The Invasion of Clan Culture

Lu Ye was admiring the ugly expressions on the faces of the Five Elders.

Homing came running to the council hall doors, clutching a food box and panting for breath.

"Sorry, sorry! I just heard. My little Longinus has caused trouble, hasn't he?

Please rest assured, my lords. I'll give him a good talking-to when we get home."

Homing wiped the sweat from his forehead, only to find everyone looking at him with pity.

"Pops, don't listen to those rumors slandering me. We've all been getting along great."

Lu Ye took the food box and pushed his blond Pops into a seat beside the Elder with short golden hair.

"Th-this... isn't this improper? I'm just an ordinary Celestial Dragon..."

Goosebumps rose all over Homing's body. He glanced at the Elder with the inverted trident-shaped beard standing ramrod straight, hurriedly got to his feet, and said timidly:

"Lord Mars, Longinus doesn't know any better. Please, take the seat!"

Lu Ye used his immense strength to push his blond Pops back down. "It's fine. He's been standing there for ages. He likes standing!"

Homing hunched his shoulders and gave an awkward laugh. "Lord Mars, please don't mind him. My little Longinus is just very devoted to his father. He doesn't mean any harm."

The genius Pucout bit his lip, but still couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

Having settled Homing, Lu Ye opened the food box and went around offering everyone roast meat.

The Five Elders gently waved him off, while the Celestial Dragons in the corner shook their heads vigorously. Homing perched on the edge of the sofa, a pleading look in his eyes, wishing he could become a Clear-Clear Fruit user.

Only Garling picked up a chicken wing and tossed it into his mouth with interest.

Lu Ye himself had reached the point where he had to eat. Pitch-black Armament Haki was spreading up his arm. His blond Pops had come to his rescue just in time.

Chewing on the roast meat, Lu Ye looked full of regret.

"Then let's talk about my third proposal. I thought that, as fellow pure-blooded Celestial Dragons, we'd have a lot in common. I didn't expect... we'd still end up discussing something this feeble."

Lu Ye rapped his knuckles on the coffee table and said seriously:

"I propose establishing a clan system to reward merit and punish wrongdoing!

Everyone, we Celestial Dragons have nineteen families. After eight hundred years of mingling, we've long since become one family bearing ancient surnames.

To maintain the family's prosperity, everyone must do their part.

Anyone who does something that harms the family must be severely punished by the family!"

"Longinus, tell us more..."

Garling sat up straight. He keenly realized that what Lu Ye wanted to discuss was likely closely related to the duties of the Holy Knights.

If Lu Ye could have heard Garling's thoughts, he would have nodded vigorously:

Exactly! The commander of the Knights is the head of the imperial clan court. What I just described is called...

Clan culture!

"No Celestial Dragon should give up on themselves and willingly sink so low as to become dirty blood.

Rules exist to restrain everyone and make everyone improve themselves for the family, until they can contribute to our Celestial Dragon family.

I propose a points system, with strength, intelligence, appearance, manner of speech, and character as the five criteria. Each category will be worth one thousand points, and the Knights will be responsible for the assessments.

Dirty bloods with fewer than three thousand points in total serve no purpose except reproduction. They only deserve to be confined to the Holy Land and stripped of the right to leave, and their share of the Heavenly Tribute should be cut to one-tenth of what it is now.

As for Celestial Dragons who meet the standard, the family will make unified arrangements for them to enter fields suited to their respective strengths and contribute to the family's prosperity.

Those who are strong will enter the Navy or Cipher Pol and occupy the positions of mid- and high-ranking officers, provided it doesn't affect combat effectiveness.

Those who are clever and quick-witted will enter the World Government and become high-ranking officials, or write books and put forward theories that force the commoners to acknowledge the greatness of the Celestial Dragons!

Those who are beautiful and speak elegantly will serve as ties to the kingdoms, bringing more land under the Holy Land's jurisdiction.

Those who are compassionate and kind, and who care about the plight of the people, will serve as our ambassadors. They'll go before the commoners and save them, making them firmly believe that the Celestial Dragons are their saviors.

Whether they serve outside or in the Holy Land, those who contribute to the family can earn vast numbers of points. The more points they have, the greater their share of the Heavenly Tribute.

We're all exalted Celestial Dragons. There's no reason for us pure-bloods to accommodate this dirty-blooded trash at every turn. What do you all think?"

"I agree!"

Garling was the first to voice his support. In fact, the plan would allow him to seize authority beyond the Holy Land from the Five Elders.

The Knights could also obtain more Heavenly Tribute. He had no reason to oppose it.

Of course, that was only if the one on the Empty Throne agreed.

The Five Elders exchanged glances. After a moment, they raised their hands one by one.

"An interesting idea. With the seas in turmoil as they are now, we too need to make changes. We'll consider this proposal..."

said the round-faced, balding Elder with a wavy white mustache.

"But I have one question. Why do you keep mentioning the commoners? I find that puzzling."

Lu Ye frowned and feigned surprise.

"I should be the one who's puzzled!

As the holders of the World Government's highest authority, haven't you even figured out who your enemies and friends are?"

A flash of anger crossed the balding Elder's eyes. "Brat, you should at least address us as grandfathers!

Our friends are the one hundred and seventy Affiliated Nations, and our enemies are the pirates on the seas.

What does such an obvious question have to do with the commoners?"

"That's it? That's it? That's all it takes to become one of the Five Elders?"

Lu Ye spread his hands and glanced askance at the balding Elder, his face full of disdain.

Homing felt as though he were sitting on pins and needles, his hair standing on end. He hurriedly reached out, wanting to turn his wayward son's face forward.

He looked up and met Garling's complicated gaze: three parts warning, three parts admiration, three parts schadenfreude, and one part inexplicable pride.

What the hell are you proud of? That's a child of our Donquixote family!

Homing awkwardly withdrew his hand and continued playing the quail.

Lu Ye tossed a cream puff into his mouth and patted the balding Elder on the shoulder.

"Old man, read more books when you have the time!

To tell friend from foe, don't be blinded by appearances. Look at whether your fundamental interests are in conflict...

Take gangs, for example. Two gangs each occupy one of two neighboring streets. No matter how close they are now, even if their bosses are brothers, as long as they have ambition, a clash between them is only a matter of time."