In no time at all, the cursing and pleading inside abruptly ceased, followed by a blood-curdling scream as piercing as a wolf’s howl, and then there was not another sound. Monk Brooks walked out as if nothing had happened. Although his face showed little expression, the fresh blood splattered across it made his appearance unspeakably ferocious.

“From now on, every time I ask you a question, if I think you’re lying, one of your companions will join the newly established eunuch singer opera troupe. Why did you come here?” Having witnessed such scenes countless times in his previous life, Henry Clark’s face was as hard as iron, his voice as cold as the deepest Antarctic ice.

“You will go to hell,” Sir George Comley cursed with venomous hatred.

“Wrong answer, Tie Zhu.” Henry Clark tilted his head, and Monk Brooks immediately understood, striding toward the huddled group of Englishmen like a butcher entering a pigsty to select a fat hog.

“You can’t do this!” Sir George Comley screamed, struggling desperately. “No need to be so anxious. There are more than twenty of you here, so you have plenty of chances. I guarantee you’ll be the last one to walk through that hatch.” With a faint smile, Henry Clark calmly waited for another scream to echo from the next cabin.

“The Yangtze’s waves push the old ahead, the son surpasses the father.” William Clark wiped the cold sweat from his brow, feeling quite gratified inside. This was truly a descendant of the Liang family—just a bit better than he himself had been back in the day.

“Dear Sir, I’m actually a soft-hearted person. If you could be a bit more honest, perhaps a glass of red wine and a plate of steak would be a more fitting way for nobles to converse. Unfortunately, you’ve disappointed me.”

Hearing the translation, Mr. Clark was deeply pleased: “As expected of my son—even the skill of mixing the stick and the sweet date, just like his old man, he’s mastered it. Impressive.” Behind him, Edward Reed rolled his eyes wildly at William Clark’s words. You two are cut from the same cloth, and the head of the family is truly shameless.

“I’ll talk, I’ll tell you everything, you devil!” Sir George Comley sobbed, tears streaming down his face. “A devil is only fit to lick my instep.” Henry Clark sniffed, feeling very much like a leader of the anti-colonial resistance in days gone by.

Very soon, the information he revealed made everyone present gasp in shock.

Chapter 6 Like Father, Like Son...

More than ten days ago, in India, the British East India Company received word that the Spanish colonial transport fleet had gathered a vast amount of wealth in Luzon and was setting out for Spain. Unexpectedly, one of the treasure ships seemed to have suffered significant damage to its hull, so it had to remain in Luzon for repairs, while the rest of the fleet sailed ahead to wait at an Indian port for the treasure ship to catch up.

Upon receiving this news, some people in the East India Company were tempted. They dispatched a group of British Navy personnel stationed in India, disguised as French pirates, to patrol the area. This would be the treasure ship’s inevitable route, and they hoped to launch a surprise attack and seize a fortune.

“How much treasure is on that ship to make you so eager, even willing to disguise yourselves as pirates for it?” Henry Clark pressed on, his expression unchanged.

“We couldn’t find out the exact amount, but through various means, we learned that there are at least six or seven thousand pounds of gold and coins, plus a large quantity of spices and supplies.” Under the threat of possibly becoming the leader of the eunuch singer opera troupe, Captain George confessed everything without hesitation.

“How much?” Henry Clark suddenly felt his throat go dry, his voice cracking with excitement. The coldness on his face was instantly replaced by greed. Captain George shivered at the sight, but repeated the amount with absolute certainty, as if confirming that his wife hadn’t slept in the same bed with him the night before.

...

In the secluded captain’s cabin, Mr. Clark’s firm and resolute voice rang out: “You can’t catch a wolf without sacrificing a child. If they dare to do it with three ships, why should we be afraid? Let’s do it!”

“Dad, I have an idea,” Henry Clark said, stroking his chin and grinning like an owl that had just caught a mouse.

“No way!” William Clark’s face changed dramatically after hearing Henry Clark’s plan, and he shook his head repeatedly.

“Dad, is my idea really that bad?” Henry Clark couldn’t help but protest when he saw his father’s resolute expression.

“The idea is good, but it’s too dangerous. You’re the only heir of the Liang family. If anything happens to you, how could I face our ancestors? I’ll go myself.” Mr. Clark was as determined as if he’d swallowed an iron weight.

Seeing his stubborn old father treat him this way, Henry Clark felt his eyes sting a little. This stubborn old man was truly selfless toward him.

“Master, young master, neither of you should go. After all, we’re on a Western ship, outnumbered and outgunned. It’s too dangerous. Let me take a few men instead,” Edward Reed stepped forward to advise.

“Can any of you speak fluent Spanish? Whoever can speak it more smoothly than I can, I’ll stay behind.” With this, Henry Clark left everyone present speechless.