Chapter 448: The Development of the Flying Pirates
Time peacefully transitioned into April.
In just a short period, the Flying Pirates added four more Fleet Captains.
By now, the number of Fleet Captains in the Flying Pirates had grown to eighteen.
While promoting Fleet Captains, the military strength of each Fleet was reduced to roughly 3,500 individuals.
In just seven or eight months, the overall military strength of the Flying Pirates had recovered to its pre-war peak state, and even surpassed it.
This kind of change was also noticeable.
Facing their vast military strength and territory, the Flying Pirates consciously began to make reasonable adjustments to their internal rule.
The first step was to weaken the military strength of the Fleet Captains and the scope of the territory they managed.
With the military strength reduced, each Fleet's ruled territory was roughly thirty Islands.
Because the Flying Pirates' military strength would continue to grow in the future, the number of Fleet Captains would also increase.
It was impossible to do a complete division of territory all at once.
These divided territories were basically located on the outermost periphery, connected to various Factions.
Forming a strong barrier.
Meanwhile, Shiki "The Golden Lion"'s direct Force possessed 10,000 military strength and was located in the Sky Kingdom, the core of the Flying Pirates.
This Sky Kingdom was composed of dozens of Islands, controlled by Shiki's Float-Float Fruit ability, floating in the Sky.
The location of the Sky Kingdom was not fixed; it hovered over the vast Sea Area territory of the Flying Pirates.
This method of rule could ensure the Flying Pirates' efficient management of their massive number of pirates, as long as Shiki could maintain his deterrence as always.
If Shiki were to fall, the Flying Pirates would immediately disband.
And be divided up by the numerous Fleet Captains.
Just like the Rocks Pirates in the past.
If not for the God Valley Incident, the Rocks Pirates wouldn't have lasted for many more years.
As many core members grew, Rocks' ruling power had already begun to decline.
His peak was already visible, touchable.
Shiki's ambition was even known to everyone.
One could only say that the timing of the Rocks Pirates' disbandment was just right, and the timing of the God Valley Great Battle's outbreak was also just right.
If Shiki wanted to become the next Rocks, this situation was something he had to face.
Of course, his ruling power over the Flying Pirates would definitely be stronger.
And he had already implemented certain restrictive measures.
Naturally, complete restriction was impossible; the so-called 3,500 people was just a rough number.
Not everyone was a member of the Flying Pirates; some chose to submit to the Fleet Captains.
Just like some Fleet Captains who were originally Captains of Affiliated Pirate Groups, those Crewmates were also integrated into the Flying Pirates, still remaining under their command.
The various Fleet Captains also varied in strength, and their prestige was high or low.
Strongmen who became famous earlier definitely had more Subordinates and controlled greater strength.
There would also be competition among them.
It wasn't just the Flying Pirates themselves that recovered; even the number of Affiliated Pirate Groups recovered to their peak period, even more than before the war.
Relying on the Flying Pirates was equivalent to having a powerful backer.
The Flying Pirates' territory was vast, but their sphere of influence was even larger.
Besides the division of internal strength, the Flying Pirates also formulated a series of development plans.
The development and expansion of the Intelligence Force.
Over the past nine years, the Flying Pirates already possessed over 2,000 Intelligence Officers.
For a Pirate Faction, cultivating an Intelligence Force was a very difficult task.
It was impossible to do things like brainwashing from a young age, as the World Government did.
Their loyalty was questionable, and they could only perform some relatively simple intelligence work.
More reliance had to be placed on the Intelligence Force of the Underworld.
With their terrifying overall strength, the Flying Pirates had established cooperation with most of the Top Power Underworld Forces.
This included the "King of Arms" and the "Sea Freight King".
The Sea Freight King would specifically arrange a Fleet for the Flying Pirates' supplies transport.
The King of Arms would provide the Flying Pirates with some munitions for free each year to ensure that the King of Arms' arms trade within the Flying Pirates' territory would not be affected.
This kind of trade had been going on for several years.
During the war, "King of Arms" Victor earned massive profits by selling munitions.
To ensure his munitions sold smoothly, Victor could be said to have established trade connections with most powerful Top Power Factions.
This was very necessary.
There was a significant gap between purchasing at market price and purchasing in bulk with a discount.
They were also happy to accept the King of Arms' goodwill.
How could a massive Faction not have the support of large amounts of munitions?
Even in the Great Battle in the New World, armaments could still play a significant role, especially powerful artillery.
Sometimes, bullets combined with Haki could play an even greater role.
Solely relying on the Underworld Forces, the Flying Pirates could be said to have obtained nearly ninety percent of the intelligence in the New World.
Few things could be hidden from the Flying Pirates.
The Flying Pirates' plan for the Intelligence Force was more focused on the World Government and the Marines.
With Reinhardt present, there might even be assistance from the Eternal Kingdom behind him.
Shiki knew that the Marines and the World Government were their ultimate enemies.
Relatively speaking, the plan in the New World was not that important.
Therefore, regarding the arrangement of these Intelligence Officers, besides paying attention to other Factions in the New World, they also planted many people within the Marines.
However, basically none managed to stand out; their purpose was just to monitor the Marines' movements.
Intelligence was very important, but ultimately, everything depended on strength.
Shiki "The Golden Lion" seemed somewhat calm, while the Flying Pirates' second-in-command, Reinhardt, was very active, interacting and connecting with various Factions.
Step by step, enhancing the development speed and strength of the Flying Pirates.
After their war victory, the Flying Pirates were like an invisible vortex, constantly attracting pirates from various places in the New World to approach.
One could only say that the general trend had been established.
West of the Kronos Kingdom Sea Area, just past the Isolation Zone, was the territory of the Flying Pirates.
And the ruler of this Sea Area was the Flying Pirates' Thirteenth Fleet Captain, "Breath of the Storm" Goenitz.
In this vast Sea Area, Goenitz possessed extremely high prestige.
Because the Islands in this massive Sea Area were all conquered by Goenitz.
Those pirates stationed in this Sea Area, those tough opponents, were all defeated by Goenitz himself.
Pirate Crews were either expelled, joined the Flying Pirates, or became Affiliated Forces of the Flying Pirates.
(end of chapter)