After Dunn and Pearl signed the River Styx Contract, the entire fleet left the small island.
Unlike before, however, the fleet now had one more person aboard-Pearl.
"I don't have many years left. It won't do if I die of old age before you become a Legendary," Pearl told Dunn.
"So until you become a Legendary, I'll stay with you, and even help you advance."
"This time won't count toward those fifty years."
"Damn brat, you really know how to drive a bargain! Don't worry, this time won't count toward those fifty years."
Pearl's irritated words did not upset Dunn at all. On the contrary, he was quite pleased to have Pearl as a free enforcer.
With Pearl's abilities and the Legendary Battleship [Black Pearl], Dunn would basically be in no danger as long as no Legendary intervened.
Even with Legendaries, Pearl could call in a little goodwill as long as nothing particularly important was at stake. After all, his many years of "fighting on others' behalf" had earned him considerable friendships with many Legendaries.
Those friendships would not make anyone abandon their interests, but for simple little matters, the Legendaries would still do Pearl a favor.
Although having a powerful enforcer like Pearl was a good thing, his presence aboard also had its downside.
Because Pearl's combat strength overwhelmed the entire fleet, he held a position above everyone else in it, one that even seemed to faintly surpass Dunn's.
That was no good thing. Previously, Dunn's word had been absolute throughout the fleet. Even Annie could only offer him a few suggestions.
The final decision had always rested in Dunn's hands.
But now that Pearl was there, if he made a demand that conflicted with Dunn's orders, whose word should they follow? That was a problem.
Fortunately, Pearl was