Zhou Yi processed the information about the Light Imprint Skill.

Seeing him silent, the pirate leader Yuan Tong also dared not speak.

After a while,

Zhou Yi shifted his attention back to the ship, "Tell me about the current situation of the Seventh Fleet."

"They are stationed at the port in Little Smoke Ridge to the north, responsible for escorting tobacco shipments by sea. The area where I operate is next to a coastal market town outside Little Smoke Ridge, under the jurisdiction of the Seventh Fleet."

After Yuan Tong finished this section, he pondered for a while, "The main duty of the Seventh Fleet is maritime patrolling. They have one B-class main battle ship, four B-class heavy patrol combat ships, and eight C-class medium patrol combat ships. Rumor has it..."

He hesitated, "It is said that the Organ Call, which you destroyed, was a C-class medium patrol vessel. Additionally, there is a D-class light cruiser fleet with ten light cruisers, and a support team mixed with various levels of logistical supply ships, totaling 20."

"This is the part I know."

Zhou Yi calculated.

With ships like the Organ Call, there were still seven in the Seventh Fleet, above which there were five heavyweight B-class ships, and below, ten D-class ships. Logistics and supplies also seemed highly valued.

Just one fleet had 43 ships, indeed making the Dead Sea Knights a strong maritime force.

If the Seventh Fleet were to lead the entire task force here in a frenzy, he could only direct Jade City to flee first.

Zhou Yi asked, "Do you know Ji Zhang?"

"I've heard of him."

Yuan Tong's voice grew deeper, "He is an Honorary Knight of the Dead Sea Knights, rumored to specialize in arms trafficking and also seeks out ancient weapons, very resourceful. Last year, he recruited a group of people through the Dead Sea Knights to find something."

"To find what?"

"I don't know the specifics. It's said that wherever he goes, he spends money to hire local raiders to carry out tasks, and because of his generous spending and strong backing, many raiders work for him."

This matched what Cui Mao had previously described.

Zhou Yi asked about some other matters.

Regarding sea pirates, Yuan Tong, a veteran in the industry, knew many secrets, but had very little knowledge of the Seventh Fleet. Only when the Dead Sea Knights approached him did Yuan Tong have any contact with them.

Not asking or making contact was also an unwritten rule of this trade.

He knew nothing about the relationship between Ji Zhang and Deputy Commander He Jiu.

But Yuan Tong mentioned a new situation.

"The commander of the Seventh Fleet, Commander Feng Ji, took a few months off due to family emergencies and during this period, the deputy commander and the chief of staff managed the fleet. Commander Feng is coming back next month, so He Jiu probably won't dare to make rash moves. He still has to find a way to settle the matter of the Organ Call's reduced crew."

"He Jiu is adept at ingratiating and currying favor with local authorities everywhere, and he doesn't have a very good reputation. However, Feng Ji is known for his strict and conservative approach, always striving to avoid casualties in battle. If negotiation is possible, he never resorts to force. The Dead Sea Knights hold him in high regard."

"This time, with Commander Feng back, He Jiu will certainly face accountability. I think this is also why He Jiu can't afford any more losses in warships; that's why he sent us to scout..."

The threads in Zhou Yi's mind connected.

This was what He Jiu showed Ji Zhang, indicating that he tried his best. As for the loss of the Organ Call, this deputy commander probably didn't care at all, as long as he had delivered the favor.

Apparently, Ji Zhang's favor was worth He Jiu risking a C-class warship.

The intelligence was quite satisfactory.

Next was dealing with the raiders.

Zhou Yi told Yuan Tong, "I'll give you two options."

"One, death, and I will take care of your corpses."

"Two, leave the ship behind, and you go stay in Mao Valley Town until the heat dies down, then you can leave."

The pirate leader hesitated not at all, "I'll choose the second one!"

"Also, you're an exception."

"Understood."

Zhou Yi asked, "Do you really understand?"

"Understood, my words need verification, I understand."

"No. It's not about that."

Zhou Yi looked at the middle-aged pirate, "Right now, our Wasteland Development Company is just starting up, needing talents from all walks of life. How about you come work for us?"

"This…"

Yuan Tong appeared somewhat confused, "I am just a trivial old man in the pirate fold, only a minor character, and my shipbuilding skills aren't that remarkable either, why would you…"

"You're right. However, it's also true that there are not many pirates as technologically knowledgeable as you, and there are few craftsmen with extensive pirate experience. Our company not only needs professionals who are deeply specialized in certain fields but also highly desires talents with cross-disciplinary skills."

Zhou Yi said, "Since you have no children and no parents to worry about, and you want to lead a simple and stable life, why not join our company?"

Yuan Tong hesitated for a moment, "What do you want me to do?"

"Your position would be as a nautical consultant, specifically responsible for researching ships and related technologies, analyzing the situation of pirates and knight orders from a technical perspective, and performing maritime risk assessments for the company. This is a technical position, and your opinions would be very important in the company's purchase and use of various devices."

Zhou Yi said earnestly, "Wasteland Development Company is definitely going to venture into the maritime trade in the Dead Sea, and it's inevitable that we will form a fleet in the future. However, everything needs to be done step by step; ships, equipment, manpower, and technology all need to be prepared gradually."

"How much did you make as a pirate leader in a year?"

The other party hurriedly said, "Being able to keep my life and find shelter, I dare not hope for anything else."

"No, you must take a salary. How can I trust you to do the job if you don't take a salary?"

"…"

At Zhou Yi's insistence, Yuan Tong then said, "Previously, our distribution method was that after paying 45% tax to the Dead Sea Knights' tax collector from each income, I would take 10% of the remaining net profit, and the rest was distributed among the others according to their type of work."

"Like the two who need to board the ship, they are at higher risk, so they get 5%, and those who do reconnaissance get 3%... If someone is injured or makes a significant contribution, the distribution ratio would be adjusted based on the circumstances."

"Hold on." Zhou Yi was shocked, "45% tax?"

"Yes, it was unavoidable."

Yuan Tong said with a bitter smile, "So actually, we're under a lot of pressure. We could also be audited for tax evasion even if we're clean sometimes, and we have to bribe. Expenses are high in many aspects."

Zhou Yi thought to himself, the Dead Sea Knights are making money off both ends.

"All in all, I make about 12 gold a year, which is quite low among pirate leaders."

According to the local exchange rate, 1 gold = 10 silver = 100 copper = 10,000 mushrooms.

Yuan Tong's annual income was 120,000 mushrooms.

Zhou Yi remembered that in Chicken Head Town, the average worker in the farming team made a monthly salary of 1,200 mushrooms, which added up to 14,400 mushrooms a year.

Just by the numbers, being a pirate leader indeed seemed like a high-paying job in the Wasteland Era.

Zhou Yi felt something strange.

Since the enhanced ship's Light Imprint needs Energy Packs to operate, and Energy Packs are made from Death Light mixtures; however, the pirates' income is measured in gold and copper.

Does that mean the Light Seed could be exchanged with precious metals like gold?

He confirmed this with the Red Kestrel in his mind.

The drone responded, "Light Seeds indeed have long-term transactions with precious metals led by gold. The Light Imprint Skill and Light Imprints require precious metals as carriers and for making key components."

"Currently in Recursive City, the price of 1 Light Seed is about 101.44 standard gold, basically fluctuating slightly around the 1:100 exchange rate. The basic trading unit for iron, copper, silver, and gold metals defaults to 5g, meaning 1 Light Seed is equivalent to 500g of gold."

Zhou Yi had previously thought that the Agricultural Machinery Brothers were too cheap since their monthly salary was only 2 Light Seeds in total.

But that comes out to 24 million mushrooms.

However, going back to the point, the Agricultural Machinery Brothers can only use Energy Packs and Light Seeds for replenishment, and they need regular maintenance, part replacement, and upgrades, so while they earn more, their expenses are also high.

Electromechanical life earns Light Seeds and spends Light Seeds; new humans accumulate and consume mushrooms. Each has its own difficulties.

Zhou Yi said, "I'll give you an annual salary of 1 million mushrooms, paid in Light Seeds."

"1, 1 million?!"

Yuan Tong suddenly looked somewhat dazed, then his expression brightened significantly, "This… Please rest assured, I guarantee I'll do well in the tasks you arrange!"

Zhou Yi thought to himself.

Attracting people still requires a good salary; that completely changes their enthusiasm and demeanor.

Two ships were dragged by the samurai crabs back to the company's base and were placed in the open space of Jade City, appearing like some sort of peculiar amusement installation, available for use when needed.

Under the leadership of boss Yuan Tong, the raiders orderly entered Mao Valley Town and started a secluded life of avoiding calamity.

Zhou Yi observed through the Red Kestrel for several days and discovered that none of the 21 pirates strayed; they went out every evening to gather firewood and dry dung like the locals, then returned to their burrows to rest.

The only difference from the locals was that they occasionally went hunting, using the metal tools they carried to make traps, occasionally catching sand rats and small birds to add some meat to their diet and improve their life.

Yuan Tong explained, "Chairman, they're not new here; they understand the pros and cons."

"Raiders caught outside are mostly hanged. Like us, who haven't completed tasks assigned by the Dead Sea Knights, they wouldn't leave evidence for other forces."

"The only path to survival is to go to major cities beyond the influence of the Dead Sea Knights, such as the 'Jin City' of the Tianjin Knights, or even stronger 'Mirror City.' Going there to serve jail time is the only chance to survive."

"With your governance, this is currently the safest place. They won't cause trouble; you've made the Seventh Fleet too afraid to approach again, they won't joke about their lives."

Thus, Zhou Yi put his mind at ease.