Thirty minutes later, the crew found chest after chest of treasure hidden in the lake where the giant octopus monster had lived.
Each chest required four people straining together to move it. Opening any one of them revealed a fortune in gold, silver, and jewels packed to the brim.
Sarah's eyes practically gleamed at the sight. She scooped up a handful of gold coins, and the corners of her lips rose uncontrollably, making her look like a complete money-grubber.
"Gangplank has certainly plundered plenty over the years. Why did he save this much money? Was he planning to fund his retirement?"
Sarah was beside herself with joy. Even when she mentioned Gangplank, there was noticeably less hatred in her voice.
Then she waved her hand grandly.
"Move all of it onto the ship. Don't leave him a single silver serpent!"
"Yes!"
The crew members were just as excited. They were all seasoned sailors, but none of them had ever seen so much treasure gathered in one place.
Sarah watched as her crew began carrying the treasure chests toward the ship. A beautiful smile curved across her face as she murmured to herself, "I can already imagine the look on his face. It's a shame I won't get to see it in person."
After thinking for a moment, she took an ornate playing card from her pocket and casually tossed it into the middle of the lake.
It looked vaguely familiar to Luke, so he asked curiously, "What was that?"
Sarah smiled.
"A little toy I won from a gambler."
Luke vaguely realized what it was, but did not pay much more attention to it.
After all the treasure had been transferred onto the ship, Sarah ordered her people to remove every trace they had left around the lake. They even disposed of the giant octopus monster's corpse.
She wanted to fabricate a disappearance and make it appear that no one had ever visited the island.
Most importantly, Gangplank could not be allowed to discover that they had been there.
By the time they finished cleaning everything up, the sun was nearly setting.
The last rays of sunlight spilled across the sea from beyond the horizon. Crimson clouds were reflected across the shimmering water, creating an indescribably peaceful sight.
The atmosphere aboard the ship was relaxed and cheerful. Everyone looked ready to hold a victory feast on the spot.
Sarah stood at the bow, her wavy red hair dancing in the wind. Her long shadow stretched behind her as she bathed in the sunset, making her look like part of a painting.
The return journey took the same amount of time.
Sarah and her crew quietly returned to Bilgewater, but there was one major difference.
This time, she had money.
She had an enormous amount of money, the hidden fortune of the man who had proclaimed himself the Reaver King. There was so much that she did not even know how to spend it all yet.
It gave her abundant confidence in the revenge plan that was about to unfold.
In Bilgewater, money could accomplish almost anything.
Miss Fortune quietly began making moves behind the scenes. Before Gangplank's return, Bilgewater appeared perfectly calm.
No one could have imagined that the entire city would soon be turned upside down.
Several days later, a formation resembling a fleet slowly approached across the waters outside Bilgewater.
At its head sailed an enormous pirate ship. Its hull was black and viciously designed, resembling a warship that had emerged from hell itself. A massive flag flew above its deck, bearing the personal emblem of a single man.
This was the infamous Dead Pool.
The ship had once belonged to the Noxian Grand General, Swain. While he was traveling to Ionia, an inexperienced pirate had stolen it from him.
At the bow stood a figure wearing a red cloak. He silently gazed down upon Bilgewater in the distance with eyes as sharp as those of a hawk.
He looked at the city the way a lion might regard its territory.
He was tall and powerfully built, though he was clearly no longer young. The wrinkles across his face looked as though they had been carved with a knife.
As the city drew closer, a smile finally appeared on his face.
"Bilgewater, I'm back!"
At the harbor, many people had already noticed Gangplank's fleet approaching.
Some quietly cursed their bad luck. Some sighed in despair. Others celebrated enthusiastically.
The news of Gangplank's return quickly spread through every street and alley in Bilgewater. Even the dogs along the roadside tucked their tails between their legs.
Most people in Bilgewater had no favorable opinion of the infamous pirate.
He was extraordinarily selfish, cruel, and ruthless, making him the least qualified false ruler imaginable.
He was only a false ruler because countless people refused to accept his authority, though none of them dared say so loudly.
Compared with his father, the previous Reaver King, Gangplank was utterly inferior.
Just look at the arrogant spectacle he made of his return. He seemed determined to let everyone know that he had once again returned with his ships fully laden.
From a high vantage point, Sarah watched Gangplank's fleet with an icy chill in her eyes.
"That ship is the source of his arrogance, the Dead Pool. It's practically unstoppable at sea. It's fast, heavily armored, and can carry forty cannons. In a direct confrontation, it's essentially invincible."
Sarah's voice was cold. Her understanding of the Dead Pool was almost equal to Gangplank's own.
Luke nodded slightly.
"If it's that powerful, how do you plan to deal with it?"
"I haven't spent all these years doing nothing."
A merciless smile appeared on Sarah's lips.
"The Syren has no less potential than the Dead Pool. I've never stopped upgrading it over the years, and it has swallowed more gold than I can count. If the two met at sea, the Syren might not necessarily lose. Unfortunately for Gangplank, they'll never meet in a direct battle."
As she spoke, Sarah grew tired of watching Gangplank's triumphant expression. She turned away and left behind a cold declaration.
"He won't be pleased with himself much longer. Soon, I'll personally make him answer for every crime he has committed."
The two quickly left.
Gangplank, meanwhile, was in high spirits. He turned toward his crew and shouted, "Listen up, you bastards! Once we get ashore, we're holding a feast and celebrating for three days! Everything you buy during those three days is on me!"
His announcement immediately drew thunderous cheers.
"Hell yeah!"
"Long live the captain!"
"Long live Captain Gangplank!"
Every crew member danced with excitement, their eyes gleaming like hungry wolves in the darkness.
They had spent a long time at sea, where most days were monotonous and tedious. After enduring it for so long, they had finally returned home. There was no reason they would not be excited.
Gangplank was quite generous with his own people, though everything he gave them had been taken from someone else.
He beckoned one of his trusted subordinates closer.
"Once we reach shore, inform all the taverns and restaurants that I'm back. They haven't paid tribute in a long time, so tell them to make up what they owe."
A cold smile flickered through his hawklike eyes.
For years, Bilgewater had trembled beneath his rule. He enjoyed watching the weak shake in fear before him.
He was the king of this place.
Now the people of the island would offer tribute to their king.
"Yes!"
The subordinate immediately accepted the order.
"Juarez, come here."
Gangplank then beckoned his most trusted second-in-command over.
"Once we return, set out immediately and store everything we can't keep here."
This voyage had been exceptionally profitable. He had brought back so much treasure that he could not possibly spend it all anytime soon.
Besides, now that he had returned to his own kingdom, there were many places where he did not need to spend his own money.
Naturally, anything he could not spend needed to be stored somewhere.
He enjoyed admiring glittering treasures, but more importantly, once he accumulated more money than he could ever spend, he would go find the woman who had rejected him all those years ago.
He would prove to her that Gangplank was no worthless failure.
She was the only thing Gangplank had never been able to obtain, the one person who drove him mad with desire yet whom he did not dare seize by force.
That was why he needed to show her his good qualities.
"Yes!"
Juarez immediately answered.
After the ship docked, Gangplank's crew formally disembarked. Everyone nearby hurried to clear a wide path, watching them fearfully.
Gangplank was extremely pleased by their terror. He smiled coldly and strode toward the subordinates waiting to welcome him at the harbor.
"Where's Borika? Why don't I see him?"
After surveying the crowd, Gangplank frowned slightly.
Borika had been one of his more satisfactory lackeys. He handled tasks quickly and rarely caused trouble. Under normal circumstances, he never should have missed an occasion like this.
One man cautiously stepped forward.
"Captain, Borika was killed by a bounty hunter several days ago."
Gangplank's gaze immediately turned cold, and an intensely oppressive aura radiated from him.
"Who had the guts to touch one of my men?"
He considered it a provocation, an intolerable challenge to his authority.
Marsili, who had been waiting for this moment, immediately stepped forward and spoke in a soft, seductive voice.
"Captain, please don't be angry yet. Miss Fortune was the one who killed him, but she had a reason."
Seeing Marsili intervene, Gangplank temporarily suppressed his anger.
"Give me an answer I'll find satisfactory."
Marsili first glanced at her lover before slowly explaining, "Borika was blind enough to set his sights on Miss Fortune's favorite pretty boy. She lost her temper and killed him. You can verify everything with a little investigation.
"To apologize, she came to me personally and presented this blue crystal. It's worth a fortune."
As she spoke, Marsili produced a clear, brilliantly polished blue gemstone. It truly was an exquisite piece.
Naturally, she had not paid for it herself. Miss Fortune had genuinely given it to her.
Gangplank examined it with growing interest. He took the blue gemstone and turned it over in his hand.
"When did she start keeping a pretty boy? Why didn't I hear anything about it?"
Miss Fortune had gained a certain amount of fame in Bilgewater, though Gangplank did not know much about her.
After all, how could the Reaver King have time to constantly pay attention to unimportant people? Besides, he disliked dealing with bounty hunters.
Still, he had an excellent memory, and he could not recall hearing anything about this matter.
Marsili immediately answered, "She had been keeping him hidden. She only brought him into the city recently, and Borika immediately noticed him."
"So he was simply unlucky?"
Gangplank continued examining the gemstone, his voice revealing little emotion.
Juarez spoke from beside him.
"The gemstone certainly looks valuable. It should be worth a considerable amount. She must have paid dearly to obtain it. After all, no one in the entire Blue Flame Isles would dare offend you, Captain. Everyone knows how fearsome your reputation is."
"That's true. I can't be bothered pursuing the matter any further. This gemstone will make a suitable gift for someone."
Gangplank loved hearing such praise. He laughed carelessly and slipped the gemstone into his pocket, but his eyes abruptly turned cold.
"This is the only time I'll overlook something like this, and I'm only doing it for your sake."
Marsili immediately smiled seductively and nodded.
"Thank you, Captain."
"Enough. Let's get moving."
Gangplank could not be bothered wasting more words. He was in an excellent mood and did not want to hear anything that might spoil it.
Although he knew that she did not care for gemstones, the blue color would probably suit her.
Before long, Gangplank led some of his subordinates through Bilgewater, making an ostentatious display of his power.
Juarez, meanwhile, took Marsili and several trusted men aboard another ship and set out for the treasure island.
On the ship, the two lovers, who had not seen each other in a long time, clung affectionately to one another.
Juarez indulgently took out a pearl necklace and held it in front of Marsili's face.
"What do you think? I chose it especially for you. Do you like it?"
Marsili's eyes lit up.
"I love it! I knew you hadn't forgotten about me. I love you more than anyone."
"Hahaha! Of course. Do you know who your man is? This necklace is one of the most valuable pieces from our latest haul."
Juarez laughed heartily as his rough hands wandered across Marsili's body.
Marsili did not mind at all. She happily played with her new necklace.
"By the way, what exactly happened with Miss Fortune?"
Juarez asked the question casually.
"It's exactly as I told you. I saw her pretty boy myself, and he really is exceptionally handsome. I can't blame Miss Fortune for guarding him so carefully."
Marsili answered without much thought.
Juarez suddenly squeezed hard, immediately drawing a coquettish cry from her.
He grinned wickedly.
"How does he compare to me?"
"Of course he can't compare to you, darling. After all, look at whose man you are."
Marsili immediately gave Juarez a seductive smile and willingly pressed her red lips against his.
Her thoughts, however, were entirely different.
Ten of you wouldn't compare to a single hair on his head.
After settling his crew, Gangplank headed alone toward Bilgewater's Buhru temple.
The temple belonged to the followers of the Bearded Lady, Nagakabouros.
It was also the only place in Bilgewater that had remained peaceful and harmonious throughout the years. A tranquil atmosphere permeated every corner.
Gangplank knew the path beneath his feet even better than he knew how to sail his ship.
He had not entered through the main path, so few people knew about this route.
He passed through one shaded trail after another, breathing in the fresh air. Even Gangplank's habitually arrogant stride unconsciously became more restrained.
Not even he wanted to behave too brazenly in this place.
Soon, he passed through another narrow path, rounded a corner, and entered a temple chamber, where he finally saw the person he had come to meet.
Light streamed through deliberately carved openings in the ceiling, converging on the tall woman seated in meditation at the center of the chamber.
Her physique was remarkably powerful and imposing. She sat with her eyes closed, as steady as an immovable mountain. Light spread across her body, giving her an unparalleled sense of harmony.
Although her features were rugged, Gangplank considered her more beautiful and captivating than any other woman.
She was Nagakabouros's current representative in the mortal world, the Truth Bearer, Illaoi.
She was also the most respected person in Bilgewater.
Beside her stood a massive golden idol. It radiated imposing authority and appeared extraordinarily heavy.
Sensing the newcomer, the tall woman slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze remained as calm as still water.
"Surprised to see me?"
Gangplank laughed and sat down without ceremony. He tossed the blue gemstone he had just acquired toward her.
Illaoi caught it, but did not even examine it. She immediately tossed it back.
Her eyes remained completely unmoved.
"You know I don't care for such things."
"You always wear that sour expression. How am I supposed to know what you like?"
Gangplank caught the gemstone and curled his lips.
"This voyage was filled with danger. I nearly didn't make it back."
"The fact that you stand here means it was not yet your time to die," Illaoi replied indifferently.
"Of course it wasn't. My life isn't so easily taken. Even the fortune-tellers say no one can match my luck."
Gangplank grinned, took an orange from his pocket, peeled it, and bit deeply into it.
"Fortune and disaster often accompany one another. As someone who once cared for you, I advise you to show more restraint."
A slight ripple appeared in Illaoi's eyes as she spoke, but it quickly faded.
Gangplank noticed the brief change and laughed arrogantly.
"Unfortunately, I was born without knowing the meaning of restraint. Otherwise, back then... Ahem. My luck is at its peak now. Who in all of Bilgewater would dare provoke me?"
He stopped halfway when Illaoi fixed him with a stare, then immediately changed the subject.
More than ten years ago, the two of them had shared an indescribable past.
"I've said everything that needed to be said. How much longer do you intend to remain here?"
Illaoi looked calmly at Gangplank, neither cold nor warm.
"All right, I was about to leave."
Gangplank stood just as he finished eating the orange.
"I'll have the offering prepared before long."
With that, he turned and walked away.
The blue gemstone remained where he had been sitting, seemingly forgotten.
Illaoi glanced at it before raising her eyes to watch Gangplank's retreating back.
Despite the calmness of her heart, a silent sigh ultimately echoed within it, and her eyes flickered faintly.
As a Truth Bearer of her god, she should not interfere in the conflict between them.
She had already offered the advice she could.
Whether Gangplank listened was no longer her concern.
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