Earning Your Way Aboard

It should be said that, to this day, the name Ian of the Scorched Sky has long been known throughout the world.

The young monster, the strongest in the future.

Yes, the strongest.

To possess such terrifying power at such a young age, wouldn't it be only natural that he would seize the title of strongest from his teacher or Whitebeard when he grows up?

That's how people in the world feel.

Therefore, the moment he recognized Ian, the Fallen Marine, Dias Barrels, was filled with despair. He trembled with fear, his teeth chattering, and he couldn't utter a single word.

What can you do when you encounter the Beasts Pirates or a monster like Ian of the Scorched Sky? What can you do besides offer your neck for slaughter?

Drake was also completely stunned.

Pirates, not the Navy?

And it's the Beasts Pirates?

how so?

Ian, however, found it quite interesting.

Is this fate?

Drake, one of the Tobi Roppo, actually ran into him here.

In the original work, this guy was an undercover agent sent by the Navy to infiltrate the Beasts Pirates, but at this moment, he has not been rescued by the Navy yet, and his only connection with the Navy is that his Pops used to be a Navyman.

Come to think of it, this guy should be a few years older than me, so why does he look younger than me? He was quite imposing in the original work, though.

Another Koby, huh? He's starting to develop abnormally in a short period of time.

"Yamato, what do you think?"

Ian smiled with interest and said, "About this guy's request."

"Huh? This guy?"

Yamato scrutinized Drake from head to toe, then said with unwavering disdain, "He's so weak."

"That seems to be correct."

Ian did not deny Yamato's statement.

In fact, Yamato is absolutely right.

Drake was extremely thin. Compared to other pirates his age, or even to eleven or twelve-year-old children who exercised regularly, his aura was quite ordinary.

but.

This guy definitely has potential.

He is one of the few decent young men in the Navy, which suffers from a generational gap in the original work.

As one of the future Tobi Roppo, he does possess some talent.

"But they've already made the request."

Ian smiled and said, "It seems a bit impolite not to agree."

"Huh?"

Yamato was shocked. "Is that so?"

Barrels had been waiting for death with his eyes closed, suddenly widened his eyes.

He stared in disbelief at his foolish son.

No way!

Drake! What incredible luck you've had!

"Great! Drake!"

Barrels screamed, his voice like a eunuch's shriek, "Lord Ian being favored by you is the greatest blessing of your eight lifetimes! You'd better thank him properly!"

He knelt on the ground like a dog, crawling forward with difficulty, raising his head with utmost obsequiousness, looking up at Ian as if worshipping a god, "Lord Ian! Thank you so much for your grace! I thank you on behalf of my foolish son!"

"..."

Drake's pupils dilated as he looked at the man kneeling beside him.

humiliation.

Once again, Drake felt deeply humiliated for being the son of the man before him.

Where did that once upright and dignified father go?

How can you so readily kowtow to a boy who is several years younger than your son?

Right now, all I see is a dog.

"Quickly, kneel down before Lord Ian, Drake!"

Barrels carefully propped himself up, reaching out to press Drake's shoulder, wanting him to kneel down and kowtow with him, "Quickly thank him for his kindness!"

However, Drake simply straightened his back and remained motionless.

His face was ashen, his heart withered, yet he refused to kneel.

You brat!! What are you doing?! This is my only chance to live!!

Barrels roared inwardly, "You son of a bitch, kneel down right now! Consider it repaying the man who gave you life!!"

Drake finally turned his head and looked at his father.

Barrels's cheek muscles twitched, and his eyes were bloodshot. Drake saw surprise, joy, and anger in his eyes.

Then.

"It's so noisy! You jerk!!"

Drake suddenly sprang to his feet, his frail body unleashing a powerful punch that slammed into Barrels's face, knocking his elderly father to the ground. The words that had been buried deep within him finally burst forth. "I want to be Drake a Marine! Not Drake a Pirate!"

Barrels was momentarily stunned, then instinctively roared in anger, "Dre—"

Before he could even finish calling Drake's name, Drake, with all his might, roared at Ian, "I will not join you!"

Pirates are evil.

The Beasts Pirates are the worst of the worst, a truly evil army.

Drake knew that refusal meant death.

But even if it meant death, he didn't want to be associated with these people!

He didn't want to be as lowly as his father, like a dog.

"Oh! This guy is quite interesting!"

Yamato started clapping, "Haha, I want to beat my dad up like that too!"

"Don't say that in front of Teacher Kai."

Ian gave instructions.

Teacher Kai might not be that angry, but he'll definitely be more serious when he beats her up later, because if he's going to beat her up, he has to be stronger.

"Then take him with you."

Yamato said.

I think so too.

Ian's lips curled into a smile.

A fighter with the strength of a sixth-rank soldier is still quite useful.

As for Drake's resistance at this moment, it's not a troublesome matter.

Such naive justice, this pointless yearning for the navy, is so easy to shatter.

Who told the so-called righteous navy to be nothing but a bunch of clowns?

If pirates are scum, then the Navy is a beautifully packaged cesspool. No matter how glamorous their appearance or how deafening their slogans, the one thing that can never be changed is that they are protecting a pile of shit, a pile of shit that has made the whole world stink.

"I won't--"

Drake instinctively wanted to argue, but a single look from Ian made him collapse.

Conqueror's Haki, kid.

Barrels huddled up in a ball, trembling with fear.

Ian looked down at the cowardly man, but had no intention of killing him.

"Do you want the friendship of the Beasts Pirates?"

Barrels paused for a moment, then flipped himself to his feet, his expression incredibly fawning, "Yes! Of course I'm willing!"

My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest!

The friendship of the Beasts Pirates!

With such a powerful ally, who in the entire North Blue would dare to mess with me?

Is Lao Tzu finally about to have his luck turn around?

Ian could easily see the man's smugness. He smirked and said, "Listen, from now on you do what you're supposed to do. The Beasts Pirates won't give you any help, nor will they allow you to operate under our banner."

"Huh?"

Barrels looked somewhat bewildered.

So what's the difference between this version of myself and the past?

"But contact me only when you feel you have something that requires your notification."

Ian said, "If I think it's useful, I'll reward you; but if I think it's insignificant, I'll kill you."

Barrels's body trembled.

It's clearly a child with a young, innocent face, so why is it so terrifying?

He nodded repeatedly with a forced smile, "Yes, yes, Lord Ian, I understand!"

"Excellent!"

Ian chuckled softly.

Why issue such a nonsensical order?

Of course, it's for the sake of the Op-Op Fruit.

In the original work, Barrels is the one who found the Op-Op Fruit.

Ian made this decision in order to maintain the momentum of the storyline as much as possible.

"Let's go back."

Ian said to Yamato.

Let's see if Barrels can give him a surprise.

"Eh..."

Yamato was somewhat disappointed.

It's so boring if we don't take down these guys.

But Ian already said so.

Let's go back then.

Oh right, I also need to leave Barrels's contact information.

Drake was suddenly awakened from the darkness.

He rolled over and found himself on the deck of a large ship.

He looked around in panic, and what came into view was a giant man.

Sitting cross-legged beside him, even while seated, he was taller than twice his height.

"Quiet,"

The giant lowered his head, and Drake realized that it was actually a boy! He looked no more than thirteen or fourteen years old, a few years younger than him, and his voice was also very childish.

"Listen up, even though you were brought back by Brother Ian, don't even think about causing trouble here!"

Drake was somewhat shocked; what a huge person!

The enormous boy leaned down and grabbed Drake's shoulder. "If you dare cause any trouble for Brother Ian, I'll crush every single bone in your body!"

Drake didn't say anything.

I wasn't particularly scared.

So, was Ian of the Scorched Sky really taken away by him?

"Alright, Jack, there's no need to scare him like that,"

Drake heard Ian's voice and turned his head.

Not far from the deck, Ian was playing cards with the white-haired girl. His face was already covered in slips of paper, and the white-haired girl was grinning as she stuck another slip of paper on his face.

"After all, Drake will be our comrade from now on."

"I will not associate with you!"

Drake said firmly.

It was just death; after that punch to his father, he no longer felt fear.

"Don't rush to conclusions,"

Ian let Yamato stick the stickers on his face, and simply said, "I know you want to be a Marine, but is being a Marine any better than being a pirate?"

"Is this yet another twisted and heretical argument about pirates being freer?"

Drake sneered dismissively, "How could you bastards who bring destruction to the world understand the value of justice?"

"Justice? Hahahaha!"

Ian couldn't help but burst into laughter; he rarely laughed like that, so much so that Yamato's eyes widened in surprise. "I told you, don't jump to conclusions."

"Next, I'm going to see someone. After I see him, we'll discuss whether the Navy is just."

What?

Drake looked somewhat bewildered.

What is this guy trying to do?

What puzzled him even more was why this man would go to such lengths for him.

To be honest, although I despise pirates, this feeling of being valued is something I've never experienced before in my life.