https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-273-No-Matter-the-Path-I-Shall-Forge-My-Own/12612549/
Chapter 272: Equality for All, Under Me!
Chapter 272: Equality for All, Under Me!
Sag, of course, also knew that it would be difficult to complete this rule.
But he also has a plan.
Renitia led the charge into the city gate, killing the guards inside the estate and dragging out the nobles who refused to surrender. They looted the mansion, piling the treasures on the street.
"Come and have a look!"
Sag jumped into the inner city, kicked aside a fainted noble, grabbed the captain, and pointed at the pile of treasures on the street. "How many Belly do you make in a month?"
"I..."
The captain hesitated before answering, "Eight million Belly."
"You're the leader, and you only make eight million Belly? And you're guarding the estates of these rich people. What about the rest of you?"
Sag asked the other guards and soldiers as if they were his comrades.
The soldiers of the inner and outer cities were paid the same, but their positions differed in terms of ease.
Ordinary soldiers earned a monthly salary of five million Belly, which was still lower than the wages of bodyguards hired by the wealthy.
Captains earned eight million Belly.
Commanders were usually nobles who drew their salaries and basically filled in as much as they wanted. This position was not something that ordinary people could aspire to.
The Garese Kingdom's officials were elected, but in practice, it was a noble-dominated process where only those residing in the inner city were eligible to participate, and then the best candidates were selected.
To gain the right to vote and become a true 'human,' people aspired to live in the inner city. However, as a guard captain, he knew that even if he got in, he might not be able to cast a vote. It was merely a qualification, and the real power still rested with the nobles.
Unless one was exceedingly wealthy.
These ordinary folks like them had no hopes of attaining anything, not even a position in the 'Constabulary,' the easiest job in the inner city. Those spots had the highest pay, but they weren't meant for outsiders like them.
Being an inner city guard captain was already pushing the limits.
In times of peace, their standard of living was decent. They could ensure their families had enough to eat, own a house, and even save up a bit of money over the year.
But now, with the internal strife and warfare on the high seas, although both sides had no intention of entering Augustine, there was still an impact on supplies.
The farms outside the city had long been abandoned due to the war, and although the conflict didn't last long, signs of shortages were already emerging. Prices in the city had noticeably risen.
That was why Sag's invitation had resonated with many; everyone was truly short on cash.
"But this is only temporary."
The captain struggled to shift his gaze from the pile of treasures in the street and said, "Lady Tehanna has gathered all the nobles from the main island of Garese, amassing a force of one hundred thousand strong. They plan to crush Lord William in one fell swoop. Lord William has only fifty thousand troops in Timarton. Recently, due to the issue of the invited coalition army, you've been unable to spare your hands. But now that it's resolved, you're also preparing for a decisive battle against Lady Tehanna."
"Whoever wins will be the ruler of the Garese Kingdom. At that time, you pirates will have no choice but to leave."
Upon hearing this, Sag thought for a moment and then laughed. "Oh, there's a clever one among you. Was the plan to invite pirates as mercenaries to buy time for this side to gather their forces?"
He looked at the captain. "You know quite a bit."
"Those are just things I overheard the adults talking about," the captain replied, glancing at the nobles lying on the ground. "I heard that the one-hundred-thousand-strong force is divided into eighteen teams, all heading toward Augustine. You pirates don't stand a chance."
"Eighteen teams mean eighteen routes. Hmph, quite the scheme they have there."
Sag patted the captain's shoulder, and in his ear, a voice as alluring as a devil's whispered,
"Are you really going to give up so easily? Think carefully. All of this is money. As long as these nobles are gone, all of this can be yours. Prices are high? They're high because these people are hoarding supplies. Just look!"
The looting of the estate was swift. Three hundred Demon Clan members not only hauled out gold and silver treasures but also seized a large number of supplies, creating a small mountain of loot.
Sag turned to face the guards from the northern district who had rushed over due to the commotion. He raised his hands toward them,
"Pledge your allegiance to me, and I will share the wealth with you! This is your only chance. Once I have firmly established my rule over Garese, you won't find it so easy to claim spoils of war!
"Things are different now. I can solve your problem of high prices. I can give you wealth. I can make your families' lives better!"
Boom!
The sky erupted with another thunderclap, illuminating Sag's wild face.
"Join me! Pledge your loyalty to me! I've already made my way in, and do you want to let go of this fortune and let it fall into the hands of those new pirate arrivals? We're all the same. Don't you want to bet on my victory?
"As long as I win, you won't have to pay all sorts of taxes to these nobles. They won't be able to raise prices arbitrarily anymore. There will be no nobles lording over you; there will only be me! Equality for all, under me! Whoohahahaha!"
Boom!
A black-red torrent, like a pillar, erupted from Sag's body. His Conqueror's Haki was so powerful that it caused the sky to roll inward, becoming even gloomier. However, it brought the raging storm in this area to a halt.
It also made the pile of treasures and supplies on the street stand out even more.
To the soldiers who had rushed over upon hearing the news, all they saw was that wild-laughing pirate on the city wall and, from the broken city gate, those piles of...
Not honor.
Not power.
But something far better.
For those driven by desire, all some people wanted was wealth.
For those driven by a sense of righteousness, ample supplies meant a way to provide for their families, their peers, and even the city, ensuring a comfortable life for all.
It was a way to restore peace to the city.
At this moment, many hearts trembled.
Sag may not have understood much, but some things didn't need on-the-ground knowledge; they were inevitable.
The coalition army wasn't going to find any support here. The nobles' arrogance was palpable, and if they truly hadn't wanted to yield, they wouldn't have put up such little resistance, allowing Sag to enter the city so easily.
Everything happened for a reason.
So, he didn't need these people's allegiance; he just needed them not to hold him back!
As for money, Sag took it.
But for supplies, he could generously distribute them within the city, ensuring that the prices remained stable and that there were no shortages.
...
The soldiers from the wall and the North District still didn't accept Sag's invitation, but they took it upon themselves to maintain order for him in Augustine.
With the pirates in the city, there would always be those who wanted to take advantage of the chaos and loot. These soldiers would ensure that Augustine didn't descend into complete anarchy.
As for the nobles and the wealthy in the inner city, there were over a hundred of them, and they were all rounded up.
At the same time, Lily and her team breached the inner city, capturing everyone inside. Following the same strategy, once Sag confirmed that the soldiers in the inner city wouldn't resist, he used the Den Den Mushi to communicate his plan to the other three districts.
In total, there were five hundred noble and wealthy families in Augustine, and they were all captured and assembled in front of the Augustine Palace, in the square.
At the same time, the inner city was opened up, allowing anyone to enter.
Renitia also found a video Den Den Mushi and connected it to Augustine's signal, preparing for a city-wide live broadcast.
"Distribute all the supplies, Zack. You handle the arrangements and make sure each district can hold a feast."
On the square, Sag said to the guard captain, Zack, who was standing watch.
"I'm not your subordinate, and I didn't agree to follow you," Zack replied.
"Hahaha, it doesn't matter. You're the captain here, so you have to maintain order and security. All the problems will be handled by me, a pirate. I'm forcing you to distribute the supplies, so that should be fine."
Sag laughed and walked to a raised platform. Looking down at the kneeling nobles, he said, "I, Norton Sag, don't like meaningless slaughter. But you stood in my way. However, I will give you a chance. You are nobles, whether you are court nobles or territorial nobles; you all have your own territories in the kingdom, right?"
"Give up your territories, relinquish your noble status, and submit to my rule, and I will let you go. What do you say?"
"You're just a pirate! Don't dream!"
One of the nobles tried to struggle to his feet, but he was pushed back down by his subordinates and could only kneel there, his head raised as he glared at Sag. "You will never rule the Garese Kingdom. Once Lady Tehanna and Lord William launch their attack, everything will be fine again!"
"Yes, but you'll be dead by then," Sag said as he took out a cigar and stuck it in his mouth. Lily, standing nearby, took out a golden lighter adorned with gems, lit it, and offered it to Sag before handing it to him.
"Where did you get this?"
Sag took a look and said, "It's not bad."
"Of course, I took it. I thought it was nice, so I kept it for you," Lily replied.
Sag nodded and put the lighter in his pocket. Addressing the kneeling nobles, he said, "Really, no one? Now, speak into the video Den Den Mushi and give up your ruling rights. Voluntarily become commoners, and I will spare you. I, as a pirate, don't like to harm the weak, and commoners are weak in my eyes."
"Monster!"
All the nobles and wealthy individuals present recognized Sag.
A fat, well-dressed noble with white fur trim on his clothes shouted angrily, "You! You destroyed my bakery! You ruined all the flour I had stored! I will never forgive you! When the army arrives, I will make sure you pay!"
The other nobles glared at Sag with hatred, and not a single one begged for mercy or surrender.
They were nobles!
How dare a mere pirate defy them? Even if Sag could defeat the Garese Kingdom, he wouldn't be able to rule it.
As long as they didn't acknowledge him, it would never happen.
On the other hand, if they placated him, he might spare them.
"Look at them, Lily. This is the true nature of nobles. They are always so arrogant and fail to understand that their status means nothing when faced with a real threat."
Sag pointed at the nobles and said to Lily, "They aren't afraid because we haven't killed enough. If we kill more, if we kill enough, if we make them afraid, these people will bend to our will."
"I understand," Lily replied coldly.
"Hehehe," Sag said, turning to the Den Den Mushi. "Now, you should be able to see, right? I, Norton Sag, want this place, so I will wage war on you. Only the victor will rule!"
Landlords didn't need co-rulers, and Sag didn't need people who wouldn't submit to him.
He could promote talented commoners and collect taxes from them. How much knowledge did tax collection require?
He didn't need to know how to read like them.
He could pave the streets with the bones of aristocrats, just like the ancients did!
He raised his hand and, amidst the terrified gazes of the nobles, brought it down sharply, "Kill them!"
Bang, bang, bang!
The soldiers standing nearby, upon hearing Sag's command, revealed eager expressions or worried frowns. Nonetheless, they obeyed his order and pulled their triggers, sending bullets flying toward the nobles.
Killing the nobles.
This was an exciting prospect!
No wonder he was the Sag who could defeat the Celestial Dragons!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
