Four days after the battle at the summit, the Red-Haired Pirates had already left the territory and returned to their own . The turbulent period of the New World would not wait, and they could not be absent for long, otherwise their domain would be vulnerable to attacks.
The path of expansion chosen by the Red-Haired Pirates was unusual, even elite. Yes, there were affiliated pirate groups scattered across their territory, but they were as weak as mice, in sharp contrast to the other allies of the Four Emperors.
The thing was, the Red-Haired one always protected and accepted the weak. Most of his allies were those who had failed the challenge of the New World, the "old, sick, poor, and weak," as the saying goes.
As a result, this policy created stability in the power of the Red-Haired territory. The only pirate group capable of defending the domain was the flagship of the Red-Haired Pirates.
As for the Giant Pirates, who were expected to join the Red-Haired Pirates in the future and become their allies, their two giant Captains, Dorry and Brogy, had returned to the land of giants, Elbaf. At the moment, the Red-Haired's influence had just spread to Elbaf.
At the port, Sal and Rayleigh approached the captured warship. Brynid World stood nearby, also preparing to set sail. As one of the "benefactors" of the Whitebeard Pirates, he received a free ship for long-distance voyages.
This time, Sal and Rayleigh planned to set out to sea again, aiming to check on existing territories and stabilize areas where panic reigned.
Rayleigh observed the bustling pirates and noticed that despite there being only two people on the ship, it was commanded by a group of young sailors whose combat power was negligible.
The arrival of two legendary pirates sparked lively discussions among the pirates, who even became a bit excited.
"Are we now part of the Pirate King's crew?"
"Fool, we're just temporary , even temporary trainees."
"But even a temporary stint is cool. I can tell everyone I was on the Pirate King's ship."
— ...Logical. I'm shocked.
Rayleigh listened to the sailors' gossip and just shook his head. Youth is indeed a wonderful thing. Remembering his younger days, Rayleigh asked Sal:
— Roger, do you think Buggy will manage?
Sal tidied the ropes, lowered the sail, and without turning around, calmly said:
— Rayleigh, don't underestimate Buggy. He may not be strong, but he has quite the charisma, almost like Shanks. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gathered loyal people around him, who follow him from the Grand Line to the New World.
— Yes, Buggy has a great crew...
Yesterday at noon, a tattered pirate ship was drifting not far from the port. Even the mast was broken, and it could only move with the current.
The pirates on this ship turned out to be none other than Buggy's pirate group, the same one from Impel Down. According to them, they went through hell to reach the New World, nearly becoming food for the Sea Kings.
It was after the arrival of his comrades that Buggy decided to give up his membership in Sal's crew and even refused to join his allies. He led his prisoners out of Impel Down and took his pirate group away early in the morning.
In his words:
— Captain Roger, Captain Rayleigh, I want to find my own riches, I want to build a pirate crew that spans the entire world.
Everyone understood his ambitions, and Sal and Rayleigh did not interfere with him pursuing his dream.
The red-nosed pirate sparked a slight anticipation in Sal. He wondered if Buggy would develop according to the original storyline.
But something was bound to change. Buggy announced that he wanted to become a Shichibukai first, to openly advance his career while secretly working as a spy for the World Government. Sal felt that this endeavor was doomed to fail.
He, "Pirate King Roger," was back again. Could the World Government really be foolish enough to accept a former member of the Pirate King's crew into their ranks? Sal was also surprised that Alvida, the former plump woman from Buggy's ship and a user of the Slip-Slip Devil Fruit, turned out to be a fan of Roger.
This pirate, who had transformed into a beauty, ran up and hugged him with delight. She was ready to offer herself to her idol, but Sal wasn't one to have X-fans, so he immediately distanced himself.
Of course, Sal was not Shanks and didn't even intend to pretend to be. The most important reason was his fear that Hancock, who was nearby, would destroy this little fan and send her off into the adult industry.
Spending some time with them, Sal started to believe the online assertion from his past life that Alvida had inherently good looks and that the Slip-Slip fruit's ability merely removed fat and pimples from her face, while her skeleton and facial features essentially remained unchanged.
If she had been willing to devote most of her time to weight loss and cosmetic procedures as a plump woman, she might have become the way she is now.
Of course, for most people, getting rid of fat and pimples is already a significant part of plastic surgery...
As Sal and his crew were about to set sail, Brynnid from another ship suddenly called out to Sal. He looked conflicted, as if he had been hesitating for a long time before making a decision.
His loud voice echoed throughout the port.
— Sal, why are you setting out to sea again?
Upon hearing this question, Sal and Rayleigh exchanged glances. Each had their own ideas. Rayleigh smiled and nodded. This ally, who played a huge role in the battle at the summit, was a rare strong man.
Of course, Brynnid, the hero of the prison escape during the summit battle, was also greatly motivated by his hatred for the World Government.
Sal didn't beat around the bush and answered directly:
— My goal of setting out to sea again is to overthrow the World Government...
This time, he said it softly so that only Brynnid could hear him. Now was not the time to publicly announce the overthrow of the World Government; that would attract attention and the true power of the Government to them.
Brynnid was silent for a while, and finally said exactly what Sal anticipated:
— Sal, I want to fly your flag, to become a member of your great fleet. I want to see if you can achieve your goals.
— Welcome to our crew, Brynid Waldo, but let me be honest. If you join us, you must follow our rules and not harm your comrades or innocent people.
— ...No problem.
With Brynnid's agreement, both ships temporarily halted their movement. Sal and Brynnid drank to brotherhood under Rayleigh's witness. From this day on, Brynnid officially became a member of Sal's Pirate Fleet.
Soon, Brynnid left the port, with Sal's Pirates' flag fluttering on his ship. Brynnid set out to find his two former partners and his short and cowardly brother.
After that, they would indeed return to the New World and contribute to Sal's mission.
Subsequently, Sal's ship slowly set sail. He leaned against the railing and gazed out at the calm sea surface. This voyage was destined to shake the New World.
As for the reasons why Brynnid joined the Great Fleet, he surely knew them himself.
First, they had similar goals: to overthrow (take revenge on) the World Government. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to achieve alone on his aging shoulders.
Second, Brynnid wanted to obtain the Elixir of Longevity. One should not underestimate the power of this elixir. It holds an indescribable allure for strong individuals who have aged but refuse to give up. If Brynnid is truly helpful in the future, Sal will not deny him this request.
Third, during the summit battle, Sal earned Brynnid's trust. As long as their interests don't conflict, they might not become friends, but they certainly won't become enemies…