At first, Ethan was worried that Jack would be unwilling to betray his own kind, but in the end, he realized that expecting loyalty from a pirate was pointless. Betrayal was commonplace among them, and there were no taboos when it came to achieving their goals.
In other words, as long as they could reach their objectives, they had no qualms about using any means necessary, luring in a group of navy soldiers was hardly a big deal.
Jack Sparrow might seem like a pirate with principles, but his so-called bottom line clearly didn't apply here.
"Any questions?"
"None."
"Then let's go." Ethan stood up, unwilling to stay in this place any longer. The stench was unbearable, he even felt the urge to change into his cloak, pull up the hood, and isolate himself from the foul air.
Since he was meeting Norrington tomorrow, he might as well take Jack with him now. That way, he wouldn't have to waste time searching for him in the morning. He could tell that Jack had no intention of staying put.
"I have a question before I go with you."
"What is it?"
"Is there alcohol where you live?"
"Yes."
Jack took the last sip of his drink, then stood up cheerfully.
"Let's go, then!"
Pirates were all alcoholics. Many sailors in this era drank regularly because wine was easier to preserve onboard than water, but over time, it had turned countless seafarers into habitual drinkers. To most people, a sailor's defining trait was their love for alcohol.
The upside was that they were easy to deal with. Ethan didn't even need to arrange a place for Jack to sleep—just hand him a bottle of wine, and he'd find a spot to lie down, clutching it in his arms as he drifted off.
Watching Captain Jack Sparrow pass out, Ethan couldn't help but worry. Would he end up like this after spending too much time at sea? He made a mental note: Alcohol consumption must be controlled. Then, he lay down to rest.
---
The next morning, when Ethan woke up, Jack was still asleep. By the time Ethan finished washing up and getting dressed, Jack was sitting on the floor, groggily shaking an empty bottle in his hand.
"You're awake?"
"Yeah." Jack tossed the bottle aside without a care for the broken shards on the floor. Then, he casually threw on his coat and placed his hat on his head. "So, we're going to see... Norrington now?"
"Yes."
Swann had already sent people to escort them, even providing a few navy soldiers for additional security. Interestingly, among them were two familiar faces—Murtogg and Mullroy, the very soldiers who had stopped Jack at the dock.
"Fancy meeting you again."
"Yes, sir! A pleasure to see you!"
This time, the two soldiers didn't dare question Ethan's identity. He was a guest of their superior, Norrington. Still, they couldn't understand why someone like Ethan would associate with such an odd character. Do high-ranking figures have such peculiar tastes?
They kept their thoughts to themselves, maintaining straight faces while internally praying that nothing would go wrong. If this strange man caused trouble, they'd both be in for a rough time.
Ethan, however, had no interest in them. Right now, he was more concerned about his upcoming meeting with Norrington. Would something unexpected happen? Would Jack suddenly act out and cause trouble? If things went sideways, how should he handle it?
His mind ran through multiple scenarios, but when he finally met Norrington, he realized his concerns were unnecessary.
Both Norrington and Jack had clear objectives, and neither were impulsive. Even if they harbored resentment, they wouldn't act recklessly at this moment.
As a result, everything proceeded smoothly. After confirming Jack Sparrow's pirate identity, Norrington asked him several questions about the Black Pearl. The only thing that displeased him was that the method of locating the Black Pearl was different from what he had expected. Jack didn't seem to know the ship's usual routes or habits—he simply claimed to have "special means" of tracking it.
With Norrington's cautious nature, he wouldn't normally proceed with an operation unless he was confident in its effectiveness. But given the circumstances, after a brief moment of hesitation, he ultimately agreed.
"Considering the situation, we will deploy the Interceptor, while the Dreadnought remains stationed at Port Royal. Prepare to load supplies and mobilize the crew—we set sail in three days at dawn." Norrington looked at Ethan. "I will personally lead this operation. Any objections?"
Ethan had none. Deploying the Interceptor was an ideal outcome. Although it was weaker in firepower compared to the Dreadnought, even in a head-on battle, it wouldn't be able to suppress the Black Pearl's cannons. But that wasn't necessary, what mattered was speed, and the Interceptor's swiftness would significantly cut down time at sea.
"No objections."
With that, the plan was finalized. Norrington busied himself with preparations, taking charge of the operation's logistics and strategy. None present were better suited to lead than the experienced Commodore.
The only complication came from Swann, who was now grumbling to Ethan about how he shouldn't have told his daughter, Elizabeth, about the mission. She was now insisting on joining.
"She won't be bothering you once we leave Port Royal."
"Let's hope so."
Though Elizabeth usually acted like a proper lady, Swann knew his daughter well. He had a nagging feeling that this wouldn't be the end of it.
And sure enough, as he stood at the docks watching the Interceptor depart, his butler hurried over with an exasperated report, Elizabeth had left him a letter.
She had written that she was going to witness the Royal Navy capture ruthless pirates with her own eyes.
Staring at the letter, Swann was too angry for words. Even if he wanted to chase after her now, it was too late—the Interceptor was the fastest ship in Port Royal. What could he possibly send to catch up? All he could do was hope that Norrington and Ethan would take good care of his daughter.
---
Aboard the Interceptor, Ethan quickly noticed Elizabeth. Although she thought she was blending in well, it was laughably obvious to anyone with working eyesight.
"How did you get on board?"
Are Royal Navy warships really this easy to sneak into? No wonder pirates are so rampant in the Caribbean—maybe it's not that the pirates are too cunning, but that the navy is just incompetent.
"I'm the Governor's daughter," she stated matter-of-factly.
Well, that explained a lot. As the Governor's daughter, she carried considerable authority. Even if the Governor himself wasn't here, no soldier dared to offend her. Besides, many of the navy personnel in Port Royal knew about Commodore Norrington's feelings for Elizabeth. They probably assumed she had come to be with him.
Moreover, the details of this operation hadn't been fully disclosed. Since no one had explained the mission's true purpose, some crew members might have even believed that Elizabeth's presence was part of some elaborate scheme.
By the time Norrington formally announced their objective, to hunt down the Black Pearl, it was already too late. Elizabeth had successfully boarded the ship, and her presence now gave Norrington a headache.
"Turn back and send her home."
Ethan wasn't about to waste time over this, but Norrington was far less pleased. If they returned, their mission could be compromised—word might spread, and the pirates could be alerted. He couldn't afford that risk.
Frustrated but resigned, Norrington ordered, "Clear my captain's quarters for her. Someone will keep an eye on her at all times."
---
Life on board was far from comfortable, with many inconveniences, one of the reasons women were traditionally not allowed on ships wasn't just superstition; there were real, practical issues that couldn't easily be solved, especially in this era.
Since Norrington had made his decision, Ethan naturally had no reason to oppose it. He didn't particularly care who was on the ship or who wasn't, as long as Jack Sparrow was here and the ship could successfully take him to the Black Pearl.
Back on deck, Ethan spotted Jack standing at the bow, using a special compass to locate the Black Pearl.
As he approached, Ethan glanced at the unusual compass, prompting Jack to quickly put it away—worried that Ethan might take an interest in his prized possession.
Jack then gave Ethan a scrutinizing look. "You seem quite comfortable at sea."
With just a few steps Ethan had taken on board, the seasoned captain had already noticed subtle details. "Like a sailor who's spent years at sea."
"You can tell?" Ethan asked.
"Of course. You don't have the uncertainty of a rookie."
Ethan smiled. Was this an endorsement from the legendary captain himself?
"If you keep flattering me like that, I might just recruit you onto my ship," Ethan joked.
"Ship?" Jack's ears perked up at the word. "You have a ship of your own? What kind of ship?"
"A large warship with three decks, called the Goddess of Dawn." Ethan casually listed a few basic specifications of his ship, but that alone was enough for an experienced captain like Jack to picture its general design.
Hearing those details, Jack immediately jumped to a conclusion. "So you're an officer in the Royal Navy?"
Ethan shook his head. "No, it's my personal vessel. Unfortunately, I can't bring it here."
Jack clicked his tongue in disappointment. He would have loved to see the ship with his own eyes. But at the moment, reclaiming his own ship was his priority.
Perhaps the conversation about ships solidified his determination. Jack immediately pulled out the compass again, and this time, the previously wavering needle finally locked onto a direction.
(To be continued.)
***
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