Teaching Pierre

Julian was patiently teaching Pierre, and Julian also told Pierre his biggest secret. Was it that he was a time traveler? Of course not. Julian said seriously, "Pierre, do you know Kozuki Momonosuke?" Pierre shook his head. "I don't know him, Captain." Julian added, "It's normal you don't know him. He's a little beast, the kind that gets people killed without paying compensation. He and his father are both masterpieces." Pierre nodded. "Now I know."

Julian said to Pierre with a straight face, "Every time I hit a bottleneck in developing my Devil Fruit ability, I shout up to the sky: 'God bless me, I am willing to use that little beast Momonosuke's five hundred years of life in exchange for a breakthrough in my ability.' If that price isn't enough, I'm willing to add that old fool Kozuki Oden's five hundred years of life in exchange for my strength to improve." Julian added, "And then I broke through bottleneck after bottleneck, and my strength reached the level it is now. Isn't it amazing? Like riding a rocket."

Pierre said seriously, "Captain, can I train this way too?" Julian smiled and said, "That's right... Practice more when we get back. From now on, combine your Magnet-Magnet Fruit with your swordsmanship, turn all that scrap metal into sharp flying swords." Pierre said solemnly, "Understood, Captain."

Pierre added, "Captain, that wish using that little beast Momonosuke's five hundred years of life, does it actually work?" Julian said, "It works like a charm. This is the password of this world. I wouldn't tell anyone I'm not close with." Pierre said gratefully, "Captain, I'm truly grateful." After speaking, Pierre left.

Julian found it amusing—the story of Pierre and White Wolf Allison. Pierre and White Wolf Allison were orphans from the same village, friends since childhood. He grew up with Allison, and from a young age, he envied Allison greatly. When they were kids playing in the woods, they both discovered that Dog-Dog Fruit, Common Zoan, White Wolf Form Devil Fruit. Pierre didn't dare eat it, but the carefree Allison took a bite first, gaining the power of the Zoan White Wolf Form. Pierre also took a big bite—one gained power, the other gained a mouthful of crap.

Julian said righteously, "I've fulfilled another dream for my good buddy. I'm really amazing." Julian added, "There's no one else like me. It's truly divine. I'm the most loyal captain there is." In the afternoon, with nothing else to do, Julian went to Beatrice's room to discuss the meaning of life. Julian sighed, "This is the real script for a pirate. What Pirate King, King of the Marines, Dog King—none of them are as impressive as the Sea King. I, Julian, am the man who will become the Sea King."

At eight in the evening, several Division Captains returned to the ship with their men. All the crew members were carrying big bags and small bundles—jars, bottles, daily necessities, lots of stuff. A few crew members even brought women directly onto the ship. Julian didn't object; in fact, he encouraged it. Bringing your whole family onto my ship means a family of three is working for me. Isn't that one salary for three laborers? Julian said with a smile, "Those crew members feel like they've found a home on my ship, treating the ship as their home. It proves I'm doing a good job."

Pierre began inventorying the items and reported to Julian, "Everyone is here, and we've also got some extra crew members' families." Julian said, "As long as they came willingly. If they want to leave our pirate crew, that's fine too." Julian then transformed into a success coach and said, "I give two million Berries to those who betray me. How much will those who follow me get in the future? At least two billion. Understand? Applause." Pierre started clapping wildly and said, "Captain is the most benevolent person on the sea. I can't find words to praise you. This Humble One can only worship you from afar." Julian thought to himself, Those who betray me get two million Berries first, then face the family law—Three Knives Six Holes. Whether they live to spend it, I don't know.

Julian looked at the time; it was almost nine. He used a Den Den Mushi to call each Division Captain and gave orders. Julian said, "Sail the ships to the upper reaches of the island. Those areas are the territories of the nobles." Julian had originally planned to be sneaky, but then he thought, isn't this the perfect battlefield for a large-scale drill? Just push straight through.

The six warships lowered their pirate flags, making them look like ordinary merchant ships. Taking advantage of the night, Julian quietly sailed to the upstream dock. The upstream was the eastern part, the most prosperous area of the island, and the gateway to the nobles' fiefs.

Julian's goal was to rob these nobles. These nobles usually assisted their own kingdom's king in oppressing and squeezing the common people of their country. Every year, they helped the king collect exorbitant Heavenly Gold from the commoners, then handed it to the king, who in turn paid it to the Celestial Dragon Government. Only countries that paid the Heavenly Gold could become World Government member nations.

Moreover, most World Government member nations collected thirteen portions of Heavenly Gold from the commoners. Ten portions were paid to the World Government, and three portions stayed in the kingdom for daily expenses. The elderly who couldn't afford the Heavenly Gold were either driven out to sea or killed outright.

Julian thought to himself, Whether it's the trash mountain of the Goa Kingdom or the lawless southern region of the Besola Kingdom, the king sends people to burn to death those commoners who can't pay the Heavenly Gold. The trash mountain of the Goa Kingdom is full of scavenging commoners. Because a Celestial Dragon was visiting, the king decided to clear out the trash mountain, including all the commoners on it, and sent people to set the mountain on fire. It was Dragon who saved those people.

The Sorbera Kingdom was also liberated by Dragon, who saved Kuma and Ginny. King Bekley of Sol Bea made a comeback a second time, trying to burn to death the elderly who couldn't pay the Heavenly Gold, but was finally defeated by Kuma. In the end, Bekley spread rumors that Kuma was a tyrant, and the gentlest Kuma ended up with the most brutal reputation. Those nobles and the kings of World Government member nations are mostly no good. Julian said, "Let me carry out a righteous act of justice on behalf of heaven."

Julian began assigning tasks. "Herbert, stay and guard the ships. The rest of you, go ashore and rob all the noble lords and counts." After speaking, Julian led the charge toward the nobles' territory on the island. Julian was at the front, with George, Allison, and the others close behind. By the time Julian's group was near the nobles' territory, an army of a legion was already arrayed there.

Julian looked at the enemy force, which numbered over five thousand. These were the armies of the kingdom and the nobles, plus some slave members. Julian didn't intend to fight himself; he wanted to give his underlings a chance to train. Julian waved his right hand and said, "Crush them." First Division Captain George transformed into a seventeen-meter-tall Great White Bear and charged forward. Pekki also transformed into a four-meter-tall Black Boar, rampaging wildly. Leo transformed into a four-meter-tall Eagle Beastman form—his appearance was humanoid eagle, his hands becoming wings, his legs still eagle claws, but his body human-shaped.

White Wolf Allison also activated his Devil Fruit ability, transforming into a four-meter White Wolf Beastman form, wielding a katana as he charged forward. Pierre stepped onto a flying sword and began slowly flying through the air. Though he wasn't skilled yet, there was already a hint of Sword Flight about him. The allied kingdom soldiers saw such a ferocious pirate crew and shouted, "Run! They're all monsters!" Most of the soldiers immediately started fleeing, even taking off their armor as they ran to lighten their load, hoping to run faster. In an instant, the army's formation collapsed.

More soldiers could be heard shouting, "Run, monsters!" (and cries for help). Julian directly activated his Devil Fruit ability, the Earth-Earth Fruit, transforming into a high-imitation version of Kaido's Azure Dragon Beastman Form. Julian used earth to create a sixty-meter-tall mud Dragon Form, then used his ability to gather the ground's soil into a sixty-meter-long super mud spiked club. Julian slowly walked toward the battlefield, each step making the ground rumble loudly. Seeing Julian's mud dragon colossus, the soldiers ran even faster. But there were still some who seemed ready to resist with their weapons.