With that MUCH gold, id slaughter the pope! Whatever it takes!

I'd kill them for that much money.
Im sorry for my lack of manners, but Im not used to
escorting men.

I think it was 600 people but I see your point. Seems a little far fetched.

Not the best thought-through plan to heist a few boxes of gold. Ferryman, the malevolent spirit, could've put the plan together & convinced the gang that killing the passengers was a necessity. Thus he gets his souls while the gang assumes it'll get the gold. THat all said, the gang would have to have been some of the coldest mo'fos to figure killing over 1000 people was a justiable move in order to make off with a few boxes of gold. Of course, greed will do that to
some
people

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*** Major spoiler below ***
How are people missing that the whole thing was orchestrated by a demon with the intention of collecting souls for Hell?

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I assumed that they weren't real waiting staff, but theives/thugs of some kind. They just dressed the part to get on the boat and get the gold. The ships actual waiting staff was slaughtered like the passengers. Remember the kitchen staff? They were all killed and replaced with a new staff to poison the food. If you read the trivia, you'll find out that the ship had taken on passenegers from another boat, thus double the staff. It could have been a set-up to get on the ship and get the gold. Maybe I'm wrong, but it did make some sense.
Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway - John Wayne