The Great Jewel

CHAPTER 6: WANTED MEN

"I will still not forget the scar your fucking father left me!" yelled the captain as he swung his flaming sword at Thomas who blocked it with his own new sword.

"Well, guess what? I also hate my father! And if you could excuse us, we are going on a journey, so get out of the way!" Thomas replied with a yell.

Newton just grinned as he puts extra weight on his sword as Thomas is getting pushed back. William right now is also fighting some navy sailors that is preventing him from preparing their voyage by attaching the helm to its designated place. And he must admit that holding off a lot of sailors is being quite annoying and difficult itself. As the two are now struggling, a gang of people suddenly helped them. They all climbed up the ship and beat the hell out of the sailors on it. And when Thomas looked around, it was Jeff on the ship with his men in his shipwright job,

"Hurry up!" Jeff ordered Thomas.

And it seems as it was if he is about to join the crew. Jeff and the others are now spreading the sails and raising the anchor and is prepared to depart any moment now. Since Thomas is pretty tired himself and that his left leg wound is not really fully healed yet, he needs to end this by distracting the captain. But Newton already knew what Thomas is planning. The kid is planning on escaping, and as if he is going to let that. He then raised his sword up high and slammed it on Thomas again. The heaviness of the attack was just unbearable for Thomas. However, he needs to end this. So, with all his remaining strength, Thomas pushed forward strongly.

"Ho!" said an impressed captain.

But when he thought that all Thomas can do is this, Thomas then suddenly kicked the captain's knee that made the captain lose his balance. And that was the opportunity. In just a split second, Thomas actually slashed the captain multiple times that it made the poor sailor fall on the ground with him suffering a lot of cuts on his body. And it wasn't any normal cut. Normally, when he gets wounded, the first wound delivered will be the first to hurt. However, with all 17 cuts, it is all hurting at the same time, and it is making lose a ton of blood at the same time. Thomas then puts his sword back into the scabbard,

"Remember me! Don't regard me as the son of Edward. I am Thomas Jack! And I am coming for the heads of anyone who goes in our way!" Thomas declared as he then kicked the incapacitated captain in the face.

He then ran towards the ship, and as he was running, he looked at the town hall's window. The mayor was smiling down at him, and Thomas just nodded. He then jumped up and grabbed a hold on William's extended hand. William raised Thomas up and there, the young pirate sat and rested.

"Jeff, why are you and your friends here?" Thomas asked.

"Well, I just can't leave my precious masterpiece to untrustworthy hands. And besides, since you guys are rookie, I thought that you would definitely need a hand when it comes to ship fixing and all. Another, you two simply can't operate this whole ship just by the two of you. So, the 12 of us would join your pirate crew and accompany you guys on your journey." Jeff explained.

As the ship goes on and makes it way to the open sea and is going farther away the island, Jeff brought up a significant question,

"What is this ship's name? And who the hell is this crew's captain?" Jeff asked.

And without any hesitation and second thoughts, the 13 crew members looked at a resting Thomas who is confused,

"I think we wall know who deserves the title of captain and the one who is meant to name this ship and this pirate crew." William smiled.

Thomas thought that they would try and compete for the title of captain since both have more experience than him, however he can't possibly decline this opportunity. So, he stood up, and smiled at them. Instead of declining, he will just make sure to lead this crew fairly and with all his best,

"Since I am the captain, the ship's name shall be simple. And it also needs to be approved by the ones who built it." Thomas said as he looked at Jeff and the others.

As they were talking about some pirate crew and ship name, the other pirates who are escaping the island has their eyes on this ship, since the crew of it are all rookies, they are going to bully their way in and steal the ship and their valuable and then leave them here to be captured.

"Think fast! Enemies are coming!" William yelled.

Thomas then looked up,

"This ship will be known as Ace! And for our crew's name, ha! Let the world give us a name! Now, onto battle stations! Fire at the enemies at will!" Thomas ordered.

The crew smiled,

"Aye, aye, captain!"

They all went to the cannons and shot at the enemies who got their ships hit devastatingly and is slowly sinking into the depths of the sea. Meanwhile, Thomas and some other crew members are on the main deck and is steering and handling some stuff as they escape at full speed. Thomas opened the Koes map, and he then pinpointed their next location. He turned the helm to the south, and then, off they go to the kingdom of Miliq. Meanwhile, Captain Newton is now being assisted by his own sailor crew as they had been embarrassed. Some few rookies who have never really experienced the terror of the seas just beat them up. However, this is not over, Newton made a promise that he will hunt that brat down, and he will make sure to not let that kid grow as a formidable pirate. Because as far as he is concerned, that kid will grow, because what he showed earlier, it seems that the kid is stronger than his father when he is still a rookie. And it is definitely terrifying. In any case, he ordered his men to capture the remaining pirates in the island as he will now go make a report to HQ.

***

8 hours have passed, and the crew are now on their way to their next destination. Thomas and the others are now exploring the whole massive ship as the others are up and navigating since they can't afford to go off course. They are now at the captain's cabin. This is where Thomas would sleep since he is the captain. Then, they went into the officer's cabins, this is where the other crew members would sleep. There are 3 cabins in this ship, and it can fit at least 150 people. Which means, Thomas can have at least 140 crew members on his crew. The next place they went is the kitchen and it is also the dining room. The utensils are complete and all, and then there's crates upon crates of food, which includes meat and a lot of vegetables. According to Jeff, the food was also included as a bonus for the reward, since the pirates would just ask for more, the mayor acted on his own and puts everything the pirates would need. And now, off they go to the next room, the library. Although it is a bit unusual for a pirate ship to have a library, it is still quite important for those who gets bored, and it is going to be important for the crew members who loves to study or so. And then, the next room, was the massive storage room that takes over 10% of the ship's space. This room contains the 25 crates of cannon balls, 2 crates of weapons, the first crate is filled with guns and bullets, while the other is full of melee. However, Thomas then saw this. He approached it and then took the blanket that was covering it. And sure enough, under the blanket was a massive black falcon figurehead.

"Is this part of the package?" Thomas asked.

"No. The mayor must have given this on purpose. Since the captain has teleportation boon, he can move objects from a certain place to a place he wants it to be put. That is the only explanation, because this figurehead is expensive, and it can't just be a mistake that it suddenly appeared here." 

Thomas then looked into a certain box that contains black flags that will serve as their Jolly Roger. So, to make one, they all went up the main deck, and they are now deciding on what their Jolly Roger would look like, what would be the drawing. However, the decision is up to the captain.

"Let us make a typical Jolly Roger. However, instead of cross bones, let us do it with crossed swords. And then, at the background of the skull and crossed swords, put a massive jack of clubs symbol on it. Is everyone okay with that?" Thomas suggested.

One of Jeff's men, who is a skilled drawer, tried to draw it and show it to everyone. And the first impression was just marvelous. So, the whole crew agreed to the idea, and the artist went on to draw on their new black flags that would be their symbol of terror. After an hour of painting on the flag, the artist the showed it to the crew. Terrifying skull, the crossed swords directly under its chin, and then the spade of clubs at the back. And the artist added something. Just right another the crossed swords, it is written,

"JACK."

Signifying that this crew is Thomas Jack's and no one else. Since the Jolly Roger has been approved, the other crew members placed it at the main mast and then the foremast. The artist also drew the symbols at the sails to further signify their pirate crew. Jeff and some of his other friends then went on to place the falcon to its actual position as it would be a waste to just let it down there. As the crew was busy with everything, William went down the kitchen to cook them all some dinner. Thomas took the helm as they ventured on the vast sea towards their destination that would take them a week to arrive.

Meanwhile, at the Navy Headquarters of Koes Sea, the 15 captains are now gathered around and was being briefed by their commander, who is very disappointed at the performance of Newton who is currently at the HQ's infirmary having his wounds treated. But this old man who has long white hair and a white beard also, sat on his chair in front of these strong looking individuals who are the navy captains of this sea. The old man, who is the rear admiral is muscular himself, and his veins are all bulging.

"Now, for this this problem, I think it is very much concluded. Thomas Jack, son of Edward "The Terror" Jack will have a bounty that is quite reasonable considering the threat he imposes to us righteous navy sailors! Hunt him down, release his posters and alarm also the bounty hunters! We can't let another Jack get to The Great Blue successfully!"

"WANTED!

Dead or Alive 

Thomas Jack

Bounty: 135,000,000 pendz" 

"WANTED!

Dead or Alive

William Davis

Bounty: 20,000,000 pendz"

"WANTED! 

Dead or Alive

Jeff Tew

Bounty: 12,000,000 pendz"