Observing the ring he just obtained, Sheyan toyed with it briefly. "Hmm, this object should be fine."
He then strolled towards the suspended Alan Dale, while contemplating if he should finish him and plunder. Instead, he noticed a bland flickering black glow from within his pile of clothes!!!
"What’s going on?" Sheyan was stirred and immediately headed over.
This pile of clothes was in a mess after Blacksail had stripped Alan Dale and tossed them aside. When Sheyan carefully inspected, he realized the black flickering was emitted from a pair of boots.
After touching the pair of boots, the realm transmitted a notification.
[ You discovered an enchanted object filled with immense forces of witchcraft. ]
[ Inquiring: You possess absolute authority over the object’s owner. ]
[ You successfully fulfil the criteria to plunder, do you wish to employ your Pirate Captain’s authority to engage in plundering? ]
[ You discovered an enchanted artifact: Boots of Speed. ]
[ Boots of Speed: 1 pair ]
[ Origins: Erathia ] (TN: this is a continent in Heroes of Might and Magic 3)
[ Equipment characteristic: Unique Storyline Equipment ]
[ Equipment Rarity: Black ]
[ Material: Griffin’s feather, Unicorn pelt ]
[ Addons: Steel soles ]
[ Effect: Greatly enhances the movement speed of wielder, but accuracy will drop substantially; not advisable for bowmen or gunners to equip. ]
[ Equipment position: feet ]
[ Description: n.o.body knows where this boots came from, except its right pair is engraved with ‘Era’ and its left with ‘thia’. After his battle with Scarface Harry, Alan Dale failed to fully recuperate from his wounds. The depressed Alan Dale would venture out to fish daily, and managed to find this pair of boots within a fiendish fish belly. After wearing it, he immediately realized its miraculous nature. ]
*******
There wasn’t a need to mention the dead Hawser, he wouldn’t make a single reaction. Instead, when the suspended Alan Dale witnessed this despairing scene, his vision darkened. Originally still harbour a strong desire to live, he instantly lost all desires of living.
He understood that with his current fiasco of naked b.u.t.tocks hung on a mast, he had lost all face. From henceforth, he wouldn’t be able to raise his face in front of other pirates, but that was merely a loss of face.
Except when Sheyan deprived his boots, not only had he flayed off Alan Dale’s face, he even plundered a major portion of his prowess; utterly leaving him in a state worse than death! A speedless Alan Dale, he wouldn’t even be able to match up with Hawser. If Sheyan preserved his life, it would be akin to confounding 10 times the anguish of death onto him.
Previously due to time constraints, the Hill Maiden had pursued speed as its priority. Thus, it only brought along 60 plus pirates, while the remaining 100 plus would slowly catch up in the lagging s.h.i.+ps.
Sheyan ignored the naked male suspended on his mast, and returned to his captain’s cabin. When he resurfaced, he immediately ordered his crew to a.s.semble on deck. Then, he sat down extravagantly on a chest, before ordering Ol’Seadog.
"Bring over the red chest in the captain’s cabin."
Though doubtful, Ol’Seadog complied sternly.
Soon after, huffing and puffing, four pirates hauled along a chest, and placed it beneath Sheyan’s feet. These four pirates were exhausted to the point of gasping for breath, as they toppled onto the deck without elegance.
Sheyan then waved to dismiss them, before flipping the chest lid. With a kick, the chest toppled over, as s.h.i.+mmering brilliance sprawled to the ground. Every single pirate, even the ones ash.o.r.e, unanimously released ‘ho’ gasps of surprise!
As it turns out, the flouris.h.i.+ng contents of this large chest were golden nuggets! These delectable and gorgeous coins poured out like a waterfall.
Sheyan then picked up a resplendent gold coin, and tossed it back into the chest as it emitted clinking sounds. Following that, he raised his voice aloud.
"I promised ye previously, I would shower ye with greater riches! Right now, this is me honoring my promise! Ol’Seadog, bestow the uninjured sc.u.ms with fifty gold guineas each!"
When Sheyan’s sentence resounded out, the pirates spectating from the dock broke into a huge uproar. In contrast, the pirates under Sheyan were weighing their heavy purses while grinning from ear to ear.
One must know, during this golden age of piracy, the purchasing power of gold guineas was truly astonis.h.i.+ng. In the novel, Jane Eyre; when Jane Eyre becomes a housekeeper at Thornfield Hall, her yearly salary was merely 20 pounds (including meals and lodging). When Charles Darwin relocated to the countryside, he spent 2,000 pounds to purchase a magnificent house. The construction cost of the Wembley stadium was 750,000 pounds. From this, one could fundamentally deduce the relative value of a hundred guineas.
In truth, apart from the pirates of the three legendary pirate s.h.i.+ps, the majority of pirates wouldn’t even be given a yearly salary.
The pirates who received their money were all beaming with joy, while the rest, with antic.i.p.ation.
Proceeding from there, Sheyan announced once again – pirates who received light injuries would receive a 100 guineas, while the severely wounded and those immobile on their beds, would receive 150 guineas. As for those handicapped individuals who could not voyage out anymore, they would receive 500 guineas.
When such a policy was announced, Sheyan’s crew was needless to mention, but even the pirates crowding around were moved to eagerness. Within their hearts, they pondered about how they could make their move within these few days – either proactively hopping onto the Hill Maiden, or to seeking out their own captains to increase their pay. Ultimately, no matter which choice they made, their current economical state had to be improved. At least, they should be acquiring more booty than these rookies.
Yet that wasn’t the most climactic of astonishments. When the booty was finished allocating, Sheyan then scanned around and his gaze fell onto Blacksail, who was currently clutching his wound with a pale complexion. When he contacted Sheyan’s gaze, he hastily lowered his head in reverence.
Sheyan sauntered to him, before pressing his indomitable and majestic long saber onto Blacksail’s shoulder. To which, Blacksail immediately and tactfully took a knee.
"Today, I have witnessed your loyalty. Such a virtue is worthy of praise and deserving of rewards. Therefore I, Seaman Yan from the east, shall deprive the strength of the sinner who harmed you, and bestow it unto you. I hope, ye can continue exercising this strength in servitude! However, this strength comes with tremendous risks. If your bodily limits cannot endure this, it will be harmful to you. Be ye willing to accept this?"
Blacksail was trembling violently, and was unable to hold back heavy breaths of ecstasy. He had personally witnessed Canbi’s miracle, and none of Sheyan’s underlings harboured doubts anymore. All in all to them, this was a form of dark magic. Within this world of magic, curse and gunpowder technology advances, any supernatural occurrence would suffice to convince.
Blacksail placed his other knee onto the ground, and bluntly touched the deck with his forehead. Then, suppressing the excitement in his heart, he proclaimed.
"Cap’n! I be eternally devoted to ye."
Meanwhile, the spectating pirates were all reckoning this conduct as a mere clumsy performance, criticising the performers for such excessive emotional stirring. However in the next second, their eyes opened to reality and they became dumbstruck.
With unrivalled arousal, Blacksail ignored his injuries as he wore the boots. Then, he couldn’t resist the urge to experiment with his new found capabilities. He began prancing about the deck, and from the bewitching speed and footwork he exhibited, even a blind person could recognize it was a.n.a.logous to the mysteries of Alan Dale.
"He stole the strength of Alan Dale!!!"
"Look ye, that dabblin’ alchemy apprentice can actually replicate th’ mystical footwork o’ Alan Dale."
"The cap’n’s name be Seaman Yan?" He actually possesses such bewildering magic? Wait o’, I seem to have heard of his name. He be related to the turmoil of Turtuga port. Righty o’, Ammand has been seekin’ fer him. This man is also closely linked with the Flying Dutchman."
"Hillho! No wonder tis’ lad be fearless. Indeed, no one dares to provoke th’ Third Mate of Davy Jones."
"He appears to be startin’ on his own path, but with such a power, it indeed leaves one green wit’ envy. Wouldn’t that imply his followers will be obtainin’ greater strengths?"
"..."
"..."
Hearing the discussions of the crowd at the pier, though his expression didn’t portray much, Sheyan understood that his goal had been attained. Then, he glanced towards Philip, and ordered emotionlessly.
"Phillip, step forward."
Philip was shocked to the point of astoundment. Nevertheless, he still stood up and marched over. Sheyan gazed into his eyes, as he enunciated his words.
"To acquire invincible strength from me…..one cannot merely rely on devotion, but also a heart of reverence!"
Philip hesitated a while, and eventually fell to the ground with both knees, before humbly pasting his forehead to the deck.
"Therefore, to award your devotion, I shall confer onto you, outstanding precision and harmony. May you slay your foes with deadly precision in combat. May you sink our enemy’s s.h.i.+ps effortlessly with our cannons."
Philip breathed deeply, as he accepted the ring Sheyan was presenting. Then, he placed it on in a sacred and dignified manner, before shutting his eyes. Even an upright gentleman like Philip, couldn’t help but reveal a demeanor of turning high from drugs, as he trembled slightly from head to toe.
After all, hearing from others for countless times could never compare with the personal experience for the first time!
A wave of incredible refres.h.i.+ng aura transmitted up from the ring, as it spiralled into the wrist and eyes of Philip.