Extraction

As the island in the Aigle Passage closest to the Storm Sea, Greenleaf Island owed its prosperity to its location. Though only a medium-sized island, it was even more prosperous than many large islands.

Several Third-Tier Professionals from various factions were stationed on the island to maintain order on Greenleaf Island.

At noon, after a docking fee of 10 silver coins had been paid.

The [Black Pearl] slowly entered Greenleaf Island's harbor under the staff's guidance.

On the deck of the [Black Pearl], Dunn gathered all the crew members.

"I know many of you only reluctantly pledged your loyalty to me because of the situation back then." Dunn swept his gaze over the crew members, who had grown restless upon reaching Greenleaf Island.

"Now I'll give you a chance. Anyone who doesn't want to follow me can leave."

At Dunn's words, not only the crew members but even Annie beside him froze. Her expression then changed, and she wanted to say something, but looking at the crew below, she held her tongue.

Looking at some of the crew below, who seemed tempted yet wary, Dunn continued, "Don't worry about me doing anything to you. Now that we've entered Greenleaf Island, I have to obey its laws too."

"After all, the Third-Tier Professionals on the island aren't pushovers."

As soon as Dunn finished speaking, a small portion of the crew tentatively headed toward Greenleaf Island.

Dunn watched the departing crew members without any expression. Annie beside him wanted to say something, but a look from Dunn silenced her.

Seeing that the first crew members to leave had reached the island safely.

More groups of crew members promptly left one after another.

A short while later, apart from Dunn and his two companions, only 17 crew members remained on deck.

"Very good. Congratulations on making the right choice. Everyone who stayed gets double pay."

Seeing that the remaining 17 crew members had no intention of leaving, Dunn casually dangled a promise before them.

"Oh! Thank you, generous captain!"

"Long live the captain!"

"Praise our great captain!"

Watching the jubilant crew, Annie urgently said to Dunn in a low voice, "Damn it! What were you thinking? These crew members already know all your details! And you just let them leave like that! If I'd known, I never would have read out the information on your Career Card."

The reason Annie had read out Dunn's card information without any scruples back then was that she had not considered these crew members worth worrying about.

In Annie's view, these crew members would either obediently work until they died or sink into the sea to feed the fish.

"I want them to spread my information."

Dunn's answer immediately stunned Annie.

"Whether it's being born extraordinary or being one of Heaven's Favored, people will find out about those identities sooner or later. I don't mind."

Dunn looked at Annie calmly as he spoke.

"Over the [Black Pearl] incident, the White Elephant Chamber of Commerce will undoubtedly direct most of its firepower at the Oathkeeper. Even if they learn that the [Black Pearl] is now in my hands, they won't pay too much attention."

"The loss of the [Black Pearl] is already an established fact for the White Elephant Chamber of Commerce."

"Paying a heavy price to target me won't let the White Elephant Chamber of Commerce recover the [Black Pearl] or this shipload of cargo."

"Mobilizing so many resources for a mere Second-Tier Professional would only inflict another loss on the White Elephant Chamber of Commerce."

"And whether they want to vent their anger or deter and warn others, the [Oathkeeper] is the best target."

"But once they learn these details about me, even the White Elephant Chamber of Commerce won't be able to ignore me completely."

Hearing this, Annie instantly understood.

"You're doing it for the bounty."

"A bounty of 1,000 gold coins is too difficult a condition to meet. I have to start preparing now. I can only hope the White Elephant Chamber of Commerce puts more into it."

After arranging for the crew to take shifts watching the ship, Dunn enthusiastically set off on his grand Greenleaf Island adventure.

Annie and Green, who had stayed behind to handle the cargo, stood on deck and watched Dunn's retreating back.

"Miss, are we really going to let this Dunn lord it over us like this?"

Green had been holding this question in for a week. Being defeated by Dunn, a mere First-Tier Professional, after a moment of carelessness last time had been an utter humiliation for him. Now that Dunn had gone ashore, he immediately asked, unable to wait any longer.

Annie raised a hand to smooth her long blond hair, which the sea breeze had stirred, and asked in return, "What, do you have a better idea?"

"My injuries have more or less healed. If we fight again, I can definitely defeat him."

"Last time, I thought you were sure to win too."

"I was careless last time. If I'd had Red Beak in hand..."

"Last time, he was still first tier!" Annie interrupted Green somewhat impatiently. "Don't bring this up again. For now, just maintain this cooperative relationship we have with him."

At this moment, Dunn's decision to let Annie view his Career Card had paid off well. Having seen his stat panel, which could be called extravagant even among Second-Tier Professionals, Annie had abandoned the idea of competing with Dunn.

Especially since she still did not know the specific effects of Dunn's professional abilities.

Their current way of cooperating was not particularly difficult for Annie to accept, either.

"But the family..."

"Just tell them the truth." The mention of her family made Annie's expression somewhat gloomy. "Go contact our 'family' to receive the cargo on the ship first, and retrieve our weapons while you're at it."

"...Understood."

Leaving the miscellaneous matters aboard the ship to Annie, Dunn stepped onto Greenleaf Island's docks. Amid the clamor all around him, the rich, exotic atmosphere eased a little of the gloom he had felt since crossing over.

"Come on, friends up ahead, make some room."

The urgent voices of a group of workers hauling cargo came from behind him.

Dunn politely stepped aside to let the cargo workers pass first.

Suddenly, a worker up ahead slipped, dropping the cargo in his hands onto the ground. The less-than-sturdy crate immediately split open, spilling its fruit, some of which even rolled into the sea.

"What the hell are you doing? You can't even carry some fruit without dropping it!"

"I'm sorry, boss. I'm sorry..."

The instant Dunn saw the spilled fruit, his gaze shifted. Ignoring the scene of scolding and apologies between the worker and his boss, he did his best to maintain a normal pace as he walked farther into the island.

Dunn did not pause at all as he passed the spilled fruit.

One hand touched the Career Card in his pocket.

Extract: Flame-Flame Fruit

Extract: Float-Float Fruit

Then he walked into the island with a slightly lighter step.

A short while later, things returned to normal on the docks, and the worker gathered up the spilled fruit and continued working.

Looking at two oddly shaped fruits in the crate, the worker muttered to himself in puzzlement, "Strange, what kind of fruit are these two? A newly cultivated variety?"

Then the worker shook his head, put aside his curiosity, sealed the crate, and went back to work.