"First Brigade—have two squadrons break off. One squadron will collect the remains of our fallen brothers. Their sacrifice is glorious. When we depart, I will personally bury them."
"The other squadron will take charge of the seriously wounded. Inform the medical team at the port immediately and have them come here to treat the injured."
After listening to the casualty reports, Kaito Arisawa felt a sharp ache in his chest.
Nearly a hundred men from the three brigades had fallen.
Bunier had not emphasized it, but Kaito understood the cost clearly.
He was distressed—of course he was.
These were not nameless numbers. They were men he had trained, men who had followed him willingly into battle.
But he also understood something even more clearly:
If he wanted to forge heroes, sacrifice was unavoidable.
All he could do was control the casualty rate as tightly as possible and ensure that every loss had meaning.
Suppressing his emotions, Kaito's expression turned solemn as he began issuing orders.
Beyond the dead and wounded, there was still much to handle.
"Mangu," he called, turning to the towering figure beside him, "take the Second and Third Brigades and 'visit' the nobles and wealthy merchants in the city. Our future development will require substantial financial support."
In any world, money was power.
Back when he had only been leading the Sword Gang, most of Kaito's funds had gone directly into training his men. That had left him perpetually strapped for resources.
Lovisa was not merely a stepping stone—it was a vault.
"Yes," Mangu responded simply.
He did not waste words. Immediately, he led the Second and Third Brigades away, their disciplined formation dispersing swiftly into the city.
Kaito then turned to Robin.
"Robin, you'll lead the remaining men to secure the Iron Fist Gang's assets. Andrew ruled this place for years. Even if some of his money was deposited in banks, there will be significant cash and valuables hidden throughout his properties."
"No problem," Robin replied without hesitation.
As the War Pirates' de facto steward, she knew their financial status better than anyone. Securing funds was not greed—it was necessity.
Kaito did not neglect the surrendered members of the Iron Fist Gang either.
Disarmed and gathered together, they watched him nervously.
Their fate was uncertain.
Now that the tempering battle had ended, Kaito's approach was the same as before—with Bunier and the others.
He released a controlled burst of Conqueror's Haki infused with the ability of "surrender."
The invisible wave swept across them.
The change was immediate.
Fear in their eyes shifted into awe.
Awe deepened into respect.
Respect evolved into admiration.
When Robin stepped forward and began assigning tasks on Kaito's behalf, not a single man resisted. On the contrary—they complied eagerly.
The transformation was seamless.
It was impossible for nobles and wealthy families to ignore their personal security. Most had hired guards and maintained private defenses.
But true masters were rare.
Especially ones capable of standing against Mangu and the disciplined War Pirates.
Lovisa's upper class simply did not possess that level of military strength.
The next day—
At the port, War Pirate members bustled about, carrying crates of various sizes onto the ships.
Some crates contained supplies.
Others contained gold, jewelry, and immense sums of cash.
Meanwhile, another obvious change had occurred—
The War Pirates' fleet had expanded from four ships to ten.
With their numbers having grown dramatically, the original four vessels were no longer sufficient.
The additional ships had, of course, come courtesy of the Iron Fist Gang.
A final "contribution" from Andrew's legacy.
On the deck of the main ship, Robin stood beside Kaito, watching the loading process.
After a night of rest, her fatigue had disappeared. She looked refreshed, composed—and faintly pleased.
"It's true what they say," she said with a small smile. "Pirates earn money much faster. Just from the nobles, wealthy merchants, and the Iron Fist's remaining assets, we've secured about three billion Berries in cash alone. If we include gold, jewelry, and other valuables… a rough estimate would put it at eight to nine billion."
Lovisa was no impoverished backwater.
It was a prosperous city, home to powerful families and deep coffers.
Even after only a single day of systematic looting—targeting only existing wealth rather than long-term extraction—the sum they acquired was staggering.
Compared to the protection fees they had collected as a gang, the difference was almost laughable.
Managing logistics had given Robin a certain appreciation for financial security.
Seeing such wealth piled before them, she couldn't help feeling that piracy had its advantages.
At the very least—
They would not have to worry about funding again anytime soon.
Kaito felt the same satisfaction.
Wealth did more than improve comfort.
It meant better food for his men.
Better medicine.
Better weapons.
Better treatment for the wounded.
And salaries.
Yes—salaries.
Despite his strict training regime, Kaito had always compensated his men generously.
Monthly wages exceeded those offered by other gangs.
Merit-based bonuses were distributed without hesitation.
Clear rewards. Clear punishments.
That fairness was one of the reasons why, when he announced his intention to set sail, not a single core member had abandoned him—even though it meant leaving their homes behind.
They followed because they believed.
And because he provided.
After hours of organized work, the last of the supplies were loaded.
Crews returned to their assigned ships.
Everything was ready.
On the deck of the No. 1 main ship, Kaito stepped forward once more.
His voice rang out across the harbor.
"Set sail!"
With crisp coordination, the War Pirates raised anchors and unfurled sails.
The ten-ship fleet that had docked in Lovisa for a single day now departed stronger than ever.
When they had first set out, they possessed four ships and roughly a thousand men.
Now—
They commanded ten vessels.
Over five thousand personnel.
And nearly unimaginable wealth.
The War Pirates had grown.
And this—
Was only the beginning.
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