Chapter 140. Change of strategy
The wreckage of the enemy ship disappeared beneath the waves, swallowed by the merciless sea. Tyler White and Lily Gomes leaped from the sinking vessel, their forms cutting through the air with precision. Tyler held a battered man tightly in his grasp, his body limp and unresponsive. With a powerful thrust, they landed on their own ship’s deck, Tyler tossing the beaten pirate at their feet. The man groaned in pain, his bruised and bloodied face a testament to the fierce battle he had endured.
"This is the fourth one," Tyler remarked, his voice laced with frustration as he wiped the blood from his brow.
Around them, the crew bustled, the aftermath of the attack still fresh in their minds. The tension was palpable, each of them on edge, ready for the next assault.
Lily glanced at the subdued pirate, her mind working rapidly. "It must be that ’Manhunter’ tipped the pirates off," she guessed, her tone edged with suspicion.
Situ stepped forward, wordlessly dragging the prisoner away to the cells below deck. These pirates were no ordinary foes; they were marked men, each carrying a bounty that could fetch a small fortune.
Astrid, standing to the side, couldn’t hide the tears that welled in her eyes. She clenched her fists, guilt gnawing at her. "I’m so sorry. It’s all because of me," she choked out, her voice trembling.
Tyler turned to her, his expression softening as he waved his hand dismissively. "Don’t worry about it. It’s not your fault. They’re free Lydia knocking at our door," he said, his attempt at humour falling flat in the grim situation.
But beneath his calm exterior, Tyler’s mind raced. This couldn’t go on. They were being hunted, and it was only a matter of time before their luck ran out. "We can’t keep doing this," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
Lily’s eyes narrowed, an idea forming in her mind. "I have an idea," she said, her voice low and calculating. "Let’s just give her to a pirate then."