Chapter 112: Fishermen Can Catch Anything But Fish (5k)

Chapter 112: Fishermen Can Catch Anything But Fish (5k)



With Rossiuo as their guide, Sag quickly learned about the island.

The town on the island was called Magic Valley Town, and it was indeed a gathering place for pirates. While it only took four days to fully charge their magnetism here, many pirates chose to stay for extended periods, even making it their base of operations.

As a pirate town, the chances of being captured by the Navy were slim. Looted goods could be exchanged through local black market traders, who would then funnel the proceeds back into the hedonistic town.

Or, to be more precise, this town was formed by those very pirates, catering to their extravagant and indulgent lifestyles.

While the town may not seem like much at first glance, it offered ample opportunities for consumption and pleasure.

Coincidentally, Sag was also one with a penchant for pleasure, and in this regard, he didn't skimp.

Money was a means to an end.

Whether it was being a landlord or indulging in pleasures, he had his purposes.

He was clear about his priorities: seize what he wanted and spend lavishly.

"Lord Sag, this is the best inn in Magic Valley Town."

Rossiuo meekly led the way forward to a villa complex by the sea. This place was spacious, filled with buildings, and even boasted various restaurants on the first floor. There was a ladder by the sea that allowed direct access to the water, turning it into a natural swimming pool.

Sag nodded, his eyes drifting to the sign at the entrance, where some words were written, "Hmm, not bad. This place is called..."

"...Tropical Grand Hotel," Lily interjected timely.

"Guests, guests!"

A short, rotund man with a turban wrapped around his head, resembling an Indian, approached them with a greasy smile. He rubbed his hands together, bobbing his head as he spoke, his whole body twitching with enthusiasm.

"Guests, you have excellent taste choosing our humble establishment, the finest tropical hotel in Magic Valley Town!"

Before he could finish his sentence, his eyes landed on Sag's face, and he exclaimed in shock: "Sa, Lord Sag!"

"Hahaha, you're an interesting one. Yes, those with money are lords!"

Sag waved his hand dismissively, "I'll be taking over this hotel. You'll provide the food. Prepare enough for however many people I have with me, plus ingredients for a hundred more. Money is no object, can you handle that?"

"Y-yes, Lord Sag! Consider it done!" The rotund owner, resembling an Indian uncle, stopped bobbing his head, his initial nervousness fading.

"Can you hire a group of people to sing and dance?" Sag continued his queries.

"That..."

The owner hesitated, his voice quivering as he replied: "Lord Sag, Magic Valley Town doesn't have those kinds of establishments. Everyone here is a pirate."

"Lord Sag, I can take care of this," Rossiuo quickly interjected. "Just spread the word in Magic Valley Town that you're recruiting for your pirate crew, and you'll have more than enough volunteers, including female pirates."

Sag glanced at him and nodded, "Alright, consider it done, Agin."

"Captain Sag." Agin stepped closer.

"Take him along and brief him on some rules. Off you go." Sag waved his hand dismissively.

"Rossiuo, is it? I'm Agin, the Combat Chief of the Disaster Pirate Group. From now on, you'll be under my command." Agin fixed his gaze on Rossiuo.

"Agin the Ghost?"

Rossiuo eyed Agin with a hint of defiance. "Lord Sag, I joined your crew out of admiration for your prowess, but Agin the Ghost here only has a bounty of 35 million berries. My bounty, on the other hand, is 42 million!"

At these words, Sag's eyes narrowed, sending a chilling glance Rossiuo's way.

It was just a glance, but Rossiuo froze in his tracks. Despite the pouring rain, cold sweat mingled with the raindrops on his brow.

Sag turned away, paying Rossiuo no further mind as he strode into the villa, "I'll take your largest room."

"Yes, Lord Sag!" The owner scurried after him.

In the square, the followers who had accompanied them formed a spontaneous circle, leaving Agin and Rossiuo facing each other.

"Bounties don't define everything," Agin stated calmly. "As the Chief, it's my duty to assess your strength. I had intended to do this at a later date, but since you've brought it up, let's settle it now."

Without even unsheathing the twin combat canes at his waist, Agin addressed Rossiuo, "Defeat me, and you'll be entitled to a position above me. Use any means necessary—guns, cannons, swords, or your bare fists. Come at me."

"Damn you! How dare you look down on me!"

Rossiuo roared, his fist tightening as he lunged forward with a punch.

His specialty was firearms, but the rainy weather made their use impractical. However, when it came to physical prowess, he was no slouch either.

The man before him, gaunt and thin, didn't seem particularly formidable. It was clear that he owed his bounty to the reputation of Sag's crew, and Rossiuo was determined to supplant him.

Rossiuo's fist flew forward, but Agin merely tilted his head slightly, effortlessly dodging the blow. His tone remained nonchalant as he said, "Continue."

"Damn!"

Rossiuo threw another punch, but once again, it met only air. Undeterred, he followed up with a kick, his attacks relentless. Yet, each strike was deftly evaded by Agin.

Agin's dodges were simple and effortless, not even requiring him to utilize his 'Paper Drawing' ability.

Only when Rossiuo threw another punch did Agin finally stand his ground, allowing the blow to connect with his face.

Bang!

Agin's head jerked slightly to the side from the force of the punch, a trickle of blood appearing at the corner of his mouth.

A triumphant smile spread across Rossiuo's face, "You're feeling the pain now, aren't you!"

Bang!

But in that instant, his smile froze, his mouth gaping as his body slowly arched backward.

Agin's fist had found its mark, buried deep in Rossiuo's abdomen.

Rossiuo stumbled back two steps, his hands clutching his stomach as he made a retching sound but managed to remain standing.

Agin spat to the side, a look of disdain on his face, "Not bad. Your strength and endurance are above average, better than most of the crew. But this level of skill doesn't warrant a bounty of 42 million. Even in my previous state, I was far superior."

Forty-two million berries?

Klik only had a bounty of sixteen million.

In his eyes, Klik was far more formidable than this man.

This bounty was exaggerated.

What was going on in the Grand Line?

Had the intensity of sailing these seas increased, causing the bounties of pirates operating here to surge as well?

No wonder Captain Sag felt that the bounties of his officers weren't high enough.

"Do you yield?" Agin asked calmly.

"Yes, Agin-san," Rossiuo gritted out through the pain.

"Not bad. You're not the type to wallow in defeat," Agin acknowledged.

"Agin slowly nodded. "Then let's go. Let's explore this Magic Valley Town, gather some information, and see if there's any suitable pirate."

Whether or not he truly submits, Agin never cared, and neither did Captain Sag.

After all, he wasn't a squad leader, just an ordinary pirate.

As long as he followed the rules, that was enough.

A high bounty meant nothing in the Disaster Pirate Group.

Here, either Captain Sag took an interest in you, or you were strong enough to catch his attention. There was no place for weakness among those who caught his eye.

This guy didn't fit the bill at all.

He might be good enough to be a small-time leader, though."

That evening, despite the raging storm, Sag commandeered the entire first floor of the inn, converting it into a temporary dining area to host a banquet for his crew.

"A toast to our new members!"

Sag stood in one of the dining rooms, raising his cup as his voice echoed throughout the inn.

"Cheers!"

His men raised their cups and cheered in response.

This group included 'Executioner' Rossiuo and his sixty-plus followers, all of whom had been inducted into Sag's crew.

As for recruiting new members, that process was still ongoing. Not all recruits could be brought over immediately, and Rossiuo's presence here was solely due to Sag's whim, as he was the first to join, and Sag was in a good mood.

They hadn't recruited any new hands yet; today was just about spreading the word. The actual recruitment would begin tomorrow when more people gathered.

However, they had gained some intelligence from Rossiuo.

Due to his dangerous and unpredictable nature, Rossiuo was known not only for his penchant for hanging people but also for his relentless pursuit of his enemies. If he won, all was well, but if he lost, he would obsessively seek revenge until he regained his honor. This had earned him a fearsome reputation.

In comparison, he seemed rather calm and collected.

But such individuals were a dime a dozen in the Disaster Pirate Group.

Not worth mentioning.

"No one's dancing. Hey, you, Ah San, get your butt over here and dance!"

Sag picked up a stack of Berries and threw them at the owner's face, saying, "Dance well, and I'll reward you handsomely!"

"Yes, yes!"

Although he didn't understand the term 'Ah San,' the owner felt no hint of anger. Firstly, there was Sag's formidable reputation, and secondly,

the reward was just too generous!

In the pouring rain, Ah San danced clumsily and comically, eliciting hearty laughter from Sag.

...

The storm raged throughout the night and well into the next morning before finally relenting, unable to withstand the island's spring-like climate.

Early in the morning, the owner prepared the ingredients, and Mary took charge of cooking, preparing a hundred servings of breakfast that covered the entire length of the long dining table.

"Lily, bring over that roasted suckling pig, yes, the one with the brown sugar glaze."

"Mary, bring that stewed chicken here."

"Letty, what are you eating there? Braised pork knuckles? Get me one, too!"

Sag sat at the head of the table, pointing at the dishes that were out of his reach due to the length of the table.

His arms weren't long enough, and he certainly wasn't going to stand up to get his food. He didn't want men serving him, and he hadn't found a woman to wait on him yet, so for now, he had to rely on Lily and the others.

Being a landlord and a big spender, he had to know how to make people wait on him.

Mary was an excellent cook. Although the ingredients here weren't top-notch, they were still of good quality. A hundred unique dishes were laid out, causing Ah San's eyes to light up with greed. If not for the fact that this place was owned by an eight-thousand-berry bounty who was extremely dangerous, he would have tried to poach the chef with a high salary.

It took almost an hour to finish the meal, and everything ended up in Sag's stomach. After that, it was time for some well-deserved leisure.

"Let's go for a swim!"

Letty, wearing a floral swimsuit with a skirt, jumped into the sea with a swimming float around her waist.

Then

she lay limp on the float, letting the undulating blue waves carry her along.

With her upper body immersed in the seawater, she naturally had no strength to swim, being just a child with no ability to propel herself through the water.

"Sag, don't you want to come into the water, too?" Renetia asked weakly. "Swimming is so much fun."

"Do you want to get eaten by a sea king species?" Sag rolled his eyes. "I'm going to get my fishing rod. I refuse to believe that I won't catch any fish today!"

"I've got everything ready for you."

Before he could finish his sentence, a slender, fair arm reached out to him.

Sag turned to see Lily holding a fishing rod in one hand and a bucket in the other, standing behind him.

She had tied her sun-kissed, wavy golden hair into a ponytail, showcasing her long, slender legs in a white one-piece swimsuit. Although her chest was completely covered, the impressive scale made her just as captivating.

She resembled a large, white-wrapped jelly dessert.

"Are we fishing again?" Mary walked over and said, "Captain, you have to work hard today."

Mary's choice of attire was bolder than Lily's, with only two thin strips of fabric covering her ample bosom in a high-cut swimsuit, showcasing her figure, which was no less alluring than Lily's.

Lily had a tight and compact body with a generous scale, while Mary had a similarly impressive figure with a little more meat on her bones.

As for Renetia

She was just a little girl! Get your mind out of the gutter!

"Go, go, go, play somewhere else, and don't disturb me while I'm fishing."

Sag took the fishing rod and bucket from her, then took out packet after packet of bait from the bucket and began throwing them into the sea as if he were making it rain.

His strength sent the bait flying far out into the distant sea, creating ripples on the water's surface.

Lily pursed her lips as she watched and couldn't help but say, "Sag, if you keep doing that, the fish will get full."

"You don't know anything!"

Sag gritted his teeth and retorted, "This is called 'baiting the hook.' When you throw a lot of bait, it attracts a school of fish. While they're feeding on the bait, they'll also bite my hook, and then I'll be able to catch them!"

As he spoke, he cast his line forward, sending the baited hook out into the sea where he had scattered the bait.

"Just you wait, this time I will definitely catch a fish! With my newfound entrepreneurial luck, there's no way I can fail!"

He had already snatched some money and was living a rather extravagant life thanks to it. Compared to his previous failures, Sag was now brimming with confidence.

So what if he failed? He'd just try again!

"Sag, that's what you said last time, too."

Renetia, who had been pulled out of the water by Mary, shook off the water and, after regaining some energy, said, "Why don't I help you fish? After all, they're all just fish. If worse comes to worst, I can always fry them up."

"Where's the skill in that?"

Sag glared at her and said, "The satisfaction of fishing comes from reeling in the catch on your line. I can fry fish, too, you know!"

In fact, if he ever thought about frying fish

they would instantly become Schrodinger's fish, seemingly aware of his intentions, and would immediately disappear.

But none of that mattered; Sag was simply picking up where he had left off with his fishing king ambitions.

In a tall building within the town, this place served as Magic Valley Town's gambling den, with a bar on the side. Currently, Rossiuo was temporarily using it as a recruitment center. He lounged on a sofa, accompanied by two subordinates, glaring at the fierce-looking pirates standing before him.

However, in Rossiuo's presence, these pirates seemed a little less intimidating.

He was 'Executioner' Rossiuo, a madman in Magic Valley Town. No pirate dared to provoke him.

Not to mention...

"Disaster! A great pirate with a bounty of 400 million berries, Lord Sag, is recruiting new members!"

A sinister smile curved Rossiuo's lips as he said, "You all probably heard the news yesterday. Lord Sag is currently at the Tropical Grand Hotel. I was even fortunate enough to be invited to his banquet yesterday and drank the acceptance wine. If you want to be like me, then show me your strength!"

The standing pirates wore expressions of fervor and admiration.

It wasn't that all pirates were fair-weather followers; of course, some preferred to be their own captains and would not submit to others. But more pirates would seek out stronger and more renowned figures to serve under.

This was true not only for captains but also for their crew members; not every subordinate was loyal to the end.

Pirates valued freedom, and it wasn't uncommon for some to disembark at a new location, seeking out stronger and more prominent figures to serve.

In Magic Valley Town, where the average bounty was less than 20 million, and a bounty of 40 million was enough to strike fear into people's hearts, Sag's reputation was terrifying.

Just yesterday, numerous pirates had stayed far away from the Tropical Grand Hotel, not daring to come near Sag's residence.

Of course, there were also those who sought fame and glory, but Rossiuo had already dealt with many of them the previous day.

This man, though inferior to Miote in the Disaster Pirate Group, was still exceptionally formidable and far stronger than the average person.

For a small-time player to gain the attention of a top-tier figure, there was no other way but to put on a good show.

Rossiuo might not be that loyal, but Sag never cared about such things. Loyalty was always a two-way street.

Unless one reached a certain level, they wouldn't attract Sag's attention, so there was no point in discussing loyalty.

"I, Rossiuo! You know who I am!"

A pirate with a bounty of 20 million berries exclaimed excitedly, "Serving a figure like Lord Sag has always been my dream. I, along with my 53 crew members, are joining!"

"And I, 'Lion' Reginald, with a bounty of 26 million berries, am bringing my entire crew to join as well!"

"Me too!"

"Rossiuo-san, I want to join as well!"

The pirates gathered in the bar voiced their intentions one after another. Altogether, there were at least seven pirate crews.

Including all the crew members, there were at least 400 people.

In an instant, they had made up for a large portion of the personnel quota that Sag required.

This feeling of being pursued and admired by others...

Even though he wasn't the main attraction, it still intoxicated Rossiuo.

After all, he was now a member of the Disaster Pirate Group!

Rossiuo waved his hand and laughed loudly, "Then, everyone, join in! Lord Sag will be hosting another banquet tonight. Let's go there together, drink the acceptance wine, and from now on, we'll serve Lord Sag together!"

"Ohh!" The pirates in the bar shouted enthusiastically.

Bang!

The self-closing door was kicked open, and a man wearing a captain's coat strode in. This man had golden hair, a small scar above his right eye, and a sinister expression. He licked his tongue as he surveyed the room.

"Shut up!"

He scanned the room with a hoarse laugh. "Isn't this a gambling den? When did it become a gathering place for scum?"

"You..."

A pirate glared at him, but his eyes soon widened in surprise. "Bel... Bellamy?"

Hyena, Bellamy.

A bounty of 55 million berries!

He had come here too!

Meanwhile, at the Tropical Grand Hotel, the three girls who had been playing in the water had returned to shore and changed into dry clothes.

Mary prepared some tea and snacks, while Renetia lay idly on a lounge chair, basking in the rare sunshine.

Lily stood by Sag's side, her left hand resting on her sword hilt, watching the motionless sculpture-like Sag and the fishing rod, gazing at the calm sea, and said, "Sag, it's been two hours."

"Fishing requires patience and a calm mind. It's also a form of meditation! If you want to fish, go to the other side. Don't bother me!" Sag's temples bulged with veins as he roared.

How can I be calm?

"I've got one! I've got one!"

Suddenly, Sag felt the fishing line go taut, and a gleam appeared in his eyes. He quickly pulled upward, causing the line to tighten even further.

"Are you trying to get in my way again? Do you know who I am?!"

Sag's hands glowed with a menacing aura, which coiled around the fishing rod and extended to the line, making it exceptionally resilient.

He pulled upward vigorously, his excitement evident. "Look, Lily, I'm telling you, failure is not terrifying as long as you have perseverance. I will definitely catch a fish this time!"

Splash!

The sea erupted in a splash, and something attached to the line leaped out of the water, revealing itself to the onlookers.

"It's a ship's rudder!"

Bang!

Enraged, Sag unleashed a 'Sky Break' and shattered the rudder hanging from the hook into pieces.

He stood up and, with a knee strike, snapped the fishing rod in two. Staring at the calm blue sea, his eyebrows furrowed, and a dark line appeared at the corner of his eyes. He subconsciously took a step forward.

"Never mind, Sag, never mind..." Lily quickly grabbed his arm and buried it in her deep cleavage, causing her chest to heave like stormy seas.

If Sag went into the water now...

He had caught something, alright.

It was just that the target might be a little different from what he had intended.

Fish were meant to be eaten, and so were Sea King species.

But there might be a slight change in who did the eating.

"Hey, you there! Who booked the entire inn before us? Scram!"

Just then, the door behind them opened, and a group of people walked in, led by a man who shouted, "Or else we'll slaughter you! We're the Bellamy Pirate Crew!"

"Huh?"

Sag, who had been about to go for a swim, furrowed his brows and turned around, a dark expression on his face. "Who are you?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end