Unexpected Delight

Just as Julian's thoughts were wandering, Beatrice brought Alice up to the open-air deck on the fourth level. Beatrice called out, "Julian, come over for a moment. I have something to tell you." Julian walked over from the training area. The two women looked at his bare upper body, his muscular physique, and the thick masculine aura surrounding him. Both Beatrice and Alice blushed slightly.

Beatrice said, "Didn't you say before that you wanted to carry on your father's surname? That you wanted more children to continue the family name and expand the Kate Family? I alone don't have the ability to help you with that. I want to introduce you to my good sister. She admires you very much too, and she's willing to help you fulfill your dream."

Julian looked at the somewhat shy Alice and smiled. "I was only saying that casually. I'm someone who sees things through from beginning to end. Wouldn't this be a little inappropriate?" His expression suddenly changed. "But for the sake of my father's last wish, taking another wife wouldn't be a problem. I'm just afraid I'd hurt the two of you." Beatrice said, "How could that be? The nobles and kings of our kingdom all have seven or eight wives."

Julian thought to himself, How did happiness come so suddenly? Was it because of that thing I made up when I was fooling Beatrice before? Previously, Julian had asked Beatrice what her dream was. Beatrice had said, "I just want to stay by your side forever, sail and adventure everywhere with you, and quietly love you like this."

Beatrice had also asked, "Then what is your dream, Julian?" Julian had answered solemnly, "Me? My dream is to become one of the strongest people in the world, so I can protect all of you." He continued, "My second dream is that I still carry my father's dying wish. My father took the villagers from our village out to sea to fish, but they were attacked by a massive tsunami. Before he died, my father told me to pass down my surname, take several wives, and have many sons. But ever since I met you, my dream has been to take you as my wife, let you live happily, and have many children with you."

Beatrice blushed as well and said, "I'm not very capable. I can't give you many children by myself. We still have to honor your late father's wish. My good sister admires you deeply too. Next time, I'll introduce her to you so she can help you fulfill your father's last wish."

Looking at Beatrice before him, Julian laughed inwardly. It was just a stupid internet joke. I made the whole thing up, and this little girl actually believed it. Julian continued spinning his tale. "My father's last wish isn't important. The two of us are enough. Ever since I first laid eyes on you, my eyes have been filled with nothing but your silhouette. Every other woman is dog shit in my eyes, like dust. They aren't worth even one ten-thousandth of you."

Beatrice covered Julian's mouth with her hand and said, "Julian, please don't say that. I'll stay with you forever. I understand your feelings, but please don't forget your late father's instructions. I support his last wish very much too. You still have to pass down your surname, and I can't do that alone. There are countless women in this world better than me, so please don't say things like that anymore. My good sister loves you deeply too. She wants to become your wife as well. Being able to follow you in this life is already the greatest blessing for me. Next time, I'll bring my sister here."

Julian was speechless. It seemed he had gone a little too far and completely fooled Beatrice. Looking at her earnest face, Julian directly picked her up and kissed her. All he could say was, "Thank you, Beatrice." Beatrice replied, "We'll always be together." Julian smiled brightly and said, "You're the kindest person on the Sea. Your kindness is like the stars in the sky, shining brightly." Beatrice smiled and said, "Julian, you really love praising people too much."

Now Julian understood what was going on. Looking at the two women before him, he asked, "Alice, are you willing to become my wife too?" Alice replied with determination written all over her face, "I fell in love with you the first time I saw you. After I learned that you liked Beatrice, I kept blessing the two of you. Now that I know about your father's final instructions, I want to help the captain too."

After saying that, Alice spread her arms and hugged Julian tightly. Julian hugged Alice back, then reached around and embraced Beatrice as well. A pirate version of Li Xunhuan was making his debut. Julian said, "Thank you, both of you. We'll have our own happy little family. I, Julian, will always protect you. I'll also avenge your fellow villagers and wipe out the Sea Dragon Pirates, so your people can rest in peace." Alice and Beatrice were deeply moved by Julian's words.

Julian continued chatting with the two of them about the scenery across the four seas of east, west, south, and north. He encouraged Beatrice to study medicine and Alice to study swordsmanship. Then, transforming into a motivational master, he declared, "The two of you will become the strongest Swordmaster and the greatest doctor. I truly believe in both of you." Julian's mouth was practically crooked from smiling. He thought to himself, As expected, the people in the pirate world are just too stupid, yet they value promises so much. That Ugly Monster Blackbeard can still have women on both arms at Hachinosu Island. I'm a handsome guy with a center part, so why can't I?

Alice asked, "Julian, how old are you?" Julian counted on his fingers and said, "I'll be seventeen soon, I think." Alice said awkwardly, "I'm more than three years older than you. You won't dislike me for that, will you?" Julian said, "Of course not. A wife three years older is like holding a gold brick; a wife thirty years older gives you a kingdom." Beatrice nodded as well. "I'm half a year older than you too." Julian thought to himself, I seem pretty young! But I was twenty-five in my previous life. Added together, I'm almost over forty. Where am I supposed to explain that? Julian said, "It doesn't matter. None of it matters."

As Julian's ships sailed onward, a group of pirate ships appeared ahead. There were twelve of them, an enormous number, though their formation was far from orderly. Julian said, "All crew members, prepare for battle. We're going to fight." All the Division Captains took up combat stances.

Julian said, "Open fire first." Then he said to Pierre, "Send me over first." A steel flying sword flew over to the side of Julian's Mud Dragon. Julian shouted, "Everyone, fire freely!" Then he jumped onto the flying sword and yelled, "Pierre, send me over! I'm going to kill them!"

The twelve massive ships on the other side saw the pirate flag opposite them. From the lookout platform, a sailor said, "Captain, our opponent is the very powerful Mud Dragon Pirates. Their captain, Mud Dragon Julian, is a Logia Earth-Earth Fruit user. What should we do?" Captain Payado said, "Retreat first. A Logia Devil Fruit user can use Elementalization. He's a very troublesome opponent." From the distant bow of his ship, Julian saw the enemy fleet begin to turn around. He said, "Are they planning to run? Pierre's flying sword can't fly that far. There's no way to chase them down."

Julian stopped in the air more than five hundred meters from his fleet. After seeing the opposing pirates begin to flee, Julian shouted to the crew behind him, "They've run! We won! Our Mud Dragon Pirates have won!" Julian thought to himself, Getting points this way feels amazing. Pierre used his Magnet-Magnet Fruit ability again to send Julian back to the Mud Dragon. Before long, several Division Captains rode flying swords back onto Julian's ship.

Pierre said, "Captain, they ran." Julian said, "Yeah, they ran away immediately. If they hadn't run, I would've killed them. This captain conquered them with strength. They can only be little brothers before our pirate crew." George said, "Captain is the most domineering person! One look from you scared the enemy away!" Julian said, "Naturally."