https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-110-Increased-Bounty-Sky-Pointing-Record-Finger-4k-/12608680/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-112-Fishermen-Can-Catch-Anything-But-Fish-5k-/12609578/
Chapter 111: A Massive Reputation! Pirates Surrender! (4k)
Chapter 111: A Massive Reputation! Pirates Surrender! (4k)
"The sky?"
Lily furrowed her delicate brows in confusion. "Is something broken?"
"Lily, when sailing the Grand Line, you can't trust anything except the Eternal Pose in your hands."
Sarge glanced at the ship's wheel in Marika's hands, his eyes twitching slightly. For some reason, he didn't seem fond of that object.
"It's not that the Eternal Pose is broken. Given this situation, what you're thinking about is how to reach the sky."
He took the ship's wheel from her and casually tossed it into the sea. "Skypiea," he muttered.
As soon as he mentioned Skypiea, the surrounding pirates' eyes lit up with excitement, even the usually gentle-mannered Marika widened her eyes slightly.
"Skypiea?"
Renitia's eyes widened in surprise. "Islands in the sky? Do such places truly exist?"
"They do."
Sarge sat back in his lounge chair and took another sip from his wine glass. "However, I'm not too keen on going there. We have the Eternal Pose for Jaya, so let's go there. We can stock up on magnetism and then set off."
"Huh? Why? Skypiea, islands in the sky, they must be so mysterious, and there might be lots of treasures!" Renitia wasn't quite convinced.
"There are."
Sarge replied, "Golden Land, filled with vast amounts of gold. But I can plunder that kind of thing anywhere, no need to go out of our way."
He remembered Skypiea and also how to get there, but that method...
"There will be a tremendous upward-flowing current erupting from the sea, carrying you up to the skies at a height of tens of thousands of meters. If we want to get there from here, we can only ride our ship on that current. But that method isn't suitable for our pirate crew."
Although others might not understand what he meant, the three women certainly did.
It wasn't that it was unsuitable for their pirate crew; it was mainly unsuitable for Sarge.
With his luck, if he used that so-called upward current to ascend...
"So the ship's wheel that fell from the sky earlier, that's why." Lily nodded in understanding.
"That's right. Now that there's a problem, our pirate crew will have to start over."
Sarge said, "I really want to see it for myself. In the future, when you reach the Summit of the West, there will be a passage that will take you up there."
He wasn't lacking in self-awareness. When it came to bad luck, he never counted on luck to save him.
Regarding the upward-flowing current, even if they somehow managed to avoid being smashed to pieces at the beginning, and even if they rode the current upward, if they fell from that height... Perhaps he could use Moon Step to temporarily levitate and perform an aerial double jump to ensure his safety, but he could only save a few others at best.
The rest would plummet from the sky into the sea, which would be no different from slamming into the ground. All their hard-earned gains would be lost in an instant, and it wasn't worth taking such a huge risk for a bit of gold.
Otherwise, he would have figured out a way to go to Skypiea before becoming a pirate on the Grand Line.
What?
Do business?
That's not being lucky!
Why would doing business be considered lucky? Starting a business can't be left to chance!
"Then let's go to Jaya." Lily glanced at the Eternal Pose and shouted, "Everyone, turn the ship and sail in the ten o'clock direction!"
Boom!
As she finished speaking, the clear sky above suddenly turned gloomy, and thunder rumbled in the clouds. Soon after, a strong wind picked up, and large raindrops began to fall.
"We didn't even get much sun today."
Sarge clicked his tongue and turned back into the captain's room.
If he couldn't sunbathe, then it was back to training.
However, this sudden storm was nothing new to the people on the ship. They quickly sprang into action, each person running to their assigned position. Some pulled ropes, some furled sails, and they would wait to set sail again once they had adjusted to the appropriate direction.
They didn't just leave the ship to weather the storm. Even though the ship's quality was excellent, it would still be affected by such strong winds.
But since the ship had its own power source, they only needed to manually activate it, and it didn't require constant attention.
"Don't slack off! Keep control and keep training! The storm can't stop us! If we don't train today, we die tomorrow! Let's go, everyone!"
Ajin stood on the deck and shouted to the crew.
A storm?
Such things couldn't stop them. In fact, it was during times like these, enduring the fierce winds and rain, that true elites were forged!
As the chief, Ajin had an obligation to help his subordinates improve, and this was also the captain's intention.
Unless they had a side job that could slightly reduce the training load, like the kitchen crew, everyone had to take turns training, even those in the control room who were responsible for navigation or those below deck powering the ship's engines.
"I'll make some warming soup." Marika smiled softly and headed into the kitchen.
"I need some help building motorcycles." Renitia called out to a few crew members and headed into the ship's cabin.
Lily, on the other hand, braved the wind and rain, observing the situation for a while before heading up to the second floor and entering the captain's room.
At this moment, Sarge had already started his training.
The force he exerted was tremendous, and while it might not have any effect on the original text, the second-floor architecture would definitely be affected.
However, Sarge had his own methods.
Haki wasn't just for show; it coiled around his feet and extended all the way to the wall behind the original text, using the hardness it provided to counter the force he exerted.
While the amount of Haki he used wasn't large, it excelled in its endurance!
Lily furrowed her brows as she gazed at the blackness entwined around Sarge's feet and creeping up the wall behind him. She silently stood to the side of the original text, assuming a iaido posture, her eyes half-closed as she attempted to listen to the 'breath' of the stone amid the crashing impacts of Sarge's body.
Her sword was a slender blade, two fingers wide, more suited for piercing than slicing, though it could certainly cut as well.
With its swift speed, it was, of course, ideal for iaido training.
Clang!
Lily's sword slashed against the stone, the Haki coiled around the blade turning the cold light into a black radiance, like a bolt of black lightning.
Ding!
However, this single sword strike had dealt no damage to the sturdy original text at all. Such hardness! Without the reinforcement of Haki, her sword would likely have chipped edges.
What Lily aimed to cultivate was the 'Iron-Cutting' realm, where she need not resort to brute force like Sarge but could instead rely on Haki to harden her blade.
Haki itself was capable of achieving the 'Iron-Cutting' realm as well, as Sarge had mentioned before—to shatter sturdy objects, there were at least three methods.
When one wanted to cut, even iron could be sliced through; when one didn't wish to cut, even paper couldn't be pierced.
By channeling Haki, one could also attain this level of power.
The power of the will and mind, while somewhat unrelated to one's physical constitution, when pitted against others of equal Haki, what mattered was one's physical condition.
In this aspect, women were at a disadvantage.
Instead of relying solely on the 'Iron-Cutting' breath that was typical of swordsmen, it would be better to enhance this breath of theirs and, even if their physical attributes fell short, their realm could make up for this weakness.
Brute force was one path, and refining one's senses to perceive the 'breath' was another.
"Listen long enough, meditate long enough, and you might even attain the Life Return realm."
Sarge glanced at Lily, "As for the rest, you can only rely on yourself."
When it came to cultivating, progress was often slow. Even with guidance, it would take several years for one with good aptitude to lay the foundation, and the only way to significantly accelerate growth was through life-and-death battles that tempered one's will.
For now, laying the foundation was sufficient.
...
Jaya Island.
An island of spring, where the island and its surrounding seas were perpetually cloaked in a spring climate, usually bathed in comfortable warmth with gentle breezes, and occasional drizzles that were never too heavy.
If circumstances were normal...
The people coming and going at the port all craned their necks, gazing at the sky as a tremendous dark cloud covered the town.
Boom!
Thunder rumbled, illuminating a flickering gleam within the dark cloud, but it soon dimmed, turning even gloomier than before.
A fierce gale blew in from the sea, stirring up towering waves that caused the several ships docked at the port to rock violently, some even crashing into the port grounds.
The people on the streets raised their heads, feeling the dampness, and looked up to see large raindrops falling.
"How did a storm like this form? This isn't normal for Jaya Island."
A sea rogue questioned, bewildered.
"I don't know, but the air feels so oppressive, it's suffocating."
Another sea rogue gazed at the sky, a hint of fear in his eyes.
"Hey, isn't that a ship over there?"
The first sea rogue pointed at the sea, where amidst the violent storm, a ship's silhouette could vaguely be made out.
"It's a ship, alright. With such a heavy storm, they must be trying to dock." The other sea rogue replied.
"No, that's not a normal ship! That's a ship in a storm!" As he stared at the sea, the sea rogue's eyes widened in shock.
A ship in a storm!
"You mean..."
The other sea rogue realized something, his eyes fixed on the storm ahead, and within the violent tempest, the ship's silhouette gradually came into view.
Its hull was pitch-black, like an ancient legend, as if summoned by the violent storm itself. Black sails, black flags, billowed and fluttered in the tempest, gradually revealing its concrete form as it drew closer.
On the black sails, like the night sky, stars were painted, forming a starry sky, and within this starry sky, a skull surrounded by flames blazed, as if it would incinerate the stars.
The Jolly Roger flying above the ship also bore this emblem.
"Starry Skull Flag!"
The pirate's lips quivered, "Could it be..."
Boom!
Another peal of thunder exploded, illuminating the gloomy sky and the ship beneath the storm.
On the deck stood a group of tall, straight figures, entering their field of vision.
And at the forefront was a white-haired man, donned in a black and red-trimmed cape, with a luxurious flintlock pistol at his waist. Under the thunder, his face looked especially grim.
White hair...
Starry Skull Flag...
"Oh heavens, a Calamity?!"
The pirate's body trembled, "A big shot has arrived!"
For the pirates in the first half of the Grand Line, they kept a close eye on the bounty notices. Among them was the 'Calamity', who had become renowned for his high bounty as soon as he entered the Grand Line. He was definitely someone they paid attention to.
Especially...
His bounty had increased even more recently!
"Four hundred and twenty million... For such a big shot to come to such a small town, this is incredible!"
The pirate trembled and ran off down the street. He had to deliver this news to his captain!
"There's actually a town here."
On the sea, as they drew closer, Marika glanced at the ships docked at the port. Above each ship flew a pirate flag, "And it's a pirate town, at that."
"Whether it's for business or a temporary stop, those who come here are either greedy or wanted. It's a safe place for pirates to visit." Sarge remarked.
The massive black ship docked at the port. Due to the storm, the surrounding area was deserted, and the entire port was empty as they moored and lowered the gangplank.
"A hundred people will stay behind, the rest are free to do as they please." Sarge instructed.
As for the shift rotations, he didn't need to worry. Ajin, as the chief, would handle the arrangements in that regard.
"Paul, go find a good place. I'll be resting here and holding a banquet."
Sarge spoke to Paul, then looked up at the sky and clicked his tongue, "This rain has ruined my mood for shopping. Go find an inn, and ask how long it'll take to stock up on magnetism."
"Four days. Also, if you're looking for a place to rest, I know just the spot."
A voice suddenly sounded in his ear.
Sarge raised an eyebrow and turned to the side. From one of the buildings along the port street, a group of people emerged.
At the forefront was a man with gray hair, tied into dirty braids. His body was covered in tattoos, and he wore a headband with a symbol of a hanging little man on it.
He led several dozen people, swallowing nervously as they stood there, not daring to approach, letting the rain soak them.
"Who are you?" Lily asked.
"You must be Lily, with a bounty of eighty-six million berries. I am Rocio, known as the 'Executioner', with a bounty of four hundred and twenty million berries. Though it's not worth mentioning..."
Rocio glanced at Sarge, half trembling and half excited, "Just now, my men told me it was you who had arrived. I found it hard to believe, so I had to see for myself. Sarge, I greatly admire you. Please allow me to join your pirate crew!"
"Oh?"
Sarge chuckled, "So, you came because of my reputation? You're a captain, why would you want to join me?"
"Of course, because you're a big shot!"
Rocio exclaimed, "A black ship sailing through the storm, leaving nothing but ruins in its wake! A calamity on the high seas! It would be my honor to follow someone as renowned as you!"
"Interesting, four hundred and twenty million."
Sarge scanned Rocio up and down, "You seem decent enough. Alright, I approve. Carry my flag, and join my pirate crew."
When one's reputation grew, naturally, people would want to join them.
After all, weren't pirates like that?
Sarge wasn't a picky person, nor did he insist on knowing every detail about his crew. He had accepted the people from the Krieg Pirates without issue, so there was no difference here.
His ship was also short on crew, so he could recruit a batch to fill the vacancies.
As for whether they would follow the rules after joining...
Well, those who didn't follow the rules would be killed and thrown into the sea.
Simple as that.
"You seem to know this place well. My pirate crew is still lacking in numbers, so spread the word. As the first to join, you can be in charge of the screening process."
Sarge laughed, paying no further heed to Rocio as he strode forward.
Miate, holding an umbrella, followed closely behind.
"Y-Yes!"
Rocio's eyes widened, and he quickly stepped forward, "Sarge, I won't let you down!"
Success!
He had done it!
This was the crew of someone with a bounty of four hundred and twenty million!
By following them, he would surely gain fame even faster!
(End of Chapter)
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