Chapter 93: JACOB’S POV.

I had solved the problem of her morality, but now I had to solve the problem of our complete lack of military strength.

Even if she and I are incredibly strong, it’s still completely possible for us to be unable to protect everyone in every situation.

A stray arrow, a flying piece of wood from a cannon blast, or a sneaky enemy could easily slide past us and kill a man.

I had spent so much energy keeping these people alive, and I wasn’t about to let their lives be thrown away just because my new boss had a sudden itch to fight.

’If only there was a way we could keep them safe while still keeping her happy...’ I pondered for a moment, staring down at my boots as the wind blew past us.

I racked my brain, trying to find a compromise that would satisfy her hunger for glory without putting a single farmer in harm’s way.

Suddenly, my eyes shimmered as a brilliant thought struck me. An idea came to mind, and it was so perfect that I almost laughed out loud.

"Umm... Captain, perhaps it would be best if we didn’t call for the crew to join us today," I said, putting on a serious, deeply thoughtful face.

"Huh? What nonsense are you talking about?" Priscilla said, her eyebrows drawing together as she turned her large body toward me. She looked genuinely offended by the suggestion.

"How can a pirate crew sail the mighty seas without an able-bodied crew? A captain needs her men to handle the ropes, watch the sails, and shout her name when we win!"

"That’s the thing, Captain," I said, stepping closer and lowering my voice as if I were sharing an elite secret. "I think it would only hinder your path to greatness if you had to rely on such weak men right now."

"Think about it. If you bring them along, you won’t be able to fight at one hundred percent. You’ll constantly be looking over your shoulder to make sure none of them are getting hurt or crying for help."

" A true legend doesn’t need to be held back by baggage."

I watched for a moment , seeing her expression changing at my words, I decided to continue.

" But I have a better suggestion that could hasten your ascension while also allowing you to keep your promise to get them to land."

Priscilla pursed her lips, her golden eyes narrowing as she processed my words. She didn’t like the idea of changing her plans, but the phrase "hasten your ascension to greatness" definitely caught her interest.

She remained silent for a while, her white-furred tail giving a single, slow flick against the deck.

"Go on..." she said, crossing her arms and waiting for me to explain.

I nodded with a smile, feeling a wave of relief. It was very good that she decided to listen to me again instead of just throwing me overboard for talking back.

A man could get lucky but lady luck always had a way of f*cking over the men she’s been with far more than naught.

I quickly laid out my plan, explaining how we could split our forces to achieve maximum efficiency.

I told her that she and I were more than enough to handle any small-time pirate crew we ran into, and that leaving the others behind would actually make us faster, stealthier, and much more dangerous.

*****

Moments later, the plan was put into action. I and her were standing on the smaller ship, the very same one I’d stolen from that pirate captain, Douglas.

This time around, it wasn’t chained up or dragged behind the massive warship. It was completely free, bobbing lightly on the blue water.

The sails were hoisted just enough to catch the morning breeze, and it was surprisingly easy to manage with just two people, especially since Priscilla possessed enough physical strength to pull the heavy ropes with a single hand.

The captives, on the other hand, were left behind on the massive battleship. They were all standing along the high wooden railings, staring down at us with varying emotions on their faces.

Some looked worried, some looked confused, but most of them just looked incredibly relieved that they weren’t being forced to go on a raiding mission.

I looked up at the high deck of the battleship and caught the eye of the old sailor who had helped me before.

"Old man, remember what I said," I shouted up to him, cupping my hands around my mouth so my voice would carry over the splashing of the waves. "Just keep heading in that exact direction, you hear? Don’t stop for anything, and keep a steady pace."

"You got it, boss!" Dinklehimer shouted back, giving me a sharp, respectful salute. His old face was filled with immense gratitude.

He knew exactly what I was doing. Dinklehimer knew I was taking the crazy tiger captain away so they could have a safe, quiet trip to the nearest port.

Not only him, but most of the captives on the ship had the same expression. They looked at me like I was their savior all over any.

I chuckled softly to myself and shook my head. It was nice seeing them so happy and safe after all the horror they had been through.

Having others look onto you with gratitude had a strange feeling to it.

"Are you sure this will work?" Priscilla asked from behind me, her voice breaking my thoughts.

She was looking up at her grand warship, her lips pursed once more in a tight line. She still seemed a little unsure about leaving her floating palace behind, even if it was just for a few hours.

"Sure thing, Captain," I said, turning around to face her with a confident grin. "With just the both of us, we should be able to have as much fun as you want. "

"This way, you won’t have to worry about looking after anyone or sharing the glory."