Chapter 266: The Strength of the New World
Chapter 266: The Strength of the New World
Barnaby was, of course, willing to accept the invitation from the Heavenly Disaster Pirate Group.
It's not easy to be a pirate in the New World. Famous pirates who want to make a name for themselves in the Grand Line inevitably have to go through the test of the Four Emperors.
These unknown pirates may be insignificant in the grand scheme, but their lives are equally miserable. They dare not provoke the Four Emperors, and famous pirates look down on them. While they claim to roam the New World, they are even inferior to the underlings of a grand pirate group with no bounty to their name.
Now, a grand pirate group has invited him; anyone who refuses would be a fool.
This is the Heavenly Disaster group! The very group that killed the World Nobles and destroyed the island of Mariejois!
"I am willing to pledge my loyalty to you, Captain Sag! This is wonderful news!" Barnaby exclaimed excitedly. "My men will definitely feel the same. It is an honor to serve under Captain Sag!"
"Then show your worth," Sag replied. "Those captives are now your responsibility. Those who wish to join us will be welcomed, and those who don't can be thrown into the sea. Do you understand?"
"Absolutely, Captain Sag! We were only temporarily united, but I know what needs to be done!" Barnaby said solemnly.
"You may go now," Sag waved his hand, dismissing Barnaby to deal with the captives.
There were over a thousand captives, consisting of a third each of merchants, bounty hunters, and pirates. Barnaby had only a few dozen men of his own, and the rest were temporary additions. However, when faced with Sag's invitation, they all readily agreed.
They were all thinking the same thing: this was the Heavenly Disaster Pirate Group, a large group that lacked manpower. Of course, they were eager to join.
And this opportunity would only knock once.
Aside from the few dozen bounty hunters who accepted Sag's invitation, the rest hesitated. The most hesitant, of course, were the merchants, who not only traded but also belonged to specific nations and forces. Naturally, they couldn't agree to join.
And so, they were thrown into the sea to feed the fish.
Sag never forced those he deemed unimportant to join him. Those who wanted to come aboard were welcome, and those who didn't were left alone.
Barnaby, having received his orders, was also very clever. He understood what a pirate group valued, and at this point, it was better to get rid of the unstable and unreliable elements rather than try to recruit them.
In total, three hundred and seventeen people joined the Heavenly Disaster Pirate Group, bringing the number of people on Sag's ship to over one thousand two hundred.
A grand celebration was in order to mark the occasion of new pirates joining the Heavenly Disaster group.
Amidst the festivities, the black ship sailed boldly through the wind and waves, continuing its journey toward its destination.
Two days later, the Death Harbinger arrived at a small island.
The storm had only stopped momentarily and now raged on, even as they reached this island.
This was not a magnetic field island but an ordinary one with a small town.
"Listen up,"
On the deck, a female pirate held an umbrella over Lily, who addressed the gathering of over three hundred new pirates.
"You all know our rules. We don't rob the poor. In this town, the only wealthy place is the largest estate. That's your target, Bellamy. Keep an eye on them."
On the other side, Bellamy, drenched in the rain, revealed a sinister smile, licked his lips, and glared menacingly at the pirates before speaking: "Leave it to me, Miss Lily."
"We will abide by the rules, Miss Lily. We won't break the traditions of the Heavenly Disaster Pirate Group!" Barnaby said solemnly.
Every pirate group had its own way of doing things, and as old pirates themselves, they were very clear about this.
Moreover, the Heavenly Disaster group offered much better treatment. Food and drink were readily available, and they only needed to follow orders. As for accommodations, even while sailing the high seas, they were far better than on any other ship.
On a typical pirate ship, even high-ranking members might have to sleep on the floor of the ship's cabin. But this ship was different; it had dormitories! The ship's cabins were all rooms that accommodated four people each, with soft beds!
Aboard the Death Harbinger, which sailed as steadily as if it were on solid ground, these rooms were no different from those on land, providing a level of comfort that was unparalleled.
Life as a pirate was all about seeking comfort and adventure.
And on top of that, the captain gives them money!
In the past, the captain would take the lion's share of the loot, leaving the rest to be divided among the crew after he had picked the best for himself. But now, things were different. The captain only took half, leaving the rest for them!
With such generous treatment, life as a pirate couldn't get any better.
Indeed, joining this crew was the right choice!
With this, no one dared to oppose Sag's orders, and they even burst with enthusiasm. If it was just about plundering, they would definitely make it a resounding success for Captain Sag!
"Then let's go."
At Lily's command, the pirates cheered and rushed towards the town, setting up their gangplank.
She glanced at the excited pirates, shook her head, and turned to enter the captain's room, unbothered.
Aside from the plunder, this was also a test for the new crew to see if they would follow the rules. It was better to deal with those who broke the rules here and now, to avoid future troubles.
No matter how pretty their promises, it all came down to their actions. Sag hated nothing more than rule-breakers, and Lily didn't want a repeat of the Roseo incident.
So what if they were the first crew to join? If they broke the rules, they were no better than those who fled at the first sign of danger.
"Sag."
Upon reaching the captain's room, Lily took the initiative to speak first. "Are we changing the rules from now on?"
At that moment, Sag was sitting at his desk, legs crossed, swirling a glass of wine in his hand while smoking a cigar. Seeing Lily enter, he said, "Of course, we have to change them. With so many people now, the old way of dividing the spoils won't work. That way, most people won't get much, especially with these small-scale heists."
He exhaled a mouthful of smoke and changed his sitting position. "At most, a few million berries. I'll take half, and you guys can have a bit more. Plus, with over a thousand people, they can pick up more than that just along the way. We have to adapt to the situation. If the old rules don't work, we make new ones."
Back when they were just starting out, with a hundred or so people, the old rules for dividing the spoils made sense. Even when they reached the Grand Line, it was still manageable since they were raiding economically prosperous towns, ensuring enough spoils for everyone. At the time, Sag didn't plan to stay long, so there was no need to change the rules.
But now, in the New World, he intended to settle down, and his crew would only continue to grow. According to his plan, he aimed for at least three thousand strong, and it definitely wouldn't do to give each person a full or half share.
With the new crew on board, it was a perfect opportunity to adjust the rules.
He would continue to provide for their needs, but from now on, only selected individuals would be sent on plundering missions. The top executives' share of the spoils would remain unchanged, while those with positions on the ship, like the cook and the navigator, would receive a salary from Sag.
As for the rest, the lower-ranking officers would receive a slightly higher salary but would no longer receive a share of the spoils. If they wanted a share, they would have to lead their own plundering missions.
Regular crew members would only earn money through plundering.
Although they didn't have a territory yet, Sag was already preparing for the future when they would.
This system would also encourage his crew to take the initiative.
No one objected to these rules. These crew members had all endured hardships and were no strangers to the ways of pirate ships.
What Sag was doing was no different from the practices of other large pirate crews, and his crew was already accustomed to it. Moreover, the share he asked for was even smaller than what other captains took.
Some had already been unhappy with having to split the spoils with so many people, and by allowing them to act independently, they could earn even more.
"Roar!"
Suddenly, a deafening roar shook the ship, causing it to tremble slightly.
Lily's eyes narrowed as she looked through the window towards the island. In the midst of the storm, she saw several dozen of their pirates being flung in all directions, clearly overwhelmed by their opponents, who seemed to be of similar size.
From this height, she could make out a figure at the center, roaring in defiance.
"Is this the New World?" Lily's grip tightened on her sword hilt, her eyes narrowing. "The strength here is indeed formidable."
Despite having raided countless times, it was the first time they had encountered such fierce resistance in a small town.
(End of Chapter)
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