After failing at the Grand Line, the Krieg Pirates escaped to the East Sea, where they encountered naval encirclement. By the time they reached Baladi, only a little over a hundred remained. After failing at Baladi, many pirates deserted and left the crew.
On this island, only about thirty are left.
These pirates, Lily didn't strike to kill, only knocking them unconscious. They are all still alive.
Pearl was the first to wake up. As soon as he opened his eyes, he was dazzled by the flickering flames, the bonfire was relit, and Sage and Lily sat around it, looking over.
He quickly got up, and as he rubbed the shields in his hands, flames erupted, "Taste the flames of Flame Paru!"
"Pearl, stop."
A voice sounded beside him. Pearl turned, and his movement halted.
Gin was right next to him, watching the gradually awakening pirates, and said, "There's no need to fight anymore."
"Captain Gin?" Pearl showed confusion, then thought of something, glanced around, and asked, "Where's Leader Krieg?"
"Dead."
Gin uttered a shocking statement, pointing to Krieg's location, "Killed by Captain Sage."
They looked in that direction, cold sweat running down them.
There was no one there, just a heap of flesh...
"Captain Sage?" A pirate noticed the key point, "Captain Gin, did you join them?"
"Exactly."
Sage picked up the conversation, standing up, "We're all pirates, it doesn't matter who we follow. Gin has joined my pirate crew, and now I sincerely invite you to join, what do you say?"
The group exchanged glances, then one pirate holding a sword took two steps forward, fixed his gaze on Sage, and then raised his sword to the sky, "Captain!"
"Captain!"
"Captain Sage!"
The shouts erupted from the pirates, with not a hint of awkwardness.
"Captain Sage defeated Krieg, surely he's stronger. We're still the East Sea Overlord!" A pirate said excitedly.
As Captain Gin has already joined, what more is there to say, just join.
Sage wasn't surprised by this.
Not everyone is like Gin. On the vast sea, there are indeed those who once they recognize a captain, will follow for life, but more pirates move according to fame and profit.
Rely on all pirates to be loyal unto death?
This is the harsh reality of the sea, not child's play.
The duty of a pirate captain is to maintain this crew, rather than looking for who is absolutely loyal.
"Excellent! Follow me, and you won't lose out. We become pirates for freedom and money. I'm not stingy with money. In future loot, I'll take 50%, the remaining 50% will be distributed: those who participate in raids take two shares, those who don't also get half a share, ensuring everyone gets something!"
"Really? Captain Sage!" A pirate's eyes lit up.
"Of course!"
Sage lifted his head, "Become an officer, and the share will be even higher. Work hard, everyone!"
"Oh!!!"
These words prompted all the pirates to raise their weapons and shout.
Sage was confident in this, without worrying about causing discontent.
While others weren't awake, he asked Gin how the spoils were divided.
The answer was beyond his expectation.
The Krieg Pirates adhered to the standard: the captain gets 80%, the remaining 20% is split, pirates involved in the raid get a share of loot, those not involved get nothing, just food and drink.
Hearing this nearly made Sage choke with laughter.
From what he remembered, traditional pirates back home, even the most ruthless ones, the captain only got up to 14% maximum, which could lead to a mutiny and being thrown overboard.
A serious pirate captain only got two shares, the rest was for everyone.
Two shares, what concept is that? That's not 20%, it's on top of the equal division of loot, giving the captain an extra share.
If ten people raided a piece of gold, it must be divided into eleven parts, even ten apples had to be cut into eleven parts, instead of the captain taking two apples.
Why had Sage done many jobs before becoming a pirate, because he thought it wasn't profitable, carrying a bounty while robbing everywhere, life on the line daily, struggling through storms, and yet making barely any money.
Who would want to do that.
But here was the sea, nature of its own, while others take 80%, Sage was generous to only take half!
Raid 10,000 Belly, he directly takes 5,000!
This is a worthwhile deal!
At this rate, it won't take long for him to accumulate wealth, buy a large plot of land, recruit a bunch of followers, live a corrupt landlord's life, and reach the pinnacle of life!
"Alright gang, let's hold a banquet, bond a little more!" Sage laughed heartily.
"Oh!!" the pirates shouted excitedly.
Then... no one moved.
Sage blinked a few times, repeated, "I said, let's hold a banquet."
"Oh!!" the pirates continued to shout.
"What are you shouting for?!"
A vein throbbed on Sage's forehead, "Bring out the food, we're holding a banquet, stop standing there, get moving!"
"Captain..."
Pearl timidly raised his hand, "May I ask, where is the food?"
Sage: "..."
He looked at the pirates, a bad feeling rising in his heart, "You guys... don't have food?"
The pirates collectively shook their heads.
"What a coincidence..."
Sage spread his hands, his face fell, "Neither do I."
He was hoping these people had spare food, to enjoy something warm, drink some wine, and have a merry time.
Turned out none had any food!
Gin then said, "Captain Sage, let's set sail directly, there are many ships on the sea route nearby, we could hijack one."
"A good suggestion, but there's one small issue..."
Sage smiled, "I don't have a ship."
Gin: "..."
No ship?
No ship, how did you get here?
Could it be you flew here...
He looked at the previously bold-talking Sage, suddenly a sense of foreboding arose, he felt that following this captain might pose some little problems...
"No biggie."
Sage waved a hand, "If there's no ship, we'll make one. Let's get to work, there's so much wood here, we'll build some rafts and head out!"
As long as the mindset does not collapse, there's always a solution!
Isn't it just lacking a ship, this is a forested island, plenty of raw materials everywhere.
...
Sage indeed had no ship, and the pirates only had a small boat that could hold at most five people, but they totaled thirty-five, so they had to build rafts on site.
Originally, Gin had a chance to get a ship.
After retreating to this island from Baladi, they had no supplies, food and drink were issues, initially planning to hijack a ship on the sea, so Gin and others went out on a small wooden boat and happened upon a merchant ship.
But he felt he couldn't keep doing such despicable acts, needed a proper pirate raid with a flag, rather than Krieg's devised method of pretending to be shipwrecked, then ambushing.
But with a small boat, how could they catch up to a big sailing ship, especially as their pirate flag was spotted well before they got close, so naturally, they returned empty-handed.
This was the reason Krieg punished Gin at the time, then Krieg died...
Crash!
At daybreak, with a loud crash, a big tree fell, several pirates holding axes shaved off its branches, shaped it into logs, then two pirates carried it towards the sea.
"Captain!"
Pearl came over loudly, "We've cut the logs, can set sail anytime!"
When pirates are cutting wood, they of course are quick, especially with Lily and Gin: Lily sliced with her slim sword to fell trees; Gin used his staff to destroy trees from the base, just making logs took time binding with ropes.
As for the ropes for binding logs, Krieg had them.
His shoulder shield still held a few poison gas bombs and pistols, as well as some high-quality net ropes, perfect for binding logs.
Sage was playing with a pistol at the time, the item was taken from Krieg's shoulder shield, of good quality.
As pirates, how can you not be armed.
Additionally, he confiscated Krieg's cloak, wearing it over himself.
He nodded at Pearl, then turned to Gin, "Gin, are you sure ships pass by on this route?"
"Yes, plenty, just need to head out and we'll encounter them." Gin responded.
Sage smiled, raised the pistol high, pulled the trigger.
Bam!
The gunshot echoed across the island, drawing the pirates' attention.
"Alright gang! Set sail!!"