MPWATMBC Chapter 109

The residents of the cave town were well aware of the pirates’ cruelty, yet naively believed that they were only cruel, not associating them with bloodshed, violence, or other darker implications. When Audie was captured, they merely assumed she would suffer violent harm, never considering anything beyond that. Ryan, maintaining a calm demeanor, observed Bandner. From Bandner’s restrained expression, it was clear that he knew the truth. After all, he wasn’t someone who had always hidden in the underground caves; having ventured out, he had seen and learned much more.

The people from the “East” came to the “West” once a month to work, often staying for about a week. Their tasks involved repairing the walls. It could be said that the safety fortress standing in the desert was stained with the blood, tears, pain, and sweat of the “Easterners.” Without their hard labor, the pirates would not have such a stable and comfortable living environment.

The burly pirate led the group to the section of the wall in need of repair. Pointing to the crude tools, he instructed, “There are a few more holes up there. Fix them. You have seven days. Otherwise, don’t even think about getting the potion.”

The vitamin that aids in calcium absorption was the lifeline the pirates used to control the “East.” Simply threatening to withhold it was enough to force the “Easterners” into compliance—an effective tactic time and again. The burly pirate despised these cowardly people, who only cowered underground like spineless weaklings. In fact, none of the pirates respected them. Why would anyone choose a sunless, oppressed life over the free-spirited existence of a pirate?

What was so bad about being a pirate? You could feast to your heart’s content, drink the finest, indulge your body without restraint, kill anyone who annoyed you, and live an unbridled life of pleasure.

Their pointless persistence would only drag them into an abyss of no return.

Of course, the burly pirate wasn’t eloquent enough to articulate such thoughts himself. He was merely repeating what the strategist had said. The strategist spoke of the “Easterners” with the same contempt. Over the centuries, their resistance had been so feeble that the pirates couldn’t even muster the interest to wipe them out. Instead, they occasionally toyed with them out of boredom, finding their panic and desperation to be amusing post-meal entertainment.

“The usual rules apply: during the wall repairs, you are not allowed to leave the area I’ve marked for you. Otherwise…” The burly pirate made a throat-slitting gesture, glaring at the group menacingly. “The leader’s little pets are more than happy to feast on fresh, raw meat. If any of you are eager to contribute, I’d be delighted.”

After the burly pirate left, everyone except Bandner obediently picked up their tools and began working. Ryan started to understand the naivety of the “Easterners”—being “domesticated” like this left them no way to come into contact with the pirates’ core operations.

“Tonight, we’ll sneak out and look for Audie. She must be hidden in one of the tents.”

“I think it’s the one near the flower spider. Pirates love feeding captives to the leader’s pets. I hope Audie is okay.”

“It’s already been two days…”

“Audie must be fine; otherwise, the burly one wouldn’t have been able to resist mentioning it when he saw us.”

“Exactly. That guy can’t hold back.”

“…”

Ryan shook his head. Not entirely hopeless, but still a bit adorably naive. Look, even the pirates had noticed this, leaving them without even a guard. Could this count as some unconventional way of lulling the pirates into a false sense of security?

Ryan took a couple of steps forward, watching as fan Lanting nodded slightly toward him before slipping quietly between the tents. As a scout, this was his duty. Only Bandner noticed Fan Lanting’s disappearance; the others remained oblivious. Ryan shook his head. Their awareness of their surroundings was far too poor—a trait that couldn’t be fixed overnight. Once the pirate problem was resolved… well, by then, they’d just be civilians, with no need for such sharp instincts.

Bandner: “After being under pirate control for so long, people have only learned to hide and forgotten how to resist.”

Ryan: “I understand. You’ll need to lead them in regaining their confidence.”

Bandner stared blankly ahead, his gaze falling on the tents layered one after another, just like the layers of difficulties he faced. “Can I really do that?”

Ryan: “Aren’t I helping you?”

Bandner looked at Ryan. “Helping me?” He carefully mulled over the words, and a glimmer of hope began to rise in his heart.

Ryan smiled, “Why else would I have brought you all here?”

He took a few steps back and casually leaned against the wall. Bandner looked at him, barely suppressing his impatience, and asked, “You’re still not making a move?”

“Yeah, still not making a move?” Ryan replied, meeting Bandner’s gaze.

Bandner pointed at himself, confusion giving way to sudden realization. Ryan had said that once they entered the “West,” they’d follow his lead. Using his position as a logistics officer, Ryan planned to meet with the pirate leader, persuading him to gather all the scattered pirates in one place—setting the stage for a decisive blow.

The thought of success, of ridding the wasteland planet of pirates once and for all, sent a shiver of excitement through Bandner. “I—I don’t know how to convince the pirate leader. I don’t even know how to approach him.”

“No, you do,” Ryan said, his gaze full of trust as it rested on Bandner. “You’ve always known.”

Under Ryan’s guidance, countless thoughts swirled in Bandner’s mind until he seized on the most crucial one—his sister, Audie. Her capture was an unexpected development, but it had inadvertently provided the perfect excuse to approach the pirate leader.

He had been consumed with worry for his sister’s safety, but once inside the walls, indecision had taken over. The mental shackles the pirates had placed on them were frighteningly effective. Without Ryan’s patient guidance, Bandner would never have connected these two threads and turned them into a plan.

“Thank you,” Bandner said to Ryan, gratitude evident in his voice.

Ryan replied, “Bandner, it’s up to you now.”

“Mm.” Bandner gave himself a mental boost. For his sister, for his people, he needed to take this bold step forward.

Ryan had timed everything perfectly, allowing enough moments for hesitation and inner struggle. By the time Bandner went to find the burly pirate, it aligned exactly with the latter’s expectations.

The burly pirate was sitting alone inside a tent near the main gate, legs propped up on the table as he watched a video. He held a watermelon larger than a bowl, taking a bite and spitting it out disdainfully because it wasn’t sweet enough.

“Well, here you are. I thought I wouldn’t see you until evening,” the burly pirate sneered at Bandner. He tilted his head to glance at the time. “Half an hour—ha, just about what I expected. I even gave you forty minutes. Not bad, not bad. You’re even a little early. Guess you really are a good brother after all.”

Bandner resisted the urge to look at Ryan, suppressing his anger as he pleaded, “I request to see the leader. I have something very important to discuss with him.”

The burly pirate tossed the half-eaten watermelon to the ground, where it shattered and spilled juice everywhere—a fruit the “Easterners” had never even seen, discarded without a second thought. “Let’s go. The leader gave instructions: “if you showed up, I’m to take you to him.”

Bandner’s gaze lingered on the watermelon—not out of hunger, but because he couldn’t stand the blatant waste of food. Clenching his fists, he said, “Thank you, leader, for thinking of me.”

“As I should,” the burly pirate replied, laughing heartily. Pretending to flatter, he added, “You’ll soon be family with the leader, after all, so of course, we’re thinking of you.”

Bandner stared at the burly pirate in shock. Though he had feared this outcome, his visible reaction was genuine. His little Audie, so proud and unyielding—how could she possibly endure such a thing?

The burly pirate laughed loudly as he headed out. Passing by “Rennie,” he reached out a large hand to smack Rennie’s backside, intending to feel the familiar plump bounce. But Ryan subtly shifted his position, as though merely adjusting his stance from standing too long, deftly avoiding the touch without arousing suspicion.

The burly pirate’s hand missed its target, and he clicked his tongue in regret. Still, he didn’t insist that “Rennie” stand still for a proper slap. “Hmm, something feels different,” he muttered to himself. “Too firm now—no bounce at all.”

He reminisced about a previous time when the sensation of a smack lingered pleasantly in his mind. However, the taut firmness had already dulled his interest. Missing this time didn’t bother him much—he let it go.

Ryan: “…” Once this was over, he couldn’t resist the thought of checking out Rennie’s backside himself. What kind of appeal could possibly leave pirates so obsessed?

Inside the walled oasis resided around 10,000 pirates. The oasis had a vast capacity, easily capable of accommodating more. Even if all the scattered pirates returned, there would still be enough room, water, food, and entertainment to go around. The pirates had operated here for centuries, and while it wasn’t well-maintained or prosperous, it was sufficient to sustain life.

Walking through the maze of large and small tents, one could see pirates of every kind—strong, frail, fully-limbed, or with missing parts—men and women, young and old alike. The common thread among them was their lethargy during the day. Even while playing cards, they yawned endlessly, looking as though they might fall asleep at any moment.

Most pirates were indeed asleep, sprawled in the shade provided by the tents, enjoying the leisure of the day.

Similar to how the “Easterners” had to hide in underground caves during the day, the desert’s scorching temperatures made outdoor activity unbearable. Even within the oasis, daytime temperatures hovered around 37 to 38 degrees Celsius. The heat induced a pervasive laziness, with sunlight lulling people into drowsiness. After a night of revelry, few pirates retained any vigor by daylight.

If someone did, it was certain they hadn’t come down from their stimulant high yet.

Ryan took note of the terrain and observed the pirates’ daily routines, forming a plan in his mind. The burly pirate led the two of them toward the heart of the oasis. The grass underfoot grew thicker, the towering date palms offered more shade, and the shimmering water surface drew closer. The air grew humid, and the cooler surroundings significantly lowered their body temperature.

There were few tents at the core of the oasis, and those that did exist were reserved for high-ranking pirates, such as the strategist and the pirate leader they were about to meet.

“Hissss~”

A large, colorful spider descended from above. Ryan, already prepared, pretended to be terrified, his face paling as he froze in place, too scared to move. The spider was covered in coarse, stiff hairs, its body adorned with vibrant patterns. On its abdomen, a fiery rose-shaped design formed, and in the center of the flower was a tuft of white fur that resembled a twisted, grotesque ghostly face. This wasn’t a native creature of the Savage Star; it was a “Ghostface Rose Spider” brought from another planet. Though not large—about the size of a corgi—it was highly venomous, capable of taking down ten elephants with a single bite.

However, due to its striking appearance and a temperament similar to a husky, it was beloved by certain pet enthusiasts, provided the venom sacs and fangs were removed during care.

The spider before them, however, clearly still had its venom sacs and fangs intact. It snarled, baring its teeth and hissing menacingly at Ryan. The tips of its fangs began to swell with venom, ready to strike and kill everyone in the vicinity within moments.

“Hua Hua,” a weak voice called out.

Reluctantly, the spider retracted its fangs, though its many eyes continued to fixate on Ryan.

The weak voice spoke again, “Rennie, you finally came.”

Ryan: “!!!” How many admirers does Rennie even have?!