"Stop, stop!"
"I've told you many times, no robbery is allowed in the island sea area. Seeing as it's your first time here, I'll give you a chance to avoid punishment. Return the goods to their owner and compensate with half the amount in Belly."
"What? No money? I don't care. If we have to dismantle your ship for compensation, that's our rule!"
At Storm City's port, besides the merchant ships traveling back and forth, more Pirate Ships were docked here than before.
Gin was at the port, reprimanding a newly arrived group of Pirates.
This group hadn't managed to rob any merchant ship outside, but when they entered the island's affiliated sea area, they found these merchant ships slackened, directly robbed one, and got found out.
The captain of the Pirates, also a man with a bounty exceeding hundreds of millions, was shouting in defiance at this moment:
"Why?! It's just a merchant ship, and you're actually making us sell our ship? The ship is the soul of the Pirates!"
"Three."
Gin calmly stretched out three fingers.
"We're here out of respect for the Disaster master's reputation. I'm also a good pirate, able to serve Master Sage. Are you going to punish me for this?"
"Two." He curled up one finger.
"Hey! Gin! I know you; your bounty is higher than mine. Are you afraid that my joining would affect your position? With my joining under Disaster's flag, I'll surely surpass you!"
"One, Finger Gun · Spark."
Gin left one finger, his forefinger turning red hot like a branding iron, quickly poking forward, piercing the pirate's skull as if breaking through something easily meltable.
After piercing through, his hand pushed forward, making the inside of the pirate's skull glow red too, and from the back of the head, sparks exploded like wrought iron, splattering onto the pirates behind.
These sparks, like Bullets, showed powerful destructive force, punching a melting-like hole in the vital parts of each pirate, causing them to collapse one after another.
Gin withdrew his hand, not even glancing at the pirate whose head had half melted, and said to the nearby accustomed smiling merchant,
"The ship is yours, dispose of it as you please. But let me warn you, though Master Sage doesn't care, you better not act sly. If you get caught..."
He clenched his fist, exploded with a crimson hue, "Someone could die."
"Of course not, Master Gin."
The merchant bowed in greeting, smiling, "We are legitimate merchants and pay taxes to Master Disaster; we won't do anything outlandish."
"Remember what you said."
Gin deeply glanced at him, turning towards other ports locations, going to deal with the pirates' disputes.
It's said to be "dealing," but actually, it's quite straightforward and brutal...
Killing suffices.
Three days after the newspaper was issued, many Pirate groups had already arrived, all wanting to join their Pirates.
The title of [Four Emperors] was far better than when they split Pirate Emperor with Blackbeard.
Of course, there are still some who can't stand the rules here and turned to Blackbeard instead.
Some didn't understand the rules and plundered merchant ships in the sea area, either caught by surrounding patrol ships or showed up at the port brazenly and got executed by Gin.
Yet this also births other issues.
Some merchants go fishing...
Not literally using a rod at sea, but using their merchant ships as bait to fish for pirates who don't understand the rules.
According to Disaster Pirates' rules, if it's someone's first time and they didn't understand and rob a merchant ship, they would be given one chance to return the goods. If the damage is severe, they'll need to compensate half-price.
Noticing this point, some merchants target unlucky pirates in this sea area.
Since it's robbery, bumps are inevitable. If goods are damaged or someone is killed, merchants can not just reclaim their goods but potentially acquire a sum of money.
No money?
No money is like now, a free ship...
This ship can be directly sold on the black market at the port, which is all found money.
This situation had been around for a long time and had been reported to Master Sage many times, but the latter, completely indifferent.
Lily also said it's a trial; they're not just rooted here, the reputation is widespread, the rules established, and those genuinely wanting to join would know with slight inquiry.
Others either don't care or don't respect, such individuals will ultimately get executed for breaking other rules, it's better to serve as a filter.
Over time, those joining became obedient. Even those only wanting to do black-market deals would restrain; grudges can be tackled after leaving this defined area.
Similarly for merchant ships; some armed merchant ships are stronger than average Pirates, but within the rules here, doing good business ensures safety. Attempting attacks on Pirates, facing annihilation.
Yet with their rising reputation, such fools and rule-disregarding ones increased, making Gin very busy these days.
Judging by the situation, this busyness likely persists for quite a while.
Inside the Royal Palace.
Dressed in an open-breasted shirt revealing sturdy muscles, a cloth belt around the waist, and loose trousers, Sage, with folded legs, waved for Bella to take back the wine brought over and asked,
"Bella, no Armand Kadi?"
"Master, that wine was finished yesterday when you had a feast and cheerfully opened champagne rain."
Bella crossed hands placed at the waist, making a standard maid act.
"Hmm... Then Domperi it is. Go tell Marika, I'm out of wine, have her prepare a batch." Sage waved his hand.
"Master, Marika heard there're rare Sea Kings near an island, she's gone gathering ingredients with some people."
"Call whoever, replenish what I lack. Joking, how can I be short of anything."
Sage called, "Where's Weevil, where's Armand Kadi's production site? Have Weevil take people and occupy that island."
"It's in the South Sea, Sage, you've got an agreement with the World Government, not to touch the Four Seas for now."
From not far away came Lily's voice; she leisurely walked from the doorway, holding a newspaper.
"Also, Weevil was sent by you for patrol, hasn't returned yet."
Sage raised his eyebrows, looking at the newspaper in Lily's hands, "Lily, what's that you have?"
"After you became a Four Emperor, successive newspapers, many press grasped this hot topic, selling well recently. I'm just taking a look."
Lily walked over to Sage, waved, signaling Bella to step aside, taking the Domperi champagne from her hand, pouring it into Sage's cup.
"Sage, there's news from Doff's side, we found..."
The glass, filled.
"The Life Card to reach Zou."