The instant Klein appeared, Aldrich drew his revolver and pointed it at him, growling viciously, "Who is it?"
"It's me."
"Mr. Sparrow?"
He froze for a moment, then tried to climb to his feet in delighted surprise. "Please, Miss Olivia and the others were abducted by pirates. Please help save them!"
Klein looked down at him from above and said flatly, "Where are my 1,500 pounds?"
Aldrich stared blankly, then gave a bitter smile. "Of course I left that much money aboard the ship. How could I carry it around with me?" At this, something occurred to him, and he hurriedly added, "Mr. Sparrow, if you can rescue those ladies, all 2,500 pounds from this job are yours."
"..."
Klein's heart gave a few traitorous thumps, but then he frowned. "I don't understand. You went to all this trouble, and you don't even want the money. What is all this for?"
"..."
Aldrich's expression stiffened, then he said anxiously, "That... I'll tell you about that later. Please, go save them first."
Klein watched him quietly for a few seconds before asking, "Who are the pirates who abducted them?"
"I don't know."
Aldrich shook his head. "We'd only just arrived at Miss Sophia's home when we were attacked. Those pirates... seemed to have been waiting for us."
"..."
Klein frowned. "Again? Then how did you get injured?"
"I'm not injured. I just suddenly felt weak all over, my throat was dry and sore, and I couldn't breathe. It was like... falling seriously ill," Aldrich said. "I think the captain of that pirate ship must have used a Beyonder ability on me."
"The pirate ship's captain?"
Klein was a little surprised. He had thought it was the Demoness hiding among those women who had acted.
*So the captain of that pirate ship