Several hours later, Vicero Island's coast.
"What... happened here?"
Standing on the Delidornod Saber, Krieg stared wide-eyed at the town in ruins, his eyes filled with shock.
Across the familiar ruined town, huge splashes of blood-dark ink had stained the streets and walls, dried into crusts.
The town, which should have been bustling with life, was now utterly silent, like a realm of ghosts.
A severed left hand lay on the stone slabs of the dock, its fingernails packed with mud and bloodstains as flies buzzed around it.
"It had to be the Black Count!"
Agin's expression was grave, with a trace of lingering fear in his eyes. "No wonder he chose Vicero Island for the meeting. As expected, he'd long had his eye on the pirates gathered here."
The situation had changed!
With the pirates' corpses from Vicero Island, the other side already held the advantage in sheer numbers.
"It's too dangerous, Captain. Perhaps we should..."
"Iron Wall" Pearl carefully scanned the surroundings, afraid undead might suddenly emerge from somewhere nearby.
"Shut up!"
Krieg shot him an impatient look, and the dangerous gleam in his eyes made Pearl tremble.
"Pearl, this isn't a matter of whether we can leave if we want to. If we leave, Lord Krieg's prestige will be swept away. How will we recruit men afterward?"
Pirates were mostly people who cared about face.
If the captain was too cowardly, only a limited number of people would be willing to follow him, no matter how much money he offered.
That's why I suggested landing on the island beforehand...
Agin sighed. "Let me take the lead, Captain."
Krieg's gaze shifted. "Fine..."
"Captain Krieg?"
At that moment, a call drew their attention.
Click! Click!
Flintlock pistols were raised one after another, aimed in the direction of the voice.