Zhang Heng did not expect the Jackdaw to return with an extra person on board. He looked at Billy, who shrugged.
The latter shrugged. "It wasn't my idea. She wanted it back herself."
Rheia carried her luggage and asked politely, "Can you take me in? I can do a lot of things. "
"I can, but why don't you stay with your tribesmen? It wasn't easy for you to escape from that manor. Didn't you want to live a free life? "
"I … I respect Laeli very much. He united us in our most difficult times and led us out of our miserable lives. He is a greater chief than his father, but I disagree with him on some things. I don't think that the only way out for me and my people is on those deserted islands," Laeli said, shaking his head.
"Huh?" Zhang Heng raised an eyebrow.
"We might be able to live a peaceful life on that island for a while, but the slave traders will come after us sooner or later. Just like in my hometown, they will kill the old and frail first, separating the mother and the child. If we can't find a way out, these things will happen again and again until all the black people become slaves."
Zhang Heng was a little surprised. He didn't expect Rheia to say something like this at her age. Although she was still limited by the times, in a sense, she had seen things much further than Laeli. "So, where do you think the way out is?" Zhang Heng asked.
"I don't know," Rheia shook her head. "I'm still looking. What I'm good at isn't useful on the island. So, I want to stay here, in a civilized world, and make use of my abilities."
"This isn't a civilized world. Besides, I've already recruited my crew. You're not a sailor, and you're a woman …" Zhang Heng thought for a while and asked Karina, "Do you need more people?"
The businesswoman nodded and said to the black girl, "I heard that you can read. It just so happens that my grocery store in Boston is about to open. You can help me with the bookkeeping there. I will provide you with food and accommodation. Your salary will be one pound a month for now. When the business gets better, I will increase your salary depending on the situation."
Rheia's face lit up with joy.
After settling the black girl down, the businesswoman continued the topic that she had left unfinished. She briefly told Zhang Heng about her previous private meetings with Redmond and the agreement they had reached. "Can you go for a walk with me?" she asked.
Zhang Heng nodded and walked out of the house with Karina to the ridge of the field.
The weather today was great. The sun was shining brightly, and there was a gentle sea breeze. It was a perfect day for a walk. Karina didn't have a clear direction, so she picked a random direction and started walking. She didn't say a word along the way, and Zhang Heng remained silent as well.
It wasn't because the two of them had nothing to say to each other, but because they were both enjoying the rare moment of peace. It had been three weeks since the riot at Terrance Manor. Many things had happened in these three weeks, but so far, the situation had basically stabilized. Malcolm's defeat was inevitable.
Malcolm, on the other hand, immediately began to sell his various assets on the island. On the other hand, without Malcolm's strong executive power, the aging Redmond could no longer keep the black-market alliance running. Although no official announcement had been made, everyone knew that the black-market alliance's dissolution was inevitable.
Very soon, the power of the black-market merchants on the island would be reshuffled, and the competition would return to its previous state. Recently, the black-market merchants in Nassau had begun to get restless. They contacted pirate ships that they had worked with before, looking for new partners, and spied on others' offers.
This meant a loss of income for some, but it also meant an opportunity for others.
Malcolm used the disintegration of the first-generation black-market alliance to quickly rise to power. Now, there were many who were eager to replicate his success.
Malcolm was undoubtedly the loser in this matter. Although Redmond had lost his position as the president of the black-market alliance in name, his reputation had risen to new heights because he had upheld justice for Normand and Fegan. He was almost on the same level as Normand in the past.
With Redmond's good reputation and powerful connections, a few powerful pirate groups in Nassau had announced that they were willing to continue working with Redmond after the black-market alliance disintegrated. However, as long as Redmond was still in power, he could not respond to these rumors.
But everyone believed that after the alliance disintegrated, Redmond would have more pirate ships than before.
Karina was the one who benefited from this. She had been on the island the shortest, but she managed to deal with the huge pressure from Malcolm and the black-market alliance. She displayed her extraordinary business skills. Her second-hand goods trading center had also won her a lot of praise from the small and medium-sized pirates. On top of that, Malcolm had deliberately given her a wave of powerful pirate ships. If she could successfully use them all, after the black-market alliance disintegrated, she would become the biggest black-market merchant, second only to Redmond.
Of course, this was all in the future.
Right now, she didn't want to think too much. All she wanted to do was enjoy this victory.
The two of them walked all the way to the beach. Finally, Karina made up her mind and said, "I'm sorry. I actually have something to hide from you."
"The private conversation between you and Malcolm?" Zhang Heng asked.
A look of surprise appeared on Karina's face.
"Don't get me wrong. I didn't send anyone to spy on you. But since it was the day of the operation, I would definitely pay attention to Malcolm's movements. In fact, I can probably guess what he said to you," Zhang Heng said. Zhang Heng said, "If I think about it carefully, there are too many coincidences in Eugene's case. Eugene's attitude was too cooperative. It's not that I didn't suspect Redmond. After that, your depressed look confirmed my suspicions in a way."
"Since Redmond is related to Eugene's death, then there's a high chance that Redmond played a role in your father's death. We had a preconceived notion that Malcolm was the one behind your father's death when we first saw the letter that Rheia stole. However, from the content of the letter, we can now understand that Malcolm was investigating the matter. You didn't tell me because you were worried that you would have no other choice if you told me. From my perspective, I would definitely suggest that you use this opportunity to get rid of Malcolm, the biggest threat. That way, you would lose the chance to join forces with Malcolm to avenge your father."
"Why? If you already guessed it, why didn't you warn me?"
"Because this is your choice," Zhang Heng said. Zhang Heng said, "Although I have a stake in the secondhand goods exchange, it is ultimately your business. The one who was framed and sent to prison is also your father. This should be your choice, and it must be yours to make."
"Then, do you think that I'm a cold-blooded person who didn't avenge my father's death, and now, I'm willing to ally with my enemy?" Karina asked again.
This time, Zhang Heng didn't answer her question. "One day, you will defeat Redmond and become the most powerful black market merchant on the island, just like you defeated Malcolm today."
"But when that day comes, will I become someone who can't even recognize myself?" Carina smiled bitterly.
"Maybe you've never really known yourself."
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