Precisely to Sheyan’s calculations, a dispirited Joshamee Gibbs was presently surrounded by a bunch of contestants. Though these contestants didn’t possess much guineas, they still had adequate to treat their guest to a drink. The crafty Joshamee Gibbs gulped down his rum vehemently as he returned laughters and conversations to the contestants; evidently, he was intending to simply enjoy this freebie.
In present times, news circulated amongst bartenders in a fast and abundant manner. The fables of Sheyan’s pirates putting to death the bartender, Dark Widow, of the Grey Pigeon had long reached here. Hence, when Ol’Seadog patronized this tavern, he received an extraordinarily cordial standard of service.
Meanwhile, those contestants dispatched here were obviously talents with rather remarkable charm. Thus, the majority of them could still converse fluently with Joshamee. Nevertheless, exactly like Sheyan’s speculation, having a minimally Third rate s.h.i.+p that could brave the winds and billows, was a vital criteria to move Joshamee.
Eventually, conversations that could break the havens only sufficed in strengthening their private amicability with him.
Sheyan and buddies opted to sit peacefully at a corner, observing the straightforward smiles but ambiguous chatters of Joshamee as he addressed those contestants.
As time trickled away, the contestants’ hopes dwindled along with their depleting gold doubloons, and gradually turned into despair; desiring to riot against him.
Not too long later, Joshamee Gibbs finally drank down his last mug of rum. Not fully contented, he savoured his lips before looking around confusedly.
"Aye, where did they go?"
Having squandered their wealth, those contestants became aware this crafty Joshamee wouldn’t succ.u.mb. Instead, they couldn’t revolt against him, and could only disperse.
At this moment, Sheyan casted a gaze towards Ol’Seadog. Ol’Seadog then stood up and proceeded to sit beside Joshamee, before gesturing for the most expensive crown rum, and started drinking unhurriedly.
Back in Turtuga port, the most expensive had been the Golden Rum; a situation caused by the laissez-faire approach of Little Lord Fokke towards his port. On the contrary, Tortuga was like an intense war between merchants and taverns. As long as one had the cash, even ‘China’s pure Longjing*’ would be obtainable! Naturally, the pirates’ beloved rum were aplenty, with a plethora of quality choices. There were five types of rum above the Golden Rum grade. For a mug like the Crown Rum, it costed 50 guineas a mug; still, it was only rated as the third amongst all of Tortuga port’s rum.
(TN: *longjing tea is a type of tea in china)
Joshamee’s alcohol tolerance had always been excellent. Moreover, he had at most drank 2-3 mugs of rum treated by those contestants, which barely served to satisfy his addiction. Witnessing the swirling golden liquid inside Ol’Seadog’s mug, he couldn’t help but salivate and asked.
"Ahoy matey, care to treat me to a mug of rum?"
Ol’Seadog responded with a smirk.
"Aye, if ye willin’ to meet with me cap’n."
Joshamee hesitated briefly before replying.
"Who might be yer captain?"
Ol’Seadog s.h.i.+fted his attention, his eyes br.i.m.m.i.n.g with adoration.
"The third mate of the Flying Dutchman. The mate of the Kraken Paul, fabled captain of the magnificent Hill Maiden – Seaman Yan from the mysterious east."
Joshamee was an experienced individual. In his perspective, of the few accolades describing Sheyan, the most significant would be the mate of the Kraken Paul. Hence, under the allure of the Crown Rum, he sat beside Sheyan.
Joshamee Gibbs had a full beard, except the chin, and a plump head. For some unknown reason, Sheyan had always thought he looked like a crude and rugged orangutan. After sitting down, he toasted his mug towards Sheyan.
"Mister Gibbs, a pleasure. This is our second encounter."
Joshamee hesitated briefly before responding.
"Oh, aye, more than a decade ago, you was a fledgling under Ammand. I must inform you, Ammand has been seeking for you for a decade. Now that news of your reappearance has circulated, he will never spare you."
Sheyan chuckled.
"Here’s my grat.i.tude for your ardent reminder. Bartender, get a mug of Crown Rum for Mister Gibbs here will ya."
Joshamee rubbed his hands and smiled.
"How can I accept this goodwill?"
But Joshamee’s behavior instantly exposed the hypocrisy in his words. This knowledgeable veteran pirate impatiently received his mug of Crown Rum, and downed it without leaving a single drip behind; before releasing a satisfied burp.
Sheyan wasn’t in a hurry to rush into the interrogation, but earnestly asked.
"I was there on the night Turtuga port was razed to the ground. Little Lord Fokke raided the Black Pearl, but I know nothing other than that. Mr Gibbs, you were at the scene then, what happened?"
At present, Sheyan had determined that Little Lord Fokke should’ve already known the culprit was himself. In spite of that, he absolutely wouldn’t divulge the affairs of his wife before being killed to the public. This wasn’t related to his dignity as a lord, but the common plight of males....when Joshamee heard Sheyan’s words, his face plunged into fear and uneasiness as he answered evasively.
"Truthfully, I wasn’t aware why the lil’Lord Fokke broke into a crazy rampage against us. During noon, lil’lord Fokke invited the Ol’Cap’n and Jack to pay respects to his deceased wife. n.o.body knew that be a dreadfully treacherous plot. Thankfully, our Jack Sparrow decided not to go. From henceforth, I have never seen me Ol’Cap’n again, n.o.body knows if he be dead or alive." It could be seen how loyal he was to Jack; knowing about the affair between him and the little Fokke’s wife, Sally, he still remained tight-lipped at this moment.
Sheyan nodded as he inquired.
"After the old captain was removed, did the Black Pearl fall?"
Joshamee became agitated as he exclaimed.
"Blimey! That be impossible! We still had Mr Sparrow and our mighty crew head, Hanz. But I have to admit, the might of lil’lord Fokke truly frightening. His final displays of sorcery were truly too sinister and diabolical, sending his own troops fleeing as well. If not, mayhaps the Black Pearl would’ve become history."
"Oh?" Sheyan’s greatest desire now was undoubtedly to understand Little Lord Fokke’s abilities. He instantly snapped his fingers. "Bartender, get me another mug for Mister Gibbs; a Western-summit Rum to moisten his throat. Bartender please, you cannot directly dump the rocks into the drink. Deliver the mug over, we’ll add our rocks ourselves!"
The Western-Summit Rum was a rum costlier and supreme to the Crown Rum. A glittered ignited in Joshamee’s eyes. He no longer dared to down the mug at one go, but instead savoured with few sips. Then, he revealed a horrified countenance as he continued.
"Lil’Lord Fokke was truly a demon. The deadliest demon me eyes had never seen before! He could release devilish gust of frosted air and freeze me pirates into ice cubes. Though our blades slashed against his body, his vitality and might be unaffected; not even sheddin’ a single droplet of blood. I even beheld him sacrificin’ the soul of his men to replenish his vitality. Which was the main reason leading to his troops deserting the lil’Lord Fokke in the end. Hillho, that isn’t the most frightening!"
Speaking till here, Joshamee could no longer mask the horror in his eyes.
"That night, nearly forty of me crew crossed hands with lil’Lord Fokke, where he roughly slew thirty of them. Still, none of em survived, not a single one! The wounded later died, and even the indomitable crew head, Hanz, be no exception! Plagued by the same disease, they died within a month of the battle! The mighty Hanz might merely received a tiny cut on his arm, but he couldn’t survive this ordeal!"
Sheyan listened silently, until the heavily gasping Joshamee picked up his mug once again before he asked.
"Then, how was he eventually slayed?"
"Slayed?" Joshamee smiled bitterly. "No no no, you must have misunderstood something. Aye, that night, we realized his freezin’ witchcraft was too formidable, thus we ignited a ma.s.sive blaze. In the end, Crew head Hanz used a torch to light the lil’lord Fokke on fire, before Jack unleashed a 3-pounder cannon against him. Lil’lord Fokke and his great demonic horse then fell into the ocean, never to be seen by us again."
Sheyan thought pensively for short while; affirming that though Joshamee had left out some stuffs, he wasn’t trying to deceive him. Then, he coughed to initiate his official questions.
"Mister Gibbs. I realize you seem rather dispirited recently. The odour from your body tells me, you seem to be staying inside the piggery?"
Joshamee’s face revealed an awkward expression.
"We shouldn’t be talkin’bout that aye? Brethren Seaman Yan?"
Sheyan chuckled gently.
"Of course, not a problem. Then shouldn’t we be talking about the present state of Mr Jack Sparrow? It seems that he’s about to be invited as a guest to the prisons of Port Royal."
"Oh? Since when had he muddled his way into the prisons of Port Royal? I only overhead he be visiting Port Royal." Joshamee spoke with extreme frustration. "Moreover, there have been many seeking excuses to seek me today. Curses, what can a piggery sleepin’ old head like me do?"
"Oh, fables are not always accurate, but I know your words aren’t truly from your heart, Mister Gibbs." Sheyan chuckled and continued.
"You and I both understands this profoundly – without the Captain Jack Sparrow, the Black Pearl will eternally be commandeered by the traitorous Barbossa. Let me be frank about my aim for telling you all these; I only hope to collude with Mister Jack Sparrow to cleave down Barbossa. At least if that’s too difficult, I need to understand some comprehensive information about the Black Pearl. That is my aim."
Joshamee picked up his mug as he asked suspiciously.
"Yer truly only have that request?"