Although many people would study Haki knowledge in the month before the true anomaly, Ye Yu naturally didn't need to. After all, among those he had contracted with, there were too many Haki masters. He could directly inherit and master their skills, so there was no need for him to learn.
Tomorrow, he would go out to begin his training. Although powerful Sea Beasts and others would only descend after a month, the creatures of the original world had also undergone mutations. While their combat power couldn't compare to the Nearshore Kings or Sea Kings of the Pirate King world, they still had some fighting capability. Even if it wasn't much, combat was still essential for honing and improving oneself.
Moreover, many uninhabited islands had changed, with harsh climates that were even more suitable for training.
Early the next morning, Ye Yu left his home and headed to the seaside.
At this time, Lin Muxue and Li Cang arrived, followed by many others, naturally members of the Chosen One Pirate Crew.
They chatted happily.
"Becoming a pirate is pretty good."
"Yeah, it's much better than before. Although I only have a third-level talent and contracted with an Artificial Devil Fruit—Rat, I'm no longer an ordinary person. Those who used to have status and money now treat me with respect and courtesy."
"Same here. I'm the only one in my family with decent talent—a fourth-level talent. I contracted with an Artificial Devil Fruit—Wolf. Since last night and this morning, people have been coming to my house with gifts, trying to curry favor."
"Before, I was just a lowly worker, constantly exploited and bullied by my boss. But after they found out I was a crew member of the Chosen One Pirate Crew, their attitude completely changed. They even served me tea and water."
"Those rich people used to act like lords, looking down on us. But now that we've become pirates, our status has risen, and those wealthy capitalists have become the bottom of society. This feeling is really satisfying."
…
It wasn't just them. Many people in other cities, and even across the entire Dragon Country, felt the same way.
Those who were wealthy but lacked talent and planned to remain civilians had long since lost their status.
The former lower class of society was now in high spirits.
"We've suffered for most of our lives, but finally, we've turned things around."
"Thank the era of Devil Fruits."
"Let's work hard to grow stronger. Although the future is dangerous, I still prefer it to the boring world we had before."
…
At this moment, Li Cang introduced to Lin Muxue.
"Xue Er, our Chosen One Pirate Crew currently has a total of eight hundred crew members."
Hearing this, Lin Muxue frowned slightly.
"Only eight hundred?"
Although eight hundred wasn't a small number, considering the population of East Sea City, the number of people who had become pirates was at least five million. For their crew to have only eight hundred members was indeed few.
Li Cang explained, "It's because we only have one ship at the moment."
Lin Muxue commanded, "Then increase the number of ships. Before the contracts were made, it wasn't just us preparing ships. There must be at least a hundred pirate ships built in East Sea City, right?"
"That's true, but each one is led by someone with decent talent. Although their talent isn't as good as ours, they wouldn't rashly join a large pirate crew. If we were the only dominant pirate crew in East Sea City, those smaller pirate crews with some talent might choose to join us. But now, there are three other powerful pirate crews in East Sea City, and their strength is not inferior to ours."
Lin Muxue raised an eyebrow, her tone haughty. "Could it be that the captains of these three pirate crews are stronger than me?"
"Of course not. Even if they have the same talent as you, you obtained the Rumble Rumble Fruit. The captains of these three pirate crews all have ninth-level talents and have contracted Devil Fruits. Although they are not as powerful as your Rumble Rumble Fruit, they still sound formidable: the Paramecia-type Shadow-Shadow Fruit, the Zoan-type Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Ancient Species, Allosaurus Form, and the Zoan-type Snake-Snake Fruit, Mythical Beast Species, Eight-Headed Serpent Form."
"Because their recruitment requirements are lower than ours. We require at least third-level talent, while they start at second-level. Even Non-Ability Users can join if they have a contract, so their pirate crews have more members than ours. Should we consider lowering our standards? After all, we must become the strongest pirate crew in Donghai City, without exception. That way, some independent individuals will join, and even some capable members from other pirate crews might switch sides. In the beginning, there's no real loyalty; people naturally gravitate toward the strongest."
Lin Muxue felt that Li Cang made a valid point. Currently, their pirate crew was somewhat small, but at least none of the members were mere lackeys.
Lin Muxue arranged: "Then let's lower the standards. Even if they are Non-Ability Users with a contract, they can join as low-tier crew members as long as they have third-level talent."
"Agreed."
...
At this moment, they arrived at the seaside and saw a large and impressive ship docked there, resembling a whale.
Li Cang proudly said, "Our ship is pretty cool, right?"
Lin Muxue nodded, "Not bad. For future adventures and voyages, the pirate ship is naturally a symbol of prestige. It's well-built."
However, this pirate ship was based on a rough model provided by Ye Yu, inspired by the Moby Dick from the world of One Piece, the ship of the Whitebeard Pirates. Thus, this pirate ship somewhat resembled the Moby Dick.
Lin Muxue and Li Cang boarded the ship first to inspect it, followed by the other pirate crew members, the official ones, who also came aboard to get a feel for it. After all, much of their time during future adventures would be spent on the ship.
Standing on the deck and looking out at the sea, they felt a sense of exhilaration.
Just then, a man with sixth-level talent named Qingfeng quickly boarded the ship, visibly excited.
"Captain, I have something important to tell you! I discovered it first, and it hasn't appeared in the trending searches yet."
Lin Muxue looked over, puzzled.
Li Cang recognized him, "His name is Qingfeng, sixth-level talent, but he's unlucky. He didn't contract a Devil Fruit; he's a Non-Ability User named Chinjao."
Lin Muxue recalled that there was such a person in her memory and calmly asked, "What is it?"
Qingfeng excitedly said, "Captain, I've learned something from my contractor. It turns out that Haki isn't just limited to Armament Haki and Observation Haki. There's actually a third type, called Conqueror's Haki!"
Hearing this, Lin Muxue was visibly shaken, and she signaled the other pirates on the ship who were chatting to quiet down.
The others were stunned upon hearing this.
"Conqueror's Haki?"
"That sounds incredibly powerful."
"Yeah, it seems even more formidable than Armament Haki and Observation Haki."
...
Lin Muxue inquired, "What does Conqueror's Haki do? Can you teach it?"
Qingfeng shook his head: "I can't, and no one can teach it, because Conqueror's Haki cannot be acquired through learning; it is innate. The Non-Ability User Chinjao, whom I have contracted with, was born with it and awakened at a certain moment. Although there are few awakeners of Conqueror's Haki, I believe that in Dragon Country, there must be some people who have contracted with Non-Ability Users and, like me, possess Conqueror's Haki."
This made Lin Muxue somewhat regretful. If it's innate, then those who have obtained Devil Fruits cannot possess Conqueror's Haki. Only by contracting with a Non-Ability User is it possible to have it.
Qingfeng continued: "Conqueror's Haki is a mark of a king."
This statement shocked Lin Muxue: "A mark of a king?"
The others were also astonished, looking at each other in surprise.
"Is it really that powerful?"
"But it can't be acquired through training."
"Among Non-Ability Users, there are actually those who possess this kind of Haki?"
"Pirates who are Devil Fruit Ability Users must also possess it, but unfortunately, those who obtain Devil Fruits can only gain abilities, not everything that Devil Fruit users in the pirate world have."
...
Lin Muxue frowned and asked: "What exactly are the capabilities of Conqueror's Haki? Is it strong? Can you use it now? Show me."
Qingfeng replied: "I don't know much about Conqueror's Haki myself. I believe as my level increases, I will understand more. As for demonstrating it, I can do it now, but since I'm only at level six, the power of my Conqueror's Haki should be very weak."
"Show me, let me see what Conqueror's Haki can do."
...
Then, Qingfeng's eyes sharpened, and a surge of aura burst forth, spreading out.
However, there was no significant reaction around; only the leaves on the deck fluttered slightly, and even the leaves more than ten meters away remained unmoved.
Everyone watched intently and naturally saw it.
Li Cang asked: "Is that it?"
Qingfeng scratched his head: "Yes, after all, I'm only at level six, far from being able to unleash the full power of Chinjao's Conqueror's Haki."
Li Cang sneered: "Hmph, rubbish. What mark of a king? Even if you could fully utilize it, what good would it be?"
The others also chimed in.
"Right, although the Captain and Vice-Captain probably don't possess Conqueror's Haki, now that we've seen it, there's no need to have it. It's too weak."
"I always said Non-Ability Users couldn't have powerful Haki. It seems this Conqueror's Haki is really weak."
"With this level of power, it's not even as strong as a spring breeze. Even if you were at level one hundred and fully inherited Chinjao's full strength and Conqueror's Haki, I think at most it would be like a slightly stronger wind."
...
Lin Muxue also felt no regret now, only disdain.
"What Conqueror's Haki, what mark of a king, it's all so exaggerated. I was slightly disappointed before for not having it, but now it just seems laughable."
Qingfeng nodded repeatedly: "I got a bit too excited. It seems Conqueror's Haki really isn't that impressive."
...
Just then, a cry of s
urprise rang out.
"Someone's coming from afar."
"Can't see clearly, but this figure looks so imposing and stylish from a distance."
"Closer now, I can see. A standing collar cloak, carrying a cross-shaped sword—it's Ye Yu!"
(End of Chapter)