It was, of course, a joke. The pirates might have been vicious, but they weren't stupid. The more successful they became, the more clearly they understood that.
In fact, Firebeard had personally invited Colonel Singer over with the utmost respect, then told him that the pirates of the Abyss Nebula had gathered because they were planning to raid the Empire.
Yu Lian could imagine the expression on Colonel Singer's face at the time. He reckoned that even he wouldn't have handled it very well if he'd been there.
No wonder he'd become one of the most famous pirate kings in the Abyss Nebula's future! What a man!
Anyway, while Colonel Singer was struggling to contain his shock, Firebeard Edward solemnly asked whether he wanted to join them on their trip to the Empire.
And so, the poor colonel, despite being an intelligence officer, really couldn't hold back. After standing there in a daze for a long while, he asked Firebeard in a horrified voice whether the big shot was messing with him. But the other man remained serious and sincere as he explained that, while the colonel didn't have any troops or warships, he could at least serve as chief of staff at the pirate fleet's temporary headquarters.
The pirate leaders all welcomed the idea enthusiastically. They figured that an elite career officer like Colonel Singer, who clearly knew his military classics, would surely help them get organized.
Once they came back with a full load, the colonel could count as having sent troops too, and would get a share of the spoils.
That was the Abyss Nebula's ironclad rule of the black (meow) underworld.
Firebeard Edward probably really did want to bring these outsiders into the business.
In his report, Colonel Singer said that the pirates of the Great