Chapter 4 / Chapter 5

"You two had better train hard. Don't end up too weak to become Division Commanders."

With that, Chris ignored them and headed straight for the Training Room.

To him, growing stronger mattered most. He wouldn't waste even a minute.

He was the sort who trained himself to the bone!

Baccarat had nothing else to do, so she followed Chris to watch him train.

She had been doing that often these past two days.

She found it fascinating.

"Doc Q, we've got to work hard. The position of First Division Commander is mine!"

Burgess clenched his fists and declared, "Anyone who tries to take that position from me is dead!"

Doc Q started coughing, a strange smile on his face.

"What, you don't want to be Captain anymore?"

Burgess glared at him. "Are you trying to get me killed, you bastard?"

"One look at our Captain tells you he's ruthless."

"If I challenged him and lost, he'd probably kill me!"

Burgess slammed his fists together and burst out laughing. "I'm staying out of the Captain Challenge."

"But I'm definitely fighting for a Division Commander spot! Wi-hahahaha..."

(By now, you've probably guessed that a huge fight will break out among the crew members who join later. Who will they be? And who will become First Division Commander? Stay tuned ︿(￣︶￣)︿.)

Chapter 4

Let's play a game!

Everyone!

One tip, and I'll post an extra chapter!

One thousand flowers, and I'll post an extra chapter!

Three hundred rating votes, and I'll post an extra chapter!

Twenty comments, and I'll post an extra chapter!

If you're up for it, I'll keep going as long as you do.

Come at me if you dare ︿(￣︶￣)︿

Here's a little secret: I have more chapters saved up than you can imagine.

I've been writing this book for over a month, so you don't need to worry about my backlog.

I'll be watching the numbers. As soon as enough flowers and tips come in, I'll release a bunch of chapters.

Come on, show me your enthusiasm.

Flowers, rating votes, tips—let's go...

Chapter 5

Three days later.

Victor Town, South Blue.

A large ship slowly pulled into the harbor.

"Finally, an island! I'm going to eat till I burst! Wi-hahahaha..."

Burgess threw his arms up and laughed.

Doc Q glanced toward the Training Room. "The Captain really pushes himself... Cough, cough. He trains all day long..."

"The Captain's under a lot of pressure!"

Burgess shrugged. "If he doesn't keep getting stronger, someone will take his place one day."

Just then, footsteps approached.

"Everyone, head into town and enjoy yourselves."

Chris had planned to keep training and ignore everything outside.

But Baccarat had said she sensed good luck.

And it was somewhere on this island.

That caught Chris's interest. Without another word, he left the Training Room.

"Oh yeah! Long live Captain Chris!"

The cheers rang out. Everyone was delighted.

Burgess looked at Chris and laughed. "Captain, I thought you'd keep training. Didn't expect you to come out."

"The Captain must have something to take care of..."

Doc Q lay on the deck with his head turned to one side, wearing an eerie smile.

"This town will bring us good luck."

As soon as Chris finished speaking, he leaped off the ship and hurried away.

"Looks like we're getting another crewmate! Wi-hahahaha..."

Burgess picked up Doc Q and Strong and jumped off the ship.

When Burgess and Doc Q had learned about Baccarat's ability a few days earlier, they had been stunned.

They felt even more confident about the ship's future.

They had an immensely powerful Captain and a luck ability that defied belief.

The future looked bright!

In a small square on the east side of Victor Town.

"Hand over your money, or I'll kill you!"

"We only want your money. Do as you're told, and we'll spare your life."

Two men in their thirties held knives and threatened a young man in front of them.

It was a robbery.

"I'll give it to you... Please don't hurt me..."

The young man trembled as he reached into his pocket for his money.

Then a voice called out.

"You're pathetic. How can you be such a coward?"

All three turned toward the voice.

A tall woman dressed in red was walking slowly toward them.

She wore sunglasses, held a cigarette between her lips, and carried a large flag.

It was Belo Betty!

"Where'd this witch come from? Get lost..."

"Come on, let's take the money and go."

The young man, meanwhile, stared blankly at Belo Betty.

Was she calling me pathetic?

Belo Betty stopped in front of them.

She blew out a cloud of smoke and said with utter disdain, "They're just two robbers, yet you're cowering like a bug. Are you even a man?"

"Get up and fight back, you pitiful weakling."

With that, she swept her flag toward the young man, sending a white gust of wind over him.

"Take charge of your own fate. Stop being such a fool."

She waved it again, sending another white gust his way.

As the breeze washed over the young man, his eyes instantly brightened.

He clenched his fists and said with fierce confidence, "There's no way I'm handing over my money."

A moment ago, he had been a coward. Now he seemed unshakable.

The two robbers stared at his sudden transformation in confusion.

What was going on?

Before they could react, a figure shot toward them.

Thud! Thud!

"Argh..."

Two screams rang out. The robbers fell to the ground and lost consciousness.

Only then did the young man realize what he had done.

"How did I get so strong?"

It had to be her.

He quickly turned to look, but the mysterious woman was nowhere in sight.

She had already vanished.

Cigarette between her lips, Belo Betty passed beneath a tree. She was about to leave town.

Suddenly, a voice came from above.

"That's quite an ability."

"Interested in changing the world with me?"

She startled.

Belo Betty immediately looked up.

A young man stood on a tree branch.

Dressed in black, with his hands in his pockets, he looked calm and composed.

There was an air of mystery about him!

"So you saw what happened back there."

Belo Betty blew out a puff of smoke. "What do you mean by 'changing the world'?"

Whoosh!

Chris vanished and appeared in front of her in an instant.

This time, Belo Betty was truly stunned.

He's so fast!

She hadn't seen him move at all.

If he wanted to kill me, then...

Cold sweat trickled down Belo Betty's forehead. He had frightened her.

"This world is far too unfair."

"The Celestial Dragons sit above everyone else, exploiting ordinary people and making life miserable for those at the bottom."