Subduing Gin the Man-Demon

A massive three-decked sailing ship cruised across the ocean, its black pirate flag snapping in the wind.

Despite the ship's immense size, there were very few people on board. The handful of lackeys were kept constantly busy, scrambling to pull sails, keep watch, steer the helm, and even handle the cleaning and cooking.

They couldn't understand why Captain Daddy hadn't recruited more pirate fodder instead of torturing them like this!

On the top deck.

Iron Wall Pearl, with a bounty of 8 million, was wrapped in bandages like a mummy. He had already submitted completely, yet even with his wounds, he was still assigned chores; due to his injuries, he was relegated to cleaning.

Gin the Man-Demon sat in silence, the massive wound on his chest only crudely bandaged and still seeping blood. He seemed lost in a daze, and he had yet to speak up to join the Big Daddy Pirates.

Perhaps he was mourning Krieg, or perhaps he was waiting for Daddy to show some humility and personally invite him to join.

"I only brought you two on board because I saw you had bounties, which meets the standard for apprentice crew members of my Big Daddy Pirates.

I am a man who enjoys forcing others, but I also grant you a chance to choose.

Gin the Man-Demon, letting you go is out of the question. If you truly refuse to join us, you can go to the stern right now, slit your own throat, and jump into the sea. Save us the trouble of cleaning up a corpse and dirtying my deck."

Daddy didn't give Gin much time for internal monologue, tossing a dagger at him to make him see the reality of his situation.

Furthermore, Daddy knew that the current Gin, who hadn't yet experienced the crushing defeat of the Grand Line, was merely a brutal pirate who bowed to strength. He lacked his own true will and only knew how to pin his ambitions onto the strong.

Daddy had no time for the "reformation" routine; he still needed to continue his training. Wasting even a moment to subdue this defeated foe was already a sign of great generosity.

Seeing Daddy's unreasonable recruitment style made Nami nervous. Since she didn't have a bounty on her head, did that mean she didn't even qualify as an apprentice crew member?

Was she really going to end up warming Daddy's bed?

However, it seemed the Captain and Zoro didn't have bounties either.

Thinking of this, Nami felt a little more at ease.

Meanwhile, Kuro of a Hundred Plans watched Daddy's recruitment tactics from the side. When he had subdued El Drago earlier, Daddy had been quite 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 face or a way out!

"...I never expected Captain Krieg to be so weak, falling here in the East Blue without even realizing his ambition of entering the Grand Line!

So, can you show me your full strength?

I don't want the captain I entrust my ambitions to next to fall on the road again!"

Gin the Man-Demon looked at the dagger on the floor, his eyes regaining focus as he slowly looked up at Daddy. He hadn't realized his ambitions yet, and he didn't want to die.

However, he still gave himself a reason and a way to save face: he was only willing to submit to the strong.

Besides, he truly didn't want to commit a second betrayal!

Before Krieg died, he had been truly loyal, but after Krieg's death, the ambition he had pinned on him vanished. He had been unable to accept it, caught in a constant struggle between revenge and submitting to survive.

Now, Daddy had used a dagger to make him see reality clearly: he really didn't want to die.

He lacked the courage to commit suicide!

"Entrusting your ambitions to a captain? Then you must have the ambition and the ability to keep up with my pace!

Otherwise, those who are too weak cannot stay by my side!"

"Barrier Sky Blade: Mountain-Splitting Strike!"

Daddy looked at Gin and lifted his right hand slightly. A forty-meter-long transparent barrier blade instantly manifested, slashing fiercely into the sea. It carved a trench over a hundred meters long and sent countless waves exploding into the air!

"What do you think of this strength?"

Daddy's strike left both Zoro and Kuro stunned. They hadn't seen this move before; was this a technique Daddy had just developed over the last two days?

Still, he was showing off a bit too much.

Could he not act so casual? Don't think we didn't notice his fingers crossed for a long time; he definitely spent several seconds charging that up.

The power of that strike was indeed something no pirate ship could withstand.

Nami's eyes were already sparkling. A forty-meter blade was long, cool, and shocking. She felt that Cocoyasi Village really had a chance of being saved!

Daddy could definitely beat Arlong!

"You really are much stronger than Krieg!

When I heard the Big Daddy Pirates dared to assault the Krieg Pirates with only a few people, I already admired you and wanted to meet you.

Now, your immense power, courage, and resolve have left me utterly shocked!

Please, do not fall on the road to conquering the Grand Line, my new captain!"

Gin the Man-Demon looked at Daddy's terrifying destructive power, his pupils trembling, before he prostrated himself on the deck, bowing in submission!

This man was stronger than Krieg. When he fought Krieg before, he hadn't even used his full strength. He was truly better suited for Gin to pin his ambitions upon.

Zoro, standing nearby, was speechless. Wasn't this Gin the Man-Demon just talking about pirate honor and never betraying anyone? How could he submit to Daddy so quickly?

Even Kuro couldn't quite understand it. Was Gin's previous loyalty just an act?

Under Daddy's cold-blooded death threat and terrifying display of strength, he had instantly dropped the facade and knelt on the spot.

"Then you had better not die on this road either! I have no use for the weak!"

Daddy heard Gin the Man-Demon submit, so he stopped posturing from on high, leaned down to pull him up, and tidied his bandages with a casual hand.

The difference in attitude between how he treated enemies and his own crew was night and day.

"I will, Captain!"

Seeing the previously ruthless Daddy now smiling as he helped him up, Gin felt a bit flattered, even experiencing a flicker of genuine emotion.

If Usopp were here, he would surely exclaim that this "carrot and stick" routine was played far too smoothly; Kuro had been brought to heel in much the same way.

After his submission, Gin did not provoke Daddy or spout threats like Kuro or El Drago had, lest he face another fist imbued with Armament Haki.

Much like Pirate Hunter Zoro, once Gin the Man-Demon joined, he would trust his captain unconditionally and execute any order resolutely, without questioning right or wrong!

"Nami, take the helm. Set a course for Cocoyasi Village!"

Daddy commanded his navigator, Nami; he sensed that after annihilating the East Blue Overlord Krieg Pirates, the Big Daddy Pirates had surely entered the sights of the Navy.

They needed to leave the East Blue and enter the Grand Line as soon as possible, or they would face grave danger if the Navy decided to target them specifically!

"Aye! Captain!"

Nami shouted with excitement; she had finally waited for this day!

She was going to return with powerful companions to wipe out the Arlong Pirates and liberate her hometown!