Reading this series of prompts, Fang Senyan felt a certain sense of relief. Had it not been for this stroke of luck, he might have ended up scrambling on the lowest rung of some pirate vessel. To gain entry to the Bell and Goblet at this level clearly afforded him a much higher starting point, making it significantly easier to build renown. This, in essence, granted him a massive first-mover advantage.

Armand clearly held high prestige among the crew; even the defiant Charles deferred to his absolute authority. Scar-faced Henry approached with a broad smile, clapping Fang Senyan on the shoulder and affectionately ushering him below deck. He pointed toward a cabin, telling Fang Senyan that this would be his quarters from now on.

Strictly speaking, most pirate ships of this era relied primarily on plunder, so they weren't constrained like merchant or cargo vessels needing to maximize cargo space by squeezing crew quarters to the absolute minimum. Thus, in terms of sheer living space, the accommodations were rather satisfactory. This particular cabin was by no means spotless, but there were no offensive smells either. The ** bedding and sheets, though old and heavily patched, had the distinct advantage of having been recently washed—they were clean, tidy, and carried the fresh scent of having been sun-dried.

A pirate stood nearby, tail between his legs, looking on with exaggerated deference, occasionally daring to glance up. Presumably, this individual, Ben Morgan, was Fang Senyan’s roommate. This was the benefit derived from the ferocious initial impact Fang Senyan had made. Since Ben Morgan managed to survive among pirates, he was certainly no saint, but the two men Fang Senyan had killed earlier were notorious on the ship for their viciousness and short tempers; figures that neither Valivarika nor even Gert would trifle with. Naturally, he approached this "Butcher from the mysterious East" with utmost respect.

Fang Senyan couldn't be bothered with Ben Morgan. He lay down on his assigned bunk. His left arm had sustained the most serious injury in the day’s fight. The cobalt-steel exoskeleton, after all, was primarily a weapon designed for offense, not defense. When Fang Senyan used it to parry Valivarika’s overhead strike, he couldn't entirely negate the damage. Therefore, although his left arm wasn't critically wounded, it would require a period of rest before fully healing. As he drifted into a light slumber, the terrified Ben Morgan dared not return to the room, instead sneaking quietly up to the deck.

After seeing Fang Senyan settled, First Mate Scar-faced Henry proceeded directly to the Captain’s quarters. Armand was lost in thought, staring at a nautical chart, his hands clasped tightly behind his back. Even when alone, his posture was ramrod straight, and coupled with the billowing cloak behind him, he exuded an air of military elegance and resolve. Though Scar-faced Henry trod lightly, Armand reacted instantly:

“You’ve come?”

Despite being alone, Scar-faced Henry remained highly deferential:

“Indeed, I have seen to our new Eastern companion’s accommodation.”

Armand rested his hand on the rapier at his waist, pondered for a moment, then spoke slowly:

“Our new colleague certainly made quite an impression today. What are your thoughts?”

The corner of Scar-faced Henry’s mouth ** twitched, a subtle expression skillfully hidden within his bushy beard:

“Average.”

He paused, as if tasting the word, then added with a smack of his lips:

“Quite average.”

Armand responded calmly:

“Explain your reasoning.”

Scar-faced Henry’s voice boomed like a bell:

“His physical strength is undeniable, but he appears to lack systematic training. Facing an opponent’s defense, he seemed rather lost, resorting to taking hits directly to create openings. If Valivarika and Mad-hair Gert hadn't been such fragile fools, capable of being taken down quickly, they could have stalled long enough to decipher his patterns and establish an unbreakable defense. To deal with him, one would just need Mad or a couple of men armed with heavy two-handed axes—weapons that are difficult to weather.”

Armand nodded:

“Good. Your insight is improving. Valivarika has been too close to Charles lately; removing him this way is acceptable. It’s actually a minor advantage that this Easterner’s raw combat skill is somewhat lower. If we can glean any clues about the Eastern trade routes from him, that would be an unexpected bonus. Furthermore, I suspect he possesses the ability to lead a fleet across vast distances to the Caribbean, so for now, observation and gentle persuasion are our best tools. We should avoid force unless absolutely necessary. The crucial matter now is confirming the man isn’t lying.”

Scar-faced Henry displayed a shrewdness that sharply contrasted with his rough exterior. He grinned broadly, revealing yellowed teeth:

“I know how to handle this. I swear upon the honor of that old whore, the English Queen—if this fellow speaks a single falsehood, it won’t take me half a month to unearth everything about him. The lovely sharks of the Caribbean are surely yearning for a rich meal by now.”

………………

Fang Senyan, of course, was unaware of the behind-the-scenes discussions revolving around him. By the time he felt rested, it was evening. He went up to the deck for some fresh air, grabbed a quick bite in the galley, and returned to his cabin. After tossing the snoring Ben Morgan, who was curled up in his blanket, out onto the floor, he closed the door and slept soundly in the cabin.

When he woke up, he found the wretched pirate huddled by the door, his face pale blue and his body trembling, looking up with a gaze of fear and supplication that strangely recalled the moment in The Eagle Shooting the Partridge when Ouyang Feng, with his sausage-like mouth, seriously asked someone if they were handsome.

Fang Senyan saw the sight and wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't form. Finally, he stomped out, then turned back:

“Stuff a walnut in your mouth tonight.”

Ben Morgan scrambled inside as if granted a grand pardon, clearly eager to catch up on the sleep he'd missed after enduring whatever penance he paid the previous night.

It was evident that Fang Senyan was not the only Contractor in this world, meaning all ships would remain docked until the 24-hour deadline expired, granting Fang Senyan an extra day of free activity. It was around eight in the morning, and most pirates were likely still recovering from last night’s revelry in the taverns, leaving the deck deserted. Fang Senyan walked a circuit around the Bell and Goblet and suddenly received a prompt from the Nightmare Mark:

“You have obtained the basic data for this vessel.”

“Bell and Goblet” “Length: 40 meters, Beam: 8.4 meters” “Displacement: 400 tons” “Special Ability: Wind Glide (Active): Upon activation, significantly increases the ship’s speed when sailing into the wind, lasting one hour.” “Other data unknown.”

Having secured the vessel’s specifications, Fang Senyan’s curiosity was inevitably piqued by the four legendary ships anchored in the harbor. Aided by his Insight ability, two hours later, he had remotely gathered the data for all four required legendary vessels.

“The Black Pearl” “Length: 60 meters, Beam: 7.5 meters” “Displacement: 600 tons” “Legendary Ability: Wind Anchor (Passive): Locks the ship’s maximum sailing speed, unaffected by any external factor—as long as The Black Pearl exists, no one can claim the title of the fastest ship in the Caribbean!” “Legendary Ability: Night’s Favor (Passive): When darkness falls, the chance of The Black Pearl and her crew being detected by enemies is reduced by 80%—darkness is our eternal ally.” “Other data unknown.”

“The Flying Dutchman (This vessel has not yet been cursed)” “Length: 70 meters, Beam: 15 meters” “Displacement: 800 tons” “Legendary Ability: Submerge (Active): A massive ship blessed by dark magic, it can rapidly seal its compartments and plunge into the deep sea. Upon resurfacing, it recovers 30% of its hull durability—the ocean is the finest restorer.” “Legendary Ability: Triple Shot (Active): Unleashes the full power of the forecastle cannons, inflicting devastating blows upon enemy fleets with rapid volleys—taste the powder and iron! Hahahaha.” “Other data unknown.”

“Queen Anne's Revenge” “Length: 65 meters, Beam: 8 meters” “Displacement: 600 tons” “Legendary Ability: Sea Demon’s Cable (Ability Inactive): Blackbeard can use his enchanted sword to command the ship’s rigging, causing it to ensnare nearby targets like vicious snakes—never engage in a boarding action with Blackbeard! Not if you plan on winning.” “Legendary Ability: Prometheus’s Boil (Active): Erupts a terrifying torrent of flame forward, incinerating all life as a sacrifice to the great Prometheus—even upon the sea, beware the threat of wildfire.”

“The Dauntless (Some translations render this as The Victory)" "Flagship of the British Navy (Captain Lord Beckett)" "Length: 65 meters, Beam: 10 meters" "Displacement: 900 tons" “Legendary Ability: Fearless (Passive): It is said that when The Dauntless (some translate this as The Victory) was constructed, the souls of Royal Navy sailors became attached to her, allowing her to mount double the heavy cannons without any negative side effects.” “Legendary Ability: Charge (Active): In times of emergency, the spectral naval heroes aboard The Dauntless (some translate this as The Victory) aid the ship, accelerating its speed to maximum in a short burst. This is the only ship in the Caribbean capable of closing the distance on The Black Pearl in a short time.” ................

As I mentioned earlier, this story arc will complete the plotline for a certain major character from Pirates of the Caribbean, so I’ve set up an Author’s Bounty: Guess which important figure from the Caribbean will have their main story arc completed? The final prize is 100 Diamonds, hehe.

The address for the Author’s Bounty is in the upper left corner above the review section.

Or friends can discuss it directly in the reviews—while you might not win Diamonds, you’re guaranteed a Featured Post.

(To be continued. Please visit [Link] to read the latest chapter.)