Two pirates came forward and searched Zhang Heng and Marvin. They searched every pocket, even the boots on their feet, making sure that nothing valuable was left behind.
After that, Zhang Heng and Marvin were also pushed into the crowd. Marvin looked terrified, especially when he saw the corpses of the captain and the dead sailors on the other side. He began to tremble uncontrollably, causing the surrounding pirates to burst into laughter.
Zhang Heng's wallet and a snuff bottle were taken away, but the Shadow Key and Shadow Moment were still with him. The latter was his life-saving trump card. To prevent the pirates from taking it away, he had to use the Shadow Key twice to transform both items into shadow forms.
However, unlike the previous few times, he was now in the middle of the sea. Even with [Shadow Moment] in his hand, he had no idea where he could escape to. Of course, he could imprint himself on the surface of the sea in his shadow form, but once the three minutes were up, he would fall into the water.
If he was lucky, he might be found and rescued by a passing ship. However, there was a higher chance that he would end up in the belly of a fish. Or, he would be dehydrated by the scorching sun above his head.
Just a moment ago, they were passengers on the ship, yearning for a new life in the colony. Now, they were prisoners of the pirates, and their fates were unknown. Although most of them were not as pathetic as Marvin, pessimism had begun to spread.
After another quarter of an hour, there was a sudden smashing sound from below the deck, mixed with a few gunshots. When everything was quiet again, a figure appeared in front of everyone.
"I'm sorry. There are some idiots on every ship. I had to spend some time to convince them. Fortunately, the problem is solved now. Please allow me to introduce myself. I am the helmsman of the Sea Lion. You can call me Mr. Orff." The man looked to be in his forties or fifties. He was a little bald, but he seemed to be in good spirits. Compared to the ferocious pirates around him, he looked more like a reasonable person.
In fact, the position of helmsman required extraordinary communication skills. It was the second most important position on a pirate ship. The helmsman and the sailors had a close relationship, representing the sailors' interests. They were also the bridge of communication between the sailors and the captain. They also had the right to question the captain's orders when the sailors' interests were violated.
His appearance gave many people hope. A passenger begged, "Please, sir, let us go. We're just ordinary people. I have a wife and a child waiting for me at home."
Orff nodded. Then, he pulled out a gun from his waist and pulled the trigger at a sailor who had surrendered his weapon. The sailor was hit in the head by a flying lead bullet, falling to the ground. Blood splattered all over the helmsman's linen shirt.
Witnessing this cruel and bloody scene with their own eyes, the captives immediately panicked. They remembered the stories they had heard about pirates before. They were a group of lawless, cruel, and bloodthirsty people. No one knew if they would kill everyone on the ship on a whim. This shot was undoubtedly a bad omen, and Marvin was so scared that he wet his pants.
"I'm sorry, but I had to do it. This guy killed two of my brothers when he boarded the ship. Don't think that I'll forget what happened in the past just because I keep my head down. I may be old, but I'm not that forgetful. Blood must be paid with blood. This is how we always do things." Orff put away the short musket and said, "I'm sorry.
His words drew cheers from the surrounding pirates. Everyone patted the railing in agreement. At the same time, it also made the captive passengers feel a little more at ease. Although what happened just now seemed very cruel, it did not seem to be too much from the perspective of revenge. These passengers had long forgotten who was protecting them not long ago. In order to survive, everyone chose to remain silent at this time.
The remaining six sailors were the ones who surrendered earlier. Their expressions were a little complicated as well.
On one hand, they were ashamed of their cowardly behavior. On the other hand, they were secretly glad that they did not participate in the battle.
"Since we have settled the old score, we can now talk about the problem that you are most concerned about," Orff continued. "As you can see, the ship that you're on now belongs to us. Not only the cargo on the ship, but also your wallets and everything valuable. Of course, this includes the ship itself. But we're not unreasonable people …" Orff continued, "The situation is as you can see.
"From a humane point of view, we will prepare a small boat for you, two buckets of fresh water, and maybe some biscuits and bacon. Although it is not enough for you to row from here to Boston, you are lucky that you are now on a trading route. The weather looks good for the next two days. If you are lucky, a passing ship will only find you, and you will be saved."
His words did not make the pirates feel at ease. Instead, it caused a new round of chaos.
A small boat, two buckets of fresh water, and thirty passengers. No matter how they looked at it, this combination was not reliable at all. Any small wave could kill the people on the boat. Not to mention, there was no telling when a passing ship would appear. The hope of being saved was far less than the risk of death.
Someone begged again, hoping to gain the pirates' sympathy. But this time, Orff seemed to have made up his mind. He was not going to change the condition.
"I know the risk of this, but we are pirates, not philanthropists. I'm afraid that you will have to figure out a way to solve the problem later on."
Orff turned around and left. The pirates at the side were ready to put the small boat into the water. But the ship was too small. Even if it was full, it could only fit twenty people, let alone fresh water and food.
Just then, a burly pirate walked over and said, "Is there anyone here who is a chef or a carpenter? We are currently lacking two carpenters and a chef. If you want to join us, you can come with me."
Compared to sitting on a small boat and waiting for death at sea, this was undoubtedly a better way to survive. As soon as his voice fell, a captive sailor immediately raised his hand and said, "I-I'm the carpenter of this ship. I'm willing to join you."
As soon as he finished speaking, another passenger on the other side spoke up, "Although I have not been out to sea much, I have made some furniture in town. I have even built shelves for people. Do you think I can do it?"
The burly pirate thought for a while and nodded. "Sure. You can be his assistant for now."
The passengers looked at the two enviously. Professionals were always welcomed wherever they went. Even the most ferocious pirates would treat them with respect.
"Now, I only have one seat left," the burly pirate said. "This opportunity has expired. Is there anyone else who is willing to come with me?"
"I-I am willing," a voice said.
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