After deep thought, Burns's voice crackled over the Den Den Mushi, heavy with doubt.
"Are you confident?"
Lancelot's reply was instant and firm. "Yes."
"Hah..." Burns let out a long, weary breath. "Tell me honestly, kid, what's your current strength? Otherwise, I won't agree to this crazy plan of yours."
Indeed, in Burns's mind, this plan was truly insane.
Luring every pirate in the sea to attack you was not a strategy; it was suicide.
Lancelot remained silent for a moment before deciding to lay out his hand.
"I've completely mastered all Six Powers and can use them proficiently. My swordsmanship has reached the Iron Cutting. And... there have been some special changes in my body, enhancing all my physical aspects. Most importantly, I've awakened Observation Haki. Combining all this, my strength is roughly at the level of an elite Marine Rear Admiral."
"NANII?"
Lancelot's words absolutely shocked Burns.
He murmured, his mind reeling, "Completely mastered Rokushiki... Iron Cutting... Observation Haki... You've been hiding your true capabilities quite well, kid."
Coming back to his senses, Burns pressed further.
"Wait, what about that Zoan-Type: White Tiger Fruit I gave you? The one I worked so hard to get?"
At these words, Lina, who was still massaging Lancelot's shoulders, stiffened slightly.
Lancelot turned to look at Lina, then gave her rounded ass a reassuring pat.
Then, without hiding anything, he said,
"I gave it to a girl named Lina. She was already an Iron Cutting swordsman, just lacking in physical strength. Now with the White Tiger Fruit, her strength has reached the Marine Captain level. Plus, she just ate the fruit and is in her rapid improvement phase. She'll be coming with me on this trip. Given her talent, her strength should advance by leaps and bounds... likely reaching the Rear Admiral level."
He paused, then added, "Moreover, with her talent in swordsmanship, I believe it won't be long before she reaches the Swordmaster level. She will become my most capable and trusted subordinate. Most importantly, she is also my woman."
"You're... really generous," Burns muttered weakly.
This White Tiger Fruit, though merely an ordinary Zoan, stood at the pinnacle among common Zoan types.
It was far superior to the two unknown Devil Fruits he had just acquired.
However... trading one Devil Fruit for a highly talented daughter-in-law... that doesn't seem like a bad deal.
With that thought, he abruptly changed the subject, his tone shifting from shock to matchmaking.
"Given, it's given... But since she's your woman and has even consumed the White Tiger Fruit I prepared for you, shouldn't you hurry up and give me a grandchild?"
Lancelot: "..."
He truly hadn't expected that even in this world, even as a transmigrator, he wouldn't escape the fate of being pressured to have children.
Lina: "..."
She instantly flushed crimson.
Even though she and Lancelot were already intimately familiar—after all, they knew every inch of each other—Burns was Lancelot's father.
In terms of seniority, he was her father-in-law.
She hadn't even met him yet, and he was already urging them to have children.
How could she not feel embarrassed?
"Ahem..." Lancelot coughed twice. "We'll... uh... work hard on that together. But now isn't the time to discuss this."
"Hahaha..."
After learning about Lancelot and Lina's strength, Burns visibly relaxed.
However, he didn't immediately concede.
Instead, he said, "Then continue. Introduce your other subordinates. Let's see if they can convince me to join you in this madness."
Lancelot nodded. "Zoro was already a powerful swordsman from the East Blue and has now also reached the Iron Cutting. His strength even surpasses Lina's. As long as he doesn't encounter a Logia user like Smoker or a special Paramecia type, he can hold his own against a Marine Headquarters Captain. Moreover, his talent in swordsmanship is absolutely top-tier, and his future is promising."
"As for Gin," Lancelot continued, "he already possessed the level of a Marine Headquarters Lieutenant Commander. But he has exceptional talent in physical combat and mastered Soru from the Rokushiki in a short time. Recently, he's been sparring with me, Lina, and Zoro, and his strength has improved rapidly. He's now at the level of a Marine Headquarters Commander. I believe it won't be long before he becomes a master of the Rokushiki."
"One Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral-level, one Marine Headquarters Captain, and two Marine Headquarters Commanders..." Burns's eyes lit up, his mind doing the calculation.
It was important to note that the journey from the East Blue to the Holy Land only traversed the first half of the Grand Line.
In Paradise, such a lineup was already quite impressive.
They weren't exactly invincible, but at least unless they encountered a Shichibukai or a great pirate from the New World, no one could pose a serious threat to them.
After all, the strongest forces in the first half of the Grand Line were still the Marines.
"Good," Burns said, his voice now firm. "I agree. Your old man will join you in this madness..."
After ending the Den Den Mushi call, Lancelot turned to Lina.
"Notify Daniel and have him take charge here in Shells Town. Tell him that once he arrives, he doesn't need to worry about anything else—just focus on managing this place. As for the responsibilities originally assigned to Daniel, hand them over to Johnson. Tell him this is his chance to prove himself. He must handle it well... If he succeeds, he'll become the base commander of our new base in Syrup Village and will be considered for further important roles in the future."
"Yes!" Lina nodded immediately, a bright, genuine smile spreading across her face.
In her view, Lancelot's decision to promote Johnson was a wonderful gesture of respect toward her and her sister.
She then, very naturally, straddled Lancelot's lap, leaning close to his ear as her warm breath brushed against it.
"Master... I've been ordered to bear your child!"
"So... can we inform them after this matter is settled?"
The fire that had just subsided within Lancelot instantly reignited.
"Fine, fine, fine... Today, I must teach you a proper lesson so you understand what takes priority."
As he spoke, he directly lifted Lina's bodycon skirt up.
.....
Three days later.
The Going Merry sailed toward the Conomi Islands.
This archipelago consisted of about fifty villages and eight towns, including places like Cocoyasi Village and Kōsatsu Town, all under the "jurisdiction" of Marine Branch 16.
Of course, Lancelot knew, they were also territories controlled by the Arlong Pirate Crew.
Marine Branch 16 was the very branch where the corrupt Captain Nezumi, who colluded with the Arlong Pirate Crew, was stationed.
It could be said that under the dual rule of the Arlong Pirate Crew and Captain Nezumi, the people of the entire Conomi Islands were practically living in a human purgatory.
A fate worse than death. Among them, Cocoyasi Village was the most typical example.
Looking at the Conomi Islands now right before him, Lancelot couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth slightly upward.
Arlong had ruled here for so many years—he must have amassed quite a fortune.
Not necessarily tens of billions, but several hundred million, or even a billion, was almost certain.
After all, even someone as weak as Nami had managed to gather a hundred million Berries during Arlong's reign.
Along the way, he had also visited Orange Town.
Originally, he had planned to take down Buggy the Clown before dealing with Arlong.
But, he had to admit, that clown was incredibly lucky.
When Lancelot arrived... Buggy was not there.
He had already left, presumably to begin his own journey.
To avoid wasting time, Lancelot had no choice but to let that guy go for now and focus his target on the real money... Arlong.