Five days later, Booty Bay, Stranglethorn Vale.
Four medium-sized warships arrived outside the harbor. Between them sailed an enormous aircraft carrier that looked much like a large transport and supply ship. All five behemoths flew the Blood Skull Pirate Crew's flag.
The formation, which looked like a regular naval fleet, suddenly appeared outside Booty Bay's harbor, naturally stirring unease and commotion among the various factions within. Once they saw the flags flying from the ships, they were all frightened by the Blood Skull Pirate Crew's strength.
After all, the Blood Skull Pirate Crew had more than just those five large ships outside the harbor. Two more medium-sized warships and another aircraft carrier were still moored at the docks inside Booty Bay.
Back when the Bloodsail Buccaneers had ruled the waters of Stranglethorn Vale at the height of their power, they had possessed only nine or ten medium-sized warships throughout the region. Yet those ten or so ships had been enough to control most of its waters. Even the Blackwater Raiders had had to give them a wide berth!
Now, within the area visible to the naked eye inside and outside Booty Bay's harbor alone, the Blood Skull Pirate Crew had assembled eight large ships. Although that was one or two fewer than the Bloodsail Buccaneers had possessed at their peak, everyone in Booty Bay understood that the Bloodskull forces on display alone were far stronger than the Bloodsail Buccaneers' entire presence in Stranglethorn Vale's waters had ever been.
These pirates understood perfectly well that the warships bristling with dark gunports were terrifying and formidable. Any one of those medium-sized military vessels could dominate the waters around Booty Bay. Compared with those two seemingly harmless giants, however, the ferocious-looking warships were positively gentle.
Everyone in Booty Bay now knew that each