869 Solomon (2/2)
”What else do you want from me?” Upon seeing Fang Yuan, Blackbeard's eyes darkened. He said solemnly, ”Her father will probably agree to your terms and hand over the Sea God's skin. Furthermore, he'll probably let us through the Solomon Strait as well!”
As Ettoman's most important stronghold in the Golden Ocean, the defense of Solomon Strait was not weak by any means.
Not only were there permanent defensive structures and cannon towers atop all the peaks, but a fleet of over ten ironclads guarded the area as well, and the one leading the fleet was a rear admiral.
This setup would prove difficult to take down for even the Pirate Prince.
”That's right… we must pass through the Solomon Strait before embarking on the route in the treasure map…” Fang Yuan nodded. ”As for you… rest assured, you are very useful to me. For now, what do you say to becoming a pirate captain under me? Ninety percent of what you pillage will be yours!”
”Not interested!” Blackbeard's complexion was dark as he rejected the offer.
What a joke!
As the former governor of the Nightmare Ocean, he would be the laughing stock of all pirates if he were to work under someone else!
”Spit it out… You wouldn't be so naive to think that I'd agree. Why did you save me?” Blackbeard asked without beating around the bush. ”The treasures of the treasure map don't seem reason enough for you to wage war against the royal navy.”
”After obtaining the riches of the Soro Pirates, I will head straight for Pirate King City!” Fang Yuan paused for a while before continuing, ”The rise of Ettoman has raised fear in the hearts of all pirates, so the next Pirate Conference will be held there! We need a leader to lead us, an assertive leader that will allow pirates to fight against Ettoman!”
”You want to become the Pirate King?” Blackbeard exclaimed.
The Pirate King was not someone who existed in every generation. On the contrary, a Pirate King was extremely rare.
After all, it was difficult enough to earn the respect of the common lawless pirates, and it was even harder to earn the respect of the pirate governors.
”That's right. As a pirate, how could one not yearn for the position at the top!” Fang Yuan bluffed. ”To become the Pirate King, one has to be first nominated by a pirate governor. Naturally, you have nominated yourselves in the past…”
”So, you want to bring me to the Pirate Conference and have me nominate you?” Blackbeard smiled wryly and shrugged. ”Then you might be disappointed. I'm no longer the Nightmare Ocean's pirate governor! The pirates might not recognize what I have to say now that I've lost my territory!”
”Haha… The top rule among pirates is that there are no rules! I'm not as naive as you!” Fang Yuan waved his hand. ”I only want your nomination in name!”
”Nomination in name… Hiss…” After understanding what Fang Yuan meant, even someone as daring as Blackbeard gasped. ”You couldn't possibly want to…”
”Hush! Don't say it! Don't say it!”
Fang Yuan had a bone-chilling smile.
…
Beneath the moonlight.
A few naval ships sailed silently toward a deserted island before lowering some small boats.
”Those damned pirates… how dare they kidnap my Elizabeth…”
Viscount Quaid was a respected gentleman and a qualified politician who did not show his emotions on his face. However, he was rather at a loss today.
Ever since he got word of his daughter running into pirates, he had been worried about Elizabeth's safety.
However, the pirates had only let him know that his daughter was still alive.
He looked at the naval officer beside him.
”Rear Admiral Jackson, I leave everything to you!”
”Rest assured, Governor. After confirming the young lady's safety, I will hang every last one of those pirates!”
Rear Admiral Jackson was a handsome young man in his thirties. Upon hearing the governor's request, he immediately patted his chest in guarantee.
”No! What I meant was that we don't need to capture the pirates. I'm only worried about our safety. According to previous reports, the last time Elizabeth appeared was in the hands of the great slave trader Heathfrey. It's possible that she's in the hands of the Purgatory Pirates now…”
Viscount Quaid wiped his sweat with a clean white handkerchief.
”You're saying… that the witch we encountered earlier is from the Purgatory Pirates?”
Rear Admiral Jackson flashed a cold smile. ”Then I'm all the more interested… surely a mere Purgatory Pirates can't stand up to our ironclads?”
”No! You don't understand…”
Before Viscount Quaid could finish, the boat reached shore.
They alighted from the boat and went to the center of the island. They immediately saw Fang Yuan and his group with Elizabeth in the middle.
”My daughter…”
Regardless of how skilled Quaid was at keeping his emotions in check, he cried out in excitement upon seeing his daughter.
On the other hand, Rear Admiral Jackson cried out in shock.