Chapter 114-Taken the bait

Chapter 114: 114-Taken the bait

The first warning came from the outer surveillance system at sunrise.

[Warning! Multiple unauthorized vessels approaching the ship.]

Aymara was in the control room with Nathaniel when the alert appeared. She glanced at the screen, expecting another group of desperate survivors searching for help.

However, when the system displayed the approaching vessels, her expression gradually turned cold.

Several heavily armed ships advanced across the ocean in a tight formation. Their weapons were visible even through the surveillance cameras, and their movements suggested they had no intention of asking politely for anything.

Nathaniel leaned closer to the screen. "More pirates?" He asked. "Maybe they are here for Marcus and Daniel?"

"Most likely." Aymara rested her chin on one hand. "They seem to be getting bolder and bolder."

"Should we change course?"

"No. Why should we?" She gave him a lazy smile. "They’re the ones coming to us. Let them enjoy the journey."

Nathaniel studied the approaching fleet, his expression growing serious. "Mara, they have quite a number of vessels. We shouldn’t underestimate them."

"I’m not underestimating them. I’m simply not impressed by their fleets."

She tapped the control panel and enlarged the image of the largest ship. Several armed men stood on its deck, while a tall, broad-shouldered man occupied the front, surveying the ocean with the confidence of someone who believed everything he saw belonged to him.

Just as she was about to move the angle, another figure caught her attention.

A familiar woman stood near the captain. The sight of her made Aymara’s smile disappear.

"Well, well," she smiled, pleased. Sarah had taken the bait.

Nathaniel turned toward her. "What is it?"

"Look who’s decided to visit. I was starting to miss her."

She zoomed in further until Sarah’s face appeared clearly on the screen. Beside her stood Dylan, looking considerably less pleased with his circumstances than he had in their previous encounters.

Aymara simply stared at them for several seconds before she started laughing.

Her laught was not because anything was particularly funny, but because the sheer audacity of those two people had left her speechless.

"They really don’t know when to stop, do they?"

Nathaniel’s fingers tightened around the armrest. Dylan, the sight of him made his blood run cold.

Even from the screen, the sight of that man brought back memories Nathaniel would rather have buried.

He remembered the years Aymara had spent prioritizing Dylan over everyone else, the way she had slowly withdrawn from their friendship, and the loneliness that had followed.

Nathaniel had once watched her choose Dylan repeatedly until there was nothing left for him to do but step aside.

Now Dylan had returned, and this time he hadn’t come alone.

"Should we immediately switch to offense mode?" Nathaniel asked quietly.

"In due time, Nate," Aymara leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. "Let’s hear what they have to say. I’m curious about how they’ll explain this little reunion."

---

Captain Rourke stood at the front of his vessel, staring at the magnificent cruise ship ahead.

Even from a distance, it was unlike anything he had encountered since the apocalypse began.

Its enormous structure rose above the ocean with an intimidating elegance.

The outer hull appeared undamaged despite the chaos of the past few days, and the ship’s design suggested that its owner had invested an absurd amount of money in both luxury and security.

More importantly, it showed no signs of the desperation visible on other surviving vessels.

No one was fighting over supplies on its deck. No desperate survivors were waving their hands for help. There were no visible signs of a breakdown in order.

It looked like a floating fortress. Rourke’s eyes shone with greed. "That is one beautiful ship."

Sarah stood beside him, her gaze fixed on the cruise. "I told you."

Though she acted tough, underneath, she was burning with jealousy and anger. She had thought that she had prepared a good ship compared to Aymara, her efforts looked like dirt to a mountain.

In the first week, she’d already lost but Aymara was safe and sound in her ship. The difference was too large. ’How does she get to live well?’

"You certainly did." He chuckled. "And you were right about its size."

Dylan could barely contain himself. He had imagined this moment countless times since Sarah had revealed Aymara’s location.

He had pictured himself standing before Aymara, explaining his circumstances and persuading her to forgive him. Perhaps she would be angry at first, but he knew how to deal with her anger. He had done it before.

All he needed was a chance to speak with her privately. Once he was aboard that ship, everything could change and he would no longer have to endure the miserable conditions of his current life.

It was a desperate gamble. One he needed to take to secure his future.

’I’m finally here,’ he cheered in his heart.

Rourke raised a communication device. "Attention, Aymara!" His voice boomed across the water. "We know you’re receiving this transmission. Shut down your weapons and prepare to surrender your vessel!"

Inside the control room, Aymara stared at the screen. She looked at Nathaniel. "Did he just tell me to surrender my ship?"

Nathaniel’s lips twitched. "It would appear so."

"How considerate of him to inform me of my own responsibilities."

She pressed a button. The communication channel opened. "Who are you, and why are you shouting at my ship?" Her voice came through the pirates’ speakers, calm and clear.

Rourke grinned. "I’m Captain Rourke. You can make this easy for yourself, sweetheart. Hand over your ship, your supplies, and your weapons. Do that, and my men might let you live."

Aymara blinked. "Is that so?"

"Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can fight us. Look around you. We have multiple vessels and enough armed men to overwhelm your defenses. You can surrender peacefully, or we can take everything by force."

Aymara glanced at the display showing the pirate fleet. She sighed.

"That’s a very impressive speech. Did you rehearse it?"

Several pirates exchanged confused looks. Rourke’s smile faltered.

"What did you say?"

"I asked whether you rehearsed it. You sound like someone who memorized a villain’s lines and is now waiting for applause."

Nathaniel struggled to suppress his laughter. Aymara was so unhinged it was too good not to laugh.

Rourke’s expression darkened. "You arrogant little..."

"Anyway, I’m busy." Aymara interrupted him. "If you have nothing useful to say, please stop wasting my time."

She ended the transmission. The pirate captain stood motionless and then his face twisted with fury. "That woman dares to humiliate me?"

Sarah quickly stepped forward. "Captain, don’t let her provoke you. She’s always been like that. She thinks money and technology make her untouchable."

Rourke turned toward her. "Then we’ll show her what happens when someone challenges us."

He raised his weapon and pointed it toward the cruise ship.

"All vessels, prepare to board! I want that ship taken intact. Kill anyone who gets in our way!"