The Black Pearl returned to the island like a bad memory. The harbor was different now. Where before there had been lazy confidence, there was tension. Men stood straighter. Eyes lingered longer. Hands rested closer to weapons.
Jack Sparrow stepped onto the dock as though none of that concerned him.
Rum bottle in hand. Hat tilted just enough to look deliberate. Boots scuffed, coat stained, expression relaxed.
Enoy was waiting.
He had prepared himself for this moment. He told himself he had. But preparation meant very little when Jack Sparrow smiled at you like that.
Enoy's eyes flicked to the man being led behind Jack—tall, bandaged, wrists loosely bound with rope.
Van Augur.
Enoy's pupils shrank.
Jack noticed immediately.
"Well," Jack said pleasantly, slowing his pace just enough to savor it, "that look right there tells me you weren't confident."
Enoy swallowed. "I—"
"Didn't think we'd pull it off?" Jack leaned closer, voice conspiratorial. "Or did Beach think we'd die trying?"
Enoy blinked hard and snapped back to himself. "It's Boss Bege," he said sharply. "Not Beach."
Jack waved a dismissive hand. "Whatever he's calling himself these days."
He started walking again without waiting. "Come on. I'd like my money before something exciting happens."
Enoy hurried after him, every step heavy with unease. "Did you even read the paper?"
Jack took a long drink of rum. "Gibbs' thing."
"What?"
"He reads," Jack explained patiently. "I drink. Occasionally I play gin rummy with a child and lose spectacularly. Then I drop the losses on Pintel."
Pintel nodded proudly behind them. "Captain's privilege."
Enoy felt his headache bloom. He fumbled into his coat and pulled out the newspaper, flipping pages as he walked. His finger jabbed at a small boxed article.
"You toppled a kingdom," Enoy hissed.
Jack stopped.
Turned slowly.
"Yes?" he said, as though Enoy had just commented on the weather.
"That king was recognized by the World Government!" Enoy snapped. "Do you understand the implications?!"
Jack squinted at the printed photograph. "Flag looks good."
Enoy stared at him. "That's your takeaway?"
Jack frowned thoughtfully. "I was hoping for front page."
Enoy pressed his fingers into his temples. Why did he care? Why was he the one panicking when the man responsible looked mildly disappointed by layout choices?
He shoved the paper away and pulled out bounty posters instead. "This is happening whether you like it or not."
Jack took his poster and studied it carefully.
"…That's a lot of zeroes."
"One hundred million berries," Enoy said weakly. "Highest bounty for a pirate not yet in the Grand Line."
Jack nodded, impressed. "That's good, right?"
Pintel leaned in eagerly. "Mine?"
Enoy handed it over.
Pintel stared at the image: him mid-slap, face twisted, an old hag's hand connecting squarely with his cheek.
Silence.
"…I have no comments," Pintel said flatly.
Ragetti patted his shoulder. "At least it's accurate."
Gibbs glanced at his own poster. "Thirty-five million. Marines will be hunting us now. Not like they didn't hunt us before but now they will be actively looking for us."
Augur accepted his without reaction.
Marksman Van Augur — 50,000,000 berries.
Jack clapped his hands together. "Right. Business."
They entered Capone Bege's office.
The room smelled of smoke and money. Bege stood behind his desk, cigar lit, smile already forming. It widened when his gaze settled on Augur.
"Jack Sparrow," Bege said smoothly. "You've certainly created waves."
"Normal day," Jack replied.
Bege gestured. Enoy moved quickly, dragging out four heavy bags. They hit the floor with satisfying weight.
Jack shook Bege's hand. Firm. Friendly.
Too friendly.
Bege noticed.
Jack Sparrow wasn't nervous. Not even slightly.
Bege's attention returned to Augur.
"So," Bege said, circling him. "The great marksman."
He began to boast. His influence. His reach. How foolish it was to cross him.
Then the insults came. Subordinates killed. Operations disrupted. Inconveniences piled up.
Finally, Bege stopped in front of Augur, grin turning sharp.
"I'm going to make an example of you," he said quietly. "So no one ever tries this again."
Augur met his gaze, unblinking. "I don't fear you."
That was when Enoy snapped.
He shoved Augur hard.
Augur stumbled—caught himself.
The rope slackened.
Then snapped.
The sound was soft. Final.
Bege's smile froze.
Jack's sword slid free with a whisper.
Gibbs raised his flintlock.
Pintel drew his spike.
Ragetti tossed Augur his rifle. "Here."
Augur caught it easily. "Thank you."
Bege's cigar fell from his mouth.
"Treachery," Bege snarled.
Jack shrugged. "We're pirates, mate."
"BASTARDS!" Bege's coat shifted.
Metal unfolded.
The room exploded into gunfire.
Enoy dove behind the desk—only to find Pintel already crouched there.
They stared at each other.
Pintel smiled.
Enoy smiled back—out of habit.
Then realization hit. A bit late.
Pintel's spike connected with Enoy's skull.
He dropped without a sound. The desk toppled.
Bege turned slowly.
Pintel met his gaze and gave a small, apologetic smile.
Bege returned it. But his was colder.