Johnson glanced up at Lister. Lister waved a hand to pause and looked toward the island.
More than three hundred people filed out, each holding a weapon, drawing a defensive line a hundred meters long along the slope. Kaya stepped forward under the protection of several guards and Klahadore. She looked worriedly at Merry and Usopp; seeing they weren't dead, she quietly exhaled.
"What pirate crew are you?" Kaya asked.
"Ask me that," Lister said with a faint smile.
"Listen up—we're the Money Pirates!" Johnson bellowed, the pirates shouting in unison.
"The Money Pirates?" Kaya looked blank; the name meant nothing to her. She turned to Klahadore. "Have you heard of them?"
"Not at all. Likely a newly formed crew. But those men aren't simple—they've probably killed plenty," Kuro replied.
Kaya's hint of contempt disappeared. She hadn't heard of the crew, but there were plenty of veterans among them. If it came to a real fight, the casualties would be heavy. She decided to talk first—礼 before兵. Spend a little to send them away; if that failed, resort to force.
"Sir, Syrup Island does not welcome pirates. If you need money, I can give you one million Beli. If you need grain, I can give you ten thousand jin. Release Merry and Usopp and withdraw. How about it?" Kaya said to Lister.
Since Lister had spoken first, she naturally took him for the captain.
"One million Beli and ten thousand jin of grain? Quite an offer," Lister said, then smiled. "But you misunderstand. I'm not here to rob. I came ashore to buy supplies with hard gold."
"Show them our funds."
"Aye!"
Akame and Sheele opened two sacks. A broad heap of gold flashed in the sun, dazzling many eyes. More than a few villagers swallowed, greed flickering in their gaze.
"There are thirty jin of gold here. If you have what I need, this money will be yours," Lister said.
"Are you serious?" Kaya blinked, clearly not expecting a pirate to trade gold for goods instead of taking them.
"Of course. I may be a pirate, but I have standards and a sense of scale. I don't land just to burn and loot," Lister said.
Kaya half believed him and looked to Klahadore. "Should I trust him?"
Kuro nodded. "Some pirates are slippery, but some do keep to rules. We've got plenty of people here—hard for them to play tricks. We can try trusting once."
He wasn't vouching for pirates so much as trying to send the Money Pirates away quickly. The less fighting now, the less chance his cover would slip.
"There's one point, Miss Kaya," Kuro added. "We shouldn't take this deal alone. Set aside half for the villagers. Only when our interests are tied together will they stand with us."
"You're right. I can't keep it all. Half goes to the villagers. They may lack cash, but they've stored plenty of grain—let them earn too, and everyone's happy," Kaya said, following his lead.
Then she said to Lister, "I agree to trade—but you have to release my people first."
"That won't do. They raised a hand against me and are now my prisoners. You can redeem them—one hundred thousand Beli each," Lister said with a light smile.
The little goodwill Kaya had felt for his "principles" vanished at once. "Pirates are pirates—grand words, and in the end it's still kidnapping and extortion."
Disgusted or not, she nodded. "Fine. I'll pay the ransom."
"Here's my purchase list. Please procure these," Lister said.
Schindler, the logistics chief, had tallied the list. Lister handed it straight to Merry, then let the group go. He wasn't worried they'd go back on their word.