Chapter 81: The Fall of the Bronson Family

BOOM!

A colossal wave of swamp surged skyward, blotting out the sun, casting the docks below into deep shadow.

"This is…!"

Everyone below, Wilder's crew and the remaining Bronson forces alike, stared upwards, pupils trembling, faces filled with utter horror. Even Ashin turned his gaze towards the spectacle.

Old Man Bronson and his four main subordinates stood frozen, their faces drained of all color, seemingly robbed of the strength even to flee. They could only watch numbly as the overwhelming tide of swamp descended upon them.

CRASH! With a deafening roar, the immense wave of swamp slammed down onto the docks.

"Everyone, run!"

After hitting the pier, the wave surged higher, continuing its relentless advance inland, washing over the solid ground, burying everything in its path beneath a thick, suffocating layer.

Whoosh! Old Man Bronson and his four companions were hit first. The swamp engulfed them instantly, offering no chance to react, no space to dodge, and certainly no possibility of resistance. They vanished beneath the heavy sludge without causing so much as a ripple.

The remaining Bronson guards had dropped their weapons and started running the moment the swamp appeared, but escape was impossible. The churning tide relentlessly overtook them, swallowing them amidst cries of terror and futile struggles.

"Ashin, prepare for the takeover," Wilder stated impassively as he walked forward. The swamp parted automatically around him, flowing harmlessly to the sides.

"Yes, Boss." Ashin stood atop a large building nearby. He had already led the crew to safety before Wilder unleashed Great Swamp Heaven, so they remained untouched by the devastation.

And just like that, the Bronson family was effectively destroyed—at least, its core leadership. Outer branches and lesser members remained scattered across other islands in the East Blue, but they were no longer a significant concern.

The takeover operation began swiftly. Reinforcements poured in from the Black Serpent Merchant Guild headquarters in Chenoat. The Greni Archipelago was officially claimed, and atop the tallest building on the main island, a flag bearing the menacing black serpent was raised, fluttering in the wind.

Ship after ship docked, unloading thousands of crew members. Wilder had mandated that every member bear the Black Serpent tattoo, fostering a sense of unity and belonging.

A purging operation commenced across the main island and its five satellites. Any remaining Bronson family subordinates who resisted were cut down, falling into pools of their own blood.

The takeover proceeded systematically. After eliminating the remnants of resistance, the Greni Archipelago had definitively changed hands. The gunpowder factories, mineral mines, and weapons plants all fell under the control of new managers appointed by Wilder. As for the existing workers in these facilities, Wilder offered them a simple choice: submit or die.

Those defiant enough to choose death, or loyal enough to their former masters to refuse service, were ultimately few. The vast majority, including many skilled and irreplaceable personnel, along with the islands' rich mineral resources and industrial infrastructure, were absorbed into Wilder's rapidly growing power base.

Beyond the main island, the five satellite islands also held considerable resources, though different from the primary landmass. None produced ore directly, but each possessed unique characteristics. Wilder numbered them, starting from the left flank:

Island One: A tropical island teeming with diverse flora and fauna, dominated by dense jungles and large trees. It also hosted numerous powerful predatory species.Island Two: Composed primarily of hard rock, this island featured an extensive network of caves and secret passages, more complex than any labyrinth. Several large watchtowers dotted its surface, making it ideal for monitoring the surrounding seas and conducting underground operations.Island Three: Resembling a small town, this island had comprehensive facilities suitable for housing workers. Notably, it possessed twin docks—one inner, one outer—connected by a wide canal leading directly to the main island. The outer dock was heavily fortified with defenses, controlling access via the canal and capable of providing coastal fire support.Islands Four and Five: Both were characterized by mountains and forests, abundant fresh water sources, and natural hot springs.

"Begin," Wilder commanded. Back at the Black Serpent headquarters, with all key personnel gathered, he issued the order to launch attacks against the Bronson family's remaining external holdings and influence across the East Blue.

Black Serpent flags began appearing on various islands as Bronson-affiliated forces and members were systematically eliminated. Throughout this process, the Black Serpent Merchant Guild continuously absorbed resources and manpower, growing stronger at an astonishing rate.

Wilder's ambition was gradually encroaching upon the entirety of the "weakest sea," though for the moment, his expansion hadn't drawn widespread attention.

After three days, the Black Serpent Guild's direct control extended across twelve islands. Excluding the Greni Archipelago itself, five of these had previously belonged to the Bronson family.

Naturally, this rapid conquest across numerous islands inevitably led to Wilder's forces being stretched thin. A critical issue emerged: a shortage of capable mid-level leadership—the core strength, the backbone of any large organization. Wilder had his top executives like Vice and the others, and he had plenty of rank-and-file crew, but he desperately needed a large number of reliable officers or managers—the cadre—who weren't part of the senior command structure.

Wilder understood that building such a cadre wasn't a short-term project. After some thought, an idea took shape in his mind.

"Claire," he said, "establish an Officer Factory."

"Eh? An Officer Factory?" Claire, standing behind him as always, blinked, her eyes wide with surprise.

On the main island of the Greni Archipelago, a newly constructed dock bustled with activity. Ships transporting lumber arrived and departed frequently. Nearby, a large shipyard had risen from the ground, swallowing the delivered timber whole.

Inside a dedicated workshop, Ashin was covered head-to-toe in sawdust, a fine yellow layer even coating his mask. He was intensely focused, meticulously shaping a piece of wood—likely a crucial component for a ship. Stacks of lumber reached the workshop ceiling in one corner. Nearby, the massive wooden keel of a ship lay completed, and parts of the hull were already taking shape.

A colossal warship was gradually being born.

As the date for signing the Warlord agreement drew closer, the operations of the Black Serpent Merchant Guild began to stabilize.

Four days later, an enormous warship, painted in striking black and red, sailed out from the docks of Chenoat.

The massive hull stretched over a hundred meters long. Its curved black and red stripes resembled raw, scarlet flesh peeking through black scales. The overall shape was crescent-like. The hull wasn't clad in traditional timber; instead, black, scale-like plates protruded, interspersed with sharp, backward-facing barbs. The bow was sculpted into a gigantic, menacing serpent's head, complete with two long, straight, razor-sharp horns extending forward, gleaming with a cold, black light.

The red-backed flag bearing the snarling black serpent sigil billowed proudly in the wind, the serpent seeming to writhe and dance with the breeze.

The black anaconda Wilder had subdued was now effectively his pet. On the ship's deck, Wilder reclined on a beach chair, eyes closed, seemingly resting. The massive serpent slithered languidly around his feet, its black and red forked tongue occasionally flicking out, tasting the air, sensing heat signatures. Periodically, its sinister head would rise high, gazing intently towards some unseen point, as if spotting hidden prey.

Besides Wilder, only Claire was aboard this new vessel. All other key personnel remained at the headquarters, ensuring its security while the boss was away.

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