A massive three-deck sailing ship cut across the sea, its black pirate flag snapping in the wind.
But despite its enormous size, the ship carried very few people. The handful of underlings aboard were busy with everything: raising the sails, keeping watch, steering, and even cleaning and cooking.
They couldn't understand why Captain Daddy hadn't recruited more pirate lackeys. Why did he have to work them to the bone like this?
On the top deck.
Iron Wall Pearl, who had an 8-million-berry bounty, was wrapped from head to toe in bandages like a mummy. He had obediently submitted, but despite his injuries, he'd still been assigned work. Because he was hurt, all he could do was clean.
Gin the Man-Demon sat in silence. The huge wound across his chest had received only the most basic treatment, and it was still oozing blood. He seemed lost in a daze and had yet to say whether he would join the Big Daddy Pirates.
Perhaps he was mourning Krieg. Or perhaps he was waiting for Daddy to treat him with respect and personally recruit him.
"I only brought you two aboard because you had bounties and met the standards for trainee crewmen in the Big Daddy Pirates.
"I like forcing people to do things, but I'll still give you a chance to choose.
"Gin the Man-Demon, letting you go isn't an option. If you really don't want to join us, you can go slit your throat at the stern right now. Or jump into the sea. That'll save us from cleaning up your body and staining the deck."
Daddy didn't give Gin time to brood. He tossed him a dagger, making sure he understood what reality was.
Besides, Daddy knew that Gin hadn't yet experienced the defeat in the Grand Line. He was just a brutal pirate who'd submitted to superior strength, with no will of his own, and who could only entrust his ambitions to the strong.
Daddy had no time for trying to reform him. He still had training to do, after all. The fact that he was willing to spend even a little time recruiting a defeated opponent was already more than generous.
Seeing Daddy's unreasonable recruitment tactics made Nami nervous. She didn't have a bounty on her head, so did that mean she wasn't even qualified to be a trainee crewman?
Would she really have to warm Daddy's bed?
Then again, the captain and Zoro didn't have bounties either.
That thought reassured Nami a little.
Kuro of a Hundred Plans watched Daddy's recruitment strategy in silence. When Daddy had recruited El Drago, he'd been very patient.
Why was he now telling Gin the Man-Demon to slit his throat right off the bat?
He really wasn't giving him any room to save face!
"...I never thought Captain Krieg would be so weak. He fell in the East Blue without even realizing his ambition of entering the Grand Line!
"So, can you show me everything you're capable of?
"I don't want the captain I entrust my ambitions to again to fall along the way!"
Gin stared at the dagger on the ground. His eyes began to clear, and he slowly looked up at Daddy. He hadn't achieved his ambition yet. He didn't want to die.
Still, he found himself an excuse, a way to save face. He was only willing to submit to the strong.
And he really didn't want to betray someone a second time!
Before Krieg died, Gin had been utterly loyal. But after Krieg's death, the ambition he'd entrusted to his captain was gone, and he couldn't accept it. He'd been torn between seeking revenge and submitting to survive.
Now Daddy had made him see reality with a single dagger. He really didn't want to die.
He didn't have the courage to kill himself!
"You want to entrust your ambitions to a captain? Then you'd better have ambitions of your own, and the ability to keep up with me!
"Otherwise, someone too weak can't stay by my side for long!"
Barrier Sky Blade: Mountain-Splitting Strike!
Daddy looked at Gin and casually raised his right hand. A forty-meter-long transparent barrier blade appeared in an instant and came crashing down on the sea. It carved a trench hundreds of meters long, sending countless waves exploding into the air!
"What do you think of that kind of strength?"
Daddy's strike left Zoro and Kuro stunned. Neither of them had seen that move before. Was it something he'd come up with over the last couple of days?
Still, he was showing off way too much.
Couldn't he make it look a little less effortless? They'd seen him cross his fingers for ages. He must have charged up for several seconds.
There wasn't a pirate ship in the world that could withstand a strike like that.
Nami's eyes were already shining. A forty-meter blade was long, cool, and awe-inspiring. She felt that Cocoyasi Village really did have a chance of being saved!
Daddy could definitely beat Arlong!
"You're much stronger than Krieg!
"When I heard that the Big Daddy Pirates dared to take on the Krieg Pirates with only a few people, I already admired you a little. I really wanted to meet you.
"Now your strength has shocked me, just as much as your courage and resolve!
"Please don't fall along the road to conquering the Grand Line, my new captain!"
Gin watched Daddy's terrifying destructive power. His pupils quivered, and he dropped to his knees, bowing his head in submission.
This man was stronger than Krieg. When he'd fought Krieg earlier, he hadn't even used his full strength. He was far more worthy of Gin entrusting his ambitions to.
Zoro, standing nearby, was speechless. Hadn't Gin been going on and on about pirate honor and how he'd never betray anyone? How had he submitted to Daddy so quickly?
Kuro couldn't make sense of it either. Had Gin's loyalty been an act all along?
Under Daddy's ruthless threat to his life and the show of overwhelming strength, Gin had revealed his true nature and dropped to his knees on the spot.
"Then don't die on this road either! I don't need weaklings!"
Hearing that Gin had submitted, Daddy stopped acting so aloof. He leaned down and pulled him to his feet, then straightened his bandages.
His attitude toward enemies and crewmates was like night and day.
"I won't, Captain!"
Daddy had looked so merciless moments ago, but now he was smiling as he helped Gin up. Gin felt overwhelmed by the kindness, and even a little moved.
If Usopp had been there, he would've marveled at how deftly Daddy wielded both the carrot and the stick. Kuro had been recruited in much the same way.
After submitting, Gin didn't challenge Daddy or make threats like Kuro and El Drago had. Otherwise, he would've had to face another fist wreathed in Armament Haki.
Like Pirate Hunter Zoro, once Gin the Man-Demon joined, he would trust his captain without question and carry out every order, no matter what!
"Nami, take the helm. We're heading to Cocoyasi Village!"
Daddy gave the order to Nami, the navigator. He felt that after wiping out the East Blue Overlord Krieg's pirate crew, the Big Daddy Pirates had certainly caught the Navy's attention.
They needed to leave the East Blue and enter the Grand Line as soon as possible. Otherwise, if the Navy made them a priority target, they'd be in serious danger!
"Aye, Captain!"
Nami cried out excitedly. At last, the day had come!
She would return with her powerful companions, defeat the Arlong Pirates, and free her hometown!
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