Chapter 115: The Shakedown
According to Ian's original plan, he intended to merge the members of these four families into a single family.
But looking at it now, the number seemed a bit too large...
Boulder and the others hadn't brought all their people, but just those present numbered around two hundred. Adding those left behind at their strongholds, the total was unknown.
If all these people were brought under the Ian Family name, then according to Ian's principles, things like human trafficking would definitely have to be banned.
Thus, a problem arose: could they support so many people just by catching pirates for bounties?
These people weren't strong. Expecting them to catch high-bounty pirates was impossible; Ian would have to do it himself. But with too many people, the money he'd have to share would also increase, contradicting his goal of earning money.
It seemed he had to streamline the staff. Ian rubbed his chin, thinking. Keep the skilled members from the four families and disband the rest.
As long as they had some strength, they could be taken in. Then, using these people, they could catch small pirates with bounties of ten or twenty million. No matter how they did it, even if they relied on numbers, they should be able to manage, right?
For those small-time pirates, Ian wouldn't need to act personally. Once they caught them and collected the bounty, he'd take a cut and give the rest to them.
This way, the Ian Family could transform into a legitimate bounty hunter family.
As for the disbanded members, Ian didn't plan to pay them much attention. Whether they formed new families or fled, he wouldn't interfere.
As long as the Ian Family's power grew, they could secretly control other forces in this territory. They could also collect protection fees, forcing these groups to pay tribute to the Ian Family.
As for the weapons dealing, robbery, and theft these groups might engage in, Ian knew he couldn't completely stop it. Human nature was like that—fond of conflict. Where there was conflict, there was a need for weapons, and people would get hurt. Even the Marines, with their vast power, couldn't eradicate such chaos. Ian didn't think he could reverse this phenomenon with his own strength alone.
If you didn't do it, someone else would. Not to mention, Ian's own men needed guns and such to arm themselves, right? Otherwise, how could they fight pirates?
So, in Ian's view, the most he could do was control these matters and keep them from going too far.
However, the human trafficking business was something Ian absolutely had to ban!
On Sabaody Archipelago, due to the Celestial Dragons, this kind of thing was more rampant than anywhere else. In Ian's eyes, the slave system was a complete trampling of human dignity. He couldn't control other places, but at least on his own turf, this had to stop.
After thinking it through, Ian began to reorganize these people. He picked out those who looked stronger and asked if they were willing to join the Ian Family.
Without exception, all those selected agreed.
After some integration, the Ian Family's members now expanded to over a hundred. Ian let the rest go back, announcing his decision to allow them to re-establish families, but those families would have to follow the Ian Family's lead.
With that, the matter came to a close. Those who needed treatment went to heal, and those with tasks went to do them.
It was only then that Hogkin approached Ian with some concern, lowering his voice: "Ian Boss, won't this provoke some people?"
"What do you mean?" Ian asked him.
"For one thing, that Doji was said to have connections with the Number One Auction House!" Hogkin explained. "Now that he's dead, and you've banned the human trafficking business, it means the Number One Auction House has lost a supply source..."
Ian knew very well what the Number One Auction House was, but he shook his head and said, "Don't worry. Sabaody is huge. Losing one supply source doesn't mean the Number One Auction House can't operate. Unless one day the Ian Family controls the entire archipelago, they'll get anxious. For now, they won't notice us."
Hogkin thought it over and realized it was probably true. If anything, the Ian Family not getting involved in human trafficking might secretly please other family forces, since it meant one less competitor.
"Hogkin!" Ian called him and said, "Now that we've expanded our numbers, you and Lame will be in charge of training these people. The most important thing is intelligence. I need you to find out the movements of all the families around our territory. If they cross any lines, make sure I know immediately."
"Ian Boss, you can count on me!" Hogkin nodded in agreement.
Over the next two days, Ian kept busy handling family affairs. After the expansion, the old house seemed too small. Ian had Hogkin and the others tear it down and rebuild. Conflicts between the original Ian Family members and the new recruits also needed mediation. He also sent people to inquire about Lorin and Eileen's families. In short, there was a lot to do.
Once things were somewhat sorted, Ian thought about going to collect the bounties.
After capturing Leech Lucius of the Flaying Pirates, Ian had sent him to the Marine base. However, the base didn't pay cash directly but gave him a bank check. Sabaody had banks, and being so close to Marine Headquarters, it wasn't too risky for them to operate. It was said that the banks on Sabaody had ties to the Celestial Dragons, which deterred many.
If anyone was bold enough to rob a bank, they might end up facing a Marine Admiral.
So, on Sabaody, bank checks were quite reliable.
Besides the bounty, Lame and the others had also looted the Flaying Pirates' ship, finding valuables worth maybe one or two million Berries—mostly food and jewelry. Ian planned to give them to his men.
After giving instructions, Ian left the stronghold.
Come to think of it, he'd been on the island for several days without really exploring it. This trip to collect the money was also a chance to relax.
As he walked, a small house appeared ahead. Ian didn't pay it much mind, but just as he was about to pass it, he heard a sharp *crack*. The wooden door shattered, and a figure flew out of the house.
Ian looked at the flying figure—it seemed to be a pirate, his face bruised and swollen, already unconscious.
Looking up, he saw a wooden sign on the roof: "Shakky's Rip-off Bar!"
Ian was taken aback. He looked around and realized he'd ended up near the 13th Red Tree.
After a moment's thought, he walked toward the small house.
"Welcome!"
As Ian entered, a woman at the counter, her back to him, spoke without turning around. "What would you like?"
"A cup of tea, please. Thanks!" Ian hadn't had tea since leaving Shimotsuki Village.
The woman bent down, worked for a moment, then turned around, placing a cup of tea in front of Ian.
"So it's Shakky!" Ian thought to himself when he saw her.
She had short, neat hair with a curl at the temples, a cigarette dangling from her lips. After setting down the cup, she said with some surprise, "Oh, isn't this young Ian?"
Ian was genuinely surprised. "You know me?"
"Of course. I deal in intelligence, you know. You've been making quite a splash in this area lately!" Shakky said, arms crossed, holding her cigarette between two fingers as she blew out a smoke ring. "I heard you founded the Ian Family, but you only catch pirates and forbid your men from getting involved in human trafficking. Word has spread all over the lawless zone these past few days!"
Ian realized that his actions from a few days ago had indeed caused quite a stir.
So he could only say to Shakky, "You flatter me!"
As he spoke, Ian glanced around the shop. He was the only customer. The legendary Silvers Rayleigh, whom he'd expected to see, was nowhere in sight.
Silvers Rayleigh was practically a hidden boss on Sabaody. Since Ian was at Shakky's bar on the 13th Red Tree, he wanted to see such a legendary figure.
But it seemed fate wasn't cooperating. Rayleigh wasn't around—probably off gambling somewhere.
Shakky noticed Ian looking around but said nothing. She just leaned on the counter, waiting for him to turn back before asking, "Young Ian, I'm curious. You're so young, yet you've come to the lawless zone to be a boss, and you've set such strange rules. Do you know that in this lawless zone, you're considered an oddball?"
"An oddball? Why do you say that?" Ian asked.
"Heh!" Shakky took a drag of her cigarette. "The slave trade on this island has a long history. Here, human trafficking is an industry. People are used to it. You've stepped into the lawless zone but won't touch this business. If that's not being an oddball, what is?"
"Oddball or not," Ian shook his head, "I just do what my conscience tells me."
"Not a bad answer!" Shakky smiled, then suddenly changed the subject. "But why do you specifically target pirates? Do you hate pirates? Or do you think you're justice and pirates are evil?"
Ian was about to answer, but Shakky waved her hand. "Think carefully before you answer!"
"Why?" Ian asked in surprise.
"Because that cup of tea in your hand costs 100,000 Berries!" Shakky laughed. "And depending on your answer, I'll decide whether you pay double or get a discount!"
"Pfft!" Ian nearly spat out his tea!
He finally understood what the sign on this little shop meant...