The old man's explanation was quite clear—this pirate ship can't head straight to the Storm Sea just yet; it needs to dock to make proper preparations.

"Hmm, everything's easier once you're ready. How about heading to Princess Harbor then?"

Wang Zhifan, not yet fully familiar with this world, casually asked.

"Princess Harbor? It's definitely feasible to replenish supplies and repair the ship there. It's on the way to Storm Sea, though I've heard the navy has ramped up surveillance recently. It might be a bit tricky to sneak in."

The old man was somewhat hesitant about Wang Zhifan's suggestion.

"Don't you pirates ever go to official harbors? Disguising and sneaking in should be a common affair, right?"

Though Wang Zhifan was new, he easily reasoned that pirates couldn't be that honest; they should be well-versed in disguising themselves to blend in as merchant or passenger ships. This didn't seem like a big deal to him.

"We do it often, but there's a new governor at Princess Harbor now. They've changed a lot of staff, so the old methods aren't quite effective anymore."

The old man promptly explained.

"Do you have a better suggestion then?"

Wang Zhifan continued to inquire.

"I think it's better to seek out a pirate's hidden port. Though it might not be as convenient as a major port, at least there's no bothersome navy surveillance there."

The old man pondered and said, with a peculiar gleam in his single eye.

"Heh heh...old man, you probably have some ulterior motives."

Wang Zhifan couldn't help but smile, sensing that the old guy might be plotting something or trying to further test him.

"Forget it, I don't have time to fuss with you all over this. Let's head to Princess Harbor together in the coming days. I'll handle the navy's surveillance, you just focus on the disguises."

He made the decision, setting the recent itinerary.

"Alright, everything depends on you then."

The old man's wrinkled face shifted slightly in response, showing a nonchalant expression.

Seeing this, Wang Zhifan considered pressing the old man further, but just then, a commotion rose outside the captain's cabin, as though a conflict was about to erupt.

"Let's go sort it out."

Upon noticing, Wang Zhifan got up from the captain's reclining chair, picking up the kerosene lamp from the table, and the two pirate officers swiftly gathered the scattered Jinlan coins from the table and followed him out.

Within seconds, he stepped onto the deck, the lamp becoming the brightest beacon in the area, followed by a tall and short attendant.

He then observed that the captain of the Sea Parrot, wearing a captain's hat, had arrived with other crew members. They likely just woke from the previous stupor and were now in a standoff with a group of pirates.

Under normal circumstances, these two groups would have clashed fiercely, but darkness had fallen, and the people on the Sea Parrot side vaguely saw bodies and a vast area of strange, fragmented flesh on the deck. They were unsure of the situation, and the pirates, wary after Wang Zhifan's previous slaughter, feared that acts of aggression might lead to another carnage. Thus, both sides were locked in a stand-off in the dark, yet to truly engage.

"Everyone, quiet down!"

Emerging with the lamp, Wang Zhifan naturally became the center of attention. With a cold gaze and a sweep of his eyes, he muted the cursing voices on both sides. Particularly, the pirates who had narrowly escaped his blades were terrified, almost wishing to dive into the sea to escape, but lacking the courage. Given the distance from land, plunging into the ocean at night would be akin to suicide.

"You're alive?!"

The captain of the Sea Parrot, upon seeing Wang Zhifan clearly, couldn't help but exclaim. He had led his men over, mentally prepared to find the peerless individual who had bravely fought on their behalf now dead at the hands of elite pirates, only to discover the contrary; not only was he unharmed, but he seemed to be mingling with two high-ranking pirates?

"Old man, big guy, go explain my intentions to them. I shall return shortly."

After halting the quarrel, Wang Zhifan instructs the two followers to ensure cohesion among the fearful pirates, while he approaches the Sea Parrot crew to briefly explain the situation.

"You killed the Great Horned Shark pirate ship's captain and vanquished that sea monster, the Great Horned Shark? Your prowess is beyond imagination..."

The Sea Parrot captain was astounded by Wang Zhifan's account, yet the evidence of pirate corpses strewn about the deck under the lamplight substantiated his claims. Not to mention the implications of the two pirate officers now acting as his acolytes.

"Yes, the stubborn elements among these pirates have been eliminated. The remaining ones are willing to atone for their sins. They are of use to me, and I hope you understand."

Wang Zhifan winked at the captain, deducing he was far from a regular passenger ship captain, likely possessing a unique background. Opting to test for potential collaboration, Wang Zhifan was prepared to employ necessary measures should the captain prove obstinate.

"Ah, I see! You are not only powerful but also benevolent. I genuinely rejoice from the bottom of my heart for these repentant pirates!"

Within a few sentences, the captain and Wang Zhifan were speaking the same language. The captain then instructed his crew to either return to the Sea Parrot or secure critical points on the Great Horned Shark, such as the helm and sails. He himself was led by Wang Zhifan into the captain's cabin for a confidential discussion.

When they emerged, the captain was holding an exquisite small chest filled with the gold bars previously stashed by the Great Horned Shark's captain.

"Rest assured, even without these gold bars, you are our savior on the Sea Parrot. Whatever you command, I will ensure it is accomplished."

Now beaming with excitement, the Sea Parrot captain's eyes nearly squinted shut with glee, repeatedly assuring Wang Zhifan, forgoing any semblance of a captain's airs.

"Good, I'll count on you for the crew, and assistance at Princess Harbor as well. Also, remind your subordinates not to speak of what shouldn't be mentioned when reaching the port."

Though Wang Zhifan was leveraging the Great Horned Shark captain's resources, he had slain the man, deeming the spoils his own. Hence, he expected the Sea Parrot captain to fulfill his end after accepting payment.

"Rest assured, my trusted brothers aren't the sort to prattle indiscriminately. Your ship will smoothly dock at Princess Harbor and depart for the Storm Sea, as I'll ensure the most seasoned navigator is arranged..."

The captain continued, revealing Wang Zhifan's minimal trust in the pirates. Consequently, he entrusted the captain to assemble a cadre of veterans for reaching the Storm Sea, including navigators, sailors, and first mates. Plans were to position these experienced seamen at key roles on the recaptured Great Horned Shark pirate ship, preventing conspiracies from the pirates aimed at deceiving the amateur seaman Wang Zhifan was—holding only limited sea exposure over two past lives, scarcely comprehending navigational charts.

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