Liberating the Slave Market

The next morning, Julian held Alice and said, "Eat more in the morning. I have some business to attend to." Julian waved to Beatrice and Marina, saying, "Good morning, beauties." The two women replied, "Stop messing around."

Julian said to Herbert, "Later, we'll go to the area where the slave traders gather to gather information. We'll act tonight and rescue a larger group of slaves." Julian thought to himself, Are there any better workers than these? Herbert said, "As expected of the captain. Are we going to punish evil and promote good and uphold justice?"

Julian continued, "Yes, it's definitely to punish evil and promote good, and to give these poor slaves a chance to be human." Herbert chimed in, "These slave traders are utterly immoral. We must strike a blow against their crooked ways and give them a severe punishment."

Julian raised his right hand above his head and shouted, "I will not rest until I see the slave traders!" Julian looked at his image and felt he had become more imposing. All the crew members looked at Julian with admiration, saying in unison, "The captain is the most righteous pirate on the sea, a hero of Mount Liang!" Herbert said righteously, "Indeed. What the Marines won't handle, our Flame Dragon Pirates will!"

Julian issued orders to the First Division Captain George, Second Division Captain Pekki, Third Division Captain Allison, Fourth Division Captain Rekdon, Fifth Division Captain Leo, and Sixth Division Captain Pierre, preparing for an attack. He also ordered the ship's intelligence team to begin their operations. Julian said to the crew, "We are the last bastion of justice in the world. We help the weak and pitiable slaves. We have the ability to change the fate of some slaves, so we must extend our righteous arms and save them!"

Herbert echoed, "Captain, you truly are the most righteous person in the world." Herbert's eyes were full of admiration as he thought to himself, It is the honor of my life to be your first mate.

Herbert said, "Captain, your glorious deeds will surely be sung by generations to come." Julian was very pleased with this flattery and continued, "Old Sen, you are also a righteous swordsman with a heart that sacrifices for others."

Julian, continuing his role as a master of dedication, said, "We brothers must learn to dedicate ourselves to a beautiful and bright tomorrow." Julian then added, "Do you remember what I said? The strength of one person is very limited, but the strength of a hundred or a thousand people is infinite. Our Flame Dragon Pirates will go all out and sweep through these slave markets!"

Herbert sincerely agreed, "The captain speaks beautifully." All the division captains shouted, "Long live the captain! The captain is a hero on the sea! It is our honor to follow the captain and rescue those who suffer!" Julian thought to himself, These people really can imagine things. I just think these slaves are very suitable as laborers. George then asked, "Captain, should we give this operation a codename?" Julian replied, "Let's call it 'Uphold Justice'."

Julian thought to himself, This is a typical example of how helping others makes one feel internally fulfilled and righteous, especially when it's a great deed like saving a life. At this moment, the members of the Flame Dragon Pirates were all filled with a sense of justice, their spirits soaring, and their demeanor full of righteousness.

The members of the Flame Dragon Pirates set off one after another, heading towards the slave traders' market. Julian was also very happy, thinking, What a great opportunity to show off this morning, and it even ignited the crew's sense of justice.

Julian thought to himself, I never imagined I would see so many righteous pirates. These are truly the cream of the crop among pirates. This is all my doing. Julian mused, Why am I so dazzling? It must be my powerful charisma! Julian then thought, Once I establish a territory, these personas—righteous, chivalrous, despising wealth like dirt, and powerful—will surely attract talented individuals to join me.

Julian then pulled Herbert to the open-air deck on the fourth floor. Julian planned to explain the landscape of the sea to Herbert and then had several bottles of wine brought over. The two began drinking early in the morning.

Julian said, "Old Sen, do you know about Skypiea?" Julian intended to explain Skypiea to Herbert first, so that when they robbed territory, this upright person wouldn't have any psychological burden. Herbert looked puzzled and asked, "Skypiea? Is that the one in the sky?"

Julian immediately said, "Do you know Jaya Island?" Herbert replied, "I've heard before that there's a Golden Land, Shangrila, there. Isn't that just the tall tales of Roland the Liar?"

Julian said, "Actually, the Golden Land is real, and Skypiea exists. It's just that the Golden Land was washed up to Skypiea by the Knock Up Stream." Julian explained the history of Skypiea to Herbert, how the Golden Land of Shangrila was washed up to Skypiea by the Knock Up Stream, and how the Skypieans and Shandia had been fighting over territory for four hundred years.

Julian said, "Our pirate crew plans to take over Skypiea in the future, to stop the Skypieans and Shandia from fighting and end their four-hundred-year-old feud. For our pirate crew to grow and become stronger, we need our own territory. Without our own territory, how can we develop our armed forces?"

Herbert looked fully supportive of Julian and said, "Captain, we really should take that land and establish our territory. It's difficult for our pirate crew to develop by drifting around without a base."

Julian was glad to know that Herbert was not a rigid person. Julian and Herbert continued to drink under a fruit grove, but they were both sensible and did not drink too much. By noon, all the division captains had returned, and the intelligence had been gathered. There were many slave traders selling people in the slave market.

Julian immediately ordered his men to attack and begin the rescue of these unfortunate slaves. Thus, Julian and Herbert, along with all the division captains, headed to the slave market. As the members of the Flame Dragon Pirates walked down the street, many people avoided them from afar. All the shops and stores closed their doors. When Julian and his group arrived at the slave market, they saw a large group of uniformed royal soldiers and some slave traders lined up.

Most of these slave traders had paid taxes to the king, and the buying and selling of slaves were legal. Julian looked at the bound people, male and female slaves, old and young. Some slaves were even kept in dog cages.

Julian exclaimed, "This is too cruel! These people are completely devoid of humanity!" Julian immediately transformed into his Flame Giant Dragon Form and began his attack. The kingdom's guards and the leaders of the slave traders, upon seeing Julian's hundred-meter-long Flame Giant Dragon, immediately fled.

Julian only wanted to recruit more laborers, not to carry out a massacre. Since they ran away, Julian let them go. The other slaves looked at Julian in shock. Julian said, "I am Flame Dragon Julian, the most righteous pirate captain on the sea. Today, I have come to rescue you. You are now free!"

After speaking, Julian ordered his crew members to untie all the slaves and some crew members to rescue those in the dog cages. In this way, about two thousand slaves were released. After being freed from their restraints, the slaves looked at Julian with numb expressions. Julian said, "You are all free. If you have nowhere to go, you can temporarily join my fleet." When the slaves heard that they could join the Flame Dragon Pirates, their eyes lit up.

Julian added, "The elderly should find a place to live peacefully. After all, we will be sailing, and it's easy to lose your life at sea while sailing." Julian chose some of the younger slaves or those with professions to board the ship.

For the remaining elderly or unskilled individuals, Julian gave each of them ten thousand Berries to find a new place to live. He gave each of the elderly or sick one thousand Berries without any discount. The crew members were all watching.

Julian said to everyone, "Those rescued slaves each received ten thousand Berries. How much will those who follow me, Flame Dragon Julian, in conquering the world receive? At least one billion. Understand the applause." Then, a group of people applauded, looking at the captain's back as if he were bathed in glory, saying in unison, "We will definitely each receive one billion in the future!" Julian then had Herbert take these slaves onto the ship. Julian, on the other hand, continued with other intelligence personnel to check out other slave markets. This island had two slave markets. This was the largest, selling everything. The second slave market was smaller, selling more expensive and higher-quality slaves.

Without a second word, Julian led a few division members, over four hundred people, and rushed to the second slave market. The second slave market was much more luxurious, like a super large shopping mall. When the slave traders saw a large group of people rushing in, they all fled. They had little resistance. Julian activated his Flame Giant Dragon Form, and a roar from the hundred-meter Flame Giant Dragon echoed out.

The royal soldiers scattered like birds and beasts, just as before. Julian saw a few slave market guard captains preparing to resist, weapons in hand. Julian directly unleashed a torrent of flames, accompanied by the power of explosive fire, blasting down several guard captains.

Julian said, "Are you blind? I roared first to let you know that Flame Dragon Julian has arrived, and you still don't know when to stop resisting!" Julian ordered all his crew members to begin rescuing the slaves.

Most of these slaves were women, and they were all very beautiful. Some of the female slaves were almost as beautiful as Beatrice and Alice. The female and male slaves were extremely grateful and said to Julian, "Thank you, sir, for rescuing us!"

Julian brought these girls and other slaves onto the ship, about five hundred people. The number of people rescued from the large slave market was over three thousand, but only about eighteen hundred were brought onto the ship. This was mainly because there were many elderly, weak, sick, and disabled individuals. If Julian took them sailing, they might not be able to endure it, and it would be bad luck if they died on the journey. Now, Julian's fleet had three thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven people, nearly four thousand. The Flame Dragon Pirates now had a very large crew.

Julian had long ago ordered Herbert to seize a few more giant ships, preferably large merchant ships, so that there would be no crowding or shortage of supplies during voyages. The most feared thing at sea was a lack of supplies or fresh water, which could be fatal.

Julian brought everyone onto his main ship. He assigned the women to Rose's medical team or Marina's musicians. Julian had Pablo arrange for these people, and then he no longer concerned himself with them. Many people had also looted some money during the liberation of the slave market. Julian didn't care, as it was all from the slave traders or corrupt merchants anyway. Julian also had Pablo prepare one or two pieces of clothing for the slaves, as many were barely clothed, and ordered them to be given a full meal. Julian saw the fire of hope slowly rising in their eyes.

Julian had Pablo take a census of the personnel and arrange their ships. Julian's main ship could not accommodate so many people. The dock was now filled with male slaves, while the women had been assigned to various teams by Julian. Many were young women. Julian was quite busy. His main ship already had over fifteen hundred women, and it was becoming quite crowded.

The Flame Dragon was a giant ship over two hundred meters long and one hundred and fifty meters wide. Julian thought, Let them share rooms, a few people per room, and there won't be any problems. He also arranged for some senior ship doctors and nurses to stay on the third floor. They were all very beautiful, these senior ship doctors, several of whom were as beautiful as Beatrice and Alice. It was just inconvenient sometimes, and Julian had never bothered others. Now that they were living together, they could visit each other in the future.

He remembered a senior ship doctor named Luria Danilis, whose eyes were like flowing water. She would often send suggestive glances to Julian. Julian's mind was also restless. Several times, when he went to chat with her about dreams, he was caught by Alice or Beatrice. Alice would directly mock Julian, "Oh, isn't this our great captain? Didn't you say you were going to inspect the ship's voyage? How did you end up on the second floor? Did you feel unwell and need to see a doctor? You're a Fire Dragon, so healthy. Do you have some kind of unclean illness in your heart?"

Julian was too embarrassed to listen further. Julian explained, "It was just a coincidence. I was checking if these doctors needed any supplies. There was nothing else. Please don't overthink it." Alice, being such a straightforward person, spoke without considering the consequences. Julian didn't dare to stay there and could only flee.