They would just reveal this only a day or two earlier in order to prevent the criminal to try something funny.

"The people from the Anti-Pirate Federation told me. They were laughing their heads off when they informed me about it.", he said as his expression became scary again.

After Eric heard that, his blood boiled yet again.

'I see…'

'So they informed in order to see his desperation to live…'

'For them, we are just toys right now…', Eric grit his teeth.

Eric widened his eyes. He could feel the color drain from his already very pale face.

"No- how can it be?"

"I ask myself that every day too. But the longer I ponder, the more I realize I can't die. At least not now."

"You can't die, Reo.", Eric said. Reo was one of the few people he was close with. If he died, then Eric would have to live his life in solitary, without the presence of anyone he was close with.

Moreover, Reo was indeed not weak. He was someone who had traveled with Eric and Shawn for quite a long time. He had a bounty of 200M Gold Coins before he got captured.

"That's why the both of us should plan an escape.", Reo whispered softly. Reo looked at Eric's side profile, begging.

Eric looked down. All of the sudden, the cracks on the floor were more appealing to him.

"Master Eric, I know what you're worried for. But I want to try and change my fate.", Reo said again.

Eric inhaled sharply. He was torn between two decisions; one, he escapes with Reo and his men, and two, he convinces Reo to stay, basically sending him straight to his death door.

Both decisions had their disadvantages.

--

"...Fine.", Eric mumbled in the lowest possible voice.

Reo looked up at Eric, "Did you say something, Master Eric?"

He thought his ears were playing a trick on him. He knew Eric wouldn't change his mind so easily.

"I said fine. Reo, has your hearing gone bad?", Eric muttered.

He did seem a bit irritated though because it would be a lot of work and their lives wouldn't exactly be guaranteed!

"Yes, yes. My hearing has gone bad.", Reo said sarcastically.

"So you're agreeing to escape with me, right?", Reo asked once more just to be sure.

"Yes.", Eric nodded his head.

"Oh- Thank you, Master Eric.", Reo said as he bowed in front of Eric multiple times.

Reo needed Eric's help to escape. That was because Eric was a genius!

Yes, he was no noob or some dumb person. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he would come on the list of top 10 intelligent people in the world!

Although Reo had definitely made a plan, it had to be refined by Eric to make sure that there would be no chances for errors.

"So what's the plan?", Eric asked.

Reo stood up immediately and motioned for a few men to come nearer to him.

It was none other than the officers or guards. They were Reo's men. They had disguised themselves since Reo had been captured. They were the ones that brought him and they were the ones that revealed about his execution even before other genuine officers did.

"I was only arrested 4- or 5 days ago. I lost my family, but that doesn't mean I would sit sobbing every day…", Reo said as he stared at Eric.

Eric looked at the three men who stood just outside the cell. Eric smiled in excitement and awe only to realize how much of an amazing guy Reo was.

"Nice to meet you, Master Eric.", the three of them said as they bowed respectfully.

Eric nodded at them, "They look familiar, Reo."

"They are some of the many pirates whom I had defeated in my life as a pirate.", Reo said, holding his head up high.

He further added, "They had been living with me in the Goldmond."

"Defeated us? Master Reo… or rather Reo do you want us to help or not?", one of the men asked as he crossed his arms.

Eric snickered and shook his head.

'So these are the men that he prepared…', Eric thought as he grinned.

"Yes, yes. Forget I ever said anything, okay?", Reo said as he awkwardly ruffled his hair.

"Alright, let's think of a plan."

The three men took a seat on the cold and dirty ground. Reo did the same, while Eric adjusted his seating position to a more comfortable one.

One of the men spoke, "There are just too many officers on guard…"

"Also, this is a floating prison…"

"Even if we did manage to make it outside, we won't be able to get away since the sea surrounds us."

"Also, there would be guards ready to fire us at any time. Since we cannot use our powers before leaving this prison and going 5km away from this place, it is quite futile…"

Another man commented, "But the real question is when to attempt an escape?"

"We need to escape before Master Reo's execution day, which means, we have less than 3 months …", said the third person.

"Before we think all this, do you think this place is safe to discuss things regarding such stuff?", Eric asked just to be sure.

And the three men who posed to be officers assured him that there was nothing wrong.

Eric shook his head after listening to them and continued.

He said, "No, I think, the best time to escape is on the day of Reo's execution."

All eyes were on Reo as he mentioned that. They were shocked as they saw him smirk.

"...so you want to send me straight to death's door?", Reo asked as he raised his eyebrows.

"Haha, yes.", Eric laughed as he said this.

"Master…", Reo seemed somewhat serious.

"Haha, alright. Listen…"

The man motioned the four of them to huddle closer. After they were in a small circle, he began whispering the plan he had in mind. He made sure to carefully elaborate each of his plans for them to understand.