Chapter 1196 - 700: Pirate Summit (Part 2)

Of course, it’s the kind that cannot share in the Royal City.

And now, if such a chance truly arises, which capable Pirate would want to do something like this? If they did, wouldn’t they just pledge allegiance to Calamity instead?

Or they’ll just spend money.

To become an O’hara, as long as you have enough money, you can still apply to join. But the only convenience is for your family—those who sail the seas for a living, even with this identity won’t gain much advantage.

Unless they plan to retire; then living safely in O’hara by buying a house isn’t impossible. Many of their peers have done just that.

But the problem is, not many have chosen this path.

O’hara burns like fire with opulence, its prosperity dazzling, its power impressive, yet it catches the eye too much, even to the point where these unruly Pirates feel things are getting serious.

On one hand, they envy O’hara’s prosperity; on the other, they fear O’hara’s scale.

To reach this level doesn’t mean they’re entirely foolish.

Everyone knows the strength of the World Government and fears that one day if the Government truly acts, O’hara will be completely destroyed. Then all they’ve invested here leaves them with nothing, making it better to return to their homeland. At least outside, people don’t know what they’re up to on the sea, and their family remains safe.

No matter how powerful Calamity is, maintaining O’hara’s safety while being targeted by those wicked forces of the World Government every day would still be unnerving.

Thus, many prefer to maintain trade relations rather than utilize O’hara’s convenience. No matter how dangerous outside may be, the danger is transparent; while O’hara appears safe, many see it as an ever-growing powder keg waiting to explode with a single spark.

To them, O’hara is not necessarily friendly.

When it comes down to it, those imperious O’haras will find themselves trapped with no escape.

"Alright, let’s go, it’s almost time."

The Captain waved the invitation card in his hand, "Find a tavern and rest; I’ll go with the given address."

The invitations sent to various Pirates were provided with an address, regardless of bounty. As long as you are a Captain active in the New World, every Pirate crew gets one.

Of course, some are interested, while others are not, but still, many came.

This invitation was issued personally by Calamity, inviting them to O’hara to discuss matters.

As for the destination...

The Captain walked to the immense Royal Palace in O’hara, whose splendor couldn’t be overshadowed by even its most lavish buildings, and after taking out the invitation, he was led in by the guards at the gate.

As he walked, the Captain with a bounty exceeding three hundred million Belly surveyed his surroundings. O’hara’s grandeur was enough to leave him astounded, but inside, the opulent palace interior astonished him further.

Such a luxurious palace, anywhere else, would be coveted by others.

No wonder Calamity doesn’t care about such things.

Rather, because it’s so extravagant, the Captain instinctively lowered his head, not daring to look further.

For some reason, although he had invaded a small Kingdom before, even stormed its Royal Palace, albeit a non-affiliated country, the difference wasn’t significant.

At that time, he’d been repelled but had looted; hence he didn’t hold much reverence for a King’s palace.

However, in here, not only did he not feel covetous, but he found it somewhat frightening.

The deep hallways, like the tongue of some hideous beast, the deeper he ventured, the more he felt swallowed into the beast’s belly, to be consumed entirely.

As the guards stopped, the Captain arrived before a large gateway, finally hearing the boisterous sounds from the banquet hall where various Pirate Captains were seated.

Each was casually dressed, some in pirate captain attire, others simply in shirt and sailor trousers, and some just wore loincloths, tattooed all over as if their tattoos were their clothes.

Most of these folks were boisterous, some quietly staring at the Captains at the same table, not speaking a word.

The Captain took just a glance and obediently walked to a round table at the back, sitting with a group of wide-eyed Captains.

He recognized some of them.

Closer to the throne at the banquet’s main table sat the more famous figures.

The one wearing a loincloth covered in tattoos was ’Sumo Wrestler’ Wada Shigeo, who carried a bounty of one billion five hundred sixty million Belly, rumored to come from the vanished Pirate crew of Wano Country.

At the same table were also ’One-Eyed’ Barbarom and ’Pretty Captain’ Kavinos.

All were Great Pirates with bounties exceeding one billion Belly.

In the New World, stirring storms aren’t limited to the Four Emperors; numerous ’silver medalists’ are present too.

The central positions were occupied by Pirates with bounties of five to six hundred million.

The Captain, with a three hundred million bounty, obediently sat at the back.

Further back, he saw some Captains with bounties in the tens of millions, each bowing like quails, barely daring to breathe.

All who came were big shots!

This scene was already quite remarkable for them to attend for those with tens of millions in bounty. They feared saying anything wrong, which might upset these big shots and lead to their demise right here.

Even if Calamity’s rules are in place, that doesn’t prevent people from targeting others; these are all well-known figures in the New World, possessing power and strength, truly frightening.

Though those below didn’t dare talk, those billion-level Pirates near the throne had no such qualms. One Pirate, busy picking at his nails, casually pulled off one gruesomely, seemed relaxed as he flicked his hand, amidst this motion, his nail grew back.

"Don’t be disgusting!"

Beside him, a voluptuous, red-haired, tan-skinned female Captain glared at him, "Everyone’s at the same table; your nails are about to splash over here!"

"If you’re unhappy, sit somewhere else."

The nail-picking guy chuckled, pointing at her, "Or, I could pull your nails too."

"Are you seeking death?" The red-haired female Captain’s eyes cooled.

"Hehehehe, fighting here would disrespect Calamity’s face. When we leave, if you have leisure time, I’ll pluck your nails for you!" The Pirate was undeterred, laughing ominously, full of provocation.

They were all billion-level Pirates, the core of seafaring Pirates.

After all, a vast sea can’t be run by only four people...

These people, instead, are the true foundation of lawlessness.

"Stop the bickering; since receiving the invitation and having come, none of us is foolish."

A serious-looking man wearing a military hat glanced at the two, said, "We’d better consider why he called us here."

"Certainly, it isn’t to recruit us. Calamity doesn’t seem that idle."

Another corpulent man, face full of a benevolent smile, replied, "If that were the plan, he’d directly storm the latter half and force our surrender by now."

"Hey, are you feeling a bit disappointed?"

Beside him, a curly-haired man coldly quipped, "I heard you were eager for action then, waiting for Calamity to attack so you could initiate alliances, aiming to become the next Blackbeard. You also want to be one of the Four Emperors?"

"I did have that idea initially, but now it isn’t feasible, not to mention there’s no Four Emperors now."

With a smile, the benevolent man said, "Unless you can survive battling Calamity, your power will have to be as large as his. Otherwise, there’ll only be one Pirate Emperor, and the rest will just be mere Pirates with some renown."

"I think this is nice."

Another gloomy man remarked, "Pirate Emperor sounds better than Sea Emperor. One person is also stronger than having four."

"I have no interest in discussing these; we’ll know when he arrives. Inviting us to his stronghold, he’ll certainly treat us to a meal, won’t he? I heard Calamity is lavish to the extreme, devouring hundreds of top-tier dishes in one meal. I’d love to try that." The nail-picker grinned sinisterly.

"Afraid you might not be qualified."

The voice wasn’t from anyone at the table; upon hearing it, all present turned their heads, only to see Sage stride from the back, plopping onto the throne, smiling at those at the table:

"That’s a feast only I can afford and have the right to eat; you want to compete with me?"

"Calamity!"

Everyone exclaimed; then the man with the military hat solemnly asked, "Why did you summon us here? We’re not here for some Pirate festival."

"Business, it’s all business!"

Sage snapped his fingers, smiling, "I’ve gathered you here for a path to wealth together. Since we’re all in the same trade, who else would I look after if not you? I have a path with minimal risk and high reward; are you...interested?"