Kanbo went from a Two-Sword Style swordsman who only Awakening Observation Haki to someone who mastered both types of Haki and also achieved Ryuo, which can be said to be a leap of two levels.
He was very talented, but his talent was also largely due to the long-term accumulation of experience without any outlet for his potential. He had been suppressed for too long, but Vic and Rebecca helped him open that door. Kanbo has finally unleashed his potential and caught up with the others. He has gained recognition from others for both his strength and his character. His main change is in his strength.
On the other side, next to Olvia was Frodeku, who, besides Vic, was also capable of holding off a God's Knights on his own. Apart from not having a Devil Fruit ability, his other attributes were similar to Vic's, and he had reached the advanced level in both types of Haki, which was why he was able to withstand the God's Knights.
However, his Armament Haki reserves are his weakness, so he can only withstand it rather than defeat the God's Knights directly. This weakness exists in everyone in the pirate crew except for Vic and Mantis, which is why he needs to lie low.
Even if he had a way to cheat and boost his Haki, it wouldn't be possible to turn the tables in a short time. The current Frodeku is no longer the timid blind man that Vic first met.
Now that Vic has cured Frodeku ' nearsightedness, he has gotten used to wearing glasses, or perhaps he is commemorating something in his heart, so he still wears glasses, only now he has replaced his previous nearsighted glasses with non-prescription glasses, plus a slicked-back hairstyle, making him look like a refined scholar, a bit like Kuro, the captain of the Black Cat Pirates disguised as a butler.
Of course, besides these people, Vic's pirate crew also has an unofficial member, Ban, who has always been in the Sabaody Archipelago. He is the head of the intelligence organization that Vic trained.
Vic has a lot to do, and such an organization is essential. Relying on Morgans ' newspaper is like being led by the nose. Major powers generally have their own channels for gathering intelligence, Vic doesn't want to go out into the dark in the dark—that's a cardinal sin in warfare.
Vic is quite satisfied with this team. Everyone works hard to improve themselves, and none of them are the kind of people who are violent, cruel, or bloodthirsty. They still have about ten years to develop, and the future is promising.
"I was originally planning to take you out for some real combat experience, but I just got a call from that old bastard Saturn. The World Government has compromised, and we don't need to take you anymore. You can focus on your training."
"We won't have to live on the run anymore, Mantis. Find some time to go with Rebecca and move the island where your fellow countrymen live to a nearby location. Then we'll have our own territory, and we can shelter some people!"
Vic said with a touch of emotion that his previous plans to retaliate against the World Government had been intended to develop in this direction. Through his unremitting efforts and the impetus of other events, he had achieved his goal and would finally have his own territory.
Vic naturally chose Titan Island and the surrounding waters as his territory. This island is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Ships have a hard time getting close. In addition, the gravity on the island means that even if the enemy risks ramming their ships to get on the island, their strength will be weakened.
Vic and his group have been using the island's gravity for training and are already accustomed to the gravity on the island's outer perimeter. Naturally, they have the advantage in a fight. It is also a good training ground. None of them can currently withstand the gravity and walk into the center of the island.
This means that this place is enough for them to cultivate for a long time, so it is a very suitable territory. The sea area around Titan Island naturally belongs to Vic's territory as well, and can be used to protect those he cares about. Vic can be said to have fulfilled his promise to Mantis!
" Vic! Are you talking about the Shichibukai, the system that uses pirates to control other pirates? But would the World Government let someone like you, the murderer of Celestial Dragons, become one? Isn't that a slap in their own face?"
Rebecca asked, puzzled, how could they, former Marines, not know about this policy? It was Vic who led them to implement it; only this policy could prevent them, as pirates, from being hunted down by the World Government.
"Given the World Government's shamelessness, they can just say whatever they want. They can find a scapegoat to take the blame for what we did, and then we'll be exonerated. But we've done a lot since becoming pirates, and it's impossible for us to return to the Marines. However, being Shichibukai would be more acceptable to others."
Vic scoffed, "This is such a familiar taste. Doflamingo being threatened by Law to leave the Shichibukai is quite a show. The World Government's moral bottom line is really flexible."
" Vic! Shichibukai supposed to be lackeys of the World Government? This is completely different from what you told me! Have you been deceiving me and everyone else all along?"
Mantis had previously heard Barnett and Frodeku talk about their experiences in the Navy and was also aware of the Shichibukai policy.
He said back then that the Shichibukai were just lackeys of the World Government. Now that Vic wants to join this organization, how much of the goal he set when he was persuading him was genuine?
Moreover, Vic is a former Marine. If the World Government exonerates him, would he still be a pirate? So Mantis felt deceived. He stared at Vic with bloodshot eyes, his usual calm demeanor betraying him. If Vic said anything that displeased him, he would erupt in anger.
" Mantis! You really are a straightforward person! You participated in our battle with the Holy Knights. Every single one of them is very strong. Apart from Frodeku, who could hold off one of them, the rest of you were a bit lacking. Do you know how many God's Knights like that the World Government has left?"
It's impossible for the Five Elders to send out all of them, so with our current strength, we are no match for them at all. Moreover, they have the Five Elders above them, and the Five Elders are definitely stronger than us!
The World Government's power to dominate the entire world isn't just talk; we need time to accumulate strength. Each of you still has room for improvement. What we need is time to grow. Becoming Shichibukai is merely a temporary measure. My goal has never changed!
Vic explained that he wasn't just speaking to Mantis alone, but to everyone. Although they were no longer wanted by the World Government, they couldn't slack off in their training. Vic's goal was too ambitious, requiring everyone to give it their all.
" Vic! I'm sorry! I misunderstood your good intentions. Next time I encounter them, I definitely won't need anyone's help!"
Mantis looked apologetic. He had been moved by Vic's sincerity, and now he was really wrong to doubt Vic. He decided to turn this shame into motivation for his training. Next time, he would be like Frodeku, able to block or even defeat one enemy by himself.
"Hahaha! The next time we meet will be more than ten years from now. By then, you'll need to be able to handle at least three of them. Your Devil Fruit ability hasn't Awakening yet. I believe you can do it."
It's normal to be doubted, after all, the goal is too big, even more difficult than becoming the Pirate King, but as long as you keep moving firmly toward the goal, that's enough.