Without any surprises, Silas took less than ten minutes to completely destroy the three great pirate crews entrenched in Sphinx, wiping out all their leaders in one devastating sweep.
The gap between ordinary great pirates and Yonko or Admiral-level power was simply too vast to bridge.
Even though Silas had only just stepped into this realm, without comparably strong opponents to restrain him, he was like a natural disaster unleashed upon ordinary pirates.
If the three great pirates had attacked together from the beginning, they might have been able to last a move or two against Silas.
But with Monster Moz charging up alone like a mindless beast, the outcome was already predetermined from the start.
When only Black Merchant Duke Gate remained standing, this middle-aged, gentleman-dressed great pirate quickly raised his hands in surrender, terrified of following in the other two's frozen footsteps.
"Mr. Silas, I was coerced by them! I am just a merchant. I have no reason to conflict with the White Wolf Pirates!"
"Oh?"
Silas stepped gracefully onto Black Merchant Duke Gate's pirate ship, sat casually on the bow, and looked down at Duke Gate from his elevated position.
"But that is not what you said just now."
"A misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding!"
Black Merchant Duke Gate was drenched in cold sweat. Even the strongest Monster Moz and most durable Immortal Jason could not last one move against Silas. He would never be foolish enough to continue fighting.
"It is simple if you want me to spare you."
Silas's sword pointed directly at Duke Gate's forehead.
"What can you give me?"
Others might not know, but Silas was very clear that he was currently like a bare commander in the White Wolf Pirates. Ripley and Rocks had not grown up yet. They could rampage in the first half of the Grand Line, but in the second half, they were still too inexperienced.
"I can help you continue managing Sphinx..."
Seeing Silas's expression turn dangerously cold, Duke Gate cried out desperately, "And guarantee that from now on, only the White Wolf Pirates' flag will fly over Sphinx! We will not take a single cent of the income, and the Black Merchant Pirates are willing to join under the White Wolf Pirates as a subordinate crew!"
After speaking, Duke Gate felt anxious, afraid Silas would refuse his offer.
After all, many rumors indicated that the White Wolf Pirates had no interest in expanding their influence. Compared to other ambitious pirate crews, the White Wolf Pirates were more like a pure adventure group, adventurers fighting for their ideals.
Otherwise, if Silas wanted to, even if strong pirates were unwilling to join, weaker pirates were everywhere on these seas.
However, the pirates did not realize that the White Wolf Pirates had been entangled with the government's CP organizations and had no capacity to develop their influence.
If their force became too large, it might attract Marine encirclement.
Silas at that time did not have the strength to repel Marine Admirals.
But now it was different.
"Interesting."
Silas's laughter sounded like heavenly music to Duke Gate's ears.
"You should know what I hate most. In the years I was absent, Sphinx seems to have become rather unsavory. If you can reorganize Sphinx's underground forces, I do not mind sparing you."
"I understand!"
Duke Gate nodded repeatedly like a pecking chicken. "At most one month... no, two weeks! I will close all underground slave trading markets in Sphinx and reorganize the red-light district. I absolutely will not let those filthy things offend your eyes!"
Duke Gate said humbly, head bowed low.
As for the great pirates who owned those slave markets, Duke Gate did not mention them, because from Silas's attitude, he simply did not care about their fates.
Could it be...
Thinking of how Silas easily defeated Monster Moz and Immortal Jason, thinking of Silas's face that contradicted rumors and was obviously much younger...
Was this Silas actually the real White Wolf Silas's successor?
Duke Gate could not be blamed for thinking this.
Because Silas now looked far too young, not at all like a seventy-year-old man, but more like a middle-aged man in his early fifties.
Younger, stronger, more ambitious!
Duke Gate was certain that while the rumored White Wolf Silas was strong, he did not have the strength to defeat a great pirate with a bounty over 100 million with one strike.
This was power that only truly legendary great pirates possessed!
If this strength belonged to a seventy-year-old man, Duke Gate might bow and submit under this power's intimidation, but he could not wholeheartedly work for Silas.
But if this power's owner was younger and more ambitious, then what was wrong with bowing to him? He was fundamentally just a merchant. He did not have Conqueror's Haki like Monster Moz, nor did he have the pride of a great pirate like Immortal Jason who was unwilling to easily bow to Silas.
As long as there was profit to be made, selling himself and his pirate crew was not something he could not consider.
"I hope you will not disappoint me."
Silas did not yet know that in Duke Gate's eyes, he had transformed from White Wolf Silas into a secretly cultivated successor of White Wolf Silas.
Many pirates were actually questioning Silas's identity.
However, he did not care about Duke Gate's thoughts. Others' thoughts were even less worth mentioning. Even if Duke Gate would betray him later, right now in front of him, he had to obediently do his job well.
Training newcomers still took time.
If Duke Gate obediently did his assigned work, he could let bygones be bygones. But if he was half-hearted...
Then do not blame him for showing no mercy!
"There are still too few talented people!"
Silas sighed, looking toward the Black Pearl.
After Silas defeated Monster Moz and Immortal Jason, the pirates attacking the Black Pearl lost their fighting spirit completely.
With their captains' fates unknown, what meaning was there in continuing to fight?
Their trusted allies were all by their sides.
Those sent to attack the Black Pearl were mostly fringe figures or cannon fodder.
There were a few capable pirates who had even temporarily suppressed Ripley and Rocks working together, but they had not expected Monster Moz and Immortal Jason to be defeated so quickly. Halfway through their fight, they saw Silas looking their way.
Did not dare fight anymore, did not dare fight anymore.
Seeing Rocks, who was weaker than them, looking smug in front of them, several pirates felt dissatisfied. Could captains with strong strength do whatever they wanted?
Rocks and Ripley: Sorry, captains with strong strength really could do whatever they wanted.
Even Edward Newgate and his group, under Rocks and Ripley's protection, had not encountered any real danger.
Thus, in Sea Calendar 1461, Silas returned to his loyal Sphinx.
However, the battle between the White Wolf Pirates and the three great pirate crews could not be hidden from intelligence organizations lurking on the island.
That very night, news of the White Wolf Pirates appearing in Sphinx was transmitted out.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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