accuser, Chris was already br.i.m.m.i.n.g with confidence; so much so, he couldn’t sniff up the thick conspiracy behind that question. Chris bluntly interrupted.

"Go ahead, but if your question cannot incriminate me of crime, then I hope to be released from trial."

"Not a problem." The accusing party replied in deep significance.

He then raised the list of merchandise, before loudly reciting the final point on it.

"My final question is, would the respected Mr Chris explain the source of the 21,316 gold guineas found in your shop?

Chris was dumbstruck, sensing that he had suddenly been submerged deep into a whirlpool of conspiracy. His body broke out in cold sweat, as he exclaimed frantically.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible. I only have 10,000 guineas in my shop!"

The investigating officer revealed a mocking sneer.

"Ho, every convict that I’ve taken would also demonstrate wondrous acting skills, and be crying helplessly. Regrettably, not a single one managed to escape from the clutches of the law! Mr Chris, perhaps you deemed that hiding your guineas is a fantastic idea, yet unfortunately, my lads possess noses of hunting dogs, eagle eyes and the ears of bats. As long as your are guilty, they will definitely catch the melon by following traces on the vines!"

At this moment, Chris noticed Sheyan standing by the window of his trial court, where he was gently smiling at him; as though bidding farewell to an old comrade. The despairing Chris immediately rummaged for a saving rice straw, as he cried aloud in enlightened fas.h.i.+on.

"I know it, your excellency, someone is framing me! Hiding 20,000 gold guineas in my shop to set me up."

Hoots of laughter erupted from the jury towards Chris’s argument. At this moment, several marines exerted themselves while hauling a ma.s.sive chest towards the magistrate, before flipping its lid open. The alluring s.h.i.+mmers of gold coins resonated into the eyes of everyone within a flash.

"Ah, what a blissful entrapment!!" The magistrate praised. "Mr Chris, I have already dealt with pirates, smugglers, bandits, wh.o.r.es, and murderers for over three decades; issuing the punishment of the law to countless convicts. I believe the amount of individuals that hate me, is ten folds that of yours. Yet up till to date, n.o.body has ever used 20,000 guineas, oh, no, not even risking 20 guineas to frame me."

"Alright fine! Even if I can accept such an absurd a.s.sumption of framing, the heavy volume of 20,000 gold guineas right before our eyes cannot be discounted; it isn’t mere s.h.i.+llings which can be kept in pockets. This is 20,000 gold guineas we are talking about! A weighty treasure chest that requires two strong men to heave up!"

"If one transported 20,000 gold guineas into my house, I believe my neighbors would definitely notice such an affair. Mr Chris, if you were to suggest to be such an extravagant entrapment of 20,000 guineas had been s.h.i.+fted into your store without a sound, without anyone discovering it; then I have reasons to believe, that you are insulting me. No, that you are insulting us; the intellect of the entire governing office, the jury and even the citizens outside."

Lord Ben Fleming stood up with a sullen expression. Just when everyone thought he would speak, he picked up his crutches before wearing his cap and left without a word. This revered Lord’s complexion was tremendously ugly because he had obviously been ‘slapped’ by the magistrate in the face. However, the main reason was due to the 20,000 gold guineas profit that Chris acquired from smuggling, because, he hadn’t gained a single dividend of it!!!!

Hence, he could infer with heartache and disappointment. Since 20,000 gold guineas had been discovered today, what about tomorrow or the following that, or weeks or months. How many of such personal golden-bright and dazzling adorable little objects would be discovered????

Lord Ben Fleming felt his righteousness had been besmirched, and he himself bore deep grudges against individuals who deceived himself.

There was no longer any dissent for his trial following that. Chris was converted from a respected gentleman into a criminal, and was forced to penal servitude. With Norrington’s style of sparing no efforts at governance, Port Royal had indeed lacked manpower for their construction works.

From henceforth, Chris’s trading company and all his property was confiscated by the government. In other words, all his painstaking establishments had gone up in smoke due to Sheyan’s casual tossing of 20,000 gold guineas!!

Forced to change into prisoner robes, Chris’s eyes revealed a hysterical madness as he glared towards where Sheyan was standing. Then, he released an abrupt fanaticall laugher as he thought.

"Do you think you’ve won? You really think I will remain pa.s.sive?"

If Sheyan had witnessed Chris’s expression, he would definitely become slightly vigilant. Sadly, lady luck did not constantly s.h.i.+ne on him, and the cruel reality was that Sheyan missed that scene.

Nothing else noteworthy happened following that, as Sheyan left two subordinates at the pier to keep careful watch over the whereabouts of Captain Jack Sparrow. Then, he returned to his s.h.i.+p and started making preparations for the auction the next day. Apart from that, Sheyan proceeded to arrange future scenarios. For example, the question about reacting if his ident.i.ty were to become exposed, or the morale and unhappiness of those pirates that couldn’t come ash.o.r.e.

Night time. Sheyan had fallen asleep, but not forgetting to reserve pirates to keep watch at night beforehand.

Deep in slumber during the middle of the night, a sudden light but dull odour a.s.sailed his nose.

All of a sudden, Sheyan sprung up from bed. As he breathed deeply, he could confirm that pervading odour in the air was the dull stench of blood!!

By now, Reef and Mogensha was similarly woken up. The trio could fathom an abnormal quietness lingering within the surroundings; not even the cricking of bugs from the island could be heard.

After carefully differentiating from the rhythmic waves slapping against the beach, they realized an unexplainable dripping sound – the stifling sound of blood soaking through the cracks of the upper deck, before dripping down onto the lower deck….