Ambition

"I'm deeply sorry for the misfortune you've all suffered."

"But compared with our even less fortunate companions, I think we can still call ourselves lucky."

Old Quill gathered all the remaining survivors aboard the ship and began a speech in the center of the deck.

"But we have no time to mourn our misfortune. There is an even more serious problem waiting for us."

"The White Elephant Chamber of Commerce won't let the loss of half a shipload of cargo slide. Even if we sell off the remaining half without a hitch on the rest of our voyage, we'll still likely become targets for their anger."

"After all, compared with the great pirates roaming the vast seas, we poor souls make much better targets for those lords to vent their fury on."

"Don't pin your hopes on those lords showing us mercy. Believe me, I know better than you just how cruel, how merciless, how coldhearted those lofty lords are..."

"They won't hesitate to mount all our heads on wooden poles to remind those peasants of the importance of loyalty."

"Our only choice now is to become pirates. Although the White Elephant Chamber of Commerce will still hunt us down, we'll have a very good chance of surviving."

"After all, the sea is vast. Even the White Elephant Chamber of Commerce won't find it so easy to track us down..."

As he spoke, Old Quill looked at the terrified faces around him, seething inwardly.

He had spent his whole life making a living at sea and had survived even the most dangerous, chaotic days of the Age of Exploration.

With only a few years left before he could retire, he had actually come to grief on what should have been the safest voyage of his life. These old bones of his would probably end up scattered in the sea.

After viciously cursing that arrogant Charles in his heart once more, Old Quill continued coaxing the crew.

"Certain death on one side, a good chance of survival on the other. I'm sure you all know which to choose..."

Whatever else happened, the most important thing now was to talk these people into joining him.

After all, piracy took manpower.

Especially those two lads, Jack and Karl. They were very talented, and with a little training, they could advance to Second-Tier Professionals.

That noble lad named Dunn also showed plenty of promise, though he seemed to have been caught in the Oathkeeper's attack earlier. There was no telling how he was doing.

With several tier-two professionals and the [Giant Tooth], they could live quite comfortably at sea as long as they were careful.

Thinking of it that way, Old Quill instantly gained confidence in the wonderful life ahead.

On deck, Old Quill's words had plunged everyone into silence, so much so that no one noticed a trembling figure approaching him from behind.

As Old Quill pictured his wonderful future, he sensed someone approaching and turned to look. "Oh, Dunn, you actually survived. That's wonderful..."

Seeing Dunn appear unharmed, Old Quill instantly beamed with delight. He raised both hands, ready to give Dunn a hug, offer him some comfort, and win him over. Here was someone already earmarked as his future right-hand man.

Before Old Quill could embrace Dunn with his newly raised arms, he suddenly felt a chill in his chest. Before he could react, the dagger lodged there had thrust in and out several times.

Old Quill looked at Dunn in bewilderment, seeing the guilt, fear, and finally a trace of resolve in his eyes.

What was he trying to do?

How did he dare?

Did he have a death wish?

With those questions in his mind, Old Quill's consciousness sank into darkness.

Seize the [Giant Tooth]?

Once the thought flashed through Dunn's mind, the more he considered it, the more feasible it seemed.

Given the Giant Tooth's current situation, as long as he killed Old Quill, the only Second-Tier Professional left, he would have about an eighty percent chance of seizing the Giant Tooth. At most, he might have to kill a few more people to establish his authority.

After seizing the Giant Tooth, he would meet both advancement requirements at once and could advance immediately. With Dunn's current attributes, once he reached tier two, he could pretty much thrash everyone aboard.

That way, he could skip the initial accumulation of resources and immediately have the means to establish himself in this world.

Still, Old Quill was a Second-Tier Professional, after all. Although age had diminished his fighting ability, he still posed a considerable threat to Dunn.

Neither the current Dunn nor the original Dunn had much experience in fights to the death. If he actually fought Old Quill head-on, he would most likely be done for.

Besides, the others were no pushovers either. If he failed to take Old Quill down immediately, they would gang up on him and beat him to death within seconds.

So his only option was a sneak attack.

A short while later, watching Old Quill gather everyone on deck to give a speech, Dunn walked toward him from behind, trembling.

His trembling was no act to make people lower their guard by pretending to be injured. Dunn really was shaking, trembling with nerves and fear.

After all, Dunn had lived in a peaceful society in his previous life. He had never even killed a chicken.

How could he not feel nervous and afraid when he was suddenly about to kill someone?

Even Dunn himself did not know how he had found the courage to actually carry out his plan to kill a man and seize the ship.

Although the trembling all over his body was already visible to the naked eye, some unknown force still drove Dunn toward Old Quill.

Dunn slipped his right hand inside his clothes and tightly gripped the dagger hidden there, thoughts churning through his mind.

Old Quill must have done his fair share of killing and plundering during all these years at sea. He probably doesn't count as a good man.

Besides, during these days aboard the ship, he's treated me... damn it, although he hasn't treated me particularly well, he hasn't singled me out either.

*...*

Dunn kept searching the original owner's memories of his dealings with Old Quill, desperately trying to find a reason to kill him.

Something reasonable to comfort himself with over killing a man and seizing his ship.

But even when he reached Old Quill's back, he still had not found a reason that could convince him.

"Oh, Dunn, you actually survived. That's wonderful..."

Shlk!

Seeing Old Quill raise his arms to give him a hug, Dunn instinctively drew his dagger and plunged it into Old Quill's body.

Scalding blood splashed across Dunn's face.

In that instant, Dunn felt his body abruptly stop trembling. That thrust had been very, very steady.

As the dagger slid in and out, Dunn felt all his fear and nervousness slowly fade.

At that moment, Dunn suddenly understood.

That's right.

He pulled it out!

I don't need any reason to convince myself.

He thrust it in!

There's no hatred between us, no entanglement.

He pulled it out!

I'm killing you only because I've had enough of mediocrity.

He thrust it in!

If there really has to be a reason...

All I can say is that I'm a selfish man.

And you stood in my way.

It's all for... my ambition!

He watched the disbelief in Old Quill's eyes gradually dim.

His outstretched arms fell limply to his sides.

In that instant, Dunn understood what force had pushed him this far.

Its name was... ambition.

Since I've transmigrated into this supernatural world where individuals wield great power...

Of course I'll become a legend and see the view from the summit.

Dunn's conviction solidified.

He looked at the shocked gazes all around him.

Dunn slowly drew the long blade at Old Quill's waist.

He let Old Quill's corpse slide to the ground.

"This is a robbery. This ship belongs to me now. Who's in favor, and who's against?"