With swift precision, he landed a karate chop on the back of the pirate’s neck. Before the man could even fall, Fang Chenyi grabbed him and flung his body into the adjacent first-class cabin.

Just then, the second pirate climbed down into the main cabin. Like the one before him, his first move was to charge toward the passenger area.

Not only that, but as if afraid the others would come down too quickly, he even intentionally kicked the ladder. It went askew, and the pirate still on it immediately swore as he struggled to right it.

The pirate glanced back at his accomplice, who was still on the ladder, a gloating expression plastered on his face. Fang Chenyi found the scene almost comical. ’This idiot is actually helping me.’

He quickly returned to his hiding spot. As soon as the second pirate rushed past, he knocked him out with another precise chop.

No matter how careful Fang Chenyi was, he still made some noise. But to the pirates still waiting, it just sounded like their comrades were already grabbing loot. This only made them more impatient.

And so it went. One by one, four men were easily knocked unconscious by Fang Chenyi and tossed into the first-class cabin.

When it came to the last two pirates, their relationship must have been particularly strong. After the fifth man climbed down, he actually waited for the last one to join him before they charged into the cabin together.

It made no difference. With no one else coming, the situation was manageable.

Fang Chenyi remained hidden in the corner behind the door. As the two men rushed past, one after the other, he lunged forward. With a swift chop, he struck the neck of the pirate in the rear.

The men were so close together that the pirate in front heard the muffled grunt behind him and faltered. He stopped and turned around, confused, only to find the dark muzzle of a gun pressed against his forehead.

"Shut your mouth if you don’t want to die. Grab your rifle by the muzzle and put it on the ground! Now!"

The weapon in Fang Chenyi’s hands was an old AK rifle, taken from the pirate he had just knocked unconscious. And the words he spoke were in their own language.

The pirate froze, then jolted in terror, completely baffled as to where this person had come from.

But at the sight of that dark muzzle, the pirate, who didn’t look very old, was clearly terrified.

He obediently grabbed his rifle by the muzzle and carefully placed it on the floor. However, the furtive glances he kept stealing behind him told Fang Chenyi that the man was already scheming.

But Fang Chenyi wasn’t worried about him trying any tricks. After all, the only other people standing in the cabin were himself, this pirate, and Bai Menghan.

Fang Chenyi could tell the man was hoping his downed comrade would rescue him. A sly grin touched his lips as an idea began to form.

Keeping the rifle aimed at the pirate, he gestured with his chin and spoke in the man’s language.

"Since you’re so eager to find your friends, let’s go. Hands on your head. Walk forward!"

’Hearing this, the pirate’s face lit up. ’Once I get to my guys, I just need to dodge out of his line of fire and I’ll be safe! And not only that, it’ll be one against eight. This yellow-skinned monkey is finished!’’

With that thought, the pirate quickly turned and headed deeper into the cabin. But a growing panic set in as he walked—it was completely silent, as if no one else was there.

’Did something happen to my comrades?’

Sure enough, upon reaching the main passenger area, the pirate flinched. His eyes fell upon two of his comrades lying in pools of blood. From their stillness, it was obvious they were as dead as they could be.

Only then did the man meekly clasp his hands behind his head and squat on the floor. He asked in a terrified voice:

"You devil! Did you kill all my friends?"

’Even I feel uneasy looking at those two bodies,’ Fang Chenyi thought. ’But then I remember they’re pirates—pirates who slaughter the innocent—and I feel a bit better.’

Seeing the man’s reaction, Fang Chenyi knew his plan could now be put into motion. He gave the pirate an eerie smile and said coldly:

"That’s right. I got all of them. Counting you, that makes exactly eight. So, tell me, any last wishes?"

The pirate panicked at Fang Chenyi’s words, scrambling backward as he begged for his life.

"No, you can’t kill me! You can’t! They all deserved it, but I’m different from them, I’m different! Please, don’t kill me! Don’t kill me! I’ll give you all my riches! The two women I captured, you can have them too! Please, just don’t kill me!"

"Oh? Different? You’re different from them? Heh. I’m curious. Tell me just how you’re so different."

’According to my plan, I need to stall for a bit more time,’ Fang Chenyi thought. ’This is the perfect chance to intimidate him and make sure he cooperates later.’

Hearing that he was actually being given a chance to speak, the pirate hurriedly began to explain.

"I’ve killed the fewest! I swear! They all have a dozen lives on their hands, but I only have one! I’ve only ever killed one person, so you can’t kill me!"

’Hearing that, Fang Chenyi almost shot him on the spot. ’You think I can’t kill you because you’ve *only* killed one person? Go to hell! Forget the one person you killed; I should kill you just for saying you captured two women!’’

’Taking a deep breath, Fang Chenyi suppressed the urge to kill the man. Now, as he glanced at the two corpses on the floor, his earlier feeling of guilt was gone.’

’This kind of scum deserves to be killed. It saves them from hurting anyone else.’

Forcing himself to calm down, he fixed his gaze on the pirate’s eyes and spoke slowly.

"I’m not against letting you live. But that depends on whether you’re willing to cooperate and seize this chance."

Hearing that he might actually live, the pirate began nodding his head like a bobblehead, repeatedly promising he would cooperate and take this chance.

Fang Chenyi nodded at the sight and began to speak.

"Good. Since you’re willing, listen carefully. In a minute, I need you to do this..."

After explaining what he needed the man to do, Fang Chenyi gestured with the rifle’s muzzle and looked him dead in the eye.

"So, can you do it? Heh. Of course, you could try calling for help. But I guarantee that by the time they arrive, all they’ll find is your corpse."

The pirate shuddered, instantly abandoning the last of his defiant thoughts. ’He’s right,’ the pirate realized. ’He’ll never let me live long enough for my comrades to arrive.’

"No, no! I’ll cooperate completely. I just beg you to keep your word and let me live."

[To be continued...]

PS: That’s all for tonight, folks. Good night, everyone. Xiao Youzi is off to bed now~