Become My Partner

By the shore, the Heart Pirates were panicking.

Their captain's bounty had only just passed 100 million, yet they had run into Yake, whose bounty was as high as 2.4 billion. He clearly meant trouble. What were they supposed to do? This was urgent.

"What exactly do you want?!"

Luo had already formed a gesture with one hand while gripping Kikoku tightly with the other.

"My ship needs a doctor and a navigator. You and that white bear will join my pirate crew."

Yake's demand was simple and his goal clear. He only wanted Bepo and Luo. The others could be assigned to the Sky God Kingdom as part of its medical team.

"Don't make me laugh. You think you can make me your subordinate with just your mouth?"

Luo flatly refused Yake. He had ambitions of his own, and he did not want to take orders from anyone.

"Looks like you won't understand the gap between us unless we fight. Come on! Let me see what you've got."

Yake was not surprised by Luo's refusal. He would beat him into submission first, then talk. In this world, strength was what ultimately did the talking.

"ROOM: Slaughterhouse!"

"Clang!"

The sound of metal striking metal rang out, yet it came from Yake's flesh-and-blood body. His projected Haki easily blocked Luo's ability.

"Not a bad ability, but it isn't enough. Keep going."

Yake stood with his arms crossed, completely motionless and utterly arrogant.

"Damn it, it has no effect at all?"

Luo spoke unwillingly. Facing an opponent like this was far too early for them.

"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 ROOM: Takt, Yake walked toward him one step at a time.

Luo could only watch helplessly as Yake approached. The power of ROOM: Takt had been acting on Yake the entire time, yet it seemed completely ineffective.

"What happened between me and Doflamingo is none of your business!"

Luo simply gave up using his ability and swung Kikoku at Yake with both hands.

Watching Luo charge at him, Yake could not help laughing. Well, this was convenient. He caught Kikoku's sharp blade between two fingers, then grabbed Luo by the throat with his other hand and lifted him up.

"Let go of our captain! Ayi ayi~yo!"

The moment Bepo saw Luo subdued, he panicked and let out a strange cry as he kicked at Yake.

"You're Bepo, right? I invited you to eat, but you kicked me with your foot. Is that really okay?"

"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 he was some kind of villain. Shuddering, he let go of Luo, who was nearly suffocating. Luo fell to his knees and gasped for air.

"Join me, and I will give you the power to take revenge!"

"Trafalgar D. Water Law!"

"Become my partner, and let's overturn this damned world together!"

Yake's voice rang with conviction. He bluntly revealed Luo's hidden name and extended his right hand toward him. At that moment, Yake looked remarkably like Whitebeard.

Luo stared blankly at Yake before him. His secret was completely exposed in front of Yake, who seemed to know everything.

His heart struggled endlessly. The situation forced his hand; he was no match for Yake at all. After weighing it over and over, he decided to join Yake. Yake's words had truly moved him as well. He had gone to sea to kill Doflamingo, and he really did need the power to take revenge on Doflamingo.

"Captain Yake, I'm willing to join your crew, but Doflamingo can only die by my hand!"

Luo gripped Yake's right hand tightly and stared at him without blinking.

"Welcome to the Ark Pirates. As for killing Doflamingo, you're still nowhere near strong enough. Work hard and become stronger!"

Yake grinned. Luo was a Supernova brimming with potential! He might not seem very willing right now, but he would soon realize just how correct a choice joining the Ark Pirates had been.

Then Luo turned to his crew. "Sorry, everyone. I hereby announce that the Heart Pirates are disbanded. Bepo and I will join the Ark Pirates and become Captain Yake's doctor and navigator. Everyone... let's part on good terms."

Luo was 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 than a mobile medical team at sea. Such people were scarce resources on the ocean, and Yake had long since made plans for them.

"I won't take you in. The only ones I want are Luo and Bepo, but you can join my country and become part of the Sky God Kingdom," Yake said blandly.

"Captain Yake, the Sky God Kingdom! Is that your country?"

Luo had seen reports about the Sky God Kingdom in the newspapers a few days ago. Unfortunately, it was not on their route, or he would definitely have gone to see it. That was Skypiea! The island in the sky mentioned in the tales of the great liar Noland, which he had read since childhood. As someone from North Blue, how could Luo not know about it?

"That's right. I was just preparing to return to the Sky God Kingdom. I'll take you all there too, 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 shouted in unison.

"Captain Yake, how are we getting there? Our route doesn't pass through Skyward Island."

Luo quickly adapted to his new identity. There was no need to be melodramatic about it; he was already directly calling Yake captain.

"Your ship is quite distinctive. All right, don't worry. Just stay on board."

Yake patted Luo on the shoulder, flew into the air, and transformed into an Azure Dragon.

"Is this the strength of someone with a bounty of 2.4 billion Beli? If I had that kind of power too... Doflamingo!!"

Luo stared in shock at the giant dragon on the horizon, yearning for such immense strength.

"Captain, look at today's newspaper!"

Shachi seemed to remember something. He took out a newspaper and handed it to Luo.

"He fought one of the Four Emperors, Red-Haired Shanks, for seven days and six nights, shattered an entire archipelago, and in the end it was a draw?"

Luo read the newspaper's contents aloud. Below 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 had no ability to resist him at all. Luo clenched the newspaper in his hand, unwillingness 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 sky and carrying the former Heart Pirates toward Skypiea.

"Wow, Luo, look! Our ship is flying!! Awoo!"

Bepo could not help howling excitedly. He had no resistance to joining Yake. As long as he could stay with Luo, that was enough.

"So this is the power of a god."

Luo smiled with wild confidence.