Prayer Deep Pool, where the sea breeze carries a coolness.
A massive black warship slowly approached the deck of the Purple Pearl.
Behind it, countless sailboats almost filled the entire horizon, blotting out the sun.
This is not a friendly visit at all; this is a blatant coup!
Janet stood behind Zhang Yan, her back soaked with cold sweat as she looked at the figures standing on the deck of the main ship opposite.
She knew the woman opposite her all too well.
If I dare to utter even a single word of dissent today, this fleet will absolutely blast the Purple Pearl to smithereens in the next second!
At the bow of the main ship, the woman at the head had a gentle and dignified appearance.
Her long hair was tied up with a wooden hairpin, giving her the air of a well-bred young lady.
She is the overlord of this sea, the leader of the Lianghai Pirate Group, Song Gongyao.
To Song Gongyao's left stood a woman with a noble and dignified appearance.
Holding a long silver spear, she stood tall and imposing, displaying the grandeur of a prominent maritime family.
This is Lu Jin, the vice-captain and the pirate crew's top fighter.
On the right is a slender woman, gently waving a feather fan in her hand.
This is Wu Ruyi, the strategist and the mastermind behind the entire plan to recruit the enemy.
Behind the three, leaning against the wall was a gloomy woman with a dejected look on her face, chugging a wine jug.
That's Yang Zhi.
This martial arts fanatic, who was once a passionate and individualistic person in the Dragon Xia Imperial City, originally had a promising future.
But fate played a cruel trick; her longtime crush on her senior brother [Chen Mo] at the martial arts school was unexpectedly won over by a guy from overseas...
Her senior, a Yellow Hair, blue-eyed, busty woman named [Caesar], stole her away, and the two even got married in front of her.
From then on, Yang Zhi became completely depressed and spent her days drowning her sorrows in alcohol.
Ultimately, he got drunk and lost the birthday tribute entrusted to him by the imperial court, forcing him to become a pirate at sea.
Her tragic and tumultuous life has left her only wishing to accept the imperial pardon as soon as possible and return to the capital.
Even just one last look at that heartless senior brother from afar would be enough.
"Oh, Janet, it's been a long time! What's going on on this deck..."
"Looks like you've just had a friendly sparring session?"
Strategist Wu Ruyi's gaze swept over the mess on the deck of the Purple Pearl, and she smiled tentatively.
"Could it be that something has happened?"
"If you need our help, please just say so."
Janet's heart skipped a beat, and she cursed inwardly that Wu Ruyi was indeed the most cunning person in Lianghai!
This is clearly an attempt to find an excuse to forcibly annex the Purple Pearl because it is currently vulnerable!
"No... nothing like that! How could anything have happened!"
Janet quickly put on a fawning Smile Face and ceremoniously introduced Zhang Yan beside her.
"Strategist Wu, you've misunderstood. We're conducting an internal training exercise!"
"By the way, let me introduce you all. This is Sister Zhang Yan, she is now..."
"This is the new captain of our Purple Pearl!"
"Oh?"
Upon hearing this, Song Gongyao's gentle eyes flashed with surprise.
She sensed the Deeply Hidden power emanating from Zhang Yan.
How could a powerhouse of this caliber be relegated to a foreign pirate ship conducting intelligence gathering?
Song Gongyao immediately put on a smile and gave a friendly cupped-hand salute from afar.
"So it's Captain Zhang. My apologies for not recognizing you."
"With Zhang's abilities, it's a waste for her to stay on this small Purple Pearl."
"To be honest, the reason I've brought my sisters here today is because I have some incredibly good fortune to share with you, my younger sister."
As he spoke, Song Gongyao stepped forward, speaking earnestly and earnestly.
"We are all unfortunate people; being stranded at sea was not our intention."
"The imperial court is now showing great favor, and Lord Gao has promised that as long as we submit, we will be able to clear our names and be promoted to higher ranks!"
"I will announce this to the entire regiment tonight, and the official recruitment ceremony will begin the day after tomorrow!"
"Sister, would you be willing to join our team with the Purple Pearl?"
Before Zhang Yan could even speak, Janet's heart was already in her throat.
They really are here to take over!
"Of course, since this is a collaboration, the imperial court will not treat you unfairly."
Song Gongyao continued to throw out bait.
"As long as you agree, the original crew of the Purple Pearl will become the imperial court's official maritime intelligence team."
But...
"To demonstrate our sincerity in submitting, this submersible warship, the Purple Pearl, must be presented as tribute to Lord Gao."
"As compensation..."
The strategist, Wu Ruyi, added with a smile.
"We can pay Captain Zhang twenty taels of gold now, plus ten boxes of special local products supplied by the Dragon Xia Imperial City."
"This is cooked using a secret method; it's safe for both humans and monsters to eat, and it's good for your health."
"What?!"
Janet immediately lost her temper and almost jumped up to curse!
Twenty taels of gold and a few boxes of cheap snacks, and you think you can trade her underwater ghost ship that everyone in Lianghai envies?!
This is her priceless treasure, the very thing she relies on for survival!
She'd rather be someone's first mate!
Use it as a music box!
We absolutely cannot lose this ship!
"Sister Zhang! We can't agree to this! This is blatant robbery!"
Janet was so anxious that she kept tugging at Zhang Yan's clothes.
However, Zhang Yan slapped her hand away expressionlessly.
"Okay, I agree."
Zhang Yan's voice was cold and hard.
Janet was completely stunned.
But then, Zhang Yan abruptly changed the subject, Godslayer Spear in her hand suddenly stopped on the deck.
"The boat can be delivered, but a verbal agreement is not enough."
"Who knows if you're just bait?"
"If you want me to lead my men to risk their lives, I must first verify the authenticity of the amnesty offer!"
How does Sister Zhang want to verify this?
Song Gongyao's smile faded slightly.
"It's very simple."
Zhang Yan looked directly into Song Gongyao's eyes, "Let my men follow you into the now fully martial law-bound Deep Pool Fortress."
"As long as my men can make it through the fortress and return safely!"
"I believe you truly have obtained a pardon from the imperial court."
"Otherwise, we can simply part ways!"
Upon hearing this, the four people opposite him displayed different expressions.
Song Gongyao frowned slightly, then turned and exchanged a glance with Lu Jin and Wu Ruyi behind him.
"Commander, it's fine to agree to her request."
Wu Ruyi lowered her voice and said, "We do have backup inside the fortress. Taking a small fry in for a quick look shouldn't be difficult."
"Maintaining this top-tier combat force is the most important thing."
Lu Jin nodded, his silver spear pausing slightly. "Since she's going to surrender, let's show her our sincerity towards the court."
Yang Zhi, who had been holding the wine jug, let out a burp and waved her hand impatiently.
"Hurry up... the sooner we are granted amnesty, the sooner we can return to the city."
"I'm in a hurry to go back and see how well those two are living now, hiccup..."
After the discussion was completed, Song Gongyao put on a gentle smile again.
"Okay, Miss Zhang, you're so straightforward! We agree to this condition."
The appeasement agreement was thus reached.
Janet suppressed the urge to snap on the spot, her nails digging almost into her flesh.
She gritted her teeth and picked up the head of her former first mate, [Skeleton Xiaobai], from the pile of parts on the ground.
He then placed it on a barely intact skeleton and whispered a few words of instruction.
Then, it was used as a verification representative and left with Lianghai Pirate Group's ship.
Watching the vast fleet gradually disappear into the thick fog, Janet finally couldn't hold back any longer.
"Sister Zhang! Are you crazy?!"
Janet broke down and yelled at Zhang Yan, "That's the Purple Pearl! It's the culmination of most of my life's work!"
"How could you hand over the ship for a pittance of gold and a few boxes of snacks?!"
"I'd rather die than lose my ship!"
"Shut up."
Zhang Yan walked up to the boxes of local specialties from the capital city that had been used as a deposit.
I casually pried open a box, took out a delicate pastry, took a bite, and surprisingly, it tasted quite good.
She turned her head, looked at the furious Janet, and then sneered.
When did I say I was going to hand over the ship?
Janet froze, her expression instantly turning blank.
"Huh? But you just promised them, didn't you? Sister Zhang, you mean..."
"Just because I accepted it doesn't mean I agree to it."
Zhang Yan chewed on the pastry in her mouth.
She reached out and poked Janet's forehead with her finger.
"That's what you call getting something for nothing."
"Do you understand, my dear first mate?"