Every step King took forward, the others retreated. By the time King reached them, only Gable was left, standing as the last symbol of resistance.
As long as this person is handled, even if others have thoughts of resistance, they will be suppressed because of fear or other reasons.
From King's perspective, the simplest method is to eliminate this daring resister. In the face of overwhelming force, few truly defy death. Violent rule is the method many pirates choose.
This may leave seeds of hatred and rebellion, but as long as dominance in force is maintained, rebellion has no chance of succeeding.
It's not the best method, but it is the quickest. Apart from the Lunarians, everyone else is foreign to King, and he won't show mercy to these outsiders.
Arceus's request saved his life. More gentle means didn't suit directly killing, but if he persisted further, who could say?
King's large hand gripped the barrel of the flintlock gun, twisting it like a pretzel.
"This toy is useless. No one stands with you. Your resistance is futile and will only bring sadness to your family. You'll gain nothing."
Flames also ignited on King's palm, not as hot as Shaina's, but enough to kill a person.
"Wait, wait! Gable is the best craftsman on this island. Surely, you've taken this island for the factories here. If you kill him, no one can match his skill!"
Seeing King about to act, the village chief hesitated but stepped in front, providing a very reasonable argument.
The arms manufactured by the factory are the island's main exports and the target of most pirates capturing this island. Gable possesses unmatched skills, which is the only "bargaining chip" the chief could think of.
Being a village chief in pirate territory isn't easy, especially when this used to be Captain John's domain. Dealing with the notorious John wasn't pleasant.
Reasoning with someone like him was futile; only interests mattered.
"I will persuade him to work for you. Killing him doesn't benefit you, does it?"
Unlike Gable, he didn't possess a strong spirit of resistance; he only wished for the islanders to survive peacefully, indifferent to who the ruler was, as pirates all had the same nature.
In his eyes, gunpowder and cannons weren't enough to trade with pirates. It was the technology at their hands that made pirates willing to trade.
The complex machinery wasn't something just anyone could handle, and most pirates didn't produce anything; they needed a sufficient workforce.
So even as the island's rulers changed multiple times, the islanders remained largely unaffected.
"Who are you?"
"I... I am the village chief here. I was in charge when Captain John managed this place."
"You'd better make this happen. Now it's us, but when the rest come, if you still harbor such thoughts, you really will die."
The atmosphere was almost set; it was evident that this village chief was the actual person in charge, a fact clear from the others' reactions when he spoke.
The sound of gunfire and cannons from afar was gradually decreasing, signifying the battles on the periphery and with Kaidou were over.
"The fighting's about done. You have two hours to gather your people and send a few to show us the rest of these pirates' bases."
"I'll go with you. I know all the pirate bases."
"Gable, you!"
"Don't worry, Chief. I'd only make them uneasy staying here, right? Please take care of my family for me."
He knew the locations of the bases because of his plans for bombardment, summarizing every pirate ship's docking place.
And he chose to go, not for any ulterior motive, but because he didn't trust the pirates; prior villagers' hesitance to resist was because during John's time, no one with rebellious intentions had a good ending.
Even though they held considerable skills, even when the chief urged so, he didn't believe King would spare him. Since this was so, he preferred not to burden his family.
Gable walked out into the snowstorm from the safe house. Everyone thought he wouldn't return, but two hours later, he was brought back, seemingly intact but a bit dazed.
A few pirates also brought some food. The island's food supplies were almost depleted, but the pirates were different; their ships held ample provisions, affording them more resource channels than the islanders.
Following their defeat, these naturally became their spoils of war.
Now the island was under the control of the Hundred Beasts Pirates; they couldn't allow everyone to starve.
After delivering supplies, the pirates left to celebrate; Kaidou, abstaining for long, could no longer contain himself.
"Gable, are you okay? What did they do to you?"
When the pirates left, many gathered around Gable, inspecting him.
Gable's dazed expression led them to suppose he'd endured severe torture.
"I'm fine, just... saw something unimaginable..."
Shaina and the others didn't do much, just took out a few hundred pirates and two ships in front of his eyes, returning unscathed.
The elite forces among those pirates had been taken out by Kaidou in one fell swoop; the remaining rabble couldn't touch them, making Gable realize how futile his resistance was.
The freedom he upheld was nothing but an empty dream.
"Glad you're okay..."
"Chief, look, food!"
"...Seems these folks are better than the previous ones. Let everyone share it; at least we're fed today."
The islanders enjoyed a rare feast, while the forces of the Hundred Beasts commenced their own celebration. The pirates vying for the island suffered tremendous losses, none more so than the pirate group's leaders who weren't spared.
Kaidou's immense strength, exacerbated when enraged by a shattered wine cask, was insurmountable for anyone present. By the time Arceus and the others reached Kaidou, the fight was over.
They handled the pirates roughly, finishing the severely wounded without wasting medical resources. Those willing to surrender were taken as laborers on the island.
Those refusing were executed summarily; they weren't worth wasting time.
Besides, now was the time for the Hundred Beasts to establish its stronghold. These future grassroots forces couldn't consist entirely of captives.