Facing a mysterious adversary who is neither afraid of him nor unprepared, attacking would be akin to seeking death.
But if he doesn't respond in some way, he will have a hard time explaining to his crew—
As the Captain, he must take responsibility for his sailors. If dozens of sailors disappear quietly on the island without finding the cause or their whereabouts, he can certainly choose to ignore it.
Yet the clues left behind have already spread across the two ships. If he doesn't take action, who will be willing to risk their lives for him in the future?
Going is a trap.
Not going affects his reputation.
Between the two choices, Kilian chose a third option—
Let someone else go.
...
There were quite a few Spanish Merchant Ships docked at the Brazil port.
To many Captains who have reached the peak of their lives through navigation, owning a plantation in Brazil was exceptionally fashionable.
