Not everyone was freed. The labels on the display cubicles included not only prices but also names, ages, and occupations.
Ordinary people were released by Zhang Da Ye and his team, but those who had been pirates remained locked up.
Zhang Da Ye and Artoria handled the unlocking, while Tom rummaged through the shop, gathering basins, towels, clothes, and money, placing them in a cleared area.
Each person received a small amount of cash—enough for a ticket and food—and could pick appropriate clothes to leave.
The trio communicated silently, using writing only.
The freed slaves were overwhelmed with gratitude. Having resigned themselves to a life of slavery, they could hardly believe they were now free.
Following instructions to "tidy up and leave a few at a time," they cleaned themselves, changed clothes, and discreetly exited, pretending nothing had happened. Some even dressed in the shop owner's finer garments and left in groups to avoid drawing attention, separating once in private.
The shop had twenty cubicles; four pirates remained.
Seeing everyone else leave without interference, the pirates began with low pleas, then curses, finally threats, all aimed at Zhang Da Ye's location—the source of their frustration.
For these scoundrels, Zhang Da Ye handed Tom the baseball bat to deal with them quietly, fearing loud commotion.
Tom swung the bat flamboyantly, one strike per pirate. Each fell, with a red envelope and spinning stars appearing above their heads—a special effect Tom could uniquely generate.
Once the released individuals were safely away, Zhang Da Ye prepared a pressure cooker, arranged some firewood, and added fireworks of various sizes, fearing the explosion might lack power.
- **Tom's Secret Pressure Cooker Bomb:** Heat on high for three minutes to detonate. Adding Tom's tail increases effectiveness.
Tom had stumbled upon this weapon by accident; past experiments had sent himself and a door flying.
After nearly two months in this world and over 200 draws from the "Cat and Mouse" item pool, he had accumulated fireworks and even a gunpowder barrel. Using them here would not harm others—only the shop.
One burly pirate, awakened amidst the preparations, saw the so-called "fireworks" and realized his fate. Desperate, he begged:
"Can I at least deal with those two myself? Then I could die with no regrets!"
Zhang Da Ye held up a note:
"Why should I help a pirate achieve closure?"
Furious, the pirate was struck again by Tom's bat, breaking the weapon. A new red envelope appeared above his head, accompanied by three chirping birds.
With peace restored, Zhang Da Ye bound the unconscious shop owner and clerk, lit the fire beneath the pressure cooker, and left with Tom and Artoria.
Three minutes later, the bomb detonated with a thunderous roar. The entire building shook violently, shooting dozens of meters into the air with its foundation still intact.
Additional fireworks followed, creating a whimsical aerial display over the archipelago:
*Ding! Dang! Dang-dang, Ling-dang, Ding-dang…*
The explosions formed a strange, rhythmic melody, shaking the flying building until the fireworks burned out, leaving debris scattered.
The noise drew attention. Most onlookers fled, recognizing trouble when they heard it; some approached out of curiosity or opportunism.
Even those recently freed glimpsed the airborne building, covering their faces in tears of gratitude before heading to the port to buy tickets away from the nightmare island.
Zhang Da Ye and Artoria felt no need for thanks—they acted simply because they could.
Tom, as always, did it purely for fun.
Once Artoria sensed the six freed slaves had safely disappeared, the trio slipped past the curious crowd and returned to the tavern, now midday.
"Ah? The effect has a time limit?" Zhang Da Ye noticed they could see Tom and Artoria again.
Both checked themselves, finding the invisibility ink completely gone.
Artoria smiled: "Lucky that it wore off now. Had we revealed ourselves in the street, it could have caused chaos."
"Indeed," Zhang Da Ye replied, glancing at her. But more importantly:
"Tom, I'm hungry."