Chapter 26 - I want to pull those guys on the throne down!
"My dream?"
Bai Ye turned his head to look at Captain John with a hint of surprise, not knowing how to answer his question for a moment.
In the world of Pirate King, it seems dreams truly supersede everything else.
"That's right, power, fame, treasure, and even beautiful women. There must be one reason for you to set sail, right?"
Although Captain John's face showed some drunkenness, his eyes were exceptionally sharp.
In his opinion, wasn't it for these things that pirates set sail?
Perhaps there were some like Whitebeard who sailed for family, but such pirates were far fewer in comparison.
And judging from Bai Ye's past behavior, he didn't believe Bai Ye was that kind of pirate.
Bai Ye's eyes were a bit unfocused, then he remembered his original thought when he first set sail: "Actually, I set sail just to become stronger."
After realizing he had transmigrated to the world of Pirate King and landed in the New World, Bai Ye was numb.
Because the New World was where the World Government threw pirates to 'raise' them like venomous insects.
What if one became the King of the New World, or even one of the Four Emperors?
This was just a small area of the world. The World Government partitioned this area, letting pirates fight amongst themselves, while they simply watched, guarding the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line.
After all, those places weren't strong in combat power, and the Marine was limited, so they naturally prioritized those areas.
Moreover, the World Government still needed the New World as a negative example.
Isn't this like holding the necks of the world's nations and saying, 'Look, this is what happens if you don't pay the celestial tribute!'
For the past eight hundred years, the World Government has kept the world in a state of chaos. It needs the Marine, but the Marine cannot be too strong, because it is just a dog under its command, a violent organization.
Similarly, it also needs pirates, because if the world wasn't chaotic and the blame wasn't directed at pirates, then who among the rest of the world would pay the celestial tribute? If they forcibly demanded payment, wouldn't that just turn the blame back on themselves, on the Celestial Dragons?
But the way they 'raised' these 'venomous insects' made Bai Ye terrified at the time.
At that time, two choices were laid before him. The first was to live as a commoner for life, trying to leave the New World. But even leaving the New World wasn't necessarily safe. First and foremost, pirates truly killed without reason; they weren't like Luffy's crew at all. They really killed. As an ordinary person, he could only place his fate in the hands of others, which Bai Ye couldn't accept. Moreover, leaving the New World wasn't safe either, Nami was a good example of that.
The second choice was to set sail. Although setting sail might mean dying within a few days, or even on the same day, due to the New World's bizarre weather, Bai Ye ultimately chose the second option.
Fate had to be in his own hands. Even if he died, he wanted to die by his own choice, and not look back before his death and regret that decision.
"No?! Setting sail to become stronger?!"
Captain John felt quite dizzy.
He had thought Bai Ye was on the same wavelength as him, also someone who liked treasure, but it turned out he was doing it to become stronger?!
He could watch Bai Ye steal treasure, he could watch Bai Ye take women, and even if Bai Ye took a lot, he would be indifferent. But he couldn't just watch Bai Ye continuously get stronger!
You're messing with me, play around, stop cultivating. Seeing Bai Ye's progress, Captain John was genuinely scared, sweating profusely, my friend.
Bai Ye's playing allowed him to sleep soundly, but Bai Ye's cultivation kept him awake all night.
"Actually, it was like that at first."
Bai Ye initially wanted to become stronger, and still did, but he wasn't as stubborn about it as before.
"I knew it!"
John patted his chest and let out a long sigh of relief, secretly thinking, 'Good thing Bai Ye gave up. It looks like Bai Ye has seen the colorful world and learned to enjoy himself. This is good, this is good!'
"I want to pull those guys on the throne down. That sounds pretty interesting!"
Bai Ye glanced at Captain John, then lifted his leg, preparing to leave: "Let's go, John. If we don't leave now, we'll miss the competition for that Division Captain!"
If he couldn't make it back, he'd be disqualified.
Bai Ye had finally obtained the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and didn't want to lose just like that.
Looking at Bai Ye's back, John fell into deep thought. Pull those guys on the throne down.
Who was he talking about?
After a moment of thought, Captain John still couldn't figure out who it was, or rather, he had some guesses but couldn't be sure. He shook his head, suppressing the extra thoughts, then looked in the direction Bai Ye had left. He was stunned: "I haven't even gotten on the ship yet!!!"
Are you guys crazy?
Can't you see the Captain hasn't boarded yet?
Captain John hugged his wine bottle and ran towards the ship as if flying.
He hadn't boarded yet, and these bastards were already setting sail, preparing to leave!?
Several days later.
Hachinosu Island, where the Rocks Pirates were based.
Countless pirates gathered here.
"It hasn't started yet?"
"Speaking of which, where's that guy Bai Ye? He didn't run away, did he?"
"No way, I heard he went out with John. These two guys haven't returned yet?"
In the Captain's quarters.
Rocks scratched his forehead, somewhat troubled. It was about to start, and Bai Ye and John still hadn't returned.
Beside him, Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Charlotte Linlin, Wang Zhi, and Silver Axe were already prepared.
Today, their seven Captains would be challenged by other pirates. The successful ones would directly become Captains. Although somewhat cruel, this was a tradition of the Rocks Pirates.
And after this, once the final Captains were confirmed, Rocks would also thoroughly reveal his plan to the others.
However, deep down, he actually hoped to maintain the current lineup of Captains.
Because he had generally observed these few people, and they probably wouldn't betray his plan. But others might not be the same.
Now that he was stirring up such a big storm in the New World, he didn't believe the World Government and the Marine would sit idly by.
There must be many spies from the Marine, the World Government, and other forces within his pirate crew.
Therefore, before confirming the operation, Rocks would only let the Captains know what they were going to do this time.
"That guy won't run."
Rocks looked up at the gathering square outside, then fixed his gaze on the distant sea.
He understood Bai Ye; he wouldn't run. Even if he died, he would return to die in battle.
It was just a bit of a pity. He was too weak when he first joined. If it weren't for Bai Ye's good talent and being the first to respond to him, he wouldn't have been able to become a Captain.
But Rocks had also taught Bai Ye well. He originally thought Bai Ye would seek him out for training in the final moments. Although there wasn't much time, it was still possible.
However, Bai Ye left, which inevitably made Rocks a little confused, unable to understand why Bai Ye would choose this.
Could it be that there was something outside that could improve his strength faster than training under him?
"Gurarahahahahaha, that guy really won't run. Speaking of leaving with John, could it be that John found him a Devil Fruit?"
Everyone in the Rocks Pirates knew that Captain John and Bai Ye had a good relationship, and Captain John also had a habit of collecting treasures, so there might be Devil Fruits among them.
If one ate a Devil Fruit, they could improve quite a bit in a short time.
"Momomomomo, if he eats a trashy Devil Fruit, he'll be useless for life!"
"Jiehahahaha, even if it's trash, there's nothing he can do. Others will probably challenge him later. What a pity, we're about to get a new Captain. Speaking of which, Whitebeard, how's that kid you brought back?"
Golden Lion said, looking at Whitebeard. The guy he brought back, named Kaido, was from the Oni race. That race was quite rare now.
Rocks had specifically asked for him to be brought back. He was originally going to be offered to the World Government as a deduction for the celestial tribute. Even Golden Lion was very interested in this guy.
But unfortunately, Rocks bringing him back was clearly not for him to poach.
Although they had joined the Rocks Pirates, they still maintained their original pirate crews. Their divisions belonged to their own pirate crews.
Among the Rocks Pirates, those who still maintained their own crews were Golden Lion, Wang Zhi, Silver Axe, and John.
Bai Ye's pirate crew had basically all died in battle. Whitebeard didn't want one; he hoped to form a pirate crew entirely made up of his own children. And Charlotte Linlin, that woman, was even crazier; she wanted to give birth to a pirate crew.
So, when Kaido joined the Rocks Pirates, Golden Lion immediately wanted to recruit him, but he couldn't because Kaido was directly recruited by Rocks and had joined Rocks' original pirate crew.
But recently, he seemed to be getting a bit close to Charlotte Linlin.
Golden Lion glanced at Charlotte Linlin, and a cold sneer involuntarily flashed in his heart. Everyone in this pirate crew was just teaming up.
And the big event Rocks mentioned, if it wasn't something he was interested in, he would leave with his crew immediately.
Even Rocks couldn't stop him if he wanted to leave, after all, he was a Sky Pirate!
"Don't underestimate a person's potential."
Silver Axe was a quiet person. His relationship with Bai Ye was neither good nor bad. As Captains, they had met. Bai Ye's strength wasn't strong, but in Silver Axe's opinion, his potential was good, though he didn't have much time.
Rocks' plan was most likely going to start very soon.
In his opinion, if it weren't for that, Rocks should have given Bai Ye some time to grow.
"It's too difficult. Speaking of which, if he's not a Captain in the future, it might shake his resolve. It looks like we'll be losing a swordsman opponent!"
Wang Zhi wiped the greatsword in his hand, speaking with a hint of regret in his eyes.
Among the pirate crew, the few who were good at swordsmanship and specialized in it were Bai Ye. Whitebeard and Golden Lion both used swords, but most of them used them with Devil Fruit abilities attached, which Wang Zhi didn't consider to be a pure swordsman.
And Bai Ye had the potential to become a great swordsman like himself, so he had always thought highly of Bai Ye. It was just that if he was defeated this time, he wondered if it would affect him.
He really didn't want to lose a swordsman opponent.
"Momomomomo, that guy's potential, at most, couldn't reach too high. I actually prefer that Oni kid!"
Charlotte Linlin's eyes flashed with a glimmer of light when she mentioned Kaido.
She was thinking, if she had a child with Kaido, that child would inherit the advantages of both herself and Kaido's Oni race.
That would truly be the most wonderful start ever!
"You're back. It seems you've really gained a lot from this trip, Chehahahahaha."
Rocks chuckled deeply, his eyes looking at the returning ship in the distance. Even from a distance, Rocks' Haki sensed the aura from both of them.
That aura was definitely not what Bai Ye originally had. He seemed to have grown quite a bit now.
It seemed Bai Ye really had some kind of fortuitous encounter this time.
This, on the contrary, put Rocks at ease. The current Captains were just right, and he didn't want to see any changes among them. The reason he brought Kaido back was because he valued the fact that if there were any changes, he hoped it would be Kaido, not anyone else.
Because of the problems he faced, Kaido would absolutely not collude with the Marine or the World Government. Even if he became a Captain, it wouldn't affect his plan.
But if Bai Ye remained Captain, that would be even better.
"They're really back. Should we go down too?"
After confirming Bai Ye's return, they were almost ready to go out.
Countless people within the pirate crew were already restless.
"Let's go. This time, I'll test the strength of the Rocks Pirates!"
Rocks stood up, then strode to the plaza.
After Rocks' modifications, Hachinosu Island had become a pirate paradise. Everything here was related to pirates, including this dueling arena.
Because there were a total of seven Captains.
So there were seven separate arenas here, and each person could choose to challenge the corresponding Captain.
From one to seven, each number corresponded to a Captain's division: One, Whitebeard; Two, Golden Lion; Three, Charlotte Linlin; Four, Bai Ye; Five, Wang Zhi; Six, Captain John; Seven, Silver Axe.
The five who had already arrived at the arena had selected their respective numbers.
When the five arrived, the surrounding pirates were somewhat bewildered.
Where were the other two?!
"Captain? Where's Bai Ye? We want to challenge Bai Ye!"
"That's right! Captain, you can't play favorites! You said this time it would be fair, fair, and damn fair!"
"Did Bai Ye and John run away together?"
"Why don't we just go up there directly? Whoever is left standing will be the Captain of the Fourth Division and the Sixth Division!"
"Haha, I knew that guy Bai Ye would definitely run away. If it weren't for his connection with the Captain, how could that guy have become a Captain!!!"