Putting the Ship Alongside!

"Finally, we don't have to stay underwater anymore."

After arriving in the New World, Banlei finally rose from the sea and moved across the surface.

Haki Crane also used chakra to create a body so it could bask in the sun.

"Ryuchi Cave Sage Mode consumes relatively little and can be maintained indefinitely. And if I can use Sage Mode, does that mean this world has Natural Energy too?"

Brando was currently racing Banlei through the water.

He had now fully mastered Sage Mode. Brando could control his body to grow scales and a tail, maintaining the form for a long time without reverting. That was the advantage of Ryuchi Cave Sage Mode.

In Sage Mode, Brando could finally keep up with Banlei's swimming speed. His physical abilities had indeed increased considerably.

Banlei was exhausted. It had only just managed to fill its stomach, and now it had to race Brando. Everything it had eaten had already been digested. It was still regretting that moment of greed years ago, which had led to Brando catching it.

"All right, that's enough for today. We've got work."

Brando pounced forward and landed directly on Banlei's hand.

After arriving in the New World, he had sent out five Shadow Clones to search for suitable targets from whom he could learn Armament Haki.

Less than half a day had passed when he received the memories sent back by a dispelled Shadow Clone. It had found a Navy warship, and judging by its appearance, it was not a standard-issue vessel.

Within the Navy, only vice admirals could customize their own warships. Therefore, there had to be at least one vice admiral aboard, which was more than enough for him to get started with Armament Haki.

"Kid, I don't think you can handle this. You should find a place to establish a ninja village, then train more newcomers and carry on the old man's Ninshu."

The miniature Haki Crane floated lazily beside Brando as it spoke.

After personally fighting Kuzan, Haki Crane had also realized that this world was far from simple. Based on the information Brando had told it, there were many powerful people in this world at the level of that ice-making fellow. Relying on Brando alone did not seem enough.

It, Haki Crane, was the smartest of all the Tailed Beasts.

"I've already chosen the site for the village. Once I've shown my Will of the Overlord to every strong person in this world, I'll go back and become Naruto."

Brando answered Shukaku.

Besides, he had no interest in being some kind of preacher. Ninjutsu should be used by him alone, so that he could keep the advantage and domineer over others as much as he wanted.

"Suit yourself. Even if you die, I'll only have to revive somewhere else."

Seeing that Brando did not accept its method, Haki Crane became unhappy as well.

Although Brando was annoying and despicable, Shukaku had a hard time finding anyone to talk to. Apart from playing with the other Tailed Beasts inside Hagoromo Otsutsuki's body back then, it had spent the rest of its life alone and had grown used to solitude.

Suddenly having someone it could talk to had made it somewhat dependent on him.

"I won't die before the whole world knows my Will of the Overlord."

Brando replied.

At the same time, he directed Banlei to swim toward the direction he pointed.

"I hope so."

Human lifespans were truly insignificant compared with those of the Tailed Beasts. Shukaku was also hoping to see more entertainment, waiting for Brando to humbly cry out for Shukaku to save him.

The last time Brando had shouted that, Shukaku had felt fantastic.

"Vice Admiral Doro, a giant Sea King is rapidly approaching!"

On the Navy warship, the marine responsible for monitoring the surroundings spotted a gigantic figure through his telescope and shouted anxiously.

Aside from certain specially made Navy warships, the vast majority had never crossed the Calm Belt. Giant Sea Kings were also extremely rare, and encountering one was among the deadliest dangers on these seas.

"What's going on?"

Vice Admiral Doro, who had been drilling the marines, immediately came to the front of the warship and easily spotted Banlei's enormous figure.

"Vice Admiral Doro, there's a person standing on that Sea King's head."

"He seems to be Red Eye Brando, whose bounty was raised to 800 million Beli three days ago."

As the marine spoke, he handed his telescope to Vice Admiral Doro.

Through the telescope, Doro clearly saw Brando standing atop the Sea King's head, his arms folded as he watched him.

"Red Eye seems to have targeted us. Should we request reinforcements, Vice Admiral Doro?"

Isuka, Vice Admiral Doro's adjutant, asked from beside him.

An 800 million Beli bounty made him a notorious great pirate even in the New World. Although this man was not a pirate, he clearly intended to attack them. Requesting reinforcements would be the best option.

"Hmph, just a wanted criminal. Put the ship alongside!"

Vice Admiral Doro snorted coldly.

They were at sea, after all. He was not a Devil Fruit user, so fighting in this environment gave him an even greater advantage.

And even if he could not win, he was confident that he could escape.

Brando was a prize worth pursuing. He had offended the Celestial Dragons, and if Doro could capture him and hand him over to the World Government, he would surely earn the Celestial Dragons' favor.

That was the real reason he wanted to act alone.

"Yes!"

Since Vice Admiral Doro had said so, the other marines naturally did not dare object.

Moreover, Banlei was incredibly fast, arriving before the Navy warship in less than a minute.

That cape looks pretty cool. Maybe I should get one too.

Brando made no move on his side.

He merely looked at the Navy's justice cape and thought that a white one with Celestial Dragon Hunter written across the back would look rather cool.

"Hmph, don't let him board the ship. Defeat him at sea!"

Vice Admiral Doro stepped through the air with Geppo and charged rapidly toward Brando.

Taking the initiative? Looks like he's underestimating me.

And against a weakling like this, I no longer feel like using words to domineer over him.

Brando's Sharingan clearly saw every movement of this Navy vice admiral. He was far too slow to spark Brando's interest in using his domineering words.

Two minutes later.

Doro was fished out of the water by Brando like a dead dog.

The man had used Armament Haki to take a Big Ball Rasengan head-on and was knocked unconscious on the spot. His internal organs had also suffered significant injuries.

Brando immediately created a Shadow Clone to deal with the marines aboard the warship, since they had already raised their cannons. He normally had no interest in weaklings, but since they had chosen to attack first, he would not show them any mercy.

His main body directly used the Sharingan to read Vice Admiral Doro's memories.

"Hmph, so confident because he's a good dog of the Celestial Dragons."

About ten minutes later, the memory reading was complete.

Brando also learned why this man had been so eager to attack: he wanted to curry favor with the Celestial Dragons.

However, Brando had already obtained what he wanted. He copied the training methods for Armament Haki, Observation Haki, and the Six Powers.

The Navy warship had also gone quiet.

Brando's Shadow Clone found a camera aboard the warship and took a photograph on the deck while holding up this loyal hound of the Celestial Dragons. The words Celestial Dragon's Loyal Hound were written on the deck as well.

The mockery was absolute, and it was also a provocation toward the World Government and the Navy.

As usual, he arranged for a Shadow Clone to deliver the photograph to a newspaper office. Only after eating and drinking his fill aboard the Navy warship did he leave.