The Great Jewel

CHAPTER 16

The next morning, Thomas woke up from his bed in his cabin. He is covered in bandages, and his body hurts so much that he could barely move. And then, the door of his cabin opened, William and Jeff entered.

"Oh, you're awake, captain! There are some people here to meet you." Jeff announced.

Thomas stood up but was out of balance suddenly because of his exhaustion. William helped him up and the two went out the cabin onto the main deck, where Penny, Tina and Henry were waiting. Tina thanked Thomas for his help, and that she would not forget this. Penny thanked him as well. But the most important thing is that Henry thanked Thomas for agreeing to save him, even though they have no obligation to and can just run away with the milk. Thomas chuckled, and told them that they might be pirates, but they are different from the rest.

"When are you going to set sail?" Penny asked.

"Well, since we can't stay here for too long, we will set sail this afternoon, since our job here is done." Thomas replied.

And then, Henry approached Thomas,

"Say, since you needed a clue to the treasure. Can I go with you guys?" Henry asked.

Tina was shocked and then pulled Henry's arm and argued with him,

"Tina, you don't understand. With me here, you will all be in danger. Pirates will keep on targeting me for the clue, and the government will not shut up after knowing what we did. It is better to not let anyone get involved anymore. And besides, I always wanted to set sail and feel what my ancestor Keaton felt when he was a pirate. I am curious." Henry explained.

"But—"

"He is right, princess. That goes for us too. Me and my group were spotted during the battle, and it will not be good for us to stay here also. That is why, we will be joining too." Penny followed.

Tina felt sad, as all of her friends are now leaving her. But they told her that this is also for their own good. If they don't want to see each other suffer the consequences of what they did last night, then they should be separated from each other, as being together will just bring chaos in their kingdom. But Penny promised her that they will come back once this treasure hunting is over and all. Penny just wants to explore the wide sea too, as she has been in this kingdom for all her life, and she wants to explore. She trusts the Jack Pirates, that is why she and her group are coming. Thomas has no objection on this, but they warned them that once they go on board their ship, they are wanted criminals forever. Their lives won't be easy, especially out in the sea. But Penny and Henry accepted the challenge. Thomas nodded, and then told them to get their stuff and be here at exactly 12 in the afternoon so they can set sail immediately.

***

The time of departure has now arrived. Henry, Penny and the 4 other people is now on board. One of the villagers removed the rope that is tied into the docks as the Jack Pirates will now go on their way. The villagers were waving their hands as they will miss the pirates who treated them nicely. As they move farther away from the docks, Henry and Penny asked Thomas to do the princess one last favor. It turns out that as they leave, they need to fire cannons near the main port of the kingdom, so that the sound will alert the princess that they are now leaving. Thomas agreed in that and then they went near the main port. They arrived at the main port, and the gunmen went below the decks to the cannons at the right.

"Fire!" Thomas ordered.

And then, three rounds of cannons were fired. Tina, from her room, heard the cannons, and she just sobbed and wished her friends to have a safe journey. As the favor is now done, Thomas then ordered their next destination,

"Hard to starboard! We're going east!" he bellowed as the men went to work.

As they were about to leave, William, who was fixing something on top of the main mast then saw a dingy moving closer to them,

"Thomas! Look behind you!" William yelled.

Thomas then turned around to see a dingy closing in on them and the two people on that dingy was waving at them. And as the dingy reached the portside, the crew let down some rope ladders to let the two people on their boat. The two people went on board, and everyone was just shocked, and they pointed their weapons at them. It was Samuel and Angelique. Not in their navy uniforms, and they were just wearing normal clothes,

"Easy! Just listen to us, okay?" Samuel says as he raised his hand to show them that they mean no harm.

They then explained that since they were the head of the mutiny, they can't possibly go back, in short, they have no place to go now. Their soldiers won't get involved, as it would be treated as if the soldiers were just manipulated by them to fight alongside them. So, since they are criminals anyway, they asked Thomas to let them join his crew and be pirates.

"Navy officers, wants to become pirates. That's new. Thomas what are we going to—"

"Yep, you can join my crew. Now, get to work so that the navy won't see us once they arrive!" Thomas ordered as the crew and the new ones then went to work as they are now going full speed to the east.

***

It has been 3 hours since the pirates departed, and the news of their battle spreads around the world like wildfire, the article says,

"Thomas Jack was thought to be just one of the simplest rookies that set sailed, and it would take time before he reaches the big leagues. However! Last night, a big battle in Miliq Kingdom happened, and the battle was for the freedom of Henry Teach, descendant of the infamous Keaton Teach who is said to have hidden a treasure and has left clues all over the Koes Sea. Captain Reggie and the first lieutenants Charlx, Jimuel and Igor came for the transfer of prisoner. But these high officers were defeated badly and is expected to not return in service anymore because of this humiliation. And the ones who defeated them was Thomas Jack, William Davis, Jeff Tew, Samuel and Angelique Morales, Henry Teach and Penny Silvertine. One thing is clear, the Jack Pirates are now rising to the top at a terrifying speed, and the navy fears that this group will enter the Great Blue in no time."

And that concludes the article along with the wanted posters that is spreading around the globe like wildfire,

"WANTED!

Dead or Alive

Thomas Jack

Bounty:200,000,000 pendz"

And at the middle was the picture of Thomas grinning menacingly into the camera. He was confused on when was this taken, but it doesn't matter. His bounty raised significantly that he became the pirate who has the second highest bounty in Koes. And then, these are the bounty of what the government is calling as his top officers,

"WANTED!

Dead or Alive

William Davis

Bounty: 100,000,000 pendz"

His picture was the one taken at the Miliq Kingdom which he does not know when. He was smirking with blood all over his face,

"WANTED!

Dead or Alive!

Jeff Tew

Bounty: 65,000,000 pendz"

Jeff's picture was him holding a hammer and was chasing the camera with his angry face,

"WANTED!

Dead or Alive

Henry Teach

Bounty: 75,000,000 pendz"

His picture was his mugshot back when he was convicted,

"WANTED!

Dead or Alive

Penny Silvertine

Bounty: 20,000,000 pendz"

Her picture was a stolen one when she was still serving under the Miliq army,

"WANTED!

Dead or Alive

Samuel Morales

Bounty: 91,000,000 pendz"

"WANTED!

Dead or Alive

Angelique Morales

Bounty: 91,500,000 pendz"

Their pictures were the ones that is on their papers back when they were still in the navy. The crew was mesmerized by the spike of their bounties. The fact that Thomas received 200 million already was just so shocking, as he is rising to the top fast. This just mean that they can't assure their safety anymore. Anyone at sea will try and kill them, because their heads are worth millions. That is also why the Jack Pirates needs to hurry up and go to the pirate's graveyard.

Meanwhile, at the halfway of the dangerous Great Blue, in a certain island.

"Boss, have you seen the paper? Your son is making terrific waves out there." Says a bald Black man standing besides someone who is sitting and was grinning widely with his eyepatch on his left eye.

"Not to mention that he received a 200 million bounty already. He is not even in the Graveyard yet." Followed a man who was wearing a pirate hat, was a bit small and has a parrot on his right shoulder. A typical pirate look.

The man sitting and grinning stood up, and it was the father of Jack, it was Edward Jack himself. Edward then laughed in joy as his son made it at last.

The Black man then chuckled,

"You are the only parent who is proud of their son being a criminal. Well, since you are an infamous criminal yourself, I'm not surprise anymore. But the thing is, the seas are vast, he will encounter a lot of enemies. Do you think he will survive?" the Black man asked.

Edward just laughed harder and then looked at his vice-captain,

"Of course, he will! He is my son after all!" Edward bragged as he laughed while his 3 golden teeth were shining.

He then looked up at the summer sky and smiled,

"I'll wait for you here, Thomas."