Escaping the Tiger’s Jaws

Translator: Cinder Translations

...

"Notify the whole ship to be on high alert!"

The captain of the Wealth called out, furrowing his brows as he instructed the crew to prepare.

He turned to Eileen and the others and said, "Guests, you should head to the cabins."

Eileen shook her head and said, "If they are pirates and you can't stop them, it won't matter where we hide."

She patted her sword at her waist—both she and Lydia had been dressed as men since boarding the ship for convenience—and said, "We know a bit of swordplay. If there's a conflict, we can help."

Lydia nodded beside her, not to mention that she was a princess's bodyguard. Even the princess herself had received good swordsmanship training since childhood. Lydia was confident in her skills and could fend off ordinary people with ease, especially with a blade in hand.

Otherwise, the two girls wouldn't dare to leave home so recklessly.

"Uh… Alright then."

The captain of the Wealth nodded with suspicion.

Nearby merchant Velos said, "Since the ladies are brave enough to face the danger, it would be quite embarrassing for us men to hide in the cabin."

Other passengers echoed Velos, expressing their desire to stay on deck and face the danger together.

"Very well, thank you all then."

The captain's courage grew a bit. He instructed the crew to distribute weapons to those passengers who were unarmed.

The small boat that had sailed out from Westport gradually approached the Wealth. The captain estimated that there were about ten people on board, including the rowers. With more than fifty people on his own ship, this small boat didn't pose a real threat. However, if they were indeed pirates, there would certainly be more of their companions in Westport. He instructed those on deck to keep their weapons hidden for now.

"I am the port officer. I request to come aboard."

As the boat neared the Wealth, a leader-like figure shouted up to the deck.

"Alright, please wait a moment!" The captain agreed and ordered to drop the rope ladder.

The so-called port officer climbed aboard with a few attendants.

"Where did your ship come from?"

The captain furrowed his brow and answered, "The Wealth from the Northwest Bay. We've been to Westport several times and registered at the port office. Don't you recognize us?"

The captain's suspicion turned into worry. The full-rigged ship was quite unique for the people of Westport, so it should have been easily recognizable. How could the port officials not know about it?

Hearing the captain's question, the so-called port officer awkwardly smiled and said, "Sorry, I'm new to Westport and not familiar with the details yet."

Then, he changed to a serious expression and asked in a questioning tone, "Why are you anchored so close to Westport and not entering? Are you trying to gather intelligence on the port, or even on the royal navy?"

"No, no, no, sir." The captain of the Wealth quickly explained, "Actually, our stern rudder is broken. We were hoping to see if we could repair it before entering the port."

"Ah, so it's the stern rudder that's broken." The port officer rubbed his chin. "In that case, don't stay adrift any longer. Just use the wind to move towards Westport, and we'll send someone to tow your ship into the dock for repairs. There are many skilled craftsmen in Westport, so even a new type of ship like yours can be handled."

"Ha ha, then we are in your debt, sir."

The captain feigned gratitude.

Nearby, Velos suddenly said, "Port Officer, please give my regards to Mr. Jefferson. I have some acquaintance with him, and I plan to visit him while I'm in Westport."

As he spoke, he extended his hand.

The port officer shook his hand and smiled, "Ah, Mr. Jefferson. Rest assured, I'll pass along your regards."

With no further pleasantries, the port officer quickly took his leave and returned to the small boat with his attendants, heading back to Westport.

"Captain!" Velos suddenly said to the Wealth's captain in a serious tone, "Turn the ship around immediately and sail far away from Westport. The name Jefferson was a fabrication. There's no way Westport would have a port officer by that name. Furthermore, when I shook his hand, I clearly felt the thick calluses on his hand, which is not typical for someone in a clerical position. Based on these observations, there must be something wrong in Westport."

The captain's expression turned grim as he nodded, "I was already planning to turn away, but with your deductions, I'm even more resolute."

The captain quickly gave the order to head north, and the crew worked with extraordinary efficiency under the threat of pirates.

At that moment, a north wind was blowing. They adjusted the ship and sails to split the wind force into two directions: one pushing against the side of the hull, and the other pushing towards the bow. The side force was canceled out by the resistance of the water, and the other force propelled the ship forward.

Thus, the Wealth slowly began to move, sailing in a zigzag pattern towards the northern sea.

This maneuver was quite time-consuming. However, the port officer who boarded earlier must have believed that his performance had fooled the Wealth's crew, and was waiting with satisfaction for his prey to come to him. He did not take further action.

But when the Wealth turned north, they finally realized that it was not the crew who had been deceived but themselves.

After a flurry of activity, several large ships set out from Westport to pursue the Wealth.

However, since the Wealth was already quite far from the port, the rowed sailboats could not catch up.

"What should we do next?"

Looking at the retreating ship in the south, Eileen asked with some confusion. Their journey home had turned into this, and she felt a deep sense of loss.

Moreover, the appearance of pirates on the western coast of the kingdom made her, as a princess, worry about the kingdom's fate.

The captain outlined his plan: "The ship's provisions and fresh water are insufficient to support us until we return to Northwest Bay. So, we must head north to find a supply point."

Velos suggested, "There are several ports along the western coast, and it's unlikely that all of them are occupied by pirates like Westport. Getting supplies should be relatively easy."

The captain rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "You've reminded me. It's better to find a closer port and unload the cargo before heading back to Northwest Bay. But we need to send someone ashore in a small boat to scout the situation in this area first."

As the sun began to set, the Wealth prepared dinner, and the passengers spent a troubled night.

The next morning, the captain sent someone ashore to a fishing village to gather information. It turned out that Westport had indeed been occupied by an unknown group of pirates, and even the royal navy stationed there had been defeated. Now, the kingdom's Crystal Glare was recruiting ships and sailors, preparing for a combined land and sea assault to eradicate the pirates.

The people on the ship breathed a sigh of relief, having narrowly escaped falling into the tiger's jaws.

TL Note: I'm so glad the author didn't write idiotic side characters.

(End of the Chapter)

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