A Steady Stream of Visitors

Angel Island, God's Shrine.

In just one day, the Ark Pirates had gained three new members. They could have taken more, but there was no need. Yake wanted elites, not trash.

"Today, the Ark Pirates gained three new members. Our crew is gradually growing stronger. That we can all gather here is fate's arrangement. Introduce yourselves and get to know one another."

The table was laden with delicious food, and everyone sat around it, including the newly joined crew members.

"I'm Robin, a Flower-Flower Fruit user, a historian, and the pirate crew's chief strategist."

"Bila bila~ I'm Perona, a Hollow-Hollow Fruit user. I like cute things." Perona raised the bizarre little doll in her hand.

"I'm Reiju. I'm a combatant, and I'm good at poisoning... Everything you're eating has been poisoned! Hahaha, just kidding." Reiju's personality had become increasingly cheerful, and she was even getting a little mischievous.

"I'm Anna, meow. I'm the cook, and I'll make delicious food for everyone every day, meow!"

"I'm Bepo, a navigator. Ah, I'm terribly sorry."

Bepo hurriedly righted the cup he had knocked over.

"Trafalgar D. Water Law. You can all call me Luo. I'm a doctor." Luo spoke blandly, seeming somewhat out of place.

Robin turned to look at the somewhat sullen Luo. One of the D. clan?

"Van Augur, Seeker of Destiny. I specialize in sniping."

Van Augur was the largest person at the table. Everyone had plenty of personality, and they only had a rough impression of one another for now. Still, they had plenty of time ahead to get along.

"Very good. To the Ark Pirates, cheers!" Yake raised his glass and stood, livening up the atmosphere.

Since the captain had spoken, everyone obligingly stood and clinked glasses. The scene immediately became lively. Yake paid particular attention to Luo and Van Augur. They were both the quiet type and would need some time to truly integrate into the Ark.

The next day, Robin, Reiju, and Perona went as usual to guard Angel Island, Birka, and Upper Yard respectively. The remaining crew members followed Yake to Amazon Lily's dedicated training grounds.

"Besides the power of Devil Fruits, there is also the power of Haki on the seas. At the very least, you must master both Observation Haki and Armament Haki."

Yake had gathered them for training so they could improve their strength as quickly as possible and prepare for the future. A master could only show the way; cultivation depended on the individual. Neither Luo nor Van Augur was an ordinary person, and both earnestly absorbed Yake's training experience. As for Anna and Bepo, they could learn whatever they could.

"Luo, as far as I know, Doflamingo is proficient in all three types of Haki. If you want to take revenge with your own hands, work hard and grow stronger!"

"Van Augur, sniping is your specialty. A good gun can rapidly increase your strength. Your weapon is already being customized."

After saying that, Yake let them train on their own. Van Augur had already awakened Observation Haki, but his Armament Haki still needed more work. An ADC being too fragile wouldn't do. At least he should learn Iron Body... No, forget it. That thing was unlucky.

He had not seen Hancock for several days and missed her terribly. Since he was back, Hancock could relax a little too. Humming a tune, Yake walked into Wong's palace.

Luo kept his head down and trained hard. After seeing the gap between himself and Yake, he deeply felt his own weakness. Even if Doflamingo stood before him now, he still would not be able to kill him. The usual way for pirates to grow stronger was through battle. After fighting battle after battle, as long as they did not die, they would grow stronger. Yet without systematic training, they had to comprehend everything on their own. Now that a strong person like Yake was passing on his experience, Luo could become stronger more quickly.

The Sky God Kingdom had only been revealed to the world for a little over half a month, yet visitors came in an endless stream to investigate it.

After more than two weeks of bustle, things gradually settled down. During that time, Skypiea had received over thirty thousand visitors, including pirates. The shell-based tools unique to Skypiea were nearly sold out, and Yake had already made a fortune from taxes alone. However, money no longer held any attraction for him.

What Yake valued was development. Skypiea had already opened up an immigration policy. Though it was not a World Government member nation and had no Marine protection, this was the territory of God Yake, a criminal with a bounty of 2.4 billion Beli. In the New World, one of the Four Emperors could protect an island's peace with nothing more than a single flag. How much more so Yake, who had fought Red-Hair to a draw?

For a time, civilians suffering under pirate raids and Celestial Dragon oppression flocked to Skyward Island. Massive amounts of labor poured into the Sky God Kingdom, hoping to become its citizens. With these civilians joining, the factories finally had enough workers. Island clouds were produced piece by piece to repair roads and expand the nation's territory.

The original Heaven's Gate had already been torn down and converted into residential districts and factories. Newly arrived civilians could own their own homes and become legal residents of the Sky God Kingdom after working for one year. They only had to pay thirty percent of their legal income each year.

It sounded like a lot, but compared to the Blue Sea, it was already generous. Due to the Heavenly Tribute system, the Wong kingdoms on the ground had no choice but to levy heavy taxes just to barely gather enough for the Heavenly Tribute. Some greedy Wong rulers even took the opportunity to squeeze their people further and collect even more taxes. Becoming a citizen meant free medical treatment, free education, and guaranteed personal safety. Compared to that, Jane considered the Sky God Kingdom's thirty percent practically nothing.

Yake was reading the newspaper sent up from Skyward Island. Its headline was Straw Hat Defeats Arlong, along with that familiar wanted poster. Just then, however, the Telephone Snail rang.

"Captain, someone says he wants to see you. He says he's Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army." Reiju held the Telephone Snail as she spoke anxiously. Dragon was the world's most dangerous criminal, yet such a figure had come to the Sky God Kingdom. This was no longer something she could handle.

"Really? Bring him to see me!" Yake said solemnly, unable to keep a headache from forming. Although he and the Revolutionary Army shared the same goal and could be considered allies on the same front, he had not expected them to come so quickly, much less for their leader to come personally. What a hassle.

Yake covered his eyes and lay back in the soft cloud chair, seemingly lost in thought.

"Yake, I brought him here." Reiju gave Yake a meaningful look, and he understood at once.

"Reiju, leave first. Take all outsiders away from God's Shrine. No one else can know about my conversation with this gentleman."

After Reiju left, Dragon finally removed his hood, revealing his fierce-looking face.

"God Yake, I've finally met you." Dragon said with a smile.

"You're not here to invite me to join the Revolutionary Army, are you? Sorry, I refuse." Yake answered bluntly. If he really joined the Revolutionary Army, he would just become unpaid labor. He had no desire to be controlled by others.

"Haha, Yake, I'm here to make a deal with you." Dragon said unconcernedly, as if he had never intended to invite Yake in the first place.

"Weapons?"

"Not just that. Land as well, and Nico Robin."