The Crab Gang had more than two hundred fighters on the outskirts of Bliss Island. Today, to put on a show of force, he even called in the non-combatants as well, forming a team of four hundred people.
"I really want to see who's so blind that they dare to steal the Crab Gang's turf."
With new-style muskets and new-style rocket launchers, even a pirate worth tens of millions would die under their concentrated fire.
"Boss, the people from the Octopus Gang and the Sponge Gang are following behind us."
"Those people are scavengers. As long as we lose even a little, not a single scrap will be left."
Crimson Crab understood the nature of these gangs, because he himself was a gang boss and knew exactly how a fallen gang would be torn apart.
Crimson Crab stared at the subordinate who ran back to report and asked,
"You—are the pirates who occupied our abandoned site really pirates we've never seen before?"
"Yes, boss. Their leader looks like the kind of hotheaded rookie who just set out to sea. They only have a few dozen crew members and don't even know they've messed with our powerful Crab Gang."
This kind of situation wasn't unheard of before—hotheaded rookie pirates rushing onto Bliss Island to grab territory, only to be taught a harsh lesson.
The members of the Crab Gang made their entrance with imposing momentum like the Axe Gang in movies. Although they lacked unified uniforms and were a bit short on style, the muskets in their hands made them look even more ferocious.
Very soon they squeezed into the abandoned site and saw Vane standing at the highest point of the scrap.
Vane said calmly, "We're 'borrowing' this place for a few months. After a few months we'll leave, and then it'll still be yours."
He wasn't planning to stay on Bliss Island forever. If the other side were generous enough, there was no need for a life-and-death fight… though Vane himself also felt it was unlikely they'd be that "generous."
Ordinary people would find it hard to suppress their anger when their things were taken, let alone Crimson Crab, the boss of a small gang.
When Vane's words reached his ears, he only took them as a sign that the other side had chickened out after seeing he'd brought so many people.
"I, Crimson Crab, have been around Bliss Island for so many years—who doesn't know my ferocious reputation? I don't even know how many men, women, and children have died by my hand. You, a little outsider pirate, dare to grab my turf? As long as I'm here today, don't even think about walking out alive."
Crimson Crab finished his torrent of threats and was about to give them a hard lesson. Just as everyone raised their guns, a sharp whistling sound cut through the air, and Vane's figure vanished from everyone's sight in an instant.
"Whoosh—"
A close-range sword technique with extremely fast movements that takes down multiple targets in an instant.
Ka-cha! Ka-bang~
The firearms of more than twenty people in the front row were all split in half.
"My gun! How did it break?"
"Mine too! I polish this thing carefully several times every day!"
"Damn! This is brand new!"
"Boss… the boss's head fell off!"
"What?!"
Everyone else only had their weapons break, but Crimson Crab's entire head had fallen off.
There was no blood, because a layer of ice crystals sealed the cut.
Another sharp whistle of air, and Vane's figure reappeared at the highest point.
"With him around, I can't live. Now that he's gone… who still has objections?"
Objections? Who would dare have objections? The last one who did had his head roll on the ground several times.
"If there are no objections, then drag this crab away. After ten counts, if anyone from your gangs is still in this place, you'll end up the same as him."
They didn't even need ten counts. As soon as the words fell, within five counts the gang members dragged Crimson Crab's corpse out of the abandoned site.
Solving everything by killing just one person… and Vane felt no psychological burden at all for killing Crimson Crab. These days, how many gang bosses are innocent? He himself said he didn't even know how many men, women, and children had died by his hand.
...
Crab Gang headquarters.
"It's been checked. The pirates who occupied the abandoned site aren't some small-time pirates at all. Their bounty is a full 80 million Belly!"
A large group of people were gathered here, but none of them were from the Crab Gang—they were from the Octopus Gang and the Sponge Gang.
With Crimson Crab dead, the two neighboring gangs moved in immediately and wiped out the Crab Gang. Now, aside from the abandoned site, the Crab Gang's territory had basically been divided up between the two of them.
"So it's him—the pirate with an 80 million bounty, Nation-Slayer Vane."
"Crimson Crab didn't die unjustly… You saw it too, right? That instant."
Neither gang boss could forget the moment Vane made his move. They barely caught a trace of an afterimage, and by the time they reacted, Crimson Crab's head was already rolling on the ground.
The high bounty, plus personally witnessing his strength, made both bosses understand that he was someone their outer-ring gangs couldn't afford to provoke.
Just like Crimson Crab—he had some backing in the inner ring, and now he'd been killed. That little bit of inner-ring connections was useless. Who knows, they might even be afraid to provoke such a great pirate.
"We'll split Crimson Crab's territory between our two families. The abandoned site can't be touched… not only can't it be touched, we also have to send gifts."
In the end, they could take territory only because they'd benefited from him. If he felt you were taking advantage and not even showing a little goodwill, and got angry and cut off your head, what would you do?
"Alright. He definitely won't stay on Bliss Island for long anyway. Why bother provoking him?"
By taking over Crimson Crab's territory, they gained two things: resources and Crimson Crab's little treasury.
After discussing it, they decided to send a large portion of Crimson Crab's treasury to Vane.
...
"Giving it to me?"
Vane looked at the people who were clearly from two different gangs.
"That's right, Vane-sama. This is all Crimson Crab's money. Our boss thinks it's what you deserve."
"That's right, that's right."
Vane took a look. Each side had sent valuables worth 30 million Belly. Together that made 60 million Belly. Vane was short on money right now, so since it was delivered to his door, of course he accepted it all.
"Help me thank your bosses. We'll take this money."
Vane didn't think the two nearby gangs were sending money because they were kind. This was money to buy peace. But it also meant no one would come to bother them afterward—this abandoned site and the dock would belong to their Rocket Team.
He had his subordinates put the money away, and Vane returned to the dock.
In the most open area of the dock, a huge blueprint was already hanging there, depicting the big ship designed by the shipwrights and Meowth.
Judging by the scale, this ship would be twice the size of the Black Panther, close to the size of a typical Navy warship. Without considering quality of life, it could carry three to four hundred people living long-term.
If considering living space, it would be best not to exceed one hundred and fifty people. For such a large ship to be handled well by a small crew, Meowth's modern-thinking design was indispensable.
It would require a large amount of circuitry.
"Meowth, it's time to go buy materials."
The materials in the abandoned site couldn't meet the needs for building the ship to perfection, so Meowth decided to go to the market on Bliss Island to purchase them.