The pirates planning to join the Norton Pirates were crowding around the outskirts of Dock GR-24.
There were more than twenty of them. Some had come in groups of three or five, while others stood alone in corners, watching. The boldest few at the front had already approached the White Pearl's berth, only to be stopped.
The ones stopping them were the Nyaban Brothers.
Buchi crouched on a mooring bollard, narrowing his eyes at the pirates before him. Sham leaned against the ship's rail, twirling a dagger in his hand.
"What do you want?"
The pirate leading the group swallowed. He had seen plenty of vicious men, but being stared down by two humanoid cats still unnerved him.
"W-we're here to join-"
Buchi licked his claws.
"Join?"
"Yes! The Norton Pirates! We want to join!"
Sham put away his dagger and lazily pointed to the side.
"Over there. Registration Office."
The pirates looked in that direction and only then noticed a makeshift shelter that had somehow sprung up beside the dock. A wooden sign hung from it, bearing the crooked words "Registration Office."
There was a table and two chairs inside the shelter. Two pirates sat behind the table, yawning in boredom.
"They already had this ready?" one pirate muttered.
"Obviously." Buchi yawned. "Lord Kuro said ages ago that people would come wanting to join, so he told us to wait here. You're lucky. You're the first batch."
The pirates exchanged glances, then hurried toward the Registration Office.
A line had already formed behind the shelter.
Meanwhile, the pirate guarding the ship who had been sent to deliver the letter jogged all the way from Dock GR-24 and finally intercepted Norton outside the clothing shop.
"Admiral!"
Panting, he presented the letter with both hands.
"Some guys in black suits delivered