Chapter 365: My Calamity Pirate Crew Has to Help Out!
Chapter 365: My Calamity Pirate Crew Has to Help Out!
In the banquet hall, over thirty disheveled and emaciated individuals were brought in, their gaits timid and hesitant as if they dared not touch anything in this opulent chamber. They seemed out of place, as if one wrong move might taint this grand hall with their presence.
If not for Sag's insistence, no one would have dared to oppose him, and they wouldn't even have entered.
However, this unease and meekness soon vanished.
The chefs directly served the dishes, and the aroma of the food caused their eyes to light up with hunger, their attention no longer on the grandeur of the hall but solely focused on the meal before them.
It didn't take long for them to lose all restraint, and they pounced on the food, uncaring if it was hot or not, foregoing utensils as they used their hands to scoop the food directly into their mouths.
Hunger rendered all else insignificant.
In their eyes, the royal palace and its splendor were forgotten, and all they thought about was devouring the food before them.
"Oh my, it seems you're quite famished. Eat slowly; there's more than enough for everyone."
Marika smiled gently, her voice comforting, "We have an abundance of food here, and you shall all be filled."
The group nodded vigorously, too focused on devouring the food to hear her clearly.
"Ho ho ho ho!"
A hearty laughter suddenly rang out, causing the group to turn their heads in curiosity.
"Eat! Eat to your heart's content! Even if we die, we should go as full corpses!"
Sag pulled out a chair and sat at the head of the table, motioning for Bellana, who had already come to attend them, to pour him a cup of wine.
"Fill your bellies first, and then we shall talk!"
He waved his hand generously, signaling for them to continue their meal.
Being a landlord wasn't just about collecting rent; it also entailed repairing bridges and roads, distributing porridge, and aiding the people—all part of a landlord's duties.
And offering a meal? Sag was more than happy to provide that charity.
Only when these individuals' stomachs visibly rounded out, their faces gaining a healthy flush, did they finally lean back in their chairs or lie on the ground, content smiles on their faces.
The people of the sea were generally quite considerate; despite these individuals clearly being hungry for many days, they didn't overeat to the point of bursting. Instead, their malnourished bodies quickly absorbed the nutrition, allowing their thin frames to regain some vigor.
"Had your fill?"
Sag swirled the wine in his gem-encrusted cup and asked when they finally slowed down, "Can you speak rationally now?"
Hearing his voice, they nodded, but then they seemed to remember something, and they anxiously stood up.
It was the same person who had spoken before, his head lowered as he cautiously spoke, "Your Majesty..."
"I told you to call me Pirate Captain. I'm not a king, and you're not my subjects, so there's no need to address me as 'Your Majesty'."
Sag waved his hand dismissively, "Where are you all from?"
"Yes, Pirate Captain, we're from the Western Sea."
This response caused Lily to furrow her brows, "Then how did you end up here? With your strength, it doesn't seem possible that you crossed the Reversal Mountain and reached the Grand Line."
Regardless of their origin, to reach this place, one would have to traverse the Reversal Mountain and then either pass through Fishman Island or Mary Geoa.
These individuals' attire didn't suggest they were wealthy refugees, nor did they possess the strength to be the type to dive deep into the sea and reach the New World.
If they were from an island in the New World, Lily wouldn't have been surprised, but the Western Sea? That was completely out of place.
"Uh, this knight... princess... um, Queen, Pirate Captain's wife..."
The man addressed Lily, his mouth fumbling over the proper address a few times before he continued, "Originally, we were just pirates in the Western Sea, but then we encountered that guy. He easily defeated us and then crossed the Calm Belt to arrive here."
This group... they were pirates as well.
To be accurate, they were pirates for less than three days.
"The reason is that we couldn't survive anymore. We were starving, and with no other choice, we set out to sea, but without permission, it's considered illegal. We became pirates out of desperation."
"We've only been at sea for three days, without a proper ship. We cobbled together some rotten wood to make a raft, and that's when we were caught by that guy, Kajyo."
"He crossed the Calm Belt?" Sag asked, taken aback.
"Kajyo," Lily supplied.
"Does he have the skills for that?" Sag wondered aloud.
While crossing the Calm Belt was not an unheard-of ability, it was still impressive for someone of Kajyo's seemingly low bounty. Sag and his crew had acquired the knowledge by capturing and studying Marine ships, particularly the sea-stone embedded in their hulls. It was a technique that required skill and understanding, and yet this seemingly insignificant pirate had managed to achieve it.
"Well, I'm not too surprised," Lily mused. "He's not a proper pirate himself, just someone who set out to sea illegally and ended up with a bounty. He's essentially a merchant turned pirate."
"Oh, like Link, but a wild card version." Sag nodded, tapping his fingers on the table as he addressed the group. "Since you're here, why don't you stay and work for me? I'm sure you're eager for a fresh start, and I won't pry into your past."
These starving souls needed no further persuasion. With full bellies and the promise of employment, they eagerly accepted.
"Pirate Captain! No, Your Honor!" The group's eyes lit up with excitement. "You're willing to take us in? But we're pirates!"
"You call yourselves pirates? Ha! Don't make me laugh. If any of you wish to continue as pirates, you can join my crew and sell your lives for me. If not, you're free to find other work here. Now, escort them out." Sag waved his hand, his interest in the conversation waning.
"Your Honor! Please save my family!" One of the starving refugees suddenly fell to his knees, pleading. "Everyone back home is starving!"
"The Western Sea... My plans don't involve that region yet. Crossing the Calm Belt is too risky for me right now," Sag replied, considering his options.
He was still in the process of consolidating Whitebeard's territory, and venturing into the Western Sea, which was firmly under the World Government's control, seemed unnecessary.
"You're welcome to stay or find your way back. The Western Sea is too far, and it's not worth the effort to rescue just a handful of people," Sag continued, his tone pragmatic.
"Please, Your Honor! I beg of you! The people of the Reez Kingdom, all 500,000 of us, are starving. I know it's a huge request, but I'm desperate!" The man bowed his head and knocked his forehead on the ground.
SLAP! Sag slammed his hand on the table, his eyes gleaming with determination. "It's necessary to rescue them! 500,000 hungry people? That's 500,000 potential workers! Alright, you called me 'Your Honor,' so consider it done! My Calamity Pirate Crew will lend a hand! Since there's a famine, why not relocate everyone here? I can guarantee you'll have full bellies!" Sag laughed heartily.
With that, the chapter ends, leaving readers eager to find out how Sag and his crew will fare in their ambitious rescue mission.
(End of Chapter)
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