Educating Rose

Ship's doctor Rose smiled respectfully at Julian. "Captain, is that little bastard Momonosuke really that formidable?" Julian looked disgusted. "Formidable? Not really. But when it comes to being shameless, even if I trained for another hundred years, I still couldn't compare to him."

Rose said, "Captain, give it your all. I want to challenge you too and prove myself. I absolutely won't lose to that remnant of the Kozuki Family." Julian's face darkened. "Sure, if you want to try. But what does challenging me have to do with proving you're stronger than Momonosuke?" Rose said with a disdainful look, "Captain, you just said Momonosuke's swordsmanship was better than yours. I want to prove that my swordsmanship is better than his."

Julian looked disgusted. "When Momonosuke was three, he kicked away the wet nurse feeding him. At six, he frequented brothels and stayed out all night. At eight, he started playing pranks to scare other children. At fifteen, he kept prostitutes in a temple courtyard and built himself a harem. At sixteen, he stole his friends' girlfriends, their wives, and his subordinates' daughters. At seventeen, he cooked oden over a dead friend's ashes and ate it. How could a normal person like me compete? Even if I drained myself dry, I couldn't compare! Can I really be more shameless than him?!"

Rose said stubbornly, "Captain, I refuse to believe my swordsmanship is weaker than Momonosuke's."

Julian activated his Earth-Earth Fruit ability. His hands immediately turned into black mineral mud, their surfaces coated in dark earth the color of ore and hardened with Iron Ore. Rose's scalp tingled. Was he like this just now? Wouldn't one punch kill me? Julian said with a disgusted expression, "Be careful. A punch to the face is going to hurt." With that, Julian used Mud Bounce and accelerated instantly.

Julian shouted, "Super Heavy Kun!" Cold sweat covered Rose's face. Too fast! Julian's fist struck Rose's katana. Bang! The katana instantly broke into two pieces, and Rose was sent flying more than ten meters away. Julian had held back, or else they would have been preparing Rose's eulogy and memorial service today. Rose's combat ability was mediocre. He only wore a katana at his waist for appearances and knew nothing about swordsmanship, but he was extremely knowledgeable about medicine and plants.

Julian smiled at Rose. "Get up already. Don't lose heart. Train more, and you'll have this kind of strength too." Julian dangled a promise before him. "When the time comes, I'll find you a Devil Fruit too and help you get stronger. I guarantee you'll surpass that little bastard Momonosuke." Rose shook his head and slowly got up from the deck. Once he was standing straight, he looked at Julian happily. "Captain, are you really going to give me a Devil Fruit?" Julian sighed. "I don't have one right now. I'll give you one when I find one, okay?" Rose looked at his sword again, his face full of sorrow. "My Kozuki Cut... it's broken."

Julian said with a disgusted look, "Stop being sad. Go to the logistics department and get a sturdier sword! We're not short on weapons now. It'd be fine even if you took two." Then, like an old father, Julian told Rose, "Idiot, stop spacing out here. Go fool around somewhere else." Rose's face darkened. "Got it. I'm leaving now. Sorry for the trouble. Arigato." Julian's face darkened as well. "Why are you speaking Wano Country language?" Rose smiled. "Skune." Julian cursed, "Get lost, you turtle bastard."

Julian took the two women back onto the deck to look at the azure sea and chat about life. Alice said seriously, "Julian, why did you use such foul language with Rose? Rose is a pretty good person." Julian smiled. "That wasn't foul language. It was concern. Anyone who speaks Wano Country language should have their family history checked for three generations. I don't want remnants of Wano Country slipping into my Mud Dragon Pirates." Alice's face darkened. "Rose is from the South Blue."

Beatrice changed the subject. "We've been sailing for five days already. The weather has been wonderful these past few days." Julian smiled. "The weather's been bright and sunny. Perfect for swimming." Julian looked at Alice's heaving chest and said, "How about we go swimming together later?" Seeing Julian's gaze constantly drifting over her chest, Alice immediately tugged up her collar. Julian's face darkened. "We're all decent people. Don't be so distant. I can let you have a look too." As he spoke, Julian began pulling at his own collar. Alice hurriedly said, "That's enough, isn't it?"

Beatrice changed the subject again. "In a few more days, we'll reach the next island. What was it called again?" Julian smiled. "Kari Island. Legend says there are monsters there, along with plenty of huge animals. You two need to be careful and stick close to me, understand?" Alice smiled. "Got it, Brother Julian."

Beatrice said curiously, "I want to see the island too. I wonder what those huge animals look like." Alice said with a smile, "If there are any special plants on the island, I can make medicine from them for you." Julian asked curiously, "What kind of plants do you need? What medicine are you making?"

Beatrice said, "Her father taught her a lot about medicine, such as potions that strengthen the body, potions that boost stamina, or potions that improve bones. But all of them require specific plants." Alice said regretfully, "My father never found those strange and rare plants either. He spent his whole life as a doctor on the island, though he read many ancient books and pharmacopoeias." Julian smiled. "Don't worry. I'll keep an eye out for them." I hope Alice can find some rare and valuable plants.

At that moment, in the South Blue, five Marine warships were heading toward Ilusigal Island. The five ships, flying Marine flags, sailed across the sea in formation. A Major General led the fleet from the foremost warship, standing out from the rest.

A Marine communications soldier reported to Rear Admiral Gilmi, "Rear Admiral, we're about to reach Gal Island." Rear Admiral Gilmi said gravely, "The pirates who robbed this kingdom are the Mud Dragon Pirates. They won't be easy to deal with. Their captain is a Logia Devil Fruit user, and his Earth-Earth Fruit is especially powerful even among Logias. His abilities are indeed formidable. When he attacks, he can already rival a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral. If I can't defeat him, the Marines may suffer devastating losses." Another Brigadier General asked, "Then are we still going to capture Julian of the Mud Dragon Pirates?"

Gilmi nodded and drew his two katanas. "To deal with a Logia Devil Fruit user, we need Armament Haki. My Armament Haki isn't very stable yet." The Brigadier General's face darkened. "Rear Admiral Gilmi, can you use Armament Haki?" Gilmi looked embarrassed. "I haven't succeeded in mastering it yet. But it's all right. I believe our justice will never fear evil."

Just then, Rear Admiral Gilmi's Den Den Mushi rang again. "Moshi moshi." Gilmi picked up the Den Den Mushi and said seriously, "Hello, this is Rear Admiral Gilmi. What is it?" The communications soldier said, "Reporting, Rear Admiral Gilmi. The Mud Dragon Pirates have already left Ilusigal Island. Their route suggests they may be heading to Kari Island." Rear Admiral Gilmi said solemnly, "Understood. I will arrest every last one of these pirates and send them to Impel Down." After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Gilmi flicked his Justice cape and shouted, "Set course for Kari Island! Pursue the Mud Dragon Pirates! For justice!"

Julian and the others had already been sailing for ten days. Every night, Julian would ask Alice to wear a nurse's uniform. Beatrice did not have Alice's curvy figure, so wearing one would have been pointless. Whenever Alice put on the nurse's uniform, Julian felt like he was about to reach the peak of his life. Looking at Alice's proud mountains, Julian exclaimed, "The soy milk is flowing out!"

The Mud Dragon's crew carried out their daily training and routine lives in an orderly fashion. Julian often trained during the day, developed his Fruit ability in the evening, and held one woman in each arm at night. Life was very comfortable. The longer Julian lived in this world, the more he felt that his previous life had been nothing but a corporate slave's existence. The pirate crew is a little weak, but that's fine. I won't go courting death. As long as I develop slowly and don't act recklessly, it'll be fine. In terms of being cautious, Julian was far ahead of everyone else.

That afternoon, Julian took Beatrice and Alice for another walk on the deck at the bow, enjoying the clear skies and calm sea. Being able to sail without a care in the world feels wonderful. Watching the sunrise and sunset over the sea, the ocean beneath the evening glow looked brilliantly golden.

Julian thought to himself, No wonder so many people want to go to sea. Free and unfettered sailing feels this good. Julian looked at the magnificent sun over the sea, then held both women's hands and said softly, "Have you gotten used to being pirates? Is being a pirate very free?"

Beatrice smiled. "Wherever you want to go, I'll follow you there." Alice also said supportively, "Yes, Julian. From the moment I was willing to join your big family, I wanted to sail freely with all of you." Julian wrapped an arm around each woman, like a pirate version of Li Xunhuan.

Julian said, "Come on, it's time to eat." He took the two women to the third floor. Two maids pushed a small cart toward Julian and said, "Captain, dinner is ready." They placed the food on the dining table. Julian looked at them and asked, "Lilijia, Lilian, have you two eaten?" The two girls smiled. "Captain, both of us have eaten." They were also the first two female crew members Julian had rescued. The older sister was sixteen and the younger sister was fourteen. Seeing that they were clever, Pierre had arranged for them to serve as Julian's maids.

They were both rare little beauties. The older sister, Lilijia, was one meter seventy tall, petite and exquisite, with a delicate oval face and black hair. She was a beauty just beginning to blossom. Her younger sister, Lilian, also had a pretty oval face. Though still young, she was already a budding beauty. However, Julian had no improper thoughts about them. Having two more people to clean was quite nice. Julian said with a smile, "Trying to test the captain with this? You're underestimating me."

Julian said to Beatrice and Alice, "Come on, eat more vegetables. Grow properly." Alice smiled. "Let's all eat together." Beatrice nodded. "Right, right, everyone eat together." Julian smiled at Lilian. "You two should go rest. Thanks for the effort." After speaking, Julian waved goodbye to them. The two maids smiled faintly. "Goodbye, Captain."

Julian said with a mischievous smile, "Alice, the three of us will go swimming together tonight. You two need to support me. I'm a Devil Fruit user, so I'm afraid of water, but I really do enjoy swimming." The two women fell silent, remembering how Julian had taken advantage of them while swimming together and the unspeakable things he had done. They slowly nodded. Julian said seriously, "You two must hold me tightly."

That night, Julian saw Pablo busy at work. Julian smiled. "Pablo, do you like this job?" Pablo said, "I'm very grateful that you gave me this opportunity, Captain. These matters aren't difficult to handle. They're just numbers and bills." Julian smiled. "Then I'll leave this part to you." Pablo nodded. "It's a small matter. I'll help the captain handle this properly." Julian said with satisfaction, "I'm counting on you." Pablo said, "Compared to you, Captain, what I do is merely a drop in the ocean."