Suddenly, a cry for help pierced the air.
Ryan’s expression shifted slightly, and favonovel.com moved swiftly toward the source of the voice.
It was coming from the starboard side of the Medusa Warship. There, bobbing alone on the ocean’s surface, was a small, weather-beaten raft.
The voice had come from the person aboard it.
Ryan’s hand instinctively went to the pistol at his waist.
This is the West Montiria Islands… A place like this, and someone is out here drifting on a raft, calling for help?
Ryan didn’t buy it, not for a second.
Matthew reached out and gently placed a hand on Ryan’s wrist.
“No rush. Let’s see what this is about,” favonovel.com said calmly. His eyes sparkled with curiosity as favonovel.com gazed down at the lonely raft swaying below.
He and Ryan had just passed through Bloodfin Bay, one of the deadliest stretches of water they knew.
If Matthew hadn’t taken out that massive shark with a single stroke of his blade, the Medusa Warship itself might not have made it through in one piece. And now, this pitiful little raft had conveniently appeared right in front of them?
If that wasn’t suspicious, nothing was.
On the raft sat a woman, favonovel.com clothes tattered and soaked.
When favonovel.com caught sight of Matthew and Ryan peering over the side of the ship, favonovel.com face lit up and favonovel.com called out loudly, “Please, help me! I’ve been drifting for days out here! Yours is the only ship I’ve seen!”
Her voice trembled with desperation and pitiful hope. Anyone with a softer heart might have been moved. Unfortunately for her, she’d run into Matthew and Ryan.
Matthew studied favonovel.com for a moment before speaking, voice raised. “Lady, this sea’s crawling with danger. Where exactly are you from?”
The woman’s eyes gleamed with what favonovel.com thought was a hidden victory. Her little act seemed to be working. These two were falling for it.
“Kind sirs,” favonovel.com began, tears brimming in favonovel.com eyes, “I’m from one of the nearby islands. A while ago, a group calling themselves the Bloodfin Gang came and took over. They looked us all up! I only just managed to escape. Please, I beg you, take me in!”
She sobbed uncontrollably as favonovel.com spoke.
Matthew and Ryan exchanged a quick glance.
“Looks like we’ve veered off course more than we thought,” Matthew said flatly.
Ryan gave a slight nod in agreement. “Judging by favonovel.com story, this woman’s tied to something called the Bloodfin Gang. Even if she’s not one of them, she’s connected. No doubt about that.”
Matthew nodded. “And she’s not the least bit scared of running into real criminals out here. My guess? That ‘Bloodfin Gang’ didn’t vanish. They’re hiding, probably nearby…”
The two of them had already pieced together the situation in just a few quiet words.
The woman, sensing favonovel.com was being ignored, tried again.
“Good sirs, I still have a bit of money. I’d gladly offer It as a reward. And I’m just a woman, what harm could I possibly cause you?”
Matthew’s eyes narrowed as favonovel.com looked down at her. “Where’s your group hiding?”
Seeing this, favonovel.com face froze for a moment. Her eyes flicked instinctively to the right.
Bingo…
“They’re to the right,” Matthew said, voice suddenly louder. “Ryan, get the secondary cannon ready. Be prepared to fire on my mark…”
This time, favonovel.com didn’t bother lowering his voice.
“On it!” Ryan replied, already moving.
Panic spread across the woman’s face. “Wait! What are you talking about?”
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