Julian addressed the guard captains who had not yet received Devil Fruits. "Any Devil Fruits we obtain in the future will be distributed to you first. Be patient, and don't neglect your duties. Otherwise, you'll be removed from your positions. Understood?" All the Dragon Guard officers nodded cooperatively. "Understood, Captain."
Julian then told the guard captains, "Go select your personnel. Your members can be ordinary crewmen or logistics staff. As long as they are skilled at gathering information and strong enough to protect themselves, that will do. Their main duty will be searching for information on Devil Fruits, with intelligence on other pirate crews and the Marines as a secondary priority."
All twelve Dragon Guard captains nodded and said, "Captain, we understand our duties." Julian continued, "For every confirmed piece of Devil Fruit information, a small guard squad will receive a reward of ten million Berries. If you personally retrieve a Fruit, the squad's reward will be one hundred million." All the Dragon Guard officers spoke up, "Thank you, Captain. We'll work diligently."
Julian had all the Dragon Guards first recruit enough crewmen for their squads. Then he told Herbert, "First Mate, keep a close eye on Dragon General Talilun's situation from now on. If there's news of a Devil Fruit, Old Sen, you'll act directly." Herbert replied, "Please rest assured, Captain! Understood."
Julian thought about the four powerful Devil Fruits he still had. Once he had children in the future, he could save one for each of his sons. Recognizing the importance of intelligence work, Julian had Pablo allocate operating funds to the Dragon Guard officers, directly providing one hundred million Berries. Julian believed that money—Berries—had created miracles since ancient times.
These guard captains would gather intelligence during normal times, and if war broke out with other pirates, they would join the fighting. Julian said, "This is making one worker do the work of two. The Dragon Guard squad members gathering intelligence don't need to be especially powerful. Ordinary people will do. They can disguise themselves as merchants, explorers, or beggars."
Julian also instructed the guard captains that they could not wear the Flame Dragon Pirates' standard uniforms while gathering intelligence. However, if they went to war with other pirate crews or the Marines, they had to wear uniform attire. The twelve guard captains nodded obediently. "We understand, Captain."
Julian had these workers arranged perfectly. Then he had Herbert assign one Den Den Mushi to each guard captain. The first thing Julian did whenever he arrived on an island was buy Den Den Mushi. They were truly convenient for communication. Their number had now reached over sixty, including Den Den Mushi capable of recording video. Every other Division Captain already had one, and Julian felt it was time.
To distribute all these Den Den Mushi. He also told Herbert, "Give one to each Squadron Captain later as well. Don't issue them to Squad Leaders; supplies are limited." Julian further instructed Herbert, "Tell the guard captains and Squadron Captains to take good care of them." Julian had Pablo arrange for people to raise them properly, with fresh vegetable leaves. These fully functional Den Den Mushi were not to be mistreated.
Julian had Pablo keep a close watch on stores selling Den Den Mushi. If they had stock, buy it all. Den Den Mushi could also be captured on deserted islands or in the wilderness. Julian was much more relaxed now that everything had been arranged. All that remained was daily training and improving their strength.
Then the entire crew would conquer Jaya Island and seize Sky Island's territory as soon as possible. At that time, they could conduct major drills directly on Sky Island and quietly astonish everyone on the Sea. With matters here finished, Julian began preparing to leave this island for the next one. He told the crew, "We're setting out for the next stop." The other Division Captains eagerly asked, "Captain, how far are we from Sky Island?"
Julian said, "Sorry, but I don't know how far it is either. But it's above Jaya Island on the Grand Line." Herbert said, "Captain, our fleet is growing larger and larger. We really should secure our own territory as soon as possible. Sailing all over the sea makes it difficult for the fleet to grow and develop."
Julian told Herbert, "The First Mate is right. With our current strength, we can easily take Jaya Island and Sky Island." All the Division Captains in the meeting room, along with more than thirty Squadron Captains, agreed with the First Mate. They all said, "We all want to see Sky Island." Julian said, "Let's first handle what's in front of us. Our next island is a deserted island. All you officers and core members must remain vigilant. In the Flame Dragon Pirates, the captain leads the charge first, so you should have the mindset of charging second. Therefore, we must continue strengthening our training and carry forward the spirit of fearing neither hardship nor exhaustion." Everyone replied, "Understood, Captain. We won't let down your goodwill."
Julian also called all the officers and core members up to the fourth floor. More than thirty people followed behind him to the open-air deck on the fourth floor. Julian told them, "I've developed a Mud Gravity Space that can accelerate training. Everyone, come in."
After Julian activated the Mud Gravity Space, he left an entrance open. The first to enter was First Mate Herbert. The Division Captains, numerous Squadron Captains, and Dragon Generals entered after him one after another. Julian's two-hundred-meter Gravity Mud Space enclosed everyone within the barrier.
Julian covered everyone's bodies with earth, forming Earth Weight-Bearing Suits from red soil with five times the gravity. Julian said, "Practice your special moves here. The gravity here is five times that outside." He also thickened the earthen walls by more than twenty meters, making the interior space extremely vast.
Julian also activated the devouring and adhesive properties of Swamp Mud, increasing the difficulty for everyone training inside. Then everyone began training, including Herbert, who started working on his stamina. There was no better place than this. Julian began training his Devil Fruit ability, while the other officers trained their physical strength and endurance.
All the Division Captains were still consuming Flame Potions to improve their physical condition. It was not that Julian had never considered giving them to the Squadron Captains, but their numbers were limited for now. At present, Dragon General Talilun received one every day, as did the twelve Dark Dragon Guards. The remaining Squadron Captains would have to wait.
Julian continued strengthening the Gravity Mud, making the earth even more solid. The other Division Captains constantly attacked the red earthen walls, but their strikes barely scratched them. Every slash from Herbert left a massive scar more than ten meters long, yet even he could not break through.
Julian continued developing the Gravity Mud and improving his Devil Fruit ability. If this Fruit awakened, it could make the earth alter geographical terrain and easily unleash the abilities of an Earth Devil Fruit, effortlessly transforming an entire island—as if Julian were the earth, and the earth were Julian.
For Julian's second Devil Fruit, the Flame Dragon Fruit, to awaken, he would also need to rely on daily training: strengthening his body, increasing his power, developing the Fire Dragon Fruit, and relying on his own strength and willpower to earn the recognition of the Fire Dragon Soul within his body. Only then could he achieve awakening. Once awakened, he would essentially rise to the heavens in a single step and become a top Emperor-level powerhouse on the Sea.
However, to gain the recognition of the Fire Dragon Soul within his body, his conviction and willpower had to be recognized by the Devil Fruit. His Dao heart also had to be unwavering, while his physical qualities, spirit, and Haki all had to reach their limits. Most crucially, awakening could only occur at the threshold between life and death.
Julian said, "It looks like I may need to strengthen and upgrade Dao heart training version 1.0 in the future. Version 0.5 may no longer be enough." Julian began his daily training, while the other Division Captains and Dragon Guard officers were utterly exhausted within the Mud Gravity Space. Herbert also looked drained after swinging his sword continuously for an entire morning.
The other Division Captains, including George, sat on the ground, panting heavily. George had activated the Great White Bear Beastman Form of his Devil Fruit and continuously unleashed Bear King Million-Ton Impact. His fists struck the earthen sandbags as he trained as though punching ordinary sandbags. However, these earthen sandbags were exceptionally heavy, and he could no longer endure after an entire morning. Bears became powerful attacking mammals through their extraordinary endurance and immense strength, as well as their formidable resistance to blows. The only thing capable of killing an adult giant bear was another, even larger giant bear.
But George was truly exhausted now. The Earth Weight-Bearing Suit wrapped around his body, while the barrier's pressure was equivalent to five times normal gravity. Several other Division Captains had collapsed from exhaustion, and the Squadron Captains had long since fallen. Even Doronsa, in the Ancient Zoan Bird-Bird Fruit Archaeopteryx Form, and the Ancient Zoan Lizard Fruit Deinosuchus Form had collapsed one after another. Whenever Julian saw someone fall, he removed that person's Earth Weight-Bearing Suit and let them rest first.
Looking at the Mud Gravity Space with its incredibly high training difficulty, Julian smiled. "This is another excellent way to overtake others on a curve. I'll have them train here every day from now on. This Mud Gravity Space has five times the pressure, making it perfect for training Marine Rokushiki or other skills. Opportunities like this are hard to come by."
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