Chapter 160: Attack of pirates!
"ATTACK BY THE PIRATES! PIRATE SHIP HAS BEEN SIGHTED; THEY ARE HEADING TO THE VILLAGE!" bellowed one of the tower watchmen at the top of his lungs, his voice rising over the resounding clang of the bell.
"Run!"
Anastasia watched as the villagers hastily scrambled and fled, heading straight to their houses for refuge. The sound of doors and windows being securely closed and firmly banging shut echoed through the air.
"Damn these pirates again!" The village elder’s voice was laced with anger as he cursed them, exclaiming, "Always coming here and stealing our possessions and tearing apart our families. We tried to oppose them, but it was futile and resulted in the loss of many lives. You both should take shelter."
"Jacinthia!" A woman’s distressed cry pierced the air as her eyes darted left and right, searching for her young daughter. "Carlos, Jacinthia isn’t here!"
"Where did you last see her?!" The village elder became worried. At the same time, Mr. Flores joined them where they were as the village gradually descended into an eerie silence, broken only by the continuous toll of the bell, which eventually ceased.
"S—she was probably in the meadow. It is near the bay," said the woman.
"I will go look for Jacinthia," Anastasia volunteered, causing the nearby men who were still lingering outside and yet to seek shelter in their houses to raise their eyebrows. She turned to look at Dante, and he said,
"I will go see the pirates, then."
One of the village men looked flabbergasted at the willingness of these young individuals to stand up against the pirates. He said, "You have no idea how ruthless these pirates are! Do you intend to get caught and used by others again?"
"Benson, be careful with your words; that’s my daughter you are talking about," Mr. Flores warned the man, who was slightly older than him.