Faced with Wes's aggressive demeanor, Jack Sparrow's body trembled involuntarily. It felt as if a beast lurking in the shadows had locked its gaze on him—sending a chill up his spine.
Instinctively, he pressed his hand to his chest. Hidden there wasn't just a compass—it was the key to his fate.
Damn it. This wizard seems to know about the compass.
Jack's mind spun like a windmill in a storm, trying to figure out a way to shake Wes off.
But reality was cruel. The power gap between him and Wes was an uncrossable chasm.
"Captain Sparrow?" Wes's voice sounded again.
Urged on by Wes's pressure, Jack Sparrow wrestled with himself internally—then finally decided to yield, at least for now.
His face instantly broke into a flattering smile, like it was second nature to him. "Of course! It's my honor to serve you, mighty wizard."
As he spoke, he gave Wes a deep bow—though a flash of cunning flickered in his eyes.
"A wise choice," Wes said, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips. He knew this pirate captain wouldn't cooperate so easily, but for now, at least, he was willing to play along. "Come with me, both of you."
"Both of us?" Jack Sparrow blinked, his face full of confusion, as if he truly didn't understand. "Who else are you talking about besides me?"
"Don't play dumb, Captain Sparrow." Wes's voice was calm but firm. With a flick of his finger, two glowing orbs of light shot forward and sank directly into Jack Sparrow and Angelica.
"What the hell is this?!" Jack panicked, swatting frantically at his body like it was crawling with insects.
He tried to bat the glowing orb out—but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't even find it anymore.
Angelica's face turned deathly pale. She recognized this kind of dark sorcery. It was the type of magic that could control life and death—warp reality itself.
Her expression drained of all color, turning her face as pale as paper.
"Just a small restriction. You're a cunning, slippery pirate. I don't believe for a second you'd obediently lead me to the Fountain of Youth," Wes said coldly, without a trace of emotion.
"That's just heartbreaking. I thought we were partners now…" Jack replied with masterful theatrics, his face a perfect mask of wounded betrayal, as though he were the true victim here.
But Wes wasn't buying it. He knew that given even the slightest opportunity, Jack Sparrow would vanish like a fox into the forest.
"You're free to try and betray me. Just be prepared for the consequences." With that, Wes turned and walked out of the tavern without another glance.
Jack twitched at the corner of his mouth, grabbed the still-stunned Angelica by the arm, and hurried to follow.
Because of the commotion Jack had caused earlier, the streets were now swarming with soldiers.
They were stopping everyone, checking identities, and opening fire at the first sign of resistance.
Wanted posters bearing Jack Sparrow's face were now plastered all over town.
Just moments ago, Jack had been worried about walking openly through the city. Would someone recognize him? Would he get arrested?
But to his shock, no one—neither soldier nor civilian—seemed to even see him.
He circled a soldier twice. The man didn't even blink.
Magic?
Jack's fear of Wes ticked up another level.
Angelica whispered to him, "Even my father doesn't possess this kind of sorcery."
We'll honor the deal—for now. But somewhere along the way, we'll find a chance to ditch this wizard.
Jack Sparrow was not a man to be leashed. He was a pirate. He lived for freedom. He would never let himself be anyone's puppet.
But first, I need to figure out exactly what kind of spell this is.
Jack Sparrow lightly leapt to Wes's side, trying to glean some clues from that mysterious, unreadable smile. But Wes's expression was like a bottomless ancient well—calm, undisturbed, and impossible to read.
The three of them arrived at a secluded harbor. A few ships were moored there, scattered and quiet. In the sunlight, they looked weathered and battle-worn—bearing the unmistakable scars of time and war.
These were pirate ships—former tyrants of the sea, now lying silently here like ghosts of a bygone age.
The British government had always turned a blind eye to these pirates. After all, the loot they plundered often ended up in London's markets, and the chaos they caused weakened Spain's grip on the seas.
"Which one's the best?" Wes asked aloud.
"Huh?" Jack Sparrow blinked, not quite catching the question at first—until Wes's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Oh! That one in the middle," Jack replied quickly. "She's got at least sixteen 18-pounder cannons, and look at those curves—she's got a hull as sleek as a siren's waist—"
He went on and on, enthusiastically describing the ship, unaware that Wes had already stepped aboard.
"Who goes there?!" came the shout from the deck—pirates stationed aboard had spotted the uninvited guest.
Pirates were never known for their patience. With angry snarls, they drew their swords and charged at Wes, ready to slice him to bits.
But before they could even get close, an invisible force hurled them through the air—one by one, they plunged into the sea like ragdolls.
It looked like dry leaves swept up by a violent wind—helpless and pitiful.
"Well, I guess we've got ourselves a ship," Jack Sparrow muttered in awe, his mouth gaping wide enough to fit an egg. "Mr. Wizard really has a knack for piracy."
Angelica now realized Wes was even more dangerous than she had imagined.
By the time the two of them climbed aboard, Wes had already cleared out the rest of the pirates—tossing every last one into the ocean.
"You could've left a few alive. A ship this size can't be sailed by just three people," Jack protested as he began inspecting the vessel. He tapped on the masts, checked the ropes, ran his fingers along the railings.
"Not bad—someone's taken good care of her recently."
He looked pleased. Though the ship didn't compare to his beloved Black Pearl, it was still a decent vessel, given the circumstances.
"Good," Wes said, waving his hand. The sails unfurled on their own, billowing with the wind. A deep rustling filled the air as the ship came alive.
The anchor pulled itself up, and the entire ship seemed to awaken—ready to sail.
"Captain Sparrow…" Wes's voice pulled Jack from his inspection.
"Yes?" Jack straightened up quickly.
"I'll leave the helm to you."
"Of course!" Jack grinned and strode to the wheel, gently caressing it like it was his long-lost lover.
Then he gave the wheel a sudden spin, and the pirate ship glided out of the harbor.
"How does it feel to be back at sea?"
"Magnificent!" Jack closed his eyes, his face overcome with bliss.
The sea breeze brushed across his face. Seagulls cried overhead. Everything was so familiar—this was the life he longed for.
[It'd be perfect if you weren't here.] Jack thought silently to himself.
"Then let's go. Our first stop is Whitecap Bay."
"Whoa, hold on there, Mr. Wizard," Jack said, glancing back. "First time sailing?"
Wes nodded.
"Well, I just checked—this ship's got nothing onboard. No fresh water, no food, not even a drop of rum." Jack began counting on his fingers. "My advice? We find a place to stock up and recruit a crew. I don't suppose you want to be scrubbing the decks yourself?"
"No need for all that." Wes snapped his fingers—and with a soft whoosh, Jandy appeared before them.
"Holy hell!!" Angelica yanked out her sword, pointing it at the creature. "What is that thing?!"
Jack Sparrow's eyes widened too, staring in disbelief at Jandy, who had just materialized from thin air.
°°°
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