William wasn't sure if he should say Sherlock wanted money but not life, but he had been in this world for a while now. Through the fragmented memories of the original owner in his mind and his daily observations and reflections, he had learned a lot about the world's atmosphere and the reasons behind it.
Compared to the environment William had been in during his past life, there was no doubt that this was a rotten world, one that could only be compared to the turbulent regions of Earth, such as Africa.
On one hand, the world's governmental organizations were bloated, inefficient, and riddled with corruption. Just by looking at the series of privileges held by the founders, the Celestial Dragons, and their slave culture, one could tell that the government itself exuded a semi-colonial atmosphere.
Secondly, one of the most representative forces of the world government was the Navy.
Due to the rampant pirates and the barrier created by the Calm Belt, communication across regions was poor. After the Great Pirate Era began, the Navy's attention shifted more toward the Grand Line, and thus, local base commanders were given more power, including the ability to conscript troops. Combined with inefficient management and infrequent personnel changes, these commanders easily became warlords who dominated local areas.
Next, many countries still maintained feudal monarchies, with severe division between the aristocracy and the lower classes. The nobility's rule was considered natural, and the channels for upward mobility were scarce. Corruption and bureaucratic problems were even worse than those in the world government.
Lastly, the damage caused by the locust-like pirates came into play.
The formation of such a distorted world had not happened overnight. In this world, where individuals possessed extraordinary martial abilities, the main constraint preventing the strong from bullying others was supposed to be morality. But in a chaotic world like this, how much moral restraint could there be?
For many, pirates, the Navy, the world government, unrestrained powerful individuals, and noble kingdoms could easily destroy their peaceful and secure lives. The Grim Reaper wielding a sickle was everywhere.
In this environment, the vast majority of people could not avoid death, and they had to get used to it. This inevitably bred a disregard for death, or even a yearning for it, among the "eccentric" people who only cared about fulfilling their own potential.
Because they knew that since death was unavoidable, they urgently wished to do something extraordinary during their lives, something that would be remembered by the world.
William sighed. This was indeed a terribly rotten era, yet also an era full of heroes and brilliance.
Tony's words brought him back to his thoughts.
"But we can't even raise the ransom!" Tony said. "You can't gather it either. Sherlock overestimates you. You're not like him, the son of a trade union president. Forty million Beli, how many people have the capital to take that much cash without batting an eye?"
Ajin, who was in the room, scoffed at Tony's despondent attitude. "Capital is not just about money!" he sneered.
William laughed and clapped. "Now, that's what I call a true friend!"
"What do you mean?" Tony asked.
William then questioned, "Do you know the Shark Pirate Crew?"
Tony scoffed. "In the East Blue, I only know the Redbeard Pirates and the Cook Pirates. Never heard of some third-rate crew popping out of nowhere."
William responded, "Well, if it's an unknown crew, then that's easy to handle."
Tony's expression changed, as he seemed to understand William's meaning.
"That Sherlock also understands that in this world, capital never just means money," William lightly tapped his waist with his finger, where a sword was hanging. "Otherwise, he wouldn't have emphasized that I should pay the ransom. This man really doesn't take his own life seriously."
...
Several nautical miles away from Hongye Village, a small two-mast merchant ship quietly anchored in place. On top of the mast, a pirate with his head wrapped in black cloth was using a monocular to observe the direction of Hongye Village. Below him, near the direction of the village, several other pirates were also watching.
After a while, the pirate in the lookout finally spotted a small boat slowly approaching.
Under the vigilant gaze of the pirates, William's boat finally reached the merchant ship. He stowed the only sail on the boat, gently tapped the side of the ship with his right foot, making two "thunk" sounds, then leaped lightly onto the merchant ship's deck, carrying two large leather suitcases and a rope to tie the boat.
Several pirates, all armed, surrounded him in a half-circle.
Whether it was for the fact that William dared to venture alone into the tiger's den or his agile movements just now, it was clear that William was no ordinary person. These pirates were just starting out with their kidnapping business, and this first job made them cautious.
William didn't carry any weapons. His gray shirt and black pants hid nothing.
He raised one of the leather suitcases toward the pirates and then opened one, revealing bundles of Beli inside. "I only brought money. You don't have to be so nervous."
Twenty million Beli in cash was indeed impressive, especially for these low-tier pirates who lived rough, uncertain lives.
One pirate beside William, with a greedy look, reached out to grab the suitcase in his hand, but William sidestepped to avoid him.
"Don't you know the rules? Where's Sherlock? I need to confirm his safety first," William frowned and snapped the suitcase shut.
The pirates, momentarily distracted by the cash, discarded all notions of professional ethics. At William's words, their eyes flashed with hostility.
The pirate who had tried to grab the suitcase drew a breath, then stepped forward with his knife, but was stopped by another pirate, one with an afro and a face full of scars.
He had been one of the pirates who had directly interacted with Sherlock in the cabin. Thanks to Sherlock's persuasive words, not only had they changed their mind, but they also had a good impression of Sherlock, so they didn't mind letting William meet him first.
The pirates had considered turning on William once he brought the ransom on board, robbing one crew and then the other, but Sherlock had made it clear with his hints that if he were killed, especially considering his background as the only son of a local trade union president, his father would not let it go. This would have huge repercussions, and the bounty on the pirate crew would skyrocket.
Except for oddballs like Edmond, most low-ranking pirates didn't want their bounty raised. Without superior strength or influence, once the bounty got high enough that the Navy couldn't ignore it, they would face relentless pursuit.
In comparison, kidnapping was far less risky, and besides, they had convinced themselves that their treatment of Sherlock wasn't so bad, right?
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