Soon, the desperate men spilled out their entire plan in detail. Xie Changming, who had been watching the drama unfold, instantly turned pale with rage.
"Mr. Zhang, I... I swear I wasn't involved in their scheme!"
Zhang Yi glanced at Xie Changming and said calmly, "I know. This isn't your fault. If anyone's to blame, it should be me as the captain."
Hearing this, Xie Changming felt a heavy weight lift from his chest, his eyes moistening slightly. Such a leader who didn't shift blame was truly rare.
"Drag that woman over here too."
Zhang Yi pointed at Kim Kimee in the crowd. When Che Haicheng and the others were planning to escape, Kim Kimee had been completely clueless the entire time. To keep the secret, Che Haicheng had never told her the real purpose behind his instructions. She was just a puppet on strings - having spent too long in New Rohan's entertainment industry, she'd learned not to ask unnecessary questions.
Eager to prove himself, Xie Changming strode over, grabbed Kim Kimee by her hair, and dragged her across the deck. Kim Kimee wept from the pain, begging Zhang Yi for mercy.
"Mr. Zhang, I knew nothing about this! It was all Che Haicheng - he made me do it!"
Seeing Che Haicheng shifting blame , Kim Kimee flew into a rage. She pointed at him and screamed hoarsely, "You despicable scum! You planned this escape but didn't even think to take me with you! Was I just a tool in your eyes?"
Che Haicheng roared back, "Filthy whore, how dare you talk back to me! If not for me, you'd still be in New Rohan taking turns entertaining those chaebols every day! I gave you the honor of being a prosecutor's wife - you should pay the price by obeying me completely!"
Zhang Yi silently watched them tear into each other, desperately trying to drag the other down even in the face of death. When the Columbus Ocean Navy arrived, Kim Kimee had looked genuinely bewildered - clearly unaware of the situation. So Zhang Yi decided to spare her life... for the little value she still held.
"Old Xie, do you have feelings for this woman?"
Zhang Yi asked Xie Changming, who froze before hurriedly shaking his head. "No no no, Mr. Zhang. You can deal with her as you see fit. I have no objections."
Zhang Yi waved his hand. "Then she's yours!"
Zhang Yi knew exactly what Kim Kimee had been up to during her half-month on the ship. She was just a pretty but brainless fool, always used as Che Haicheng's tool. Rumor had it she'd even performed exotic dances to please certain chaebols. Rather than kill her, it was better to give her to Xie Changming as a favor. Keeping subordinates happy was part of being a leader.
Touched by Zhang Yi's generosity, Xie Changming pulled Kim Kimee aside and issued a stern warning. "From now on, you're my woman. You'll obey Mr. Zhang and me without question - no more schemes!"
Pale-faced from terror, Kim Kimee nodded eagerly - she'd do anything to survive.
Seeing her get to live, Che Haicheng wailed, "I'll do anything to live! Anything at all! Please have mercy!"
Zhang Yi strolled over, smiling at the group. "Now we can have a proper chat. I'm curious - why betray me when you had it so good?"
The men turned ashen, none daring to speak. Zhang Yi's smile widened. "Talk, and I'll make your deaths quick. Stay silent... and you'll regret it."
Their faces grew even more grim as they kept kowtowing and begging.
"We didn't mean to harm you! We just wanted to reach Columbus Ocean!" White Mo cried. "For God's sake, spare me, please!"
Zhang Yi chuckled. "Sorry, I'm not religious. Anything else to say?"
Engineer Eisenmann forced composure. "You can't kill us! You've already sunk a Columbus Ocean warship - holding us is bad enough. Killing Columbus Ocean citizens would make it worse. Keep us alive as bargaining chips!"
Zhang Yi burst into laughter that soon turned icy with contempt. "You overestimate yourselves! If you had any value, they'd have taken you already. Truth is, you're worthless nobodies! Thinking they'd hesitate because of you? Don't dream - you know nothing about the apocalypse!"
He stood up. "Well, since you're all so stubborn, I'll stop playing. You chose painful deaths - I'll oblige."
The kneeling men howled desperately. "You can't do this! We just wanted to live - what's wrong with that?"
Zhang Yi had meant to ignore them, but this made him turn back. "Let me ask - did I mistreat you aboard? Did I starve you?"
They fell silent. Xie Yunfan argued, "But you killed Yamada Masami and those Neon Pirates! Can you blame us for worrying?"
Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow. "Always excuses. My thought? Add more oil."
No one understood his last words... until he asked cheerfully, "Ever had skewers?"
This food was uncommon abroad. Xie Yunfan, being of Huaxian descent, recognized it as a Huaxu Kingdom specialty. "I have."
Zhang Yi nodded. "Good." Turning to Old Tian and others, he ordered: "Chop them into pieces, skewer them, and roast them at the bow!"
Only by making these traitors pay a thousand cuts could Zhang Yi's hatred be satisfied!