Boom!
Lightning cracked through the dark clouds, unleashing even stronger gales and downpours, tossing the waves into whirlpools, and under this free-flowing tumult, a merchant ship swayed violently.
"Reef the sails! Quick, reef the sails! Turn the helm to the right, hurry, don't let the big waves capsize us!"
The captain in charge of directing was shouting wildly on the deck through the storm, commanding the sailors to reef the sails and pull the ropes, doing their best to maintain control over the rolling waves, keeping the ship from capsizing.
The skies were clear just a moment ago...
The merchant ship's captain couldn't help complaining in his heart. Just ten minutes ago, the sky was serene, everyone was enjoying good food and singing songs, how did everything change so quickly?
As a part-time navigator himself, he could read the weather, and there were no signs of a storm. How did this sudden storm appear?
This is the East Sea...
Not the legendary Grand Line known for its volatile weather, but an ordinary sea area without strange currents or unpredictable skies. Anyone with sailing knowledge could navigate it smoothly.
And as a merchant ship captain, he certainly had that sailing knowledge.
Most captains have some sailing knowledge, some are even quite skilled.
The merchant ship captain had such capabilities but did not anticipate a sudden, massive storm that turned day into night.
Fortunately, due to timely direction, they were steady for the moment.
"The wind direction is okay... Helm to nine o'clock direction, then pull the canvas, make sure it's tight, don't let go. If the canvas is blown away by the wind, it's over!" The captain gave orderly commands.
Taking advantage of this strong wind to sail out of the storm's area, they would be safe.
The sailors on the ship followed the captain's orders, pulling ropes and steering the helm.
Boom!
Another thunderbolt exploded, brightening the darkened area briefly, making a sailor on a mast's lookout who was pulling on a rope suddenly freeze in fear, watching the side. The rope slipped from his hands, allowing the wind-filled canvas to burst open and even tear at the edges.
"Hey! What are you doing?! Didn't I say tighten the rope? You..."
The captain instinctively barked towards the mast's lookout, but before he could finish, he was stunned.
In the brief light given by the lightning, a black giant ship several times larger than the merchant ship suddenly appeared at the side, shrouding the entire merchant ship along with the darkness brought by the storm.
The black hull and canvas were like the night sky full of stars, but amidst those stars hidden within the canvas, there was a giant skull seemingly devouring the whole starry sky.
On the flag at the top of the mast, there was also the same pattern as on the canvas...
"Star, Starry Sky Skull Flag!" The captain stammered out.
A terrified sailor asked, "Captain, do you recognize this flag?"
"No, I don't..."
The captain shook his head, but the fear in his eyes grew more intense, "But I know whose Black Ship this is!"
He didn't recognize the flag; he'd never heard of the Starry Sky Skull Flag. But he knew about the infamous figure who recently rose in namesake in the East Sea.
The disaster that destroyed three kingdoms was aboard a giant Black Ship!
And according to rumors, a huge storm always accompanied its appearance!
He used to think it was hearsay; after all, how could a ship sail in such a storm?
But today, he saw it!
The more a person doesn't believe, the more they convert suspicion into utmost trust upon witnessing the truth.
Not believing is not an option...
He saw very clearly; while they struggled to reef the sails, on the other side, the canvas was spread wide, proving they feared not the storm ripping it apart.
The most important reason was that on the side of this ship, much taller than theirs, under the brightness brought by lightning, stood a group of men whose blades flickered with the lightning. Among them, an olive-skinned man with a headscarf wielding dual clubs gave a cold grin towards the merchant ship...
They had come to rob them, no doubt about it.
...
On the Death Star, in the first-floor banquet hall.
Sage sat on the throne watching as his subordinates methodically carried in boxes. Beside him, Lily tabulated the items, and then said, "They left the merchant ship enough food and water for the return trip; those things are of no use to us."
Just as Sage wouldn't rob from the poor, he had no interest in driving people to death.
He was a pirate, here to rob, not to kill.
Food and water hold little value; leaving the merchant ship supplies for a return journey means they could rob them again on their next voyage—wasn't that better?
Dead people create nothing.
Gin led the robbery, adhering to Sage's instructions, leaving food and water behind. On a merchant ship with just about two hundred people, the needed supplies for return wouldn't be much, and the rest were plundered by Gin.
And the loot, well, it was quite satisfactory.
"A thousand boxes of tea, a thousand boxes of sugar, one hundred boxes of silver utensils, and thirty boxes of precious silk."
Lily said, "The rest are various supplies, a small amount of iron, food and water, and two boxes of gold coins."
Two boxes among those in the banquet hall were opened, revealing the shining gold coins, causing surrounding pirates' eyes to light up.
Robbing at sea was just like this.
There are not many treasure-carrying ships packed with gold and silver treasures. Only ships carrying Heavenly Gold would have such treasures, but such ships had significantly heightened security, unlike easily robbed merchant ships.
Sage waved his hand, "Keep one box of gold coins, put it in my treasure room, distribute the rest, and sell what can't be divided in some town."
The ship under the storm was indeed Sage's Death Star.
Ever since setting out from the refitted island, the cursed storm returned, impossible to escape no matter the navigation. Luckily, the crew had grown accustomed, knowing the meticulously crafted ship wouldn't overturn in storms and they could sail as they wished.
The helpful wind direction aligned with their destination, so no need for adjustments, just sail through the storm.
As for encountering a merchant ship...
Frankly, Sage hadn't anticipated it. He thought his luck would rarely cross paths with a merchant ship, yet they did.
As the first merchant ship strictly speaking, that was captured in his pirate career, Sage thought it was quite memorable.
Regarding these spoils, whoever wanted them could have them. If not, they would sell them to a black-market dealer in some town.
Pirate plundering is like this; sea freight robbery involves goods that pirates can neither eat nor wear. You can't eat tea and sugar as meals, can you?
Ultimately, they had to be disposed of.