To the greedy and vicious pirates, very few could fathom Armand's true intentions. But this group certainly did not include the Contractors, Fang Senyan and Kerry. Kerry, in particular, harbored a faint, ominous feeling: if Fang Senyan truly wanted to demonstrate his lack of ambition toward Armand, he could have chosen far better and more subtle methods; why insist on stepping in for him? But by then, deep thought was no longer an option. Fang Senyan had already pulled him closer, his voice quiet beneath the flickering torchlight:

"What game were you playing with them?"

Kerry, pinned by the stares of those fierce-looking pirates—at least half of whom regarded him with anger or malice—felt naturally terrified and uneasy. He could only stammer out:

"It was, it was Blackjack."

The rules of Blackjack hardly needed explanation: draw cards as desired, 21 being the highest. Exceeding 21 resulted in a bust, counting only the excess amount. "Rat Mountain" had incredibly nimble hands, possessing unique and powerful shuffling techniques, and initially, he easily dealt Kerry a 20, only to beat it himself with a 21. Fang Senyan, having spent considerable time on ships, was well aware of these tricks, especially having watched countless Hong Kong gambling films. Before the game began, he had already raised an objection, demanding the right to shuffle the cards himself.

Such an outrageous condition was naturally unacceptable to Rat Mountain and his cohorts. However, after a brief argument, Fang Senyan backed down, proposing instead that Scar Henry conduct the shuffle! At this point, no one could find fault, and Rat Mountain and the others realized they had fallen victim to Fang Senyan’s classic maneuver of yielding to advance. Once Scar Henry dealt the hands, both sides were forced to rely on pure experience to gamble. But Fang Senyan’s enhanced perception gave him an overwhelming advantage, allowing him to reclaim the two Ancient Gold Pounds without any suspense. Rat Mountain and his two companions exchanged uneasy glances, knowing that the matter had likely reached its conclusion here; any further tricks would lead to consequences far more severe than just the one-eyed man losing a finger.

By now, the sky had darkened, and the faint sound of cannons drifted in from the distance. On the horizon, a subtle flicker of fire suggested that Hop Island, where the pirates would gather to divide their spoils, was fast approaching. Armand sternly admonished the pirates once more to maintain order before retiring to his cabin. This night marked his first time sitting as an equal among the captains of the three legendary pirate vessels; feigning nervousness would be dishonest. Fang Senyan, leading Kerry, also walked onto the deck, watching the turbulent waves for a while before stating coldly:

"Are you perhaps wondering why I stepped in for you?"

This was indeed one of the very questions churning in Kerry’s mind, but with his very safety now entirely dependent on Fang Senyan, he certainly wouldn't voice it outright. Fang Senyan didn't expect an answer anyway, continuing flatly:

"Because they dare not confront me directly; they can only probe by making an example out of you."

Kerry’s heart skipped a beat, just as he was about to speak, Fang Senyan pressed on:

"Have you ever witnessed the changing of the guard in a wolf pack? When the younger male wolves deem the alpha too old, they provoke the old king by any means necessary. They don't challenge head-on initially, but through indirect methods—snatching food, mating with the alpha’s females, etcetera. Once the old king’s response shows weakness, the entire pack descends!"

"Therefore," Fang Senyan concluded, "do not overestimate your own value. I was merely securing my own interests. If you dare abuse my reputation and cause trouble aboard this pirate ship, I will be the first to eliminate you."

Kerry hastened to nod and bow obsequiously, forcing a smile: "How could I? Oh, right... my Ancient Gold Pound...?"

Fang Senyan looked genuinely surprised: "Didn't you lose your Ancient Gold Pounds to Rat Mountain and his crew?"

Kerry’s expression instantly froze, his smile contorting into something uglier than a grimace.

"But..."

However, Fang Senyan had already turned and walked below deck... Kerry’s facial muscles twitched uncontrollably. After a moment, he closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh, trying to comfort himself:

"At least none of you bastards profited in the end!"

Despite the agonizing loss of two Ancient Gold Pounds, Kerry finally grasped the true root of Fang Senyan's forceful intervention—unquestionably, the temptation of those two Ancient Gold Pounds! This seemingly resolved the doubts Kerry had harbored. Yet, Kerry overlooked one crucial detail: if Fang Senyan had only been interested in two Ancient Gold Pounds, why bother explaining all those things to him just now? Kerry was, after all, a completely insignificant Contractor to him at this moment!

If the Caribbean Sea had displayed its turbulent majesty during the day, it had calmed considerably by night, with only slight waves rocking the hull, making the entire ocean feel like a comfortable bed for a brief rest. Many pirate ships were already anchored around Hop Island. Bright torches illuminated the pathways, and in the island's central area, seven or eight large bonfires blazed, allowing fleeting silhouettes to be seen dancing the Samba and downing rum.

This was the life of a pirate: drifting with the currents, living and dying upon the sea. They cast aside fear and sorrow, leaving only hysterical revelry and the carefree philosophy of drinking today because tomorrow is uncertain! The Bell and Goblet glided smoothly across the waves, approaching Hop Island almost like a slide. A welcoming party had already gathered onshore. Armand, freshly attired and supremely pleased with himself, stood at the forefront near the gangplank. Behind him stood Scar Henry, Navigator Charr, and others. Fang Senyan, however, remained discreetly nestled among the rear ranks of pirates, seemingly uninterested in standing out. The pirates now regarded this "Sailor Yan from the East" with a mixture of awe and fear. Armand, pleased by Fang Senyan's low profile, offered a slight nod and strode ashore with the welcoming group, heading directly, it seemed, to the high-level council of the pirate consortium.

Once Armand departed, the remaining pirates scattered like ants from a disturbed nest. Expecting them to obey orders like a standing army was impossible; they swarmed toward the bonfires in the island's center. Free liquor, roasted meat, dice, cards, and tobacco awaited—rewards funded by the pirate captains for their subordinates, essential elements of a pirate's existence.

Fang Senyan surveyed the empty deck and turned to Kerry:

"Do you want to go ashore and look around?"

Kerry seemed tempted but ultimately shook his head with evident pain, his recent ordeal aboard the Bell and Goblet still fresh in his memory. Lacking any means of self-defense, he couldn't rule out being slit throat and tossed into the ocean on this dark island.

Fang Senyan waved a hand dismissively: "As you wish," and stepped onto the gangplank onto the sand.

The scenery on Hop Island was indeed superb, in no way inferior to the top beach resorts of later ages; the fine, white sand alone was captivating. Fang Senyan, however, had no intention of lingering to admire the view. He walked directly toward the central bonfires. His purpose for coming ashore was simple: he still possessed a quest item, the "Still-Beating Heart" dropped by the Corrupted Corpse: Ear Chewer.

Although this quest item pointed toward two separate quest branches, Fang Senyan deliberated and ultimately chose the Second Mate Old Barry aboard the Flying Dutchman over Blackbeard. For Fang Senyan, missing this convergence of pirates today meant it would be difficult to encounter Old Barry again soon.

When he was still a hundred or two meters from the central bonfire plaza, the massive clamor of the pirates became clearly audible. These ruthless murderers were now no different from a band of drunken louts. Fang Senyan spotted a few familiar faces—pirates from the Bell and Goblet—and walked straight over to sit down. He tore off a large, greasy piece of meat from a nearby grill and took a massive bite, then casually snatched the wineskin from the hand of a nearby dazed pirate, gulping it down until it was empty, smacking his lips, and letting out a satisfied, lingering sigh.

The pirate sitting next to Fang Senyan was one of those left guarding the Bell and Goblet. Having witnessed Fang Senyan’s calm command during the sea battle and later his singular feat against the Corrupted Corpse, he regarded Fang Senyan with utter awe. Seeing that Fang Senyan seemed unsatisfied with his drink, the man hurried to refill a large wineskin for him.

Wineskins at that time were typically made of animal hides, soaked in a liquid from a plant called "Jidi Grass" and then dried to prevent seepage. A full wineskin held at least two to three jin (pounds) of liquor. The method of drinking from them was quite unique: unplug the wooden stopper, lift the skin with both hands in front of the face, fully extending the arms, and gently squeezing; the liquor would shoot into the mouth like a water gun. When enough was drunk, a slight outward movement of the hands would stop the flow. Beginners often dared not fully extend their arms, misaiming the stream and wetting their entire faces and chests without getting a single drink. Yet, Fang Senyan had already downed nearly half a wineskin earlier and now finished this newly filled one completely. Such immense capacity drew the attention and gasps of the surrounding pirates. They began whispering among themselves, eagerly asking who this unfamiliar face was.