21 Chapter 21: I'll Give You Ten Times the Salary

"We must address this attitude and enforce strict discipline!" Whitebeard commanded sternly.

"Do I need to teach you that there are always higher mountains and greater people?" he continued.

"I hope you remember today's defeat and don't let pride blind you!" he concluded. Under Whitebeard's rebuke, the Moby Dick fell silent. The crew, like children being scolded, lowered their heads.

Turning to Lin Yan, Whitebeard, looking serious, asked, "Lin, tell them your bounty!" In his mind, with Lin Yan's strength, it was unthinkable for him not to have a bounty. After all, this was the New World, where strong people abound.

"If he doesn't have a bounty, that wouldn't make sense," Whitebeard muttered.

"Captain, I don't have a bounty," Lin Yan confessed honestly. He had been out at sea for only a few days. Why would he have a bounty?

Whitebeard's confident face suddenly froze. His original intention was to use Lin Yan's bounty to humble these crew members who didn't know their place! But to his surprise, Lin Yan didn't even have a bounty!

"Ahem..." After an awkward cough, Whitebeard, regaining his serious demeanor, said, "Look at this—someone without a bounty beat you so badly you didn't know what was happening. How can you sleep? What right do you have to slack off?"

Whitebeard's voice was stirring. Beyond the reprimand, there was a sense of responsibility. Given his fatherly status among the crew, his words resonated deeply. Suddenly, the blood of the many crew members began to heat up.

"Dad was right," they thought. In recent years, ever since Roger surrendered and Golden Lion was imprisoned, the old era's three great pirates had left only the Whitebeard Pirates standing. Looking across the seas, they found no match. As a result, people had become lax in training, and the crew could no longer find the same spirit as when they first formed the pirate crew with Dad, venturing into the seas together.

They must strive. They must revive. If they indulged in the present, who would open the way for the future?

"I'm sorry!" Suddenly, a crew member came forward and directly apologized to Lin Yan. Whether because of Lin Yan's formidable strength or their previous arrogance, the fault lay with them.

"I'm sorry!"

"Please forgive our rudeness!"

The first person to apologize was the hardest to find, but once he did, over 1,600 people on-site also apologized to Lin Yan. Seeing the crew members change from their previous arrogance, a smile appeared on Whitebeard's steady face. This was the true nature of the Whitebeard Pirates.

He didn't want his huge Whitebeard Pirates, built over four to five decades, to crumble because of pride and arrogance. To solve this problem so quickly today was thanks to Lin Yan's overwhelming strength. Whitebeard also saw in Lin Yan immense potential. If he let such a neutral powerhouse go, he wouldn't be Whitebeard!

With a wave of his hand, Whitebeard said to Lin Yan, "Lin, thank you for helping me correct the Whitebeard Pirates before they turned into a scattered bunch! However, I wasn't satisfied with your earlier response. Now, as the captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, I ask you again, will you join us?"

This was Whitebeard's second invitation to Lin Yan. Hearing this, Lin Yan couldn't help but feel moved. After all, as a fan of pirates, who wouldn't be interested in joining the Whitebeard Pirates?

Lin Yan felt eager, but he recalled the future fate of the Whitebeard Pirates. From peak to decline, from pinnacle to nadir. He recently heard that the fourth division commander was assassinated by Teach, and the second division commander, Ace, was chasing after Teach. What did this mean?

In the near future, an unprecedented war would break out—the Summit War! The Summit War was a major event in the history of pirates, the biggest battle since the start of the Great Pirate Era, and marked the turning point of the Whitebeard Pirates from prosperity to decline. The final outcome was Whitebeard's death, Ace's death, and the dissolution of the Whitebeard Pirates. Their four to five decades of operation shattered overnight. From then on, they fell from the throne of the Sea Emperor.

He could stay out of it and not get involved. Plus, he was used to being a free spirit and didn't need to force himself to join any pirate crew.

After pondering for a while, Lin Yan declined, "I still refuse."

Whitebeard was stunned for a while. He was rejected once again! Lin Yan stood there, unsure of what to do next. If they missed out on such a talent, even Whitebeard would feel a bit regretful. But since Lin Yan had already refused twice, inviting him again would be somewhat inappropriate. Just as the situation was becoming tense, the 16th division captain, Izou, came forward and said, "Lin, you've already boarded our ship, and things have reached this point. Why not accept Dad's invitation?"

"Even if you have some grievances against the Whitebeard Pirates, the crew has already apologized!" Hearing Izou's words, the crew chimed in, "Yes, I admit we were wrong before. If you're still unhappy, you can beat us up to vent your anger. We won't resist!"

"Beat them up?" Lin Yan couldn't help but chuckle. Seeing Lin Yan's hesitation, Izou knew there was a chance. As the saying goes, you should use the right bait to attract the right fish. Izou knew what Lin Yan liked.

So, he added, "Lin, if you stay, I'll apply for four times your current salary from Dad!"

"Four times!!" Hearing this, Lin Yan's ears perked up, and he caught the key information: "Well, this..."

"Four times isn't enough?"

"Alright, I'll make it ten times. I'll apply for ten times your current salary from Dad!"

Izou was serious now. Even four times was beyond expectation, not to mention ten times. Lin Yan was tempted.

"Lin, our pirate crew has amazing benefits. If you want, your salary could be more than you ever imagined." Izou came over and put his arm around Lin Yan's shoulder. Who could refuse ten times the salary?

Lin Yan turned to Izou and simply said, "Deal!"

"Hahaha, Lin, welcome to the Whitebeard Pirates!"