The back garden of the Governor's Mansion was exceptionally quiet amidst the night and the chaotic sounds from afar.
Roger, with Billy and Hanson, moved silently along the wall like civet cats.
Their movements were light and swift, completely unlike a group of burly pirates.
People always unleash their greatest potential when doing bad things.
At least, Roger thought so.
These two could totally be assassins.
"Captain, is that the window?"
Hanson lowered his voice, pointing to the only lit room on the second floor.
On the room's balcony, a graceful figure in a luxurious long dress stood by the railing.
She seemed to be looking worriedly in the direction of the banquet hall.
It was their target, Elizabeth Swann.
"That's right."
Roger nodded.
He untied a slender rope from his waist, at the end of which was a small and exquisite four-pronged grappling hook.
It was far superior to Jack's shoddy contraption.
Ever since he bought it, Roger had been training professionally.
He never expected it to come in handy today.
Roger weighed the grappling hook, flicked his wrist, and the hook flew out silently, accurately latching onto the second-floor balcony railing.
After a gentle tug to confirm it was secure, Roger winked at Billy and Hanson.
"I'll go up first, you two cover me below."
With that, Roger climbed clumsily up the rope, hand over hand.
Two minutes later, Roger, panting heavily, clambered onto the second-floor balcony.
Billy and Hanson watched from below, dumbfounded.
"Holy… Captain… he?"
"His movements seem a bit… uncoordinated?"
Billy felt his jaw about to drop.
"Shut up! Stay vigilant!"
Although Hanson also found it somewhat amusing, he maintained the vigilance of an old pirate.
He raised his flintlock pistol, warily observing his surroundings.
Elizabeth had already returned to her room.
She was worried about the safety of her father and Norrington, completely unaware that someone else had appeared on the balcony.
"Miss Swann, good evening."
"The moonlight is so beautiful, don't you feel a little lonely standing here alone in the breeze?"
Elizabeth jumped, turning her head sharply.
She saw a young man, dressed in ragged clothes but with an unusually tall and straight figure, leaning against the balcony doorframe, smiling at her.
He was very handsome, with a smile that was hard to decipher.
"Who are you? How did you get here?!"
Elizabeth, being the Governor's daughter, had seen grand occasions.
After her initial panic, she quickly composed herself and demanded sharply.
"Who I am isn't important."
Roger slowly approached her.
"What's important is that necklace around your neck, Miss, I like it very much."
His gaze fell directly on Elizabeth's fair neck.
Elizabeth instinctively covered her chest, retreating repeatedly.
"You… what do you want? I warn you, this is the Governor's Mansion! The Guards will be here any moment…"
"Guards?" Roger scoffed.
"They're probably busy getting intimately acquainted with a bunch of lovely Mr. Bees right now."
Elizabeth's expression changed.
Only then did she realize that the chaos over there was likely caused by this man in front of her.
He was a pirate!
"You shameless pirate!"
"You won't get anything from me!" A determined glint flashed in Elizabeth's eyes.
She grabbed a heavy vase from beside the balcony and hurled it at Roger.
Roger hadn't expected this delicate young lady to be so fierce.
How could he, a weakling, dodge it?
With a 'bang,' the vase landed squarely on his shoulder.
"Hiss—" Roger gasped in pain.
Damn it, this girl was too ruthless!
He rubbed his numb shoulder, a surge of anger rising in him.
I'm speaking to you nicely, and you dare to attack me?
It seems that for a fiery girl like this, being too gentle won't work.
While Elizabeth was momentarily stunned, Roger lunged forward, grabbing her wrist directly.
"Let go of me! You scoundrel!"
Elizabeth struggled violently.
The fingernails of her other hand ruthlessly clawed at Roger's face.
Roger, a modern civilized man, had never encountered such a situation.
On the ship, he relied on his brains and authority.
When it came to a real fight, he couldn't even beat Billy's little finger.
Now, being scratched and clawed by a woman, he was momentarily flustered.
"Damn it! You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!"
Roger's face stung from her scratches, and his temper completely flared up.
He no longer cared for her delicate beauty; his other arm directly encircled Elizabeth's waist, lifting her entirely.
Then he roughly pressed her against the balcony railing.
"Ah!"
Elizabeth let out a startled cry.
Her body was restrained, unable to move.
Her beautiful eyes were filled with terror and anger.
She thought this pirate was about to do something untoward to her.
Sure enough!
Roger didn't even look at her face.
His eyes, from beginning to end, were fixed on her chest!
Elizabeth closed her eyes, quietly waiting for Roger's next move.
She could feel Roger tearing at her collar.
However, with a pain in the back of her neck, Elizabeth opened her eyes.
Roger was pinching the chain from which the aztec gold coin hung.
It turned out the chain had been roughly torn by him… Roger snatched the aztec gold coin into his hand and examined it closely.
The warm touch, the ancient skull pattern, and that faint, chilling aura.
That's right! It was it!
[New holy relic fragment detected.]
[Item Name: Cursed aztec gold coin (2/882)]
In his mind, the system's prompt sounded at the opportune moment.
Roger's mood instantly brightened.
He tucked the aztec gold coin into his pocket, then released his grip on Elizabeth.
"Alright, Miss Swann, my apologies for the offense."
Roger clapped his hands, his face resuming that mischievous smile.
"Now, I need to 'invite' you to come with us."
Elizabeth was still frozen in place, her mind a mess.
She clutched her slightly torn collar, looking at this man who had just been incredibly rough with her, and now was acting politely, completely unable to understand the situation.
He… he went to all this trouble, creating chaos and sneaking into the Governor's Mansion, and in the end… it was just to steal my worthless necklace?
He didn't even… bother to look at me again?
An indescribable complex emotion, mixed with relief, humiliation, and a hint of annoyance, surged in Elizabeth's heart.
She felt an unprecedented insult.
This insult was even more distressing than being assaulted by a pirate.
"You… you scoundrel!"
Elizabeth trembled with rage.
"Thank you for the compliment, beautiful lady."
Roger bowed to her in a standard gentleman's fashion.
Then, he whistled down to the ground floor.
Billy and Hanson immediately climbed up the rope.
"Captain, is it done?"
Billy asked excitedly.
"It's done."
Roger pointed to Elizabeth, who was still in a daze.
"'Invite' this beautiful lady back to our ship."
"Remember, be polite, she is our important guest."
"Alright!"
Billy chuckled, rubbing his hands as he walked towards Elizabeth.
"Miss, pardon me!"
Saying that, he hoisted Elizabeth onto his shoulder like a chicken.
"Let go of me! You barbarians! Help!"
Elizabeth finally reacted, beginning to struggle and scream violently.
However, her screams were quickly drowned out by the even greater chaotic noise from the distant banquet hall.
Roger looked at Elizabeth, still flailing on Billy's shoulder, and nodded with satisfaction.
Very good, both the hostage and the aztec gold coin were in hand.
It was time to go and rendezvous with our Captain Jack, who was still performing.
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