Arceus's Pirate Journey

Chapter 1073: Chapter 1063: How Can I Surrender If You Don’t Accept My Surrender?

”Listen up, your chance has arrived! For guys like you, normally there’s only one way out, and that’s to mine until you die!

But now, Lord Jack is giving you a new opportunity. Join his crew, and as long as you survive ten battles, you’ll shed your prisoner identity and earn the right to join us!

Of course, I know many of you don’t like us, and you can also choose freedom. Just survive, and you can go wherever you want!”

The composition of Udon Mine’s members is primarily divided into two parts: native prisoners of Wano Kuni and external prisoners of war. Those who were caught doing petty theft are not a big deal, but in the earlier years, many resistance forces refusing Hundred Beasts’ rule were also brought in.

Those samurai groups were quite powerful and simply mining was a waste, so Kaidou generously recruited some of them. As for those stubborn remnants, they were gradually worn down through this method in external wars.

After all, these people are quite hard-headed, unwilling to integrate into the new Wano Kuni, nor to hide themselves, but choose to fight the deeply rooted Hundred Beasts with paltry strength.

”Lord Jack, everything is ready. Do you have any other requests?”

”None, let me see how many of these stubborn people still have courage.”

Babanuki wasn’t saying this to these prisoners for the first time, yet few stood up.

Staying here mining is a slow death, going out to fight might mean dying faster.

Especially those pirates from the outside world, many have already had their spirits crushed by the cruelty of the New World, preferring to die waiting here than go out fighting desperately.

Staying here means living a few more years, but going out, they might not survive a week.

Only Drake felt a headache, if it weren’t inappropriate, he really wanted to question Babanuki about what not willing to surrender meant.

He originally wanted to join the other side but didn’t wish to fawn like Apoo, planning to keep some dignity.

His intention was to hold out for a while and join the other side when Hundred Beasts recruited prisoners, the reason being for his future underlings, but ideal results veered far from his expectations.

This past year, no one has actively recruited.

Kaidou was busy training himself, Queen was playing happily with his two mischievous underlings, and Arceus didn’t care about these prisoners’ futures, leading to Drake, who didn’t want to actively mention surrender, being forgotten until today and given this so-called opportunity.

If only Hundred Beasts had recruited sooner, he would’ve compromised long ago, it wouldn’t have dragged on so long. If Hundred Beasts delayed any longer, he’d likely become king of miners.

Some chose to conform to the status quo, others chose to make a gamble, eventually Jack recruited some people including Drake.

”Not bad, you guys have some guts. Lord Jack has now been upgraded to a new Disaster. Don’t be so rigid, maybe we’ll be colleagues later, if you survive.”

Most people ignored this remark, Jack’s status had nothing to do with them, but Drake was different.

Prior to carrying out his undercover plan, he’d looked over some intelligence about Hundred Beasts. While there were big discrepancies in terms of personality, the assessment of strength was still somewhat referenceable.

Hundred Beasts’ hierarchy was very strict, being an officer of Disaster Level signified their strength could cause large-scale calamities on a battlefield, which was undoubtedly bad news for the Navy.

Before he could think much more, Babanuki led these people to another room, processing prison release paperwork while arranging a meal.

As the prison warden, Babanuki oversaw their last meal, which was no longer just simple rice balls but a meal with alcohol and meat.

In Babanuki’s view, such missions were simply a way to send prisoners to their deaths, meant to squeeze their last bit of value, hence this was their last meal.

And dying in battle was better than cowardly waiting to die, which prompted exception for good food.

Jack’s action was quick, within a few days he took his fleet to start a new journey, about this time Drake was unable to send any intelligence, his current position offered no chance to contact a Radio Snail.

Apart from battling, this batch of people were kept under watch in specially prepared cabins, with Jack only allowing them to engage in boarding battles to prevent escape during the vast sea journey.