The captain of the merchant ship Ridis watched through his telescope as Red Lion Taylor was killed.
He was not alone. The captains of several other merchant ships had seen it too.
Their hands trembled around their telescopes. A Great Pirate and a crew of more than three hundred had been wiped out just like that.
Taylor, with a bounty of 6,800 pounds on his head, had been killed with ease. His killer had even cut off his head.
For a moment, every merchant captain feared he might be next.
The small vessel Argo, with its strange weapon, flew a pirate flag too.
Who knew whether its crew would decide to rob the merchant ships while they were at it?
Then the captains smiled bitterly. Their cannons were no match for that small ship. They were already preparing to raise white flags.
On Argo's deck, Odys watched first mate Bazel struggle to his feet and cut off Taylor's head with a dagger.
He smiled at Rupert. "Looks like the first mate has finally left the past behind."
Rupert sighed. "Bazel's story finally has a decent ending."
Once the first mate returned with the spoils he had gathered, Odys had a Beyonder Marionette lower the gangway and reached out to pull Bazel aboard.
Back on deck, Bazel bowed to Odys. "Thank you, Captain."
"It's nothing," Odys said with a smile. "I promised you I would."
He took a deep breath. "All right. Let's clear the battlefield.
"I saw a few pirates still alive over there. If they're lucky enough to have survived, let them live.
"Besides, Taylor is dead. We might as well make further use of him and his unfortunate men."
The first and second mates stared, unsure what the captain meant.
Odys ordered, "Direct the Beyonder Marionettes to