"I won't be involved in your fights. And you cannot drag me or Cocoyasi into this. My village is there. I might run, but my home can't. If Arlong breaks our agreement, I'll join you to bring him down," Nami said, mustering her courage.
"You've made your own benefits very clear. As it is, I don't seem to gain a thing," Lister smiled.
"You agree?" Nami's eyes widened.
"Yes, I agree, because I've always believed Arlong will die by my hand. But before that, I want a little benefit."
His gaze turned heated.
"A personal benefit, of course," Lister laughed.
He gave Nami no chance to speak, scooped her up, and headed for the madman Andrei's quarters. Andrei's room wasn't as luxurious or spacious as Blood Hammer Henry's, but it was still quite large, and Andrei seemed to have a touch of cleanliness—every time Lister had gone in to clean, it was spotless. Compared with Henry's chaotic captain's cabin with a corpse lying in it, this was far more comfortable. Lister laughed aloud. Nami struggled and cried out, "No way! Let me go, you thug!" The door closed. Two hours later, Lister stepped out.
He took a turn through Blood Hammer Henry's quarters and found them thoroughly cleaned. He removed a few things Henry had used and had the room's furnishings swapped out for new ones. Satisfied, he made a round of the corridor as well; it had been scrubbed spotless, with no trace of blood in the air.
Soon, every member of the Hammer Pirates gathered on deck.
"Is everyone here?" Lister asked, sweeping his gaze over them.
"Captain Lister, all present."
"Good." Lister nodded. "From today, my pirate crew is officially established. We are the Money Pirates."
That name… everyone thought the same thing, but no one dared say it to his face. Instead they piled on the flattery.
"We put to sea to get rich, didn't we? Money fits my dream of being a pirate perfectly."
"Enough," Lister cut off the bootlicking with a wave. "That's plenty. Who here can draw?"
"Name yourself."
"I'm Biga!"
"Good. The new Jolly Roger is yours to design. My requirements are simple: make the skull's teeth gold, and shape the two crossbones like coins. No problem?"
"No problem, Captain!" Biga answered at once. He didn't know the captain's taste, but such a simple design wouldn't stump him.
"Good. It's yours."
"Aye!"
Lister looked over the crew again. "Among you, who is the strongest?"
The pirates glanced at one another, then, as if by agreement, fixed their eyes on two men.
"Captain, barring surprises, among our lot it should be me and Rocky," said a burly man.
"Johnson, right?" Lister said after sizing him up. He'd spent ten days with the Hammer Pirates—hadn't memorized every name, but he recognized the more distinctive figures. In terms of strength, these two ranked in the top ten, the level of minor officers.
"Yes, Captain Lister. I'm Johnson," Johnson said with a quick nod.
Lister shifted his gaze to the curly‑haired bruiser beside him. "Rocky?"
"Yes, Captain."
"Not bad. You both have the makings of strong men. From now on, you two are the battle captains of my Money Pirates."
"Thank you, Captain!"