William Clark let out a comfortable sigh, enjoying his son's service, while softly reminding him, "If you ever have any thoughts, come to your father. Between us, father and son, is there anything we can't talk about..."

Henry Clark could only nod silently. Words of gratitude were for outsiders; as for his father's expectations, he could only repay them with actions. While the father and son whispered quietly over there, the pirates on this side deliberately moved with extra care, afraid of disturbing their conversation...

...

Baron Edmond, with his hands and feet bound, sat on the deck, sobbing quietly. His lips moved, mumbling desperately as he prayed to God. Around him were the captains and officers of various warships, all looking dejected, their eyes filled with unease and fear, as if confirming their worries about their future fate.

Lieutenant Colonel Louis cast a venomous glance at the Englishman Captain George, who stood at a distance, talking non-stop to Henry Clark.

That British captain kept gesturing in this direction, his mouth flapping incessantly, while the young pirate leader beside him kept shaking his head. Lieutenant Colonel Louis's heart tightened with anxiety. "Could that damned Englishman really want to wipe us all out?" The question surfaced in his mind.

He was not wrong—Captain George was indeed trying to persuade Henry Clark to kill all these Spaniards, because he did not want the British East India Company's robbery of a Spanish royal treasure ship—another European maritime power—to become public knowledge.

After all, while the British Empire did not fear Spanish warships, it certainly did not want the East India Company's reckless actions to bring condemnation and scorn from all of Europe. If that happened, the East India Company would face even greater pressure—not only hostility from various European powers in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, but also a domestic backlash.

"I'm sorry, dear George, you don't have enough reason to convince me, so your suggestion is not within my consideration." Henry Clark took out a diamond- and gemstone-encrusted pocket watch from his coat in a gentlemanly manner, checked the time, and then, with a smile, rejected the Englishman's request.

"...Sir, do you really intend to let them all go?" Captain George's expression changed, his voice rising in agitation. If Henry Clark agreed to kill these Spaniards, he would even be willing to kneel and lick Henry Clark's filthy shoes to show his gratitude.

Many of the Spanish officers on deck understood English, and naturally heard these words. They began cursing all of Captain George's female relatives in their broken English. "If you release them, the Spaniards will definitely take revenge on you. God, is that what you want?" Captain George had abandoned all noble elegance, loudly threatening Henry Clark, who was already walking toward the Spanish officers. In response, a pirate struck him with the butt of a gun. "Show some respect to our young master, you mangy-haired English dog," the pirate warned coldly in his broken English, his icy gaze as sharp as a blade.

Captain George, clutching his bruised face and staring at the black muzzle pointed at him, couldn't help but shiver, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

"No, we absolutely will not take revenge on you, sir. We hope you will keep your promise and release us. The treasures, the spices, even these warships—we can give them all to you. Please, just don't harm us." At this point, Baron Edmond could no longer care about the pain in his chest and shouted loudly.

Henry Clark looked over the wretched baron, his greedy expression like that of a scheming landlord eyeing a tenant's daughter as collateral for debt. Soon, a smile appeared on Henry Clark's face, as if a gloomy sky had suddenly been pierced by a shaft of sunlight.

"Don't worry. We warriors who roam the seas have always made it our principle to keep our promises. Untie the baron's hands and feet. Scholar Bennett, treat the baron's wounds, because I need to have a good talk with him." Master Clark nodded in satisfaction, speaking in an official tone.

...

In the luxurious room below the aft deck, the poor Spanish baron was filled with grief and indignation. "My God! These damned pirates—oh no, honorable sir, I absolutely mean no offense to you. I was referring to those despicable Englishmen and their greedy East India Company. How could they be so sinister, trying to drive a wedge between Spain and France? Those bastards deserve to go to hell."

Although Baron Edmond had gained the favor of Charles IV through family connections and thus become the royal escort officer of this treasure fleet, his political acumen was by no means lacking. He quickly pieced together the full picture from the information Henry Clark had given him.