The next morning, Giant Horn Island Port.
The specks of cloud in the sky had already shed the rosy glow of dawn and drifted lazily overhead. Yet the faint sea breeze could not dispel the slight heat brought by the early summer sun.
On the docks, laborers moved all kinds of goods and supplies between ships and warehouses like diligent ants, as usual. However, quite a few of them were whispering among themselves and sneaking glances toward one side of the pier.
That was where the pirate ship Hurricane had docked yesterday, but it was now completely empty.
That alone would not have been strange. It was not unheard of for pirate ships to leave after staying for only one night.
What caught the laborers' curiosity was the crowd gathered there now, noisily arguing.
Still, they were only curious. Seeing that the dock supervisor was there as well, they knew this was not something ordinary people like them could discuss carelessly.
Yet there was a hint of schadenfreude in the looks they exchanged. Those pirates followed the rules of this gray port and would not attack ordinary people, but if they scolded someone or kicked them a few times, the supervisor would not say much about it.
"Supervisor Rice, you can see the situation for yourself. Someone must have attacked our captain last night!"
"They must have lured Boss Patrick away, then sent someone to steal our ship while they had the chance!"
"This is Giant Horn Port. We've always followed the rules here. Now someone has broken them. Shouldn't you give us an explanation?"
De Leon spoke to Rice, the dock supervisor standing before him. His expression was unpleasant, but he was doing his best to restrain his temper.
He could not help it. He was only a high-tier