Koala was not unfamiliar with pirates, as she herself was once a pirate.
As a member of the Sun Pirates, famous for liberating slaves from Mary Geoise, she had encountered ruthless pirates before.
The Evil Dragon on that ship back then was indeed a vicious pirate.
However, ruthlessness seems to have different scales.
Even after she heard about the defeat of the Evil Dragon in the East Sea and learned about his unforgivable deeds, it still paled in comparison to what the Disaster is planning now.
Just now, she even thought Sage was a good person...
Koala looked at the people bustling on the street; from her experience in witnessing the miserable expressions of people in so many bleak countries, these people clearly felt that life was full of hope, without a trace of resentment.
Good or bad people... it's become unclear.
Robin couldn't judge either, but for someone who has lived in the dark world since the age of eight, it's best not to comment on such matters.
It's not related to family ties.
If it were a few years ago and Sage had his current status, she would have undoubtedly joined him without hesitation.
Pirates and the Four Emperors are two different species.
But now, she has her own companions and doesn't want anything from Sage. The way they get along now is quite good.
Perhaps they might even be enemies in the future...
Compared to Sage, she still firmly believes that Luffy will become the Pirate King!
As Robin and Koala set sail on their ship, on the nearby Wakanogres Island, the gate of a sprawling mansion was kicked open with a loud bang.
The 'Great Barnaby,' whose bounty had exceeded 100 million, entered with a curved sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, leading his crew into the mansion, also kicking open the door of the large house within.
"Barnaby! What are you doing!"
A richly dressed woman, whom Andre had recently married, didn't have time to determine the situation before the door was kicked open. After a brief panic, she quickly became enraged, authoritatively declaring:
"Who allowed you to enter so rudely! Is this how crude pirates are! Andre isn't here now. When he returns, I'll be sure to have him lodge a complaint against you..."
Bang!
Before she could finish speaking, Barnaby kicked her in the abdomen, sending her crashing into the staircase behind her, the force of which broke a part of the stairs.
Barnaby showed a vicious grin, stepped forward, and placed a foot on the bloodied woman's head, aiming his gun at her.
"The Captain's orders are to monitor all big businessmen and their families, but you don't need to be monitored; you can be executed right away!"
"W-what are you saying! My husband is Andre, Andre! Without him, how could Disaster rise to power?" the woman screamed.
"Oh... is that how Andre always talks to you? No wonder you always look down on us."
Barnaby sneered, "I only took a small share of his profits. Normally, out of respect for the Captain, I didn't hold grudges against you and tolerated your condescending attitude. After all, we're all serving the Captain. But now... it's different."
Bang!
He fiercely smashed the butt of his gun against the woman's head, knocking her unconscious.
Barnaby grabbed her by the hair, pulling her from the collapsed staircase, and started to walk outside.
"Find the rest, those with blood relations to Andre. You've been here long enough, don't tell me you don't recognize them!" Barnaby yelled at his subordinates.
"Don't worry, Captain. Andre's always boasting about how many kids he has, bringing them to meet us every day."
One subordinate wickedly licked his lips, "I recognize every single one of them!"
Another subordinate, hesitant, asked, "Captain, do we really have to do this? Andre has a newborn baby..."
"You mean his son? With Andre pressing down on us, will I have to kneel to his son in a few days?!" the earlier subordinate yelled indignantly, "He's not Master Sage's son!"
Barnaby, reaching the door, turned and said to his subordinates, "That matter is irrelevant. It's not our decision to make. These are orders directly from Lady Lily."
At these words, everyone's expressions shifted. Even those most reluctant now became solemn.
Among the Disaster Pirates below the 'New Star' level, the hierarchy isn't so strict. Including the 'New Stars,' everyone bantered with each other, and no one took it seriously.
After all, who knows who will become the next New Star.
But among the 'Seven Stars' of the New Stars, they hold great authority, and their commands represent at least half of Master Sage's will.
Above the Seven Stars is the 'Three Phases,' whose authority is even more immense.
The most dramatic among them is Lady Lily, whose orders are as if delivered by Sage himself!
She embodies Master Sage's will, and it is the coldest, most ruthless will!
"Go find them." Barnaby said, suddenly chuckling, "Lady Lily said that as long as it doesn't involve the businesses, we can rob freely. After turning in the loot, half of the extra gains will be distributed to us!"
"Understood!"
The subordinates began to grin as they started ransacking the mansion with drawn swords.
Barnaby dragged the woman towards the center of the town.
According to Lady Lily's orders, they were to execute these people in public!
Andre, at first tolerable, became increasingly arrogant. Barnaby couldn't understand why he had such a high and mighty attitude, viewing them as his subordinates and future cronies.
Even the money he gave them and the supplies brought to the island felt more like charity than their due...
Previously Barnaby tolerated him because he hadn't suspected a betrayal. If Barnaby hadn't reported his growing unease, who knows how long they would have been suppressed.
"A businessman, buying people's loyalty here, what does he intend?"
Barnaby spat as he looked at the woman he was dragging along, "Damn it..."
Such scenes were happening on each island. Fierce pirates tore away their usual friendly façade, forcibly invading the homes of wealthy merchants, responding to opposition with blows and retaliating with killings, taking control of them.
Because Lily issued an order through the Radio Snail, anyone on the list had pirates stationed locally to break into their homes and control them and their families, though not as violently as with Andre, but enough to make those people tremble and fear.
Especially after learning the causes, realizing that Andre and the merchant leaders were caught embezzling and skimming funds, after being discovered by Master Sage, half felt it was no disaster of their own making, while the other half felt their world crashing!
The merchants' loyalty could not be ensured, but the pirates would definitely follow the Captain's orders!
As for the halt of goods circulation...
This has never required an individual. Either the pirates would take over themselves, or each island would select someone knowledgeable to continue transporting supplies to O'hara.
There was no such thing as a strike or shutdown.
Because besides those merchants, the lowest leveled common people ... were on Sage's side.
Sage didn't hide the order, residents were made aware as soon as it was implemented.
"The master is so kind to us, giving us food and shelter, even handing out money! Yet these greedy folks dared to betray, damn them! Burn them, what are we waiting for with a trial!"
This was the most common sentiment.
Sage not only possessed absolute violence and authority...
He also understood the human heart!