I'm Going to Drag Those Bastards on the Throne Down!

"I'm going to drag those bastards on the throne down!" (Please keep reading, 4K mega chapter)

"My dream?"

Bai Ye turned to look at Captain John in surprise, unsure how to answer the question for a moment.

In the One Piece World, dreams seemed to matter more than anything else.

"That's right. Power, fame, treasure, or women—one of those must be why you went to sea, right?"

Though Captain John looked slightly drunk, his gaze was exceptionally sharp.

As far as he was concerned, wasn't that why pirates went out to sea?

There might be pirates like Whitebeard, who did it for family, but there were far fewer of them.

And judging by Bai Ye's past behavior, he did not believe Bai Ye was that kind of pirate.

Bai Ye's gaze drifted as he recalled what he had been thinking when he first set sail. "Actually, I only went to sea to become stronger."

When Bai Ye learned that he had transmigrated into the One Piece World—and into the New World, no less—he had been completely numb.

Because the New World was essentially a breeding ground the World Government had thrown to pirates.

What did it matter if one became the king of the New World, or even one of the Four Emperors?

This place was only a tiny corner of the world. The World Government had carved it out and let pirates slaughter one another within it, while they simply watched in silence and guarded the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line.

After all, those places were not very strong militarily, and the Marines were limited. Naturally, they had to prioritize those areas.

Besides, the World Government needed the New World as a negative example.

Wasn't it basically holding the nations of the world by the throat and saying, Look, this is what happens when you don't pay the Celestial Tribute!

For eight hundred years, the World Government had kept the world in a state of chaos. It needed the Marines, but the Marines could not be too powerful, because they were merely a dog under its command—a violent institution.

Likewise, it needed pirates. Because if the world was no longer chaotic, if people stopped pointing their spears at pirates, then who would pay the Celestial Tribute? Forcing people to pay it would be the same as pointing those spears at themselves, at the Celestial Dragons.

But that method of breeding parasites had terrified Bai Ye back then.

At the time, two choices lay before him. The first was to live his entire life as a civilian and leave the New World if possible. But even leaving the New World would not guarantee safety. Pirates truly killed without reason; they were nothing like Luffy's crew. They really killed. As an ordinary person, Bai Ye could only place his fate in someone else's hands, and he could not accept that. Besides, leaving the New World was not safe either. Wasn't Nami a perfect example?

The second choice was to go to sea. Though he might die after only a few days—or even on the very same day—to the New World's bizarre weather, Bai Ye had ultimately chosen the latter.

Fate had to be held in his own hands. Even if he died, he wanted to die by his own choice, not wait until the end of his life, look back on that decision, and realize he had already begun to regret it.

"What?! You went to sea to become stronger?"

Captain John felt even dizzier.

He had thought Bai Ye got along with him because he liked treasure too, but this bastard had actually gone to sea to become stronger?!

He could watch Bai Ye rob treasure. He could watch Bai Ye steal women. Even if Bai Ye took as much as he wanted, John would not care. But he could not just stand by and watch Bai Ye keep getting stronger!

You bastard, just have some fun! Stop training! Seeing Bai Ye improve genuinely scared Captain John so badly that he was drenched in sweat, brother.

Bai Ye fooling around let him sleep peacefully, while Bai Ye training kept him awake all night.

"That was how it was at first."

Bai Ye had initially sought strength. Even now, he still did, but he was no longer as obsessive as before.

"I knew it!"

John patted his chest and let out a long sigh of relief. Thank goodness Bai Ye had given up. Looks like he's seen the pleasures of this world and learned how to enjoy himself. Good, good!

"I want to drag those bastards on the throne down. That sounds pretty interesting!"

Bai Ye glanced at Captain John, then raised a leg to leave. "I'm going, John. If we don't leave now, we'll miss the competition for Division Commander!"

If they failed to return, they would be declared defeated.

Bai Ye had worked hard to obtain the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. He did not want to lose just like that.

Watching Bai Ye's retreating back, John fell into deep thought. Drag those on the throne down.

Who was he talking about?

After thinking for a while, Captain John still could not figure it out. Or rather, he had a guess, but he did not dare confirm it. Shaking his head to suppress the unnecessary thoughts, he looked in the direction Bai Ye had gone and froze. "I haven't gotten on the ship yet!!!"

Are you guys fucking crazy?

Can't you see your captain hasn't boarded yet?

Captain John clutched his liquor bottle and sprinted toward the ship like his life depended on it.

Those bastards had started sailing without their captain aboard?!

Several days later.

Hachinosu Island, where the Rocks Pirates were based.

Countless pirates had gathered there.

"It hasn't started yet?"

"Come to think of it, where's Bai Ye? Don't tell me he ran away?"

"No way. I heard he went out with John. Those two still haven't returned?"

Inside the captain's quarters.

Rocks scratched his forehead in frustration. It was about to begin, yet Bai Ye and John still had not returned.

At the side, Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Charlotte Linlin, Ochoku, and Silver Axe had long been ready.

Today, the seven Division Commanders would be challenged by the other pirates. Whoever succeeded would directly become a Division Commander. It was somewhat cruel, but it was also a tradition of the Rocks Pirates.

Afterward, once the final Division Commander candidates had been determined, Rocks would fully reveal his plan to the others.

However, deep down, he hoped the current lineup of Division Commanders would remain unchanged.

He had observed these people more or less. They probably would not betray his plan, but the same could not be said of others.

He had caused such a stir in the New World. He did not believe the World Government and the Marines would simply sit back and do nothing.

There had to be plenty of spies from the Marines, the World Government, and other forces within his pirate crew.

Thus, before confirming the operation, Rocks would only let the Division Commanders know what they were going to do.

"That guy won't run."

Rocks raised his head and looked toward the crowded plaza outside, then shifted his gaze to the distant sea.

He understood Bai Ye. Bai Ye would not run. Even if he died, he would return and die in battle.

It was just a pity. Bai Ye had been too weak when he first joined. If not for his decent talent and the fact that he had been the first to answer his call, Rocks would never have made him a Division Commander.

But Rocks had taught Bai Ye well. He had thought Bai Ye would seek him out for training during this final stretch of time. Though there was not much time left, it was still possible.

Yet Bai Ye had left, which left Rocks somewhat puzzled. He could not understand why Bai Ye had made that choice.

Could there be something outside that could raise his strength faster than training under Rocks?

"Gurarararara! That guy definitely won't run. Since he left with John, could John have found him a Devil Fruit?"

Everyone in the Rocks Pirates knew that Captain John and Bai Ye had a good relationship. John also had the habit of collecting treasure, so he might have a Devil Fruit in his collection.

If Bai Ye ate a Devil Fruit, his strength could rise considerably in a short time.

"Momomomomo! If he eats some garbage Devil Fruit, his life will be ruined!"

"Shihahahaha! Even if it's garbage, there's nothing he can do. The others will probably challenge him later. What a pity—another Division Commander is about to be replaced. Speaking of which, Whitebeard, how's that brat you brought back?"

Golden Lion turned to Whitebeard. The one he had brought back, Kaido, was actually from the Oni Clan. That race was rare these days.

Rocks had specifically ordered them to bring him back. He had originally been meant to be presented to the World Government as payment toward the Celestial Tribute. Even Golden Lion was very interested in him.

But unfortunately, Rocks had clearly not brought him back to let Golden Lion poach him.

Though they had joined the Rocks Pirates, they had retained their original fleets. Their divisions effectively belonged to their own pirate crews.

Within the Rocks Pirates, Golden Lion, Ochoku, Silver Axe, and John had all retained their own fleets.

Bai Ye's pirate crew had basically been wiped out. Whitebeard did not want one; he hoped to form a pirate crew made entirely of his own children. As for Charlotte Linlin, that woman was even crazier—she wanted to give birth to an entire pirate crew herself.

So, after Kaido joined the Rocks Pirates, Golden Lion had immediately wanted to recruit him. But Kaido had been personally recruited by Rocks, so he was considered part of Rocks's original pirate crew.

Still, lately... he seemed to have been getting rather close to Charlotte Linlin.

Golden Lion glanced at Charlotte Linlin, a cold smile surfacing in his heart. This pirate crew was merely a temporary partnership, after all.

And if the major event Rocks had mentioned did not interest him, he would immediately leave with his fleet.

Even Rocks could not stop him if he wanted to go. After all, he was the Flying Pirate!

"Don't underestimate a person's potential."

Silver Axe was a man of few words. His relationship with Bai Ye was neither good nor bad. They had met as Division Commanders. Bai Ye was not strong, but Silver Axe believed he had decent potential. There simply was not much time left.

Rocks's plan would most likely begin very soon.

In his view, if that were not the case, Rocks should have given Bai Ye some time to grow.

"It's too difficult. If he's no longer a Division Commander, it might shake his resolve. Looks like I'll have one fewer swordsman opponent in the future!"

Ochoku wiped down the greatsword in his hand as he spoke, with a trace of regret in his eyes.

Within the pirate crew, Bai Ye was one of the few who had decent swordsmanship and specialized in the sword. Whitebeard and Golden Lion both used blades, but they mostly used them in conjunction with their Devil Fruit powers. Ochoku did not consider them pure swordsmen.

Bai Ye had the potential to become a Grand Swordsman like him, so Ochoku had always thought highly of him. But if Bai Ye was defeated this time, he did not know whether it would affect him.

He truly did not want to lose a swordsman opponent.

"Momomomomo! That guy's potential has a limited ceiling anyway. I think much more highly of that Oni Clan brat!"

A gleam flashed through Charlotte Linlin's eyes when she mentioned Kaido.

She was thinking that if she had a child with Kaido, that child would inherit the strengths of both her and Kaido's Oni Clan bloodline.

What an unimaginably wonderful start that would be!

"They're back. It looks like you really gained quite a lot from this trip, chihahahahaha."

Rocks laughed lowly as he looked toward the returning ship in the distance. Though it was far away, his Haki could sense the auras of the two people aboard.

That aura was definitely not something Bai Ye had possessed before. He seemed to have grown considerably.

It seemed Bai Ye had truly encountered some sort of fortuitous opportunity during this trip.

That reassured Rocks. The current Division Commanders were just right, and he did not want to see any changes among them. The reason he had brought Kaido back was that, if there had to be a change, he hoped it would be Kaido rather than someone else.

Because of Kaido's circumstances, it was absolutely impossible for him to be working with the Marines or the World Government. Even if he became a Division Commander, it would not affect Rocks's plan.

But it would be even better if Bai Ye remained a Division Commander.

"He really came back. Shall we head down too?"

Now that Bai Ye's return was confirmed, it was about time for them to go out.

Countless people in the pirate crew had already begun to stir restlessly.

"Let's go. This time, I'll inspect the strength of the Rocks Pirates!"

Rocks stood and strode toward the plaza.

After Rocks's renovations, Hachinosu Island had become a pirate paradise. Everything here was related to pirates, including this dueling ground.

Since there were seven Division Commanders in total.

There were seven Arenas, and everyone could choose the corresponding Division Commander to challenge.

From one to seven, they corresponded to each Division: First, Whitebeard; Second, Golden Lion; Third, Charlotte Linlin; Fourth, Bai Ye; Fifth, Ochoku; Sixth, Captain John; Seventh, Silver Axe.

The five who had already arrived at the Arenas each took their assigned numbered positions.

Once the five had arrived, the surrounding pirates were dumbfounded.

Where were the other two?!

"Captain? Where's Bai Ye? We want to challenge Bai Ye!"

"That's right! Captain, you can't play favorites. You said this would be fair, fair, and fucking fair!"

"Did Bai Ye run off with John?"

"How about we just go up there? Whoever remains standing in the end becomes the commander of the Fourth Division and Sixth Division!"

"Haha, I knew Bai Ye would run away. If not for the captain's connections, how could that guy possibly have become a Division Commander?!"