This island was the "capital" of Krieg's territory, as well as the barracks where the Krieg Pirates' five thousand combatants were stationed.
Garen, appearing at the docks under the name of "Pirate Hunter," quickly became the target of public wrath.
Several hundred pirate patrolmen wielding swords and guns surrounded the small sailboat Garen had docked by the shore. Iron Wall Palu, their strongest fighter, stood proudly at the head of the pirates, glaring at him like a tiger stalking its prey.
Only Nami, Wallace, and old Dexter remained beside Garen.
"Pirate Hunter!"
Iron Wall Palu shouted, "You've already been surrounded! Surrender at once!"
Yet there was not the slightest hint of panic on Garen's face. Instead of answering Palu's shout, he turned with interest to Dexter, who had remained at his side.
"Old man, aren't you going to run off with those people?"
Dexter looked deeply at Garen's relaxed expression. Rather than answering directly, he asked thoughtfully,
"So you really noticed something was wrong long ago?"
"How could anyone miss it?"
Garen cast a distant glance at the group of "law-abiding citizens" huddling behind Iron Wall Palu and said disdainfully,
"Earlier, they were so worked up they practically wanted to gag you."
"Ah..."
Dexter let out a long sigh, then said with mixed emotions,
"As long as they earn the merit of 'reporting a Pirate Hunter,' the laborers at the bottom can qualify to become professional combatants."
"To those young people, you're like a pie falling from the sky."
The Krieg Pirates' professional combatants were employees hired with high salaries and generous benefits. Compared to the bottom-tier laborers who lived like slaves, they were unquestionably the privileged class.
"Heh."
Garen chuckled, then frowned slightly.
"They suffer bitterly under privilege, yet they still fight desperately to squeeze into the privileged class."