Wearing British clothes as a second-generation aristocrat

76. Always eager for a good show

Captain Sparrow paced back and forth on the deck.

His palms unconsciously rubbed against the wooden railing of the boat, his eyes flickering with uncertainty, clearly indicating that he was struggling with a fierce internal struggle.

On one hand, there is the enormous risk of assisting foreign officers in raiding pirate dens, which could lead to diplomatic incidents.

On one side was the enormous amount of silver and jewelry hidden in the Philadelphia's secret compartments, a windfall that could make the entire crew rich overnight.

All eyes were quietly drawn to the hesitant captain and the vengeful Deckard.

Only Dugan remained calmly standing to the side.

Others couldn't understand his intention in encouraging Sparrow, and thought that Dugan was moved by Deckard's passionate speech and was happy to help him.

But only Dugan himself knew that from beginning to end, he had no lofty thoughts or chivalrous sentiments whatsoever.

The reason he did this was extremely simple—it was too boring.

It has been three months since I left Madras and set sail.

On the long ocean voyage, day after day there was only the blue sea and sky, the sunrise and sunset, the scenery was unchanging, and life on the ship was so boring and suffocating.

The prolonged solitude had almost worn down everyone's enthusiasm.

Dugan spends his days practicing yoga and meditating repeatedly to pass the time.

Now, a chance encounter with Stephen Deckard, the legendary naval hero who would later become famous in Europe and America and be praised by Nelson, and the classic historical moment of the capture of the USS Philadelphia, finally brought a bit of fun to Dugan's dull journey.

He didn't care about the risks in Tripoli, nor did he care whether the East India Company would be involved in any trouble.

From beginning to end, he was a complete spectator, always eager for more drama.

He knew history all too well, and he knew exactly what earth-shattering feats this down-and-out, lone young lieutenant would accomplish in the future.

The night raid on Tripoli port, the burning of a giant ship by a single vessel, and the breaching of a heavily fortified pirate defense line by a few dozen men were classic surprise attacks that are remembered by the entire European navy.

The legendary deeds that I had only read about in historical records in my previous life are now vividly presented before my eyes. With just a little encouragement, I can witness a heroic feat that will be recorded in history.

Such a once-in-a-lifetime excitement is far more interesting than sitting on a boat day after day, staring blankly at the sea.

As for the danger, Dugan didn't take it to heart at all.

Even if Sparrow is swayed by the wealth and finally agrees to assist De Cate, he will never personally go to the port and risk his life on the front lines.

He only needed to stay safely on the ship at the rear, acting as the most leisurely bystander, watching this grand drama unfold in peace.

Success means witnessing the birth of a legend firsthand, adding a unique perspective to a mundane journey.

The defeat was nothing more than an adventure that ended in vain, and had nothing to do with him.

As the saying goes, "Better to die a friend than a poor monk."

To put it bluntly, he was just using Deckard's passion and Sparrow's greed to find some fun and watch a good show during his long and boring journey home.

A faint, amused smile flickered across Dugan's eyes as he continued to watch Sparrow's hesitation without urging or persuading him, waiting for the scales in the other's heart to tip completely.

Dekat waited quietly for the captain's reply, then looked at Dugan with suspicion.

He still couldn't fathom the young British brigadier's thoughts, wondering why the other was willing to orchestrate his almost insane revenge for no reason. He could only assume that the other admired him and respected his fellow soldier's integrity.

A gentle sea breeze blows, and only the sails flutter in the wind.

Just as Sparrow was about to be completely swayed by greed and about to give in, the lookout on the bow tower suddenly raised his voice and shouted.

"Report! Observation of the sea area ahead completed! We have entered the waters near Ceuta!"

Ceuta, guarding the southern shore of the Strait of Gibraltar, is the northernmost chokepoint port in North Africa and the last gateway for the Atlantic Ocean to enter the Mediterranean Sea.

After passing the Ceuta Sea, continue eastward to the Mediterranean Sea, which is very close to Tripoli.

Heading north from Ceuta, you can reach Portugal.

"Captain, we have to make a choice," Dugan said calmly.

Everyone's mood immediately became tense, and as they arrived in the waters off Ceuta, they were instantly pushed to the brink.

The allure of the huge sums of military pay and pirate loot hidden in the Philadelphia's secret hold ultimately outweighed the merchant captain's fear of risk.

For ocean sailors who constantly live on the edge, stability is never their ultimate pursuit. An opportunity that could make everyone rich overnight is enough to make them take risks.

Sparrow let out a long breath, looked up at Deckard who was waiting for a reply, and finally relented.

"Young man, I can help you."

As soon as those words were spoken, Dekat's body, which had been tense for many days, suddenly relaxed.

"Thank you, Captain."

But Sparrow added, "However, this favor can't be done for free."

Sparrow held up two fingers and said, "First, if you want the Ceylon to cooperate fully and risk sailing into dangerous waters, you need to pay two hundred pounds in advance. Whatever you call it, this is the fee. I can't let my crew work for nothing."

'

"Secondly, I will select elite sailors from the ship for your command. These men are ruthless veterans, so you can rest assured. However, you must pay each of them a settlement allowance of ten pounds in advance."

Two hundred pounds for the boat fare, plus two hundred pounds for the sailors' accommodation, totaling four hundred pounds.

In this day and age, this is by no means a small amount; it's a substantial sum of money.

Dekat's face froze instantly, revealing deep embarrassment and helplessness.

He was full of passion and courage, unafraid of swords and spears, and undaunted by life and death, yet he was defeated by the most practical problem.

Just as the plot was about to reach its most awkward point, Dugan stepped forward at the right moment, calmly spoke up, and broke the deadlock.

He was only interested in watching the excitement and seeking thrills, so naturally he wouldn't let this legendary drama about to unfold be ruined by a mere few hundred pounds.

£400 is a huge sum for others, but for Dugan, while it's not a small amount either, it's not a major blow.

"I'll take care of the money."

Dekat suddenly turned to look at Dugan, her eyes filled with astonishment and disbelief.

He had no relation to the British brigadier general, yet the general had already offered his assistance, providing him with food and clothing, and now was even going so far as to advance him a huge sum of money. This kindness was so profound that it made him uneasy.

"God will bless you," Dekat said gratefully, tears welling up in her eyes.

Captain Sparrow was also slightly taken aback, then shook his head with a smile. He knew that this young nobleman was generous and obviously didn't care about the money.

Dugan said, "I can lend you three hundred pounds immediately to cover your fare and the sailors' accommodation. Put the shortfall on my account, and I will pay you back when we get to London."

Three hundred pounds was enough to cover most of the expenses and allow this adventurous plan to start smoothly.

With a solemn expression and extremely serious demeanor, Dekat immediately borrowed paper and pen from the crew and carefully wrote down an IOU by the deck railing, clearly indicating the amount borrowed, the borrower's name, and the repayment commitment, with neat handwriting.

Stephen Decker then handed the IOU to Dugan with both hands.

Dugan casually took the IOU, folded it haphazardly, and stuffed it into his pocket, not caring about the money at all.

What he wanted was not repayment, but the spectacular show that was about to unfold and go down in history.

With the money settled and all obstacles cleared, Sparrow had no more worries.

At the captain's command, the red and blue flag, symbolizing the East India Company's official status and flying high at the top of the mast, was slowly lowered. Immediately afterwards, a Maltese merchant flag was quickly raised, fluttering in the wind.

Maltese merchant ships belonged to neither Britain nor France, making it the safest way to traverse the Mediterranean, avoid scrutiny from all sides, and maintain a disguised identity.