Establishing Authority
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The slave overseer quickly lowered his head, his body trembling slightly, as he respectfully replied, "My lord, the place where we live is dark and damp, overcrowded, and uncomfortable. The food we eat is rough and barely enough to keep us alive." As he spoke, a trace of helplessness and pleading flickered in his eyes.
Gavin frowned slightly and said, "I'll see to it that your living conditions are improved. Now, tell me, what types of ships are you capable of building?"
The slave overseer immediately straightened up, clasping his hands in front of him, and replied with utmost respect, "My lord, we have a fair amount of experience. Whether it's small fishing boats, medium-sized cargo vessels, or even large ships like this warship, as long as we have sufficient materials, we will do our best to construct them."
Gavin nodded in acknowledgment before continuing, "What is the current state of our timber reserves? How many ships can be built with them?"
The slave overseer hesitated, bowing before replying, "My lord, the timber reserves are still adequate, but I'm afraid they can only support the construction of one more longship." As he spoke, he gestured with his hands to emphasize the quantity.
Gavin's expression darkened. "Didn't you say the timber stockpile was sufficient? Why can it only produce one ship?"
The overseer, clearly terrified, hurriedly explained, "My lord, the supply of large timber required for keels is limited. The rest of the wood is only suitable for constructing fishing boats at most."
Gavin pondered for a moment before saying, "I understand. I will find a solution for the timber shortage. In the meantime, focus all your efforts on completing this warship."
The slave overseer, visibly relieved, immediately knelt and kowtowed. "Thank you, my lord! We will give it our all!"
Afterward, Gavin produced a blueprint of a triple-bow ballista from the depths of his past life's memories. The drawing was rough, with uneven and crooked lines.
Pointing at the blueprint, Gavin patiently and meticulously explained its details to the slave craftsmen tasked with constructing the ballista: "Here, and here… pay close attention to these parts."
The craftsmen gathered around him, their brows furrowed as they listened intently.
One of the head craftsmen hesitated before speaking, "My lord, there's no need to start from scratch. It should be possible to modify the existing ballistae."
Gavin's eyes lit up as he eagerly asked, "Modify them directly?"
The head craftsman nodded with certainty. "Yes, my lord. It is indeed feasible to make modifications using the ballistae we've already built."
Gavin decisively issued an order. "Very well. Begin the modifications immediately and test the ballista's power as soon as possible." His expression was serious, his gaze commanding.
The head craftsman quickly bowed in acknowledgment. "Understood, my lord!"
Gavin emphasized again, "Remember, once the tests succeed, replace all the ballistae with these."
The head craftsman bowed deeply again. "I understand, my lord. Please rest assured!"
At that moment, Gavin swept his gaze across the slave overseer and craftsmen, speaking with gravity: "If you serve me faithfully for three years, I will grant you your freedom. During these three years, I will also ensure you receive appropriate compensation."
Upon hearing this, hope sparked in the eyes of the slave overseer and craftsmen. They immediately knelt in unison, their voices resounding as they exclaimed, "Thank you, my lord! We will dedicate ourselves fully to your service!"
Afterward, Gavin resolved to reorganize the chaotic and unruly pirates under his command. He understood deeply that to dominate these treacherous seas, he needed a loyal, well-trained, and highly disciplined force.
At dawn, Gavin instructed Hassan to lead the fierce Blood Dragon Guards in gathering the scattered pirates across the camp.
The pirates, lazy and sluggish, dragged their feet as they reluctantly gathered in an open area. They whispered among themselves, their faces filled with curiosity and unease about this unexpected assembly.
Standing at a height overlooking the crowd, Gavin's sharp gaze swept over the unruly crowd like that of an eagle. Inwardly, he thought, "These men have always been undisciplined and chaotic. I must use iron-fisted methods to make them understand the importance of order."
Gavin shouted loudly, "From this day forth, I will establish the first rule for you all: during assemblies, no one shall speak without my command, nor whisper among themselves. Violators will face death!"
The pirates were instantly thrown into an uproar. Gavin's expression darkened as he shouted, "Who is making noise? Step forward!" The crowd immediately fell silent, not daring to make a sound.
Gavin took no further action after that. Instead, he instructed the pirates to remain stand in place while he sat in his chair, closing his eyes to rest.
Eventually, a few dissatisfied pirates couldn't hold back and began muttering complaints to each other in hushed tones. Gavin, who had been listening intently, immediately detected the disturbance and unhesitatingly ordered the Blood Dragon Guards to drag the offenders out in front of everyone.
His gaze was cold as he stared at the whispering pirates and said icily, "I already gave you a chance, but you chose not to cherish it."
Before his words finished, the Blood Dragon Guards unsheathed their swords and, with a swift motion, beheaded the whispering pirates. Their heads fell to the ground, blood splattering onto the faces of the surrounding pirates.
Terrified, the rest of the pirates stared at Gavin, their hearts filled with dread, no longer daring to show the slightest disobedience.
And so, the pirates stood in place until sunset. During this time, not a single pirate dared utter a word.
As the sky darkened, the Blood Dragon Guards brought forth a heavy chest. When it was opened, the contents revealed piles of gleaming gold dragons.
Gavin once again ascended to a high platform and loudly proclaimed, "Your performance today was passable. I am not a stingy man. This is your reward for obedience." With that, he ordered Hassan to distribute the gold to the pirates one by one.
The following day, Gavin once again assembled the pirates in the same manner. This time, he began personally questioning each one about their past experiences and skills, carefully taking notes with a focused expression, and assigning them to specific groups based on their abilities.
Gavin grouped together pirates skilled in navigating sea routes and reading wind directions, as well as those adept at repairing ship. Afterward, he gathered everyone together to begin rigorous training.
In the days that followed, Gavin showed no signs of leniency. Every day, he personally oversaw the pirates' training.
During this process, he gradually discovered the existence of various small factions within the group.
Each evening, Gavin would also converse with many of the sailors and captains who had been captured and brought here.
He understood deeply that merely reorganizing the pirates was far from sufficient; the sailors and captains who had been forcibly taken here were also a force not to be overlooked.
On one such evening, Gavin sat across from an experienced old captain. Speaking sincerely, he said, "Caption, I deeply regret that you were brought here against your will. However, the situation is what it is now. I earnestly hope for your assistance. I am not like Black Shark 'Erl,' who was cruel and ruthless. As long as you are willing to serve under me, I assure you that you and your crew will be treated with the respect and rewards you deserve."
The old captain's gaze was complex. After hesitating for a moment, he replied, "My lord, though I was forced to come here, I understand the current reality. However, how can I trust you?"
Gavin smiled faintly and said, "Captain, time will prove everything. If you offer me your sincere assistance, wealth and honor will surely be yours in the future."
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[Chapter End's]
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