By the shore, the Heart Pirates were panicking.
Their captain's bounty had only just passed a hundred million, yet they had run into Yake, whose bounty was as high as 2.4 billion. He clearly did not mean well. What were they supposed to do? This was urgent.
"What exactly do you want?!"
Luo made a gesture with one hand while gripping Kikoku tightly in the other.
"I need a ship's doctor and navigator. You and that polar bear will join my pirate crew."
Yake's demand was simple, and his goal was clear. He only wanted Bepo and Luo. The others could be arranged to join the medical team in the Sky God Kingdom.
"Don't joke around. You think you can make me your subordinate with nothing but your words?"
Luo flatly refused Yake. He had his own ambitions and did not want to take orders from anyone.
"Looks like you won't recognize the gap between us without a fight. Come on! Let me see what you can do."
Yake was not surprised by Luo's refusal. He would beat him into submission first, then talk. In this world, strength was what ultimately mattered.
"ROOM: Slaughterhouse!"
Clang!
The sound of metal striking metal came from Yake's flesh-and-blood body. His projected Haki easily blocked Luo's ability.
"Not bad ability, but it's not enough. Keep going."
Yake stood there with his arms folded, completely motionless and unbearably arrogant.
"Damn it, it had no effect at all?"
Luo spoke unwillingly. It was far too early for them to encounter an opponent like this.
"ROOM: Takt..."
Yake felt a force trying to lift him into the air, but he could break free with the slightest exertion.
"Too weak, Luo. How are you supposed to take revenge on Doflamingo like this?"
Under the control of Luo's Takt, Yake walked toward him step by step.
Luo could only watch helplessly as Yake approached. Takt's power was constantly acting on Yake, yet it seemed to have no effect whatsoever.
"What happens between me and Doflamingo is none of your business!"
Luo simply gave up using his ability and slashed at Yake with both hands on his sword.
Yake could not help laughing at Luo charging toward him. Well now, he had delivered himself right to Yake's doorstep. Yake caught Kikoku's sharp blade between two fingers, then seized Luo by the neck with his other hand and lifted him into the air.
"Let go of our captain! Ayi ayi~ yo!"
Seeing Luo subdued, Bepo panicked and let out a strange cry as he kicked at Yake.
"You're Bepo, right? I treated you to a meal, and you kicked me instead. Is that really appropriate?"
"Ah, I'm terribly sorry. Wait... damn it, let go of our captain!"
Luo's face had turned red as he struggled to speak.
"Bepo, run!"
Yake suddenly felt like some kind of villain. With a shudder, he released Luo, who was nearly suffocating. Luo dropped to his knees, gasping for air.
"Join me, and I'll give you the power to take revenge!"
"Trafalgar D. Water Law!"
"Be my partner, and let's overthrow this damned world together!"
Yake spoke with ringing conviction. He bluntly revealed Luo's hidden name and extended his right hand to him. At that moment, Yake looked remarkably like Whitebeard.
Luo stared blankly at Yake before him. His secret was completely exposed before Yake, who seemed to know everything.
His heart struggled endlessly. Circumstances left him no choice; he was no match for Yake at all. After weighing it over and over, he decided to join Yake. Yake's words had indeed moved him. He had gone to sea to kill Doflamingo, and he truly needed the power to take revenge on him.
"Captain Yake, I'm willing to join you. But Doflamingo can only die by my hand!"
Luo tightly grasped Yake's right hand and stared at him without blinking.
"Welcome to the Ark Pirates. As you are now, you're still far from capable of killing Doflamingo. Work hard and become stronger!"
Yake grinned. Luo was a Supernova with tremendous potential! He might not look very willing now, but soon enough, he would be glad he had joined the Ark Pirates. It would prove to be an extremely wise choice.
Then Luo turned to his crew. "I'm sorry, everyone. I hereby declare that the Heart Pirates are disbanded. Bepo and I will join the Ark Pirates as Captain Yake's ship's doctor and navigator. Everyone... let's part on good terms."
Luo felt deeply reluctant as well, but he was no longer a captain. He was now just a crew member.
"Captain! We don't want to leave you!"
"Captain Yake, take us in too! We want to stay with the captain!"
The Heart Pirates Luo had formed were less a pirate crew and more a mobile medical team at sea. Such people were scarce resources on the ocean, and Yake had long since made arrangements for them.
"I won't take you in. Luo and Bepo are the only ones I want, but you can join my country and become part of the Sky God Kingdom," Yake said calmly.
"Captain Yake, the Sky God Kingdom! Is that your country?"
Luo had seen reports about the Sky God Kingdom in the newspaper a few days ago. Unfortunately, it was not along his route, or he would definitely have gone to see it. That was Skypiea! An island in the sky, mentioned in the stories of Big Talker Noland that he had read since childhood. As someone from the North Blue, how could Luo not know about it?
"That's right. I'm preparing to return to the Sky God Kingdom, and I'll take you all with me—as long as you're willing."
Yake spoke with considerable pride. It seemed news of the Sky God Kingdom had already spread across the seas.
"We're willing! We're all willing!"
The Heart Pirates' crew shouted in unison.
"Captain Yake, how will we get there? Our route doesn't go through Skyward Island."
Luo quickly adjusted to his new identity. There was no need to be sentimental about it; he had already begun directly calling Yake captain.
"Your ship is quite unique. All right, don't worry. Just stay aboard and relax."
Yake patted Luo on the shoulder, then flew into the air and transformed into an Azure Dragon.
"Is this the strength of someone with a 2.4 billion Beli bounty? If I had power like that too... Doflamingo!!"
Luo stared in shock at the colossal dragon in the distance, yearning for such immense power.
"Captain, look at today's newspaper!"
Shachi seemed to remember something. He pulled out a newspaper and handed it to Luo.
"He fought Red-Haired Shanks for seven days and six nights, shattered an entire archipelago, and ultimately ended in a draw?"
Luo read the newspaper's contents aloud. Beneath it was a photograph of Yake returning to the Red Force arm in arm with Red-Haired Shanks. They seemed to be on rather good terms.
Had he come here after fighting Shanks for seven days and six nights? Yet I didn't have even the slightest power to resist him.
Luo gripped the newspaper tightly, resentment filling his heart. It was not because he had lost to Yake, but because he was unwilling to accept his own weakness.
"Hey~ Hold on tight."
Yake summoned Flame Clouds to wrap around the Polar Tang, lifting it into the air and carrying the former Heart Pirates members toward Skypiea.
"Wow, Luo, look! Our ship is flying!! Awooo!"
Bepo could not stop himself from howling excitedly. He had no objections to joining Yake. As long as he could stay with Luo, that was enough.
"This is the power of a god."
Luo smiled with his usual defiance.