Another ship, another poor bastard thinking they could out-sail rumor. The merchant vessel hadn't even had time to fire a single round, which was really disappointing. No challenge, no noise, just fear thick in the air and coin ripe for the taking.

“Stripe it all clean. The crates, the powder, every damn apple if there’s any left,” he barked again, the last part more tired than angry. The last meal had been a canned bean sludge they eat for a whole week, and if he see another can of those beans in the pantry, the cook’s going overboard with them.

"And a hostage too."

A few heads turned at that but nobody spoke, until Jadan, thick-necked and thicker-skulled, scratched his beard and grinned through cracked teeth. “Captain finally gettin’ lonely at night?”

“You only need to know it’s necessary,” Naib muttered, eyes back on the prisoners. A hostage is not just for ransom—though that never hurt—but for leverage. As bait if the navy came sniffing, or to bluff their way into another merchant’s trust. Maybe just for information if the bastard knew trade routes.

A groan rose from the huddle of captives, bound at the wrists and looking every flavor of terrified. He walked past the first few, none worth the trouble. Most were slumped, shaking, staring anywhere but toward him. Useless, weak hands, and softer minds. Until he saw the one who stared back. They are either braver than the rest or too dumb to piss themself, either works. Either would serve.

Naib crouched down, tilted their chin up with two fingers. “Pretty face,” he said flatly, narrowing his eyes. “Won’t save you.”

Naib stood and yanked them up with him, keeping a firm grip just above the elbow. “Don’t worry, we ain’t monsters. That’s just what people scream when we’re takin’ their bread. You keep that mouth shut and legs where they’re told, we won’t have problems.” A flicker of amusement twitched the corner of his mouth before it hardened again.

“This one come with us. Kick the others back to their ship,” he called, nodding to the trembling sailors behind them. “And we sail once this deck is clean.”

The crew cheered without question and off they go. "Welcome aboard," he muttered under his breath.