Chapter 106: Light
“But… damn it! I was so close, just one step away…”
Boom!
Finally, the last challenger still standing on the earth also crashed down.
“Captain Taolong failed again!”
“Quick, quick, help him down, don’t let anyone step on him!”
“Wahhh! Captain!”
In the end, under the watchful eyes of Aoxi, Obei, and a crowd of Beasts Pirates crew members, Skipgate transformed into a mad goat and continuously headbutted over two hundred people away, successfully defending his executive position.
……
“Hoo~ Hah~ Cough, cough! Finally, it’s finally over.”
“Boss Foll, everyone… I did it.”
After confirming no one else would step up to challenge, Skipgate released his half-beast form and stood rigidly in place.
At this moment, he was covered in blood, his clothes torn to shreds, and the originally fluffy soft explosive hair on his head had become as messy as weeds.
“Uro-ro-ro~ As expected, you didn’t disappoint me!”
Kaido on the main seat revealed a satisfied smile.
“I didn’t expect this guy Skipgate to actually hold out; I underestimated him before.”
Burufaruto below also nodded with emotion, then picked up his wine glass and walked to the other’s side, planning to congratulate him.
“Haha! Skipgate, you this guy really made me look at you in a new… Uh, Boss Kaido, he passed out.”
Only after getting close did Burufaruto discover that this guy had passed out while standing!
“Quick! Quick, go find the ship doctor!”
“The ship doctor was just headbutted away by Brother Skipgate! He’s still unconscious!”
“Ah?!”
“What do we do?!”
“Go find a doctor in town!”
“No time for that, just carry him over directly.”
In the end, after a flurry of chaos, Wright carried the unconscious Skipgate and rushed to town to find a doctor, followed by a large group of Foll Pirate Crew crew members.
The banquet continued; aside from some with severe injuries being carried off to see a doctor, the remaining pirates were still enjoying fine wine and delicacies.
Wounds and pain seemed not to dampen their enthusiasm; on the contrary, they became capital for them to boast to other pirates who hadn’t participated in the battle.
In the Beasts Pirates, the defeated were always more admired by the crowd than those who avoided battle; losing to someone stronger wasn’t shameful.
After all, their captain Kaido was such a battle maniac who had been defeated multiple times yet remained undaunted.
“Since the assessment is over, allow me to take my leave first, Captain Kaido.”
Seeing that the main event of the night was over, the one sitting to Kaido’s left slowly stood up, greeted Kaido, and prepared to leave.
“Hm? Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Isn’t it still early?”
“It’s not early; in seven minutes, it will be tomorrow.”
“Heh~ How exactly do you always know the time so precisely?”
Of course, it’s a biological clock accurate to the millisecond.
The sun is the origin of all calendars.
However, she didn’t continue explaining this issue to Kaido, instead bringing up another matter.
“Captain Kaido, I hope we can gather the organization’s main members tomorrow afternoon for a meeting to discuss internal management issues within the Beasts Pirates.”
“You should have noticed that the pirate crew now, with too many people, is showing signs of confusion.”
“Yeah, that’s the case.”
Talking about serious matters, Kaido temporarily set down his sake jug.
“Ember and Burufaruto both told me; recently within the organization, there have been several incidents that nearly led to infighting.”
“That’s right; the conflicts between the newly defected pirates and the organization’s veterans are especially intense.”
Ember on the other side chimed in at this time; he had been busy with these matters before and knew the actual situation better than Kaido.
“But it’s nothing more than minor issues like uneven supply distribution; a little mediation will fix it.”
Uneven spoils distribution is always the best bait for internal consumption in violent criminal organizations like pirate crews.
“But as an executive, you can’t keep running around for these small matters forever, Ember.”
“And even if you can handle it now, what about later? When the pirate crew’s numbers reach five thousand, ten thousand, you might not be able to manage it.”
Within the Beasts Pirates, including Kaido, no one has experience managing violent groups of over a thousand people.
Moreover, you can’t find anyone to ask about such things; even if you want to learn from competitors’ advanced experience, they won’t pay attention to you.
It wouldn’t do to have Kaido call his sister Linlin and send a delegation to observe and learn for a while.
Those who went would probably just stay there and never come back.
Besides, every pirate crew’s management model is different; what suits BIG MOM might not suit the Beasts Pirates.
“So, what’s your idea, La?” Kaido couldn’t think of a solution for the moment.
“I’ll draft a rough management plan after I get back; tomorrow afternoon everyone can take a look first, and if there are opinions, we can discuss further.”
La stated her plan, then added:
“It’s best to finalize the new system tomorrow.”
“The current Beasts Pirates needs to complete the transformation from a pirate crew to a regional faction.”
“Yeah, it should be that way.”
Kaido grinned and teased: “But compared to me, you this brat seem more like the Beasts Pirates’ captain now~”
“How about it, want to give it a try?”
At these words, the voices in the banquet hall quieted a bit; everyone intentionally or unintentionally perked up their ears.
But facing what sounded to others like a cutting remark, La showed no reaction.
“I have no interest in manipulating this violent organization called the Beasts Pirates; once the crew’s affairs are on track, I plan to spend my time on my ‘real business’.”
“At that time, I hope Captain Kaido you can shoulder the responsibility of a leader.”
“Oh? Your real business?”
Seeing that La seemed to have no interest in the captain’s position, Kaido was somewhat disappointed.
“That’s right. Cooking, fishing, growing flowers, planting trees, farming… I want to try all these things.”
『Isn’t this just a noble miss naive to the world who wants to experience commoner life…』
The pirates listening to this were complaining inwardly.
“La, you this brat… you’re really a strange one.”
Kaido also didn’t know what to say.
After spending so many days together, he could tell that this brat La had some issues psychologically.
Wealth, fame, power—these things ordinary people dream of—she had no interest in any of them.
She only occasionally had a flash of inspiration and pounced on some inexplicable things—like cooking, literacy…
He had privately asked her before: with her current strength, she could live freely anywhere, no need to stay in the Beasts Pirates as a pirate.
She hadn’t come willingly at first.
Yet La’s answer still left Kaido baffled—”As you said, since it’s the same anywhere, then it’s the same anywhere.”
It sounded just like a lazy hen unwilling to leave the nest.
No desires, no dreams, no ambition… This hazy, illusory feeling made Kaido uneasy.
He could ride clouds, control wind, summon thunder and lightning, but he couldn’t grasp intangible, formless light.
『La, what is it you truly want?』
Ignoring Kaido’s inner thoughts, La straightened her skirt hem and stood up to leave.
“Then I’ll take my leave, Captain Kaido.”
“Wish you a pleasant banquet.”
