Mud Dragon, Don't Go Too Far

Julian yelled as he ran, "Too many Marines! The Marines are too fierce! The Marines are too strong!" George, cooperating, shouted, "Captain, run! The Marines are catching up!" Julian and the others ran towards the crew's ambush point.

The Marine branch's Rear Admiral Gilmi also put on a determined look, believing killing Julian was justice, and pursued them madly. Rear Admiral Gilmi even shouted to boost the morale of the Marine soldiers, "Soldiers, today is the day to achieve great deeds! For justice!" Julian and the others had reached the ambush point.

Did Julian have any integrity? Certainly not. He immediately transformed into a trap master and activated his Earth-Earth Fruit ability, turning the entire area into a swamp. The land within a five-mile radius became a muddy swamp, still wet with water. If you entered without Geppo, you wouldn't be able to get out. It was a swamp of yellow earth that swallowed everything. Julian waited for the Marines at the ambush point.

As over six hundred Marines frantically pursued the Mud Dragon Pirates, led by Rear Admiral Gilmi, the group ran directly into the swamp. Even Rear Admiral Gilmi got stuck. The Marines behind them saw those in front fall into the swamp and shouted, "Stop! There's a trap!" However, the Mud Dragon Pirates directly blocked the path, forcing all the Marines into the swamp. Julian looked at where Rear Admiral Gilmi had fallen and immediately activated his Earth-Earth Fruit ability. Several earth tendrils wrapped around Rear Admiral Gilmi, leaving only a small head exposed. It was red earth, the gravity-infused kind.

A two-meter thick layer of earth wrapped around Rear Admiral Gilmi's entire body. Julian, not feeling assured, increased it to four meters of gravity-infused earth to encase Rear Admiral Gilmi. Julian named this move "Super Earth Layer Great Burial." Julian continued to use his fruit ability, grabbing all the Marines behind him with swamp mud. In this way, all six hundred-plus Marines were swallowed by the swamp. However, Julian left a head for each of these Marines above ground, so they wouldn't die from lack of oxygen.

Julian looked at Rear Admiral Gilmi in front of him and said, "You didn't want to kill me just now, and I don't want to kill you. How about I give you a chance to live? What if I let your subordinates live?" Julian stared at Gilmi with an evil grin.

Rear Admiral Gilmi said indignantly, "You despicable, shameless scoundrel!" Allison, standing beside Julian, walked up to Gilmi with an annoyed expression, raised his hand, and slapped him twice, scolding, "Our captain is benevolent and kind for not killing you, and you dare insult our captain? Do you want to die?"

On the Marine side, several officers were still in the swamp pit, trying to crawl onto the ground. Julian directly sealed the road with earth, bagging them all. Most of the people in the swamp were the stronger Marines, otherwise, they wouldn't have had such speed. They just didn't expect such a massive mud swamp, and that an Earth-Earth Fruit user would be so cunning. Julian quickly used his fruit ability to seal the pit's opening, preventing them from escaping. If anything unexpected happened, it would cause trouble. This was the best time to negotiate.

Julian looked at the Marine officers at the bottom of the swamp pit. They wouldn't suffocate anytime soon. He left a small gap and said to the Marines, "I can let you all live. It depends on your choices." Looking at the defiant Rear Admiral Gilmi, Julian added, "Rear Admiral Gilmi, you don't want these Marines to die like this, do you? Look at them. Many have children and parents. Do you want their parents to grow old without a son to care for them? Do you want these Marines' children to become orphans?"

Julian knew that this Rear Admiral Gilmi would later become a Vice Admiral during the Summit War. He hadn't seen Gilmi fight much, but his strength was definitely immense. Being tricked to death by Julian this time, Rear Admiral Gilmi would surely know Marine Rokushiki and Armament Haki. He himself was a pacifist Marine, not an hawk like Akainu, and he cared deeply for his subordinates.

Rear Admiral Gilmi said with a look of dejection, "Mud Dragon brat, what are your demands? But you must promise not to harm my brothers, or I swear I will never forgive you." Julian knew he could now negotiate slowly. First, he would ask for the sky, raise the price, and then bargain it down.

Julian shamelessly said, "I want you to join our Mud Dragon Pirates. Our pirate crew is severely lacking in righteous and selfless people like you. What do you think?" After speaking, Julian looked at Gilmi expectantly. Gilmi immediately roared, "You'll never make me join your pirates! Kill me!" Julian's expression immediately changed. He said to Gilmi, "Fine, I'll kill all your subordinates first, then I'll slowly kill you." Gilmi looked at his subordinates, wrapped in the swamp, with pain and despair.

Julian was just planning to start with an outrageous demand, and then propose a reasonable one. Then he would obediently agree, and hand over the training method for Marine Rokushiki. Julian knew this person wouldn't join the pirates. Then Julian said with an awkward expression, "Indeed, it's not appropriate for you to join me. How can a Marine join pirates? Unless it's Diego Barcelous, Drake's father."

Julian continued, "Then I'll make another request. Hand over your South Blue Marine branch to me. I'll be a local emperor there. What do you think of this condition?" Gilmi roared with grief and indignation, "Mud Dragon Julian, you've gone too far! You want me to be a pirate or our South Blue Marine base? Justice will not forgive you! Our Marine Headquarters will avenge us! Do it!" He closed his eyes, ready to die.

Julian knew he had to play the emotional card with Gilmi's subordinates again. He said, "Rear Admiral Gilmi, you are alone. If you die, it's over. Ask them. Many of them are still young, some only eighteen. They are still children who joined the Marines for their dreams. Are you leading them to hell? Many of them are the future of the Marines. Are you prepared to lead them to their deaths?" Julian looked at the moved Gilmi and continued, "Just teach me Marine Rokushiki, and your Armament Haki training method, and your Observation Haki. Just these few things, in exchange for the lives of your six hundred brothers, how about it?"

Julian knew Gilmi was already moved, his heart's balance tipping. Julian continued, "Don't worry, I swear by my Mud Dragon Pirates captain. If I don't keep my promise, I will be disgraced and become a pirate with no credibility on the sea. What do you think?"

Julian looked at the slightly moved Gilmi again. Julian continued, "Give me the Marine Rokushiki manual, and write down the training method for Two-Color Haki. None of your Marine soldiers will be harmed." With that, Julian used his fruit ability to wrap some mud around the officers and vice-captains who were encased in earth, making them a little more comfortable.

Julian looked at the hesitant Rear Admiral Gilmi again. He increased the pressure, saying, "I will turn today's events into news, letting the whole sea know that the South Blue Marine branch doesn't treat other Marines as human beings. Rear Admiral Gilmi, you are watching your subordinates lose their lives before your eyes. Who will dare to join the Marines in the future? The chaos on the sea later will be caused by your actions today." Gilmi struggled again. Julian secretly said, "Tell me with your blinks where your Rokushiki manual is. I'll get it myself. That way, it won't count as you revealing classified information, right?"

Julian continued to instigate, "Rear Admiral Gilmi, your Marine soldiers can still save their lives, and my Mud Dragon Pirates can take care of your Marines' reputation. We'll announce to the outside world that Rear Admiral Gilmi defeated us and made us flee the island. What do you think? In the future, your Marine Headquarters' reputation will only get better, and more people will join the Marines. Don't you want the Marines to grow stronger? Don't you want more just Marines?" Julian tempted Rear Admiral Gilmi like a devil.

Gilmi said with a look of struggle, "Will you really keep your promise?" Julian replied, "I guarantee it with my reputation. I will never betray my trust. You can ask about the rules of our Mud Dragon Pirates." Gilmi said, "I have the Marine Rokushiki on my warship, in my room. You can ask my orderly to get it. I'm not very skilled with Armament Haki either. I'll write it all down for you. I haven't trained Observation Haki yet. I'll tell you the technique: tie a black cloth around your eyes and sense what's in front of you." Julian had seen Rayleigh teach Luffy's method. Indeed, it was similar; you had to sense with your eyes covered. Julian sent George to get the Marine Rokushiki manual, then released Gilmi's right hand, allowing Gilmi to write down the Armament Haki training method.

Julian looked at the many training methods in front of him, such as continuously strengthening physical fitness, body strength, and using strength to mobilize the Armament Haki within the body. Julian felt confident. Once he got the Rokushiki manual, his mission would be complete. George happily held the Marine Rokushiki training manual and said, "Captain, I've got it!"

Julian said to Gilmi, "I have what I need. I'll give you Marines a piece of advice." With that, Julian activated his Earth-Earth Fruit ability at maximum power towards a point two hundred meters ahead. Julian shouted, "Chibaku Tensei!" Dirt from two hundred meters away flew towards the sky, forming a dirt sphere over two hundred meters in diameter at an altitude of five hundred meters. It then fell from the sky. With a bang, a small hill was flattened. The range was enormous, like Fujitora pulling down a meteor. Instantly, a shockwave hit, making everyone's hair fly.

The members of the Mud Dragon Pirates looked at Julian with admiration. George said, "The captain's strength and wisdom are truly unfathomable." The other Division Captains nodded in agreement, "As expected of the captain, his strength after two and a half years of training."

Julian turned to look at the stunned Rear Admiral Gilmi and the Marines. Julian smiled and said, "Rear Admiral Gilmi, I'll be setting sail soon. I'll announce to the outside world that the Marines defeated us and made us flee the island. But let's agree, no one will make a move, or you might all be wiped out here." With that, Julian led his crew towards the beach upstream. Julian released the Marines from the mud's entanglement. The Marine soldiers crawled out of the swamp. After watching Julian and his crew leave, A Vice Captain said to Gilmi, "Rear Admiral, should we pursue them?" Gilmi said with a pained expression, "No need to pursue. Let's return to the Marine branch and report everything to Marine Headquarters. Let Fleet Admiral Kong decide." With that, he waved to everyone and said, "Let's go back." Gilmi led his men back to the Marine warship and set sail. Julian and his crew also returned to their ship, and the navigator began to set sail.

Julian gathered the crew members who could write on the third floor. Julian looked at the assembled people, about one hundred and twenty in total. Julian instructed each of them to copy two copies of Marine Rokushiki. Julian emphasized that the handwriting should be neat. The manual was about two thousand words long, so copying a few hundred copies would suffice.

Julian was indeed very happy, thinking to himself, "This way, our team's basic combat power is established." Julian looked at Alice and Beatrice, who were writing, and said, "You two are responsible for supervising them. This must be kept secret and not spread around. Each person can only copy two copies, and all manuals must be handed over to me. If this falls into the wrong hands, it will not be a good thing." Alice replied, "Understood, Julian."

If every pirate knew Rokushiki, it would be a disaster for civilians and the Marines. If pirates knew Rokushiki, how would the Marines fight? The biggest reason was that all pirates would have the same strength. How could Julian grow stronger and become a Yonko or an even stronger force?

Julian didn't plan to open it up to Rookie Pirates or ordinary crew members. For ordinary crew members, he would first teach them one technique, Soru. After mastering Soru, they would learn the next technique, Shigan. Julian planned to give each Division Captain one manual first, then each Lieutenant Captain one manual. One Division would have four manuals. Julian could have the Division Captains supervise. Anyone who lost one would be punished.