Off the coast of Castel Island.
Jeremiah stood at the bow, holding a small brass telescope as he carefully scanned the surroundings.
"Everything looks perfectly normal. So why do I have this feeling that something's wrong?"
He had just returned from Gem Bay. The process of obtaining the letters of authorization had gone exceptionally smoothly. The moment he finished speaking to the higher-ups, the authorization had been granted. Rumor had it that several factions within the Pirate King's Court had recently been fighting each other to the death, so an outsider pirate captain like him would only be courted.
On top of that, he had successfully obtained nitroglycerin from Castel Island. Jeremiah felt that his future was brighter than ever.
Perhaps one day, he could become a great pirate himself, commanding a fleet of dozens of ships instead of just the Black Pearl.
Thinking of that, Jeremiah grew excited. He happily patted the mast. "Don't worry. Even if I become a great pirate, I'll still make you my flagship."
This ship had been drifting the seas for many years. She was an old lady, but she was absolutely sturdy and reliable. Jeremiah had every confidence in her.
"Captain, Castel Island is just ahead. The weather's good today—we'll arrive in another hour."
Jeremiah glanced at the sails. Sailing was a technical craft; a ship needed skilled sailors working together just to move. And if one wished to cross the sea, an experienced captain like him was indispensable.
That was the value of a captain. A pirate captain did not necessarily have to be the best fighter, but he had to be able to bring the whole ship back from storms and battles.
Jeremiah smiled in satisfaction. There were not many outstanding captains like him.
Before long, they arrived at Castel Island.