Valsa no longer hesitated.
He returned to find Adrian and Elik, then headed straight for the house in the center of the village, leaving Lucas behind to guard the ships.
Seeing Valsa approach, Adams, who was standing at the entrance to the hall, immediately came forward with a fawning smile.
“Sir!
I knew you’d come.
Please, this way!”
With that, he led the three of them into the banquet hall.
Valsa’s expression remained calm.
Even though he had no idea what they were scheming, he remained completely unperturbed.
Soon, Adams led the three of them to the center of the hall.
The place was filled with officers of the Outlaw Pirates.
As for Disco and the tall man beside him, they were nowhere to be seen.
The moment the three sat down, everyone invited them to drink and eat meat.
Valsa didn’t make any rash moves.
He had Elik take the first bite to test for poison.
After waiting several minutes and seeing no unusual reaction, he finally began drinking with the others.
Adams narrowed his eyes.
This man is incredibly cautious.
He didn’t hesitate to reject my invitation on the beach, and now he’s even having his subordinate test the food for poison.
He’s ruthless.
The poisons of this world were generally crude and took effect almost immediately.
Even higher-quality poisons usually took only about a minute to work.
Valsa had stubbornly waited nearly ten minutes before finally letting his guard down.
Realizing that the man before him wasn’t someone easy to deal with, Adams said apologetically, “Sorry!
My stomach is feeling a little uncomfortable.
I’m going outside for a moment.”
He hurried out through the back door.
The moment Adams stepped outside, he casually turned a corner and headed toward another room.
He carefully knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
Only after hearing the command did Adams push the door open and enter.
It turned out that Disco and the tall man had been hiding nearby the entire time, observing Valsa’s fleet.
“Lord Disco, that man in charge is extremely cautious.
He might be a tough one to deal with, and we’re still not sure whether they’re actually pirates…” Adams said respectfully, but before he could finish, Disco interrupted him.
“No.
I can confirm that they’re pirates!”
“I just had someone carefully observe several dozen people in the village.
Their palms are covered in calluses, and only people who have spent years wielding blades can develop calluses like those.
Besides, they came here from the sea and didn’t bring any cargo ashore.
Therefore, they’re pirates.”
Adams looked at his own palms, which were similarly covered in calluses, and asked, “If that’s the case, shall we make our move?”
“Mm.
I’ll have Gabri assist you.”
Gabri was the name of the tall man standing behind Disco.
He nodded at Adams, indicating that he was ready.
…
Kweiv watched as the pirate guards gradually left one after another, anxiously waiting for something.
Finally, at the end of the corridor, a guard appeared pushing a food cart, delivering meals to each cell one by one.
Finally!
And there’s only one pirate.
This is my chance.
I absolutely cannot fail!
Kweiv suppressed his anxiety and unease, calmly sitting beside the iron bars as he waited for the guard to approach.
The footsteps drew closer and closer, and the tension in Kweiv’s heart grew heavier with every step.
I only get one chance.
I must succeed.
I cannot fail!
Kweiv restrained his slightly trembling hand.
Listening to the approaching footsteps, he knew the guard had reached the cell beside his.
Through the iron bars, Kweiv spotted the keys hanging from the guard’s waist, jingling crisply with every step.
These pirates were incredibly arrogant.
They always carried their keys on them, and from time to time, they would deliberately hold them in front of captured slaves just to taunt them.
They enjoyed watching the slaves become furious while being completely unable to kill them.
It amused them greatly.
The guard pushed the food cart to Kweiv’s cell, took out a meal box, and tossed it inside.
Kweiv hurriedly stood up and caught it, while secretly gripping a stone with a razor-sharp edge.
“Sir!
Could I have another one?
This one seems a little cold.”
The guard looked at him impatiently.
“You should be grateful you have food at all.
And now you’re being picky?”
“Sir, please!
I haven’t had a hot meal in days.
Please!”
Kweiv spoke with utmost sincerity, and his voice also attracted the attention of people in the surrounding cells.
“Fine, fine, fine!
What a pain.
Just this once.”
The guard impatiently picked out another meal box that was warmer, then stepped forward to take the one Kweiv was holding.
At that very moment, everything changed.
The moment the guard’s hand touched the meal box, Kweiv’s other two arms shot through the bars and grabbed both of the guard’s arms.
The guard was startled and roared, “You little brat!
What are you trying to do?!”
Kweiv yanked him forward.
The guard’s body lurched toward the cell, his head rapidly closing in on the bars.
Kweiv’s final hand was already gripping the sharp stone.
In the blink of an eye, he drove it straight through the guard’s throat.
Afraid the man wasn’t dead yet, Kweiv immediately stabbed him several more times.
Only after the guard gradually lost his strength, stopped struggling, and collapsed limply to the ground did Kweiv reach for the keys at his waist.
Got them!
The scene had naturally been witnessed by the prisoners in the other cells.
Seeing Kweiv kill the guard and take the keys, they all became frantic and began shouting.
“Big brother!
Please save me!
My father is very wealthy!
If you get me out of here, I’ll give you ten million Berries!
How about it?!”
“Big brother, please save me!
I still have a wife and children at home!
I can’t die here!”
Amid the cacophony, Kweiv finally found the key to his own cell and unlocked the door.
The moment his cell opened, the cries for help grew even louder, with more and more people joining in.
Kweiv calmly swept his eyes across them.
“You’re all pirates, aren’t you?
I knew it from the beginning.
There’s not a single good person among pirates.
You lot can stay here and fend for yourselves.”
With that, he followed the route he had worked out in his mind and fled, completely ignoring the cries for help and curses coming from behind him.
…
Adams returned to the banquet hall and seemed to exchange a glance with the surrounding pirates.
The pirates immediately moved away from the three men and gathered behind Adams.
Adams sat down opposite Valsa and stared him down.
Finally getting impatient, are you?
Valsa stopped eating.
Seeing this, Elik swallowed nervously.
While no one was paying attention, he quietly took a few steps backward.
Meanwhile, the big idiot Adrian was still burying his head in his food.
THUD!
Valsa brought his fist down hard on Adrian’s head.
Only then did Adrian stop eating and sheepishly move to Valsa’s rear right.
“Oh?
Mr.
Adams, what are you planning to do?” Valsa asked, pretending to be completely innocent.
“Hahahahaha!
You’re actually pirates, aren’t you?
I saw through your identities a long time ago!
Now, obediently hand over your treasure and have everyone submit to our orders.
I might still spare your lives.
Otherwise…
hehehe.”
Adams laughed triumphantly.
At the same time, a towering shadow blocked out the light.
Gabri stepped out from behind him.
His nearly five-meter-tall frame was already intimidating enough, and the enormous iron hammer resting on his shoulder was even taller than he was.
The sheer pressure he exuded was overwhelming.
Elik’s legs were trembling, and he kept stealing glances at Valsa, wondering why Boss still hadn’t ordered them to run.
“Hahahahaha!
Hahahahahaha!”
After hearing Adams out, Valsa couldn’t help bursting into laughter.
Seeing this, Elik and Adrian were both utterly confused.
They couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
Boss didn’t get scared stupid, did he?!