Edward Newgate's Decision!

Chapter 48: Edward Newgate's Decision!

Magnus had already made plans for Sphinx over a decade ago.

Establish an underground black market, develop the service and entertainment industries, and use the money earned from pirates to build his own pillar industries, eventually going legitimate.

In a country lacking resources, with low levels of technology and production capacity, and no foreign capital injection, the only option was to rely on what was available – using pirates to get by.

This wasn't a short-term project, so Magnus had only offered advice back then and left Sphinx after it raised its pirate flag.

However, after all these years, Sphinx's development had remained stuck at the second step.

This was because making money from pirates was simply too easy. Pirates, who lived with their lives on the line, were often willing to spend lavishly when presented with good food, wine, and women. Casinos were also their most frequent haunts.

Therefore, even though Magnus had repeatedly emphasized that these gray industries were not sustainable and that Sphinx needed to strengthen itself if it truly wanted to develop, the powers that be in Sphinx paid no mind.

As a result, after they had used Magnus's flag to extort vast sums of money from pirates, they found themselves without the strength to protect themselves when Magnus's pirate flag could no longer be of use.

From that point on, the country of Sphinx became a mere shell of its former self.

And this time...

After defeating the alliance formed by the three major pirate crews, Magnus had no intention of returning power to the current authorities of Sphinx.

He hadn't bothered with it before because he hadn't had the time.

Now, Magnus intended to use Sphinx as a stepping stone to develop his own forces, and he certainly couldn't let these incompetent nobles hinder him any longer.

"Magnus, if you turn Sphinx into your territory, the Marines won't just stand by and do nothing."

After visiting the Black Pearl again to help Rocks and the others change their bandages, the goat doctor cautioned him.

Magnus needed the strength to defend this territory!

"Haha, you don't need to tell me about this. I won't involve ordinary people."

Upon hearing the goat doctor's words, a strange smile appeared on Magnus's face.

"Why do you think I chose Sphinx?"

If nothing else, the pirates under the three major pirate crews alone numbered over ten thousand. While they might be weaklings who couldn't even withstand Haki, these weaklings could still play a significant role during wartime.

Not to mention, in addition to the pirates from the three major crews, Sphinx also hosted dozens of other pirate groups, large and small, who were temporarily docked there.

If the Marines were to engage in battle, they would have to take these pirates into consideration as well.

"What if the Marines send an Admiral?"

"I'll handle it!"

Magnus said decisively.

Was there such a thing as building one's own influence without facing any risks?

Even if he wanted to rally all the pirates in Sphinx to fight against the Marines, it was more likely that these pirates would all scatter the moment they saw the Marines.

Unless he could demonstrate the strength to confront a Marine Admiral head-on.

"In the end, they're just a rabble!"

So, Magnus had another option: to flee.

It was normal for a pirate like him to run from the Marines, right?

"Ouch!"

While Magnus was chatting with the goat doctor, a girl dressed as a nurse was changing the bandages for Edward Newgate and the others.

Her slender figure and proud physique made many of the more mature children unable to help but swallow and reach out.

As soon as their hands reached out, they were grabbed, met with the girl's cold sneer.

"You brats think you can take advantage of me? Try again in your next life!"

The girl was none other than Stussy.

After witnessing Magnus's power in defeating the three great pirates, Stussy's resolve to latch onto White Wolf Magnus and make a fortune only grew stronger.

To achieve this, she didn't hesitate to throw a tantrum to get the goat doctor to bring her to the Black Pearl.

Upon getting closer to Magnus and seeing his appearance clearly, Stussy became even more smitten.

While she wanted to make money, she also had her standards!

If White Wolf Magnus had been a decrepit old man, no matter how much money he had, she wouldn't have wanted to compromise herself.

But at first glance, he was anything but a decrepit old man.

He was clearly a handsome uncle!

Especially when Stussy saw Magnus having Black Heart Merchant Dukemon transport box after box of gold and silver treasures out of the ship's hold.

Her eyes had completely transformed into dollar signs shaped like Magnus.

Older, handsome, and rich!

An old man like this was hard to find even with a lantern.

However, every time Stussy tried to get close to Magnus, she encountered an obstacle.

Ripley!

A girl who was dressed wildly and seemed to have a cheerful personality.

She was reportedly already a crew member of the White Wolf Pirates.

Stussy had originally thought that since they were around the same age, Ripley would be closer to that conceited guy Rocks.

But that wasn't the case at all.

Ripley was always asking Magnus questions, leaving Stussy no chance to get close to him.

"You annoying woman, get lost!"

Stussy bit her nails and thought to herself.

On the other hand, Ripley didn't know Stussy and only saw her as a pretty nurse at Dr. Goat's clinic.

But whether it was because she had been fighting recently and her Observation Haki was about to awaken, Ripley felt that the way Stussy looked at Magnus was strange.

"Captain, is my Observation Haki about to awaken? I feel like I can sense other people's emotions!"

"Really?"

Magnus frowned and glanced at Ripley. As far as he knew, Observation Haki that could sense others' emotions was usually innate.

"Then can you sense my emotions?"

"Uh."

Ripley looked at Magnus and said cautiously.

"You think I have extraordinary talent and am a genius?"

"Nonsense!"

Magnus kicked Ripley impatiently.

"Right now, I think you're just an idiot!"

"That's so mean~"

Ripley stuck out her tongue playfully at Magnus. Seeing Magnus raise his leg, she quickly ran away.

In the corner.

Seeing the interaction between Magnus and Ripley, and then seeing Magnus occasionally guiding Rocks in his training, helping Rocks master Haki further.

Edward Newgate felt a bit envious.

He was an orphan, and precisely because he was an orphan, he longed for a family even more.

In his eyes, the way Magnus and Ripley interacted was like a real family.

He had already heard from others that Magnus would retake control of Sphinx, and the Orphanage of Lambs, which had closed due to funding issues, would be rebuilt, giving the displaced children a place to call home again.

What about him?

He was no longer young and couldn't stay at the Orphanage of Lambs.

Go out and work?

But Sphinx didn't have that much work.

After thinking it over, Edward Newgate realized he only had one thought in his mind.

Noticing Edward Newgate's gaze.

Magnus smiled.

He knew that after he regained control of Sphinx and decided to make changes, Edward Newgate would no longer have to worry about his little friends, finally free from his concerns.

He extended his hand and asked again.

"How about it, Newgate, are you willing to become my family?"

This time, the boy didn't hesitate.

"Yes!"