Gradually, the crew emerged from the cabin, and before they could marvel at the clearing weather, they saw a group of strangers on the deck. Each of them became alert and surrounded them, facing them with fierce hostility.
"Heh heh heh heh, was it this group last night?"
Moriah stepped out from the right-side construction on the foredeck, laughing.
On the deck, besides the main building, the remaining four buildings were well divided: two on the foredeck, the right side reconstructed in Moriah's favorite Gothic castle style, housing him and Hogback.
The left belongs to the residences of Hawkins and Urouge.
As for the aft deck, it is the residence of the three high-ranking female officers.
Moriah sensed it last night, but his naturally lazy disposition, upon sensing Hawkins coming out, made him indifferent.
Hawkins' ability is well-suited for dealing with such situations.
"To think someone would come onto our ship, that's rare."
Urouge also appeared, wearing a peculiar smile, he raised a hand to the kneeling crowd.
"What are you doing?" Hawkins asked.
"Mourning for the deceased." Urouge replied.
"Nani nani? Is someone here to rob us?"
Renedia appeared curiously on the aft deck platform, craning her neck to look down, "How rare, I've never seen it before!"
"Indeed."
Marika smiled: "Maybe they'll be thrown into the sea to feed the fish."
Gin came out from the cabin, fists clenched tightly, his face hostile.
He drank too much last night, causing his alertness to drop, and he just now noticed these people!
If it weren't for the high-ranking officers present, and instead these people caused a disturbance, alarming Master Sage...
It was a huge humiliation for Gin!
The kneeling people, especially that pirate, lowered his head, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Those appearing were more and more formidable!
Even those with bounties exceeding a hundred million were nothing compared, he even saw the Seven Warlords of the Sea!
Did even the Seven Warlords of the Sea join the Disaster Pirates...
Just as he was pondering, he suddenly saw the people encircling them looking toward the aft deck. Turning his head, he saw on the second-floor balcony, the door being opened.
A white-haired man in a yellow ruffled open-neck shirt, loose white martial arts pants below, boots tightly binding half of his calf, with a shiny golden waistband at the waist, a black jade bead chain hung on his chest, hands and wrists filled with gold, silver jewels, wearing a black fur cape with red tips, descended slowly from the staircase beside the balcony.
Following him was the blonde, wavy-haired woman seen earlier, like a servant.
Disaster, Norton Sage!
"Master Sage."
"Captain Sage."
As the pirates called out, Sage walked to the deck, but he didn't approach that pirate first. Instead, he walked to the center of the crowd and kicked open one of the piled-up crates.
With a snap, the crate was kicked open, revealing the gold and silver treasures inside.
"How courteous."
Sage smiled: "You came, so why bring gifts?"
The pirate jolted and said loudly: "These are for Master Sage!"
"Lily."
With the call, Lily extended a finger, flicking forward, "Flying Finger Gun."
Bang!
The pirate felt a pain in his abdomen, instinctively covering it, blood seeping through his fingers, but he gritted his teeth, not daring to make a sound.
Sage then turned, gazing at the kneeling pirate, saying: "I like your surrendering attitude, but not your words. You failed, so these things are my piracy gains, not some offering, don't mix it up. I am a person of practicality; you're not yet qualified to offer or flatter me."
"Y-yes... Master Sage." The man lowered his head, weakly replied.
"Alright, tell me something to pique my interest, but I must warn you, considering these spoils, you might as well feed the fish for a quick death. If I find it uninteresting, believe me, your death will be unimaginable."
Sage bared his teeth, gleaming like sharp blades, frightening others.
"It will surely interest you, Master Sage!"
The pirate swiftly said: "You've just entered the New World, needing territory. What I offer is intelligence on that territory! It's the World Desire City, information on Gares Kingdom's Augustine Castle! No pirate wouldn't covet that place; we were summoned by Gares' great nobles to participate as mercenaries! That kingdom... is in turmoil!"
Sage paused, saying nothing, quietly looking at him. The man lifted his head, showing fear, but also determination, continuing to gaze at him.
"Interesting... Treat his wound, then bring him to me. Marika, prepare breakfast, I'm hungry."
Sage smiled, turned, and entered the main building.
...
Barnaby indeed is a pirate, a pirate captain known as 'Great Barnaby,' capable of using Armament Haki, with a bounty of fifty-six million Belly in the New World.
Placed in Paradise, this bounty isn't low, but in the New World... it's just average.
Of course, that already ruined ship didn't solely carry pirates; there were merchants and bounty hunters too.
As for why these three existences could mixed together, it is because recently a major event occurred at sea.
A turmoil broke out in the Gares Kingdom, following the old king's death; everyone desires Augustine Castle, wanting to unify the Gares Kingdom. Among the largest forces were Nikiforcas, the great noble of Gares on the island where Augustine Castle is located.
And 'Young Lion' William, a self-claimed illegitimate son from the opposing island of Timadon.
Nikiforcas is the most prestigious noble family in Gares Kingdom, while the self-claimed illegitimate son possesses two-thirds of the kingdom's army; they clashed fiercely to seize Augustine Castle and gain the kingdom's power, turning the surroundings of Augustine Castle into a battlefield.
The great nobles lacked enough troops, so they devised a solution... hiring people!
No matter what identity, as long as you come here to fight for them, they offer generous rewards!
Anyway, more profitable than business or piracy.
However, there's a condition; entering requires at least an army of over a thousand.
This news spread across the sea, leading Barnaby to unite with merchants and bounty hunters, forming a considerably large union of mercenaries, aiming to make money in Gares Kingdom.
This news... definitely intrigues Sage.
In the first-floor banquet hall.
Sage drank a bowl of fragrant meat soup, looking at Barnaby already treated and kneeling on the ground, and said: "Having money to hire you means this war's intensity is high. Aren't you afraid of going there?"
"No, we aren't..."
Barnaby said: "We received news from peers before deciding to join. The one with the strong army, William, can't afford the wages, so everyone is just fighting casually. Besides generous rewards, we get to plunder Gares, which is our true purpose."
"Master Sage, if it's you, maybe you could seize the place and become the new lord of Gares."
"Heh heh heh, I like your words..."
Sage tore into a leg of meat, chewing and swallowing it whole with the bone intact, he pondered and reached out towards Barnaby, "Just right, I'm short on manpower. Would you like to join my pirate crew?"