The downpour made the flintlock guns lose their firing ability. The noble clicked their tongue, lowered their hand that was about to give an order, and addressed those below:
"It's raining, you've been spared a life. Here's a suggestion: go salvage in the sea now. If you find riches, I'll send a doctor to you. That's a benevolent noble's advice!" The blanket-covered noble shouted loudly.
With this rainy weather, even the cannons can't be activated, so naturally, the sea battle won't happen; retreat is inevitable.
Typically, during a ceasefire, these people start salvaging the spoils of war, which eventually gather here.
The provisions brought by the people here aren't abundant. Even if they want to leave, they can't without gathering supplies from here. Regardless, they'll find a way to squeeze the last penny from these people.
Earn here, spend here, don't even think about taking a penny home!
In this local kingdom, even if they rob supplies, it comes with risks. Over at the Gares Main Island, there are territorial nobles guarding it, and the robbed goods are taken again, passing hands before they're acquired.
The Timadon Island is even more perilous, as it hosts the army of young lions!
As for those with good fortune, who truly manage to rob...
Robbing is robbing, they're not the ones being robbed, so it's none of their business!
After the noble left, the remaining members of the United Army instinctively turned to look back at the huge storm suddenly descending, its fierce wind whipping waves so high that they're taller than some ships.
Jumping into the sea in this weather?
Might as well turn back and occupy Augustine Castle; the odds of dying might be slightly less.
"Damn bastards!"
A bounty hunter clenched their fist. "We provided the ships ourselves, the personnel too, gave them everything, yet they won't even treat our injuries. Aren't we allies?"
"They don't see it that way..."
Nearby, a lightly injured pirate laughed bitterly: "No choice but to ask the others onshore. Our numbers have reduced, can't form a United Army, ask where we can join forces. No matter what, tend to our injuries first."
The war has lasted this long, these invited small squads have been doing this: merging continuously after casualties, hoping they can last a bit longer.
Live until the war ends, receive a generous reward and territory...
But now, even this single hope seems to be wearing away, even going back is impossible, stuck here wasting away.
Boom!!
Another thunderbolt erupted, illuminating their faces under the dark rain, while also revealing a circular shadow in the light, engulfing them.
Someone instinctively lifted their head, eyes widening in the flash, ignoring how blinding the lightning was, murmuring: "Cannonball?"
...
Within the maritime path, the arrival of the storm made both sides of the sea battle retreat. Meanwhile, an enormous Black Ship took advantage of the storm to enter the central waterway of the island.
"Fierce fighting indeed."
At the deck, Sage held a telescope, staring at the shipwreck on the sea surface for a while, then moved the telescope slightly, aiming it at the nearby giant city.
A grand giant city by the sea; from here, only the tall walls are visible, like the grandest barrier between heaven and earth. Within the walls, only a few towers peeking are visible, alongside the huge roof of the Royal Palace just exceeding the wall height.
Outside the city gates, there should be a port town, but it's ruined beyond recognition. Even so, the dense buildings represent the former bustling activity outside the city. The port town leads to the massive carved city gates.
The Observation detects extremely heavy historical vibes.
A good city!
Suited for establishing a foothold!
Sage almost immediately took a liking to this city at first sight!
"Is this Augustine Castle?" Lily lowered her telescope and couldn't help but exclaim, "It's indeed large, even bigger than Dressrosa."
That place was prosperous enough, but now seeing Augustine Castle from the outside, the sheer walled area is about the size of all Dressrosa.
She refers to Dressrosa not only in city size but also including the entire island's size. Doflamingo developed only half of Dressrosa.
The entire Augustine, seen from afar, occupies one-third of the Gares Main Island, not even including Timadon Island.
Although both are kingdoms, sizes vary greatly; no wonder it's categorized as a 'powerful kingdom.'
But such a large kingdom isn't something to capture immediately.
"Sage, we need to adjust our plan," Lily said, "I think now that the Great Nobles are recruiting, we should first join the Great Nobles, and after achieving enough merits to be titled nobility, use our noble status to gradually unite this place."
"Agreed."
Hawkins drew a Tarot Card, saying, "That way, our chances of victory will increase."
"Heh heh heh heh, doing it this way seems easier. Sage, let's do it." Moriah giggled.
After Sage set the big direction, the three responsible for refining the plan started drafting the details.
The initial idea was to enter Augustine Castle first according to Sage's intention, then summon pirates in his name, ruling the kingdom with personal strength.
Yet upon entering the maritime passage, they saw fleets retreating from each side.
Each faction has no fewer than thirty ships, and the wreckage on the sea amounts to a junkyard. With such an expanse and the powerful giant city of Augustine Castle, their twelve hundred men may not be able to handle it, let alone call for reinforcements.
Better to first join and start dismantling from the inside.
As a royal descendant, Lily came prepared with this plan. With a recognized identity, acceptance would be quicker by this country's people.
"Too troublesome!"
Sage lowered the telescope, pulled out a cigar from his coat, and Mute extended a lighter beneath an umbrella, respectfully lighting it for him.
"Hoo... No need for this; such a large country has tangled forces, obviously a huge hassle. I came to be a landlord, not to be their King."
Sage glanced at Lily, saying, "Even the Oyekot Kingdom is intertwined like this, let alone such a place, surely full of nobles and tycoons. With your approach, even if we occupy the kingdom, who truly rules, me or them? I want absolute dominion; my plan is correct!"
He looked at the immense silhouette of the giant city, sneering gradually: "Blast open the city gates, damn it, and I'll enter! Renedia, adjust the main cannon for me, calculate the power, how many times to blast open the city gates without affecting other areas."
"Oh!"
Renedia cheered excitedly, ran to the bow to check and adjust the main cannon, and turned around: "A normal shot can open the city gates, but to make the gates disappear, double it; Sage, fire away, I want to see it, I want to see it!"
Since the ship was built, apart from her own cannon test, the main cannon hasn't been used, let alone with enhanced shelling from Sage's abilities.
"Fine, then double; speed up, I want to dine in this city tonight!"
Sage ordered, and Jean Bart noticeably quickened the pace. The steering wheel has a button connected to the Power Instrument device, enabling fast propulsion.
The Death Star swiftly advanced to the center of the maritime passage, directly facing the grand city gates.
Sage pressed a hand against the main cannon's firing device, aiming the cannon at the city gates, fingers exerting slight force, "Moe Moe·Double!"
The ferocious ship's figurehead that seemed to devour everything erupted with a great fireball from its mouth, carrying a shell twice as large, also with double speed, transforming into a dark shadow, rushing straight to the grand city gates.
Boom!!