Inside the cave, the firelight flickered, casting dancing shadows on two contrasting faces.
One was young and cold, the other pale and scarred, drained of life. The warmth of the flames pushed back the chill in the air, but it could not dispel the tension and wariness between the two men.
Barron sat beside the fire, a wooden spear held firmly in his hand, its tip pointed directly at the man opposite him.
"Now, tell me everything." His voice was low, but carried a weight that allowed no refusal.
The man coughed, struggling to lift his head. His lips were cracked from blood loss, but his eyes held a flicker of defiance.
"My name is Kane… Kane Grey. I was once part of the Blackfin Alliance. I managed one of their smuggling routes…" He paused, seeming to choose his words carefully.
Barron didn't rush him. His gaze remained cold and steady.
Kane continued, "You know how the Blackfin Alliance operates—brutes who believe strength is the only law. But that route… I ran it for three years. I didn't use my fists. I used my head."
He let out a bitter chuckle, though there was no pride in his expression.
"Why did you betray them?" Barron cut in.
Kane looked up, meeting his eyes.
"Because I didn't want to die for nothing." There was a deep bitterness in his voice.
Lowering his head, he went on, "I made them a lot of money. But that also made me a threat. The Blackfin Alliance doesn't tolerate anyone becoming too important.
That means danger. Last month, they sent people to 'take over' my route. My men were slaughtered. I escaped with my life."
Barron remained unreadable. His wooden spear nudged forward slightly.
"You think this story will earn my trust?"
Kane's face grew paler, but he forced himself to stay calm.
"I know… words aren't enough." He reached into his coat with difficulty and pulled out a crumpled piece of parchment, offering it to Barron.
"This is the only proof I have."
Barron took the parchment and unfolded it. It was a sea chart, marked with hidden routes and the locations of various outposts. Each point was accompanied by brief notes.
"These are the Blackfin Alliance's secret outposts in these waters," Kane said with quiet sincerity.
Barron's eyes scanned the map, his mind working quickly.
The information looked detailed—too precise to be fabricated. His finger traced the parchment and stopped at one location marked "Secondary Supply Depot," not far from their current position.
"What's this?" he asked.
Kane swallowed hard. "It's one of their small arms caches. I've resupplied there before. Lightly guarded, but it holds weapons and ammunition. If you're planning to build a force of your own, it's a good place to start."
Barron stared into Kane's eyes, as if trying to determine if he was lying.
"Why tell me this?"
Kanr took a deep breath and gave a crooked smile.
"Because I don't have a choice. You saved me, but I know if I can't prove my worth, I'll be worse off than dying at sea."
He paused before continuing. "I can see it—you hate the Blackfin Alliance. I do too. They destroyed everything I had. But I can't fight them alone. If you're willing to give me a chance, I can help."
Barron was silent. His gaze remained sharp, but slowly, his grip on the spear relaxed.
"Very well," he said, his tone laced with danger.
Kane let out a breath of relief, but Barron's next words made sweat break out on his back.
"But if you're lying, I'll make you wish you drowned."
Kane nodded stiffly, his bitter smile frozen on his lips.
His wounds would take time to heal, but Barron gave him no room to rest. At dawn the next day, the two men set sail in Barron's small boat, using the chart to plot a course toward the so-called "Secondary Supply Depot."
Over the next few days, they observed the depot from a distance. As Kane had said, its defenses were light. The site served primarily as a weapons cache, guarded by no more than a dozen men.
Barron stabbed his wooden spear into the sand and sketched the depot's layout with his finger.
"The warehouse is in the center. The guards are stationed at outer posts. You'll draw their attention. I'll slip in from the side." His tone brooked no disagreement.
Kane frowned, voice low. "They have guns. This is a reckless plan."
Barron looked up, eyes sharp as blades.
"If you have a better one, speak now."
Kane had no answer. He sighed in resignation.
"Fine. I'll draw the guards."
As night fell, the two crept toward the depot. Following the plan, Kane banged a stone against a tree, the sound echoing through the darkness.
"Who's there?" Two guards moved toward the sound, weapons raised.
At the same time, Barron slipped toward the warehouse. He cut through the crude chains with his blade and pushed open the door. Inside, his breath caught for a moment: crates stacked neatly, filled with muskets, ammunition, and blades.
He checked a few of the boxes to confirm the contents, then lit several torches and planted them near the entrance to create a distraction.
A distant shout rang out—Kane's voice.
"Run! They've spotted us!"
Barron grabbed a crate of weapons and bolted. The two regrouped and jumped into a small boat moored nearby, escaping under the cover of night.
Back on the island, they sorted their haul: over a dozen muskets, two crates of ammunition, and several short swords. Not enough to challenge the Blackfin fleet, but more than enough for a small strike force.
Kane leaned against a rocky wall, gasping for breath, his face wry.
"Guess your plan worked after all."
Barron tossed a short sword at his feet, voice cold.
"From now on, you have to prove you're worth these."
Kane nodded, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.
At sunrise, Barron stood on the shore, staring at the horizon. He knew this was only the beginning. If he truly wanted to challenge the Blackfin Alliance, they would need more—much more.
Kane approached from behind, voice low.
"This island isn't safe. If the Alliance tracks us here, we won't stand a chance. I know a safe route to a remote island. There's a small trading post. We can restock, repair the ship."
Barron didn't respond right away. His fingers tapped lightly against his leg, weighing the risks.
"You're sure the route is safe?" he finally asked.
Kaen nodded. "I've sailed it many times. If we stay low and avoid major routes, no one will find us."
Barron thought for a moment longer, then rose to his feet.
"Then let's move."