[58] Isla de Fortune

The arrival of our formidable fleet at Isla de Fortune marked a turning point in our campaign. As the ships, flying the distinct flags of the Pirate League, approached the island, the garrison army stationed there was quickly overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of our force. The sight of the imposing armada, with the Crimson Fury at its forefront, was enough to make them reconsider any thoughts of resistance.

Standing on the deck of the Crimson Fury, I watched as the garrison soldiers, their faces etched with fear and resignation, gathered at the docks. Their commander, a middle-aged man with a weathered face, stepped forward, his hands raised in a gesture of surrender.

"We will not fight," he called out, his voice carrying over the water. "We surrender the island to you."

I nodded to Elara, who was standing beside me, and then addressed the commander. "Your decision is wise. We have no interest in bloodshed. You and your men are free to leave the island unharmed."

There was a palpable sense of relief among the garrison troops as they processed my words. They quickly began to organize their departure, boarding a couple of smaller vessels that had been docked at the island.

Turning to Cassandra, who was watching the scene with a mix of amusement and curiosity, I said, "Make sure your men know – no looting. We're taking control, not pillaging."

Cassandra, with a wave of her hand, signaled her pirates. "Alright, you filthy bastards, no looting! We're here to take over, not to ransack. Keep it clean!"

Her crew, seasoned pirates who were more accustomed to plunder than restraint, grumbled but obeyed her command. They knew better than to cross Cassandra when she was in command mode.

As the garrison troops departed, the islanders began to emerge from their homes. Their expressions were a mix of curiosity and apprehension, clearly unsure of what to expect from us. Seeing an opportunity to establish goodwill, I gestured for my crew to stand down and adopt a non-threatening posture.

The islanders, seeing our peaceful approach, slowly started to approach, some carrying trays of food and drinks as offerings. It was a cautious welcome, likely driven by fear and the desire to appease their new rulers.

Accepting their offerings, I addressed them with a reassuring tone. "We're here to establish a base, not to harm you. Your lives will continue as before. We're just the new protectors of this island."

Elara, joining in the effort to reassure the islanders, smiled and accepted a drink from one of them. "Thanks for the warm welcome. We'll be good neighbors, promise."

The islanders, while still wary, seemed somewhat reassured by our words and actions. They mingled with our crew, the initial tension giving way to cautious interaction.

Cassandra, leaning against the rail of the Crimson Fury, watched the scene unfold. "Well, this is a fking change of pace. Pirates and islanders, breaking bread instead of skulls."

***

Waking up the next morning, I was greeted by a storm of notifications on Discord. The bulk of them were from Drusus, and his messages were a mix of outrage and disbelief. Opening the chat, I was immediately struck by the tone of his messages.

Drusus: "What the fk, Wang? Taking over Isla de Fortune? That wasn't part of our fking deal! You're messing up the whole plan!"

I replied, trying to keep the situation under control.

Me: "Chill out, Drusus. It's a strategic move. We needed a base in the Mid Sea. It's not like we're setting up a picnic."

Drusus: "Don't give me that bullshit! You've overstepped, and now you're putting everything at risk! I should've known you'd pull a stunt like this."

I decided to play it cool, offering a solution while maintaining our upper hand.

Me: "Listen, Drusus. Here's the deal. You fulfill your end of the bargain, and we'll talk about handing over the island. It's just business."

Drusus's reply was immediate and filled with expletives.

Drusus: "You conniving son of a bitch! I can't believe I trusted a backstabbing sell sword like you. You better not screw me over, Wang, or I swear…"

Before he could finish, I cut him off, maintaining a firm stance.

Me: "Calm the fk down, Drusus. Keep your end of the deal, and we keep ours. That's how it works. Until then, Isla de Fortune stays under our control."

Drusus, unable to contain his fury, let loose a string of curses and threats, his messages a jumbled mess of anger and frustration.

Drusus: "You're playing with fire, Wang! I'll make sure you regret this! You and your goddamn Sea Wolves are going to pay for crossing me!"

Seeing that the conversation was going nowhere, I decided to end it.

Me: "We'll see, Drusus. We'll see. In the meantime, we'll be enjoying our stay on Isla de Fortune. You know where to find us."

With that, I hung up, cutting off the stream of vitriol from Drusus. The situation had escalated, but I knew we had the upper hand. Isla de Fortune was a valuable asset, and Drusus's anger only confirmed its importance.

The game was only beginning.

Q: What do you think will happen next?