Skyler stayed in West Blue for about a month, constantly searching for the traces of his first crew member.
He found that the situation in West Blue was completely different from South Blue.
South Blue was plagued by pirates, while here, the underground mafia controlled everything.
The supplies or armaments of many pirate crews all needed to be traded with the mafia.
Several mafia families vaguely had the posture of controlling the entire West Blue.
Among them was the mafia gang headed by Capone Bege, who had been in the limelight recently and would become one of the Worst Generation members in the future.
It was rumored that Capone Bege was already full of ambition, preparing to lead his family’s men to the Grand Line.
On the one hand, it was to expand the family business, and on the other hand, it was to make the gang’s reputation resound.
Nowadays in West Blue, mentioning Capone Bege’s name made many people turn pale with fright.
Anyone who went against the gang, regardless of which faction’s leader they were, ended up in a very miserable plight.
“Here…”
The next day, Skyler arrived at an island, strolled on the lush, green grassy field, stopped, raised his head, and looked at a majestic high wall before him.
At the city gate in the distance, there were still soldiers standing guard.
This was a country in West Blue named Briss, a non-governmental affiliated country.
It was not protected by the World Government.
Therefore, pirates frequently visited, and as for the peace and stability of the city, it completely relied on the kingdom’s own guard army to regulate.
There were many such non-affiliated countries in the Four Blues, and quite a few could not withstand the plundering of pirates, now having completely degenerated into pirate dens, while the country’s royalty and nobles were a joke.
Quite a few non-affiliated countries in West Blue even needed the mafia’s protection.
Without interrogation, the guards at the city gate merely stared alertly at Skyler for a moment and let him pass.
Stepping into the urban area, there were rare figures of commoners on the streets; most of them were caravan members or pirates…
This country had already rotted.
Passing by a bustling bar, Skyler pushed open the door and entered.
The murmurs inside the room instantly disappeared, replaced by a burst of silence.
This tavern had twenty or thirty tables, already filled with people, seemingly having been completely booked by a pirate crew.
The crowd clinked their beer mugs bubbling with white foam one after another, drinking to their heart’s content.
However, Skyler’s arrival broke their celebration.
“Welcome!”
The boss behind the counter wiped the tabletop and said a word.
“It is Demon skyler!”
“A grand pirate with a bounty of 100 million, who has returned from the Grand Line!”
Someone exclaimed in a low voice.
Yes, the World Government had raised Skyler’s bounty once again, doubling it to reach the 100-million mark.
With his bounty, walking sideways was possible in a beginner pirate paradise like the Four Blues.
Skyler himself was also very confused why the government and Marines valued him so much…
However, a rising bounty was also a good thing.
During this month of his efforts, walking in West Blue, he had also killed some blind guys, done some things, and some small news agencies also had coverage…
Therefore, carrying the halo of ‘a strong person returning from the Grand Line’ like him, it was hard not to attract attention.
All factions cared about it particularly.
To say nothing else, Skyler had just resolved a team of West Blue branch Marines who came to capture him half a month ago.
Being able to almost destroy a Marine branch all by oneself was hard to imagine in the Four Blues.
Mainly because this branch had been interfering with Skyler’s progress, so afterwards he directly went to the branch garrison, ignored the defense system of the Marine branch, and slaughtered the current commander.
Entering the tiger’s den alone and retreating safely.
It caused a huge uproar in West Blue.
“I want to find a person.” Ignoring the pirates in the shop, Skyler walked up to the counter and took out a photo to show the boss.
The tavern was undoubtedly one of the most well-informed places for intelligence.
“It is him!”
The latter’s expression changed after seeing the person in the photo.
The person Skyler was looking for also had a considerable fierce reputation in West Blue.
“He should be right in the city.
Have you seen him?”
When Skyler asked, there was a rustling commotion behind him, and the members of an entire pirate crew fled in a panic; many people even sobered up and dared not stay any longer.
Even some tables and chairs were knocked down.
Learning from the News Agency’s bulletin board, this Demon skyler was extremely terrifying.
Bloodthirsty by nature, wherever he went, rivers of blood flowed.
If they didn’t run, their little lives might not be saved.
“Seen him…
This person hasn’t left yet.
There is news saying that he appeared in the southern part of the city yesterday.”
The boss swallowed his saliva and nodded.
Hearing this, Skyler turned around and left.
The matter of his visiting Briss quickly spread around.
For a time, the city was jittery, and the people were panic-stricken.
Although Skyler was a lone ranger, his deterrent force was not inferior in the slightest to the evil forces occupying the position of West Blue hegemons.
His deeds were too bloody; no one dared to underestimate them.
Wandering around for a few hours, in the afternoon when the setting sun went down, Skyler found his target on a desolate and dreary street in the southern part of the city.
Looking far ahead, a man over three meters tall and somewhat slender in build stood on the road ahead.
Wearing a top hat and holding a cane.
A yellow spotted shirt, suspenders, leather shoes, also wearing earrings, with bright red lips and a pale complexion…
From far away, it gave people a feeling of cold, murderous sternness.
Lying at this man’s feet were quite a few pirates and patrolling kingdom guards…
they were all dead.
Judging from the bloodstains on the man’s clothes, the people were obviously all killed by him.
Skyler slowly stepped forward.
Hearing the movement, the target person glanced over with one eye from under the brim of his hat, the corners of his mouth rising: “A grand pirate with a bounty of 100 million, the demon crawled out of hell, honorable Mr.
Skyler, it is an honor to meet you!”
The latter turned around, danced a dance step similar to a tap dance, took off his top hat, and bowed politely.
Very gentlemanly.
“There are quite a few informants staring at me secretly.
Wherever I go, people run away a step ahead…
There isn’t even half a shadow of a person on this street right now.” Looking around, Skyler changed the topic: “Why didn’t you run?”
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you?”
“A big shot like you, without reason, would not travel back and forth between the Grand Line and West Blue, let alone come to a place like Briss…
and still linger in the city.
Now…
you appear before me, which makes me even more convinced of my conjecture: you are here to find me.”
“You really are smart!”
Skyler was amused.
“Now there are rumors saying that I couldn’t survive in the Grand Line and ran to West Blue in order to avoid the pursuit of Marineford.”
“No!
I am aware of all your deeds.
It is not that easy for Marineford to catch you, and they might have to expend much more energy…
Your bounty’s surge in such a short time is unprecedented.
This shows that, just like my vision, the Marines also believe that your future on the great sea has boundless prospects…
If you are not stopped in time, you will make earth-shattering achievements.”
“Oh?
That means…
you admire me?” Skyler raised an eyebrow.
“Not just admiration, but also respect…
You are the most outstanding newcomer on the sea I think in recent years; even that Fire Fist Ace cannot compare with you.”
“Then you should also know my purpose for coming.”
Too lazy to talk nonsense, Skyler went straight to the point.
“May I ask, if I refuse, what will you do?”
“Of course, kill you…
A person like you, if you don’t follow me, will go to sea sooner or later.
If we meet on the sea in the future, we might become enemies.” Skyler said.
Having spoken, he waved his hand and urged: “Let’s go…”
The tone was as if he were greeting his own people.
The moment Skyler saw the other party, he knew they were birds of a feather.
This first crew member had a more distinct personality than what he saw in the anime.
Bloodthirsty, violent, believing in the strong…
Not nearly as gentle and polite as it appeared on the surface, and those dead people on the ground were the best proof.
People who shared the same traits needed no excessive communication.
A single look, and they understood each other.
“Being able to follow someone like you, I have no reason to refuse either.”
“Gladly at your service, my Captain!”
The man changed his title and naturally trailed behind Skyler as they walked far away.
Just a few brief words, and he boarded Skyler’s ship without feeling anything abrupt; everything felt as natural as water flowing to form a canal.
His feeling was the same as Skyler’s.
Regarding this Captain, after meeting the person in the flesh, Laffitte was even more certain of the difference between the Hell Pirates and other pirate factions.
Laffitte was a security officer expelled by a certain kingdom in West Blue for advocating violence and frequently torturing people.
A future member of the Blackbeard Pirates.
This was the first crew member in Skyler’s plan.
It went even smoother than he had anticipated beforehand, costing almost no breath.