The pirate crew taken hostage and coerced by Long was called the Dorrance Pirates.
It was named after their captain.
Dorrance had long been active in the East Blue, and just as Long expected, their main business was burning, killing, looting, and plundering.
They only roamed within their fixed territory and rarely ventured into other seas.
As Dorrance explained, this was the common situation for most pirate crews in the East Blue. For one thing, operating in a fixed area helped them avoid conflicts with other pirate forces.
For another, they could bribe high-ranking officers of the local Marine branches, who would then turn a blind eye to their activities.
The East Blue was generally more peaceful than the other three seas, so the Marines there faced less pressure and often chose to overlook such lawlessness.
This had given rise to a corrupt network of interests between pirates and the Marines.
All this was shaped by the unique environment here.
Among the four seas, the East Blue received the lightest punishment and supervision from the World Government and the Marines, and it drew far less attention.
Another factor was the mountain bandits.
There were many mountain bandits in the East Blue. The peaceful environment meant they didn't need to flee or hide at sea, yet they could still make huge profits.
Some mountain bandits even had bounties higher than those of famous pirates.
Dorrance's own bounty was only 5 million Berries. While that didn't make him a big name across the whole East Blue, he was well-known and feared in this area, a truly ruthless figure.
But it was said that some powerful mountain bandit leaders had bounties exceeding 10 million Berries.
In the East Blue, a bounty of 10 million marked someone as a top-tier figure.
If Long remembered correctly, when the original story began, Buggy the Clown only had a bounty of 15 million Berries.
Dorrance was roughly on the same level as Alvida, both at 5 million.
Along the way, Dorrance kept briefing Long on local intelligence and the "customs and culture" of the East Blue.
To outsiders, he was a vicious and brutal pirate, but now he acted extremely obsequious, fawning over Long at every turn.
For pirates, dignity was far less important than life itself.
At one point, they passed Glass Bead Island. Long went ashore alone, leaving Dom behind to watch over the crew — he wanted to buy some supplies.
The Dorrance Pirates had only a few dozen members in total. But even with Dom alone, wiping them out would be as easy as pie.
Glass Bead Island was prosperous, almost like a bustling metropolis. Its architecture was somewhat similar to the Nordic style Long knew, and many nobles walked the streets.
Peaceful life meant that royal authority held sway here, as it did in many nations across the East Blue.
Class distinctions were clear, and the upper class set the tone for society.
The famous "Heave-Ho Panda" was actually just a T-shirt printed with a panda pattern, priced at 10,000 Berries.
And quite a lot of people bought it.
Long disguised himself simply, mainly heading to a tailor shop to have some clothes made — including the black suits he preferred.
He also ordered several face coverings and formal top hats to hide his features.
He stored everything in his system inventory.
But as he stepped out of the shop, he came face-to-face with a group of people holding his wanted poster, talking excitedly.
From their gear, they were not pirates. They were discussing the bounty offered by the World Government.
Bounty hunters!
Noticing his gaze, one swordsman looked over, glanced at him briefly, paid him no attention, and walked on.
Long was wearing an expensive custom suit, a black top hat, and a mask covering half his face.
To anyone looking, he didn't look like a pirate at all, but more like a noble. Besides, no one knew where he was now.
No one in the East Blue would ever guess that the Godslayer had come here.
The clothes alone cost a fortune.
Of course, Long didn't pay a single Berry.
All the money came from what Dorrance had handed over as tribute.
Later, they left Glass Bead Island, and the Dorrance Pirates set sail again, heading for the Polaris Archipelago.
Loguetown was located right there.
Observing the differences between seas, Long noticed something interesting.
The East Blue had few Sea Kings, but many sea beasts. These creatures were unlike ordinary marine life and came in all shapes and sizes.
But in terms of size, presence, or threat, they were nowhere near as powerful as Sea Kings.
As long as they weren't too large or too unusual, ordinary pirates could easily defeat or hunt them.
Some sea beasts could even be caught and eaten as food.
…
One day, Long sat on the deck, legs crossed, flipping through a newspaper.
One headline caught his eye.
The Marines had sent a large fleet, led by an Admiral, heading straight for the East Blue.
This was clearly a signal to the world: the World Government and the Marines believed Long had fled here.
"Quick reaction," Long smiled faintly.
After all, apart from the Grand Line, the only sea bordering the Calm Belt was the East Blue.
All this time, the Marines must have been trying to confirm whether he was still alive.
"They must have realized it by now."
A thought crossed Long's mind.
The World Government had figured out that he possessed some incredible ability to sail freely across the oceans.
"In that case, Loguetown will surely strengthen its defenses."
He tossed the newspaper aside and turned to Dorrance, who was kneeling before him, massaging his legs with a flattering, ingratiating expression.
"How long until we reach Loguetown?"
"About one more day," Dorrance replied, rubbing his hands together, smiling broadly, and speaking humbly.
"One day… not long at all."
Long nodded slightly, then said just two words: "Begin."
Dorrance froze, confused.
But then he saw Dom walking slowly toward the crew nearby.
And then… like cutting through vegetables or chopping melons, he began to slaughter them.
Screams and wails erupted across the deck and below.
Blood splattered everywhere.
At the horrific sight, Dorrance turned pale, his eyes wide with terror.
"Apologies… too many people, too many loose tongues. To keep this quiet, I had no choice. But thank you all for your hard work these days," Long said calmly.
He spoke as if commenting on something trivial, with no emotion or feeling in his voice.
After spending time together, Dorrance had thought this man was approachable, not the cruel type. But what he saw now made him realize the truth.
He had been far too naive.
From the moment Long stepped onto their ship, their fate had been sealed.
"I…" Dorrance stammered, swallowing hard, trying to speak.
Long placed a hand on his head, soothing him. "Don't be afraid. You're not on the death list. Neither of us knows how to navigate — I still need you to get us to Loguetown. And… I do need someone invisible by my side. You know enough about me. The Government and Marines know all about us, but they know nothing about you. That's where your value lies."
"Understood, understood! I will serve you with all my heart, my lord!"
Relieved and overjoyed, Dorrance kowtowed repeatedly.
His expression was one of pure relief and excitement, all around him lay the bodies of his former crewmates and friends.
But he showed no grief, no struggle, no regret — only concern for himself.
It was a stark, ironic scene.
What Dorrance didn't notice was the way Long looked at him — completely different from how he looked at Dom.
It was a cold, emotionless gaze.
Dorrance was nothing more than a temporary tool.
____________________
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