After the Kreek Pirates failed in the Grand Line, they fled to the East Blue. On the way, they were intercepted by the Marines. By the time they reached Baratie, only a hundred or so remained. And after their defeat at the hands of Baratie's defenders, many deserted and abandoned the pirate crew.
Now, on this island, barely thirty of them were left.
Lily hadn't killed them—she'd only knocked them out. Every one of them was still breathing.
The first to wake was Pearl.
The moment he opened his eyes, he was nearly blinded by the flickering firelight. The bonfire had been relit, and sitting before it were Sag and Lily, both watching him silently.
Pearl jolted upright, his twin shields grinding together with a screech—igniting into flames.
"Taste the fire of Pearl the Blazing!"
"Pearl. Stand down."
A calm voice sounded beside him.
Pearl turned his head—and froze.
Gin was right there beside him, quietly watching the other pirates begin to stir.
"There's no need to fight anymore," Gin said.
"Captain Gin?" Pearl looked confused, then suddenly alarmed. He glanced around and asked, "Where's Commander Kreek?"
"Dead."
Gin's words struck like a thunderclap.
He pointed toward what remained of Kreek.
"Captain Sag killed him."
The pirates all turned their gazes toward the indicated spot… and broke into cold sweats.
There was no body left—just a pile of torn flesh and shattered bone.
"Sag… Captain Sag?" one pirate muttered, sensing something off. "Captain Gin… you joined them?"
"Exactly."
Sag stood up and took over the conversation. "We're all pirates here. It doesn't matter who you follow. Gin's already joined my crew. And now—I'm offering you the same opportunity. Join my crew. What do you say?"
The pirates looked at one another. Then one of them stepped forward, blade in hand, eyes locked on Sag… before raising the weapon high.
"Captain!!"
"Captain!"
"Captain Sag!!"
The cries rang out without hesitation, without a shred of doubt.
"Captain Sag defeated Kreek—he's clearly stronger! We're still the kings of the East Blue!" one of them shouted with fevered excitement.
If even Captain Gin had joined, what was there to question? Following the strong was the pirate's way.
Sag wasn't surprised at all.
Not everyone was like Gin. Sure, the seas had their loyal-to-the-death types—but most pirates were driven by fame and profit.
Expecting blind loyalty from every pirate? That's not the way of the sea. This wasn't some child's game—it was survival.
A pirate captain's real job was to hold the crew together—not nitpick over who was the most loyal.
"Very good!" Sag grinned. "Follow me, and you won't be left wanting. We're pirates—for freedom and fortune! And I'm not stingy with gold. From now on, I'll take 50% of any loot we seize. The remaining 50%? Those who fight get two shares. Even those who don't fight get half a share. Everyone gets a cut!"
"For real, Captain Sag?!" a pirate's eyes lit up.
"Absolutely."
Sag tilted his chin up proudly. "Become an officer, and your cut gets even bigger. So give it your all!"
"YEAHHHH!!"
Weapons were raised in roaring unison.
Sag was completely confident. Not a single pirate here would complain.
Earlier, while the others were still unconscious, he'd asked Gin about Kreek's loot distribution.
What Gin said floored him.
The Kreek Pirates ran a "classic" pirate model—80% for the captain, 20% for the rest. Only those who participated in plundering got anything. The rest? They just got food and drink.
Sag nearly laughed his teeth out.
Where he came from, even the most tyrannical old-school pirates wouldn't dare take more than 14%. A proper pirate captain only took two shares at most. Everything else? Divided equally.
Two shares! Not twenty percent! That meant if ten people looted one gold bar, it was split into eleven pieces—and the captain got two. If they got ten apples, you cut them into eleven parts—not hand two whole apples to the captain.
Why had Sag dabbled in every line of work before finally becoming a pirate?
Because piracy didn't pay. You hauled around a bounty, robbed for a living, dodged Marines, braved the weather, slept with one eye open—and barely made a dime.
Who the hell wanted that?
But on these seas, the rules were different. Everyone else took 80%. And Sag, in his generosity, would only take half.
Rob ten thousand Berries? He got five thousand.
Hell yes, that was a deal!
At this rate, he'd pile up wealth in no time—buy his own domain, recruit a small army, and live like a decadent landowner.
Life at the top was in sight.
"Alright, you lot! It's party time—let's bond over a feast!" Sag laughed heartily.
"YEAHHH!!" the pirates cheered again—
And didn't move.
Sag blinked, then repeated louder, "I said—it's party time!"
"YEAHHH!!"
Still, no one moved.
"What the hell are you shouting for?!"
A vein bulged on Sag's forehead. "Bring out the food! Let's get this party started—don't just stand there like driftwood!"
"Uh… Captain…"
Pearl raised his hand timidly. "Where… exactly is the food?"
Sag: "..."
He stared at the pirates, a bad feeling creeping in.
"You… don't have food?"
They all shook their heads.
"Wonderful."
Sag's face fell. He spread his hands, utterly defeated. "Neither do I."
He'd been hoping they had emergency rations—some hot grub, a little booze, enough for a decent celebration.
Turns out… nobody had a crumb.
Gin spoke up, "Captain Sag, let's just set sail. This region's sea routes are busy—we'll definitely find a ship to plunder."
"Solid idea. Just one tiny problem…"
Sag smiled bitterly. "I don't have a ship."
Gin: "…"
No ship?
Then how had he gotten here?
… Did he fly?
Gin stared at Sag, who only moments ago had made such lofty proclamations. A strange sense of dread rose in his gut. Following this captain… might come with some, well, minor complications.
"No problem!" Sag waved it off. "No ship? We'll build one! Plenty of timber around. Let's make some rafts—time to set sail!"
As long as your will doesn't collapse, there's always a way forward!
No ship? No problem. This was a forested island—raw materials were everywhere.
—
Indeed, Sag had no ship. The pirates had only a single small boat, big enough for maybe five people. With thirty-five of them, there was no choice but to craft some rafts on the spot.
A great tree thundered to the ground. Pirates swarmed it with axes, hacking away branches, turning the trunk into logs. Two pirates hoisted a log each and carried them to the shore. Lily's rapier sliced through entire trunks like paper, and Gin shattered trees with his crutches. The real work was bundling the logs together with ropes.
Luckily, Kreek's gear still had some quality netting and rope—perfect for lashing wood.
Sag was fiddling with a pistol now—salvaged from Kreek's shoulder armor. Good quality. A pirate without a gun? Unthinkable.
He'd also claimed Kreek's black cloak—now draped stylishly over his shoulders.
Sag nodded at Pearl, then turned to Gin. "Gin, you sure this route sees traffic?"
"Absolutely. Plenty of ships pass through."
Sag smiled.
He raised the pistol—and pulled the trigger.
BANG!
The shot echoed across the island. Pirates turned toward the sound.
"ALRIGHT, YOU LOT!! SET SAIL!!!"