Chapter 292: CCXCII. The Storm Approaches
The next day.
Liszt led the large fleet he had rented from Taylor, all sorts of crew along with the SS Fuma Keqing Revenge, a total of sixteen ships, moving mightily towards Iron Soul Island.
This was no makeshift assembly of dinghies but an organized force, complete with sail battleships and fully-armed escort ships, as well as lightweight patrol vessels.
A force capable of taking on the navy in direct combat.
Control of Iron Soul Island was of utmost importance. Liszt, with Haywood, now understood that he wasn’t just talking big—he was going to sit in the seat of the East Sea King.
Wolman set out with the Dawn Breaker, and Ox with the Daffodil, each heading off to accomplish great things.
The Black Sail Inn was deserted.
Fen was in charge of the overall situation.
"The situation is as follows: I will continue to deploy personnel to join your operations. Under the banner of the Black Sail, all ships will henceforth bear the Black Sail flag," Fen said to Qi Li and Wen Kui. The company’s emblem had yet to be decided; they still used the old flag, which was designed by Rein with a dagger running from the chin through the crown of a skull.
Pirate flags are typically only hoisted when taking a ship, to intimidate the merchant ships into paying up and avoiding disaster—so they’re designed to be somewhat terrifying.
"Rest assured, reinforcements will not be cut off. Remember, do not kill the local fishermen, or even buy their fish—don’t commit the act of robbing the poor. Kill only Doringger’s dogs on those islands, and the transporting merchants. Make those merchants pay us tribute, of course, smaller shares than Doringger’s. Keep killing until they’re willing to pay tribute to us."