Seeing Ye Yu about to leave just like that, everyone on the ship was caught off guard.
Lin Muxue's expression quickly turned icy as she angrily shouted, "Ye Yu, stop right there!"
Li Cang was equally furious. "You damaged our ship and now you're just going to leave? We're the Chosen One Pirate Crew! If this gets out, where will our reputation stand?"
Li Cang glanced at Lin Muxue and reminded her, "Xue Er, this is a crucial time for recruiting. If this spreads, we'll become a laughingstock. We have to deal with him. We can't let him leave like this, or it'll make our Chosen One Pirate Crew look weak."
Lin Muxue understood this well, but that wasn't the main issue. The most important thing was that she, as the Captain of the Chosen One Pirate Crew, had obtained the Rumble Rumble Fruit. Ye Yu's actions showed complete disregard for her, which deeply wounded her pride.
"Ye Yu, you really don't take me seriously! How dare you damage my ship!"
Ye Yu, puzzled, replied, "Didn't you say that part belonged to me? I destroyed my own property. What's the problem?"
This made Lin Muxue clench her fists in anger. "So this was your plan all along, wasn't it? You've had this in mind from the start. How bold of you! Do you still think you're one of the Chosen Ones? Do you think I'll still treat you with respect? Don't even think about leaving like this!"
Lin Muxue prepared to take action and teach Ye Yu a lesson.
Li Cang, however, was even more eager. "Xue Er, there's no need for you to deal with him. I'll take care of him."
Just as Li Cang was about to make his move, a crew member nearby cautioned him.
"Vice Captain, we can't act recklessly."
Other crew members quickly chimed in as well.
"That's right. The authorities have issued a decree, and everyone in Dragon Country knows about it."
"Before the true transformation, Pirates are not allowed to conflict with each other unless the other party poses a direct threat to you. In that case, you can retaliate. Otherwise, it's best to avoid conflicts because the Navy will arrive in three years. It's better to have as many Pirates as possible by then."
"Vice Captain, stay calm. If you act now, you might face punishment."
…
Li Cang scoffed. "Hmph, we used to follow those rules, but now it's the era of Devil Fruits. The strong rule."
"Even so, it's already an unspoken rule."
Before the Contract was established, it was agreed that before the true transformation, there would be no senseless killing among Pirates, especially in this last month before the transformation.
During voyages, everyone knew that peaceful coexistence was impossible. Sailing and adventuring inevitably involved fierce competition—fighting over treasures, territories, and growing stronger through battles.
When facing Mystic Realms and treasures, no one would choose to share equally. There would always be competition. Moreover, resources were limited, and peaceful development was simply not feasible. After the true transformation, it would be survival of the fittest, with the strong prevailing and the weak being eliminated.
If everyone pursued peaceful development, they would surely be doomed when facing the Navy in three years. Equal distribution of resources would never produce many strong individuals.
Therefore, after the true transformation, there would be no rules, as they would be impossible to enforce. Only through constant competition could one grow stronger.
In the brutal voyage of adventure, only those who could endure would make it to the end, becoming true powerhouses through trials.
However, before the true transformation, senseless killing among Pirates was strictly forbidden, and those who violated this would face punishment from the strong.
Many people also found it reasonable. During voyages and adventures, conflicts were inevitable. Whoever seized the resources would own them, and the strong would become stronger. However, before the true anomaly occurred, there was no need to take risks or compete for treasures. Therefore, this month was about avoiding unnecessary casualties—casualties that held no meaning.
This was also why the over 800 members of the Chosen One Pirate Crew didn't immediately surround Ye Yu.
Even though they were the Chosen One Pirate Crew, there were now other powerful pirate crews besides them, and there were other formidable talents besides Lin Muxue.
Li Cang said solemnly, "We can't act without reason. Pirates especially can't casually oppress or harm civilians. But if that's the case, can we even call ourselves pirates?"
"Vice Captain, this is also for the stability of the entire nation. Let's wait until the true anomaly occurs before teaching Ye Yu a lesson. Just endure it for now."
"Hmph! It's not without reason now. He hacked a huge hole in our ship."
"Well… you just said that part belonged to him… so it's hard to count as a reason."
Li Cang slapped the person and roared, "So we just let him walk away? Right under our noses? What face do we have left?"
Li Cang then turned to Lin Muxue with an awkward smile.
"Xue Er, what do you think?"
Lin Muxue naturally wanted to take action, but indeed, as long as it wasn't too egregious, they weren't allowed to act. Using this as a reason, it was also difficult to justify taking action. She had to admit that this ship did have a slight connection to Ye Yu.
Lin Muxue took a deep breath to calm herself.
"Forget it."
Although Li Cang was extremely displeased, he could only endure it.
Lin Muxue shouted a warning to Ye Yu.
"Ye Yu! From now on, you have no connection whatsoever with the Chosen One Pirate Crew or this ship! So, don't think about coming to join us or trying to climb the social ladder. I've kicked you out of the Chosen One Pirate Crew, and you've destroyed a small part of the ship that belonged to you. So, we're even! Got it?"
Li Cang chimed in, "That's right, we're even. Don't shamelessly claim any connection with the Chosen One Pirate Crew in the future."
Ye Yu sneered, "I couldn't be happier. I don't want to have anything to do with you. In the future, don't beg me to come aboard, and don't beg me to be your Captain."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"Hahaha…"
"What kind of joke is he telling?"
"This is just too funny."
…
Lin Muxue scoffed, "Idiot, beg you to come aboard? Beg you to be Captain? Did your brain get damaged from contracting seven Non-Ability Users? Did you lose your mind? I'm the one who kicked you off the ship. How could I possibly beg you to come back? And beg you to be Captain? You're really dreaming!"
Li Cang laughed heartily, "Hahaha, I can't take it, my stomach hurts. You? How did you even come up with such an idea?"
Lin Muxue declared firmly, "In the future, I, Lin Muxue, will never let you come aboard, and I will never let you be Captain! I will never beg you to return! In the future, don't you dare regret it when you hear that the Chosen One Pirate Crew has become more famous and powerful on these seas. Even if you regret it, it'll be useless. I won't even let you beg to come back as a lowly crew member!"
Li Cang nodded, "That's right. When we become one of the Four Emperors Pirates or even the One King, you'll regret it and find a corner to cry in."
Ye Yu said nothing more and simply left.
But at that moment, a dense and eerie sound of teeth clashing together suddenly echoed from the seawater by the shore, incessant and unnerving.
Splash!
Suddenly, a swarm of man-eating fish surged out of the water, lunging forward to bite. Originally small fish, after mutation, each fish had grown to the size of a five-year-old child, their mouths wide open, revealing rows of sharp, dense fangs.
A dark mass of over a hundred man-eating fish charged forward. If a single person were to face them, they would be reduced to a skeleton in an instant.
The members of the Chosen One Pirate Crew were not panicked. They had numbers on their side, and most importantly, they had their Captain.
Lin Muxue sneered, leaping out alone to confront the swarm of over a hundred man-eating fish. She activated the power of the Rumble Rumble Fruit, her body crackling with electricity.
"Discharge! 100,000 Volts!"
Boom!
A flash of lightning shot out, accompanied by continuous crackling sounds. The man-eating fish were instantly electrocuted, and in the next moment, the entire swarm fell to the ground, their bodies smoking. Even if any fish managed to get close to Lin Muxue, they were immediately charred by the electricity surrounding her and fell to the ground.
In no time, all hundred-plus man-eating fish were dead, their charred bodies emitting a burnt smell mixed with the scent of fish.
The crew of the Chosen One Pirate Crew cheered in admiration.
"The Captain is amazing!"
"That's how it's done!"
"As expected of the Captain with the power of the Rumble Rumble Fruit!"
"Look! Some of the man-eating fish are charging toward Ye Yu! And there are quite a few of them!"
...
Instantly, all eyes on the ship turned to Ye Yu.
Li Cang gloated, "This guy is in for a rough time."
Lin Muxue also gloated, "Even if he doesn't die, he'll lose a layer of skin."
(End of Chapter)