied on their hot-headedness to go out to sea in pursuit of wealth, and most of them ended up in a miserable state. It was already considered good if they returned empty-handed, and a small portion of them who had a harvest had to face the black-market alliance when they returned. Only then did they realize that it was not easy to make money.
On the other hand, Zhang Heng gave the Jackdaw's crew a month's holiday.
This was the aftereffect of a great victory. The Jackdaw's first voyage could be described as perfect. Every crew member received a large sum of money, and their pockets were filled to the brim. Correspondingly, their desire to go out to sea and plunder again was reduced to a minimum. Now, all they could think of was how to spend their money.
Now, all the brothels, casinos, and taverns in Nassau seemed to have been booked by the Jackdaw's crew. Everywhere was filled with a festive atmosphere.
Obviously, it was unrealistic to expect them to be motivated immediately. However, Zhang Heng could take advantage of this period to deal with some matters.
At sunset, Zhang Heng, Anne, and Billy arrived at a tavern called The Mermaid's Home. Coincidentally, they bumped into a group of Jackdaw's crew members who were walking out of the tavern. Most of them were drunk, and there were a few pretty girls accompanying them. When they saw Zhang Heng and Billy, their eyes lit up, and they insisted on going back for a drink. In the end, however, Billy persuaded them to go back for a drink.
After the little interlude, the three of them split up according to the original plan. Anne and Billy walked into the Mermaid's House, while Zhang Heng walked to the alley behind the tavern's back door. Zhang Heng took out the watch he bought yesterday and looked at the time. Two minutes later, a commotion broke out in the tavern. A skinny man with a mustache violently pushed away the customers and waitresses in front of him, running all the way to the tavern's back door.
Without a second thought, he pushed them away. As he ran, he looked behind him nervously. He did not expect to be tripped by someone. No longer able to control his center of gravity, his body fell forward, and he fell into a puddle of vomit by the wall.
When he turned around, he saw the muzzle of a gun pointing at him.
However, it did not take long for another angry man to rush out of the tavern. While he was drinking, the mustached man knocked over the wine glass in his hand. He chased after the mustached man, wanting to teach the latter a lesson. However, he did not expect the mustached man to look excited when he saw him, as if he had seen a relative.
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