Loud thunks of wood dropped against the surface and fell so hard it shook the slaves to wake up. They all squinted as they were greeted with the harsh glares of the sun. The crates are open, The knots and sacks are no longer seen from their cracks. The morning breeze gives a gentle chill that is far from the cruelty of yesterday's vibe.

“You're all free.” Era said calmly.

All the slaves turned to her with eyes wide. “What?” they all said, astonished. “Is this a game?” one of the slaves mumbled, still bloodshot surprised. This must be an elaborate scheme to play with their new toys.

“What the hell are you looking at me for?” Era smiled widely at the men and women in front of her, the pirates laughing at the crowd. They must be crazy, Grey thought.

“Listen all of you.” Era paced in a rough circle, looking sternly at each person in crowd that has gathered around her.

“You are standing on The Grimalkin,” the pirate stopped and pointed her finger at the ship’s largest sail. It bears a winged tiger flying above a black cloud. “this ship only means one single thing. Freedom! And that’s why from now on, you're all free men and women. You can leave this ship or you can stay and help me plunder, pillage, and get rich! 'tis fine with me either way.” she declared. The slaves look at each other with confused faces, blinking and trying to make sense of what just happened.

Era walked towards a slave, “You wanna be free or you wanna be a pirate?” The slave shifted his eyes, unable to look at the pirate queen.

“Uhh.. pirate?” the dark man replied, unsure.

“Very well! Give this man some clothes!” Era shouted. The crew howled and cried back in unison. Two pink-haired crew members threw him a shirt, pants, and a pair of black pirate boots. The slave smiled lopsidedly and went along when the crew members pat him on the back and grabbed him with their elbows. “Who’s next! Come on, no need to be shy! Come forth!”, Era exclaimed tapping her cane at the wooden floor.

“You! Come here!” The pirate pointed at the brown haired kid from the back. The kid followed, clearly nervous. “Gimme your answer, boy.”

Trembling, he slowly looked up and turned his gaze at the pirate queen, only to find her already glaring at him. He anxiously replied. “P~Pirate?”

Era paused for a moment, inspecting the kid from head to foot. She waved her hand and a red haired pirate promptly appeared beside her.

“You’re a bit skinny… seems will have to feed you more in this crew!” Era said, making the kid more anxious. “Give him a jacket lads!” The pirate crew immediately celebrated. Howling once more. The red haired handed the boy his new clothes, the boy tearfully grinned ear to ear clutching his crisp new clothes.

“How about you?” Era faced the woman beside Grey, “Whatchu gonn’ be hmmm?” she said as she pursed her lips playfully. The woman gulped.

“Free? Pirate? What is it?”

The woman looked at the pirate queen nervously, “I wish to be free.” said said, her voice determined and her eyes suddenly glassy.

The crew suddenly fell silent. The pirate queen placed her hands on the woman's shoulders and looked her in the eyes with concern. “Why?”

“My family, they’re waiting for me.” She looked down and her lips started quivering, “The hunters raided our village and set everything on fire. My eldest son fought back while I hold onto his little brother and sister. We ran for the forest but the other hunters catch up quick. I hid my children in a small cave under a tree root and ran away to distract them.” The woman broke into tears. “M-my children…my children, they are still waiting for me there, I know it.”

Era turned to one of her crew, eyes red. The crew nodded, promptly bolting towards them and handing over a dress, a cloak, and a bag of food.

“Go.”

“G-go..?” The woman looked up quizzically with eyes lit up and puffy from all the tears. “Y-you’re letting me go?” she asked, with lips still trembling. “No planks? Or c-crate returns?”, the woman asked nervously.

The pirate queen shook her head and once again said, “Go.” with stern and hopeful eyes. She then placed a silver in the woman's hand and tucked it to her fingers firmly, “If you need help… you know how to find me.” Era pointed at her sail, it depicts a huge winged tiger painted in yellow and black stripes. The woman cried more and sobbed at the pirate queen, giving her a heartfelt hug. The crew escorted the woman to the port deck, placed her onto the spare raft, and gently placed her bag next to her, they started to untie the knot and moved the pulley to have the raft descended. The woman cried in disbelief, happily waving goodbye to the others.

Grey still has no idea about what the hell is happening.

“How about you gold coins?” Grey turned and found the pirate queen in front of him, smiling playfully like a cat who swallowed a canary, sniffling, eyes still reddish. “You wanna be free?”