"Stop right there!!"
Suddenly, the sea ahead churned violently, and massive sea beasts emerged abruptly from beneath the waves.
Each of these sea beasts carried weapons of some sort.
The first thing Kuzan noticed were the beam cannons mounted on them.
Brilliant beams shot straight toward him, and Kuzan leapt aside to dodge.
Although he easily avoided them, the beams hitting the ocean caused a series of violent explosions.
"Weapons of this level?"
Kuzan was deeply astonished. "I can't even tell which side is really the World Government."
The Navy's scientific division was supposed to have the world's top research capabilities, yet the government's forces now seemed far inferior to the Beasts Pirates.
With these sea beast weapons appearing in the ocean, what fleet could possibly withstand them?
Aircraft roared in the sky, and sea beasts bellowed in the ocean.
For enemies of the Beasts Pirates, it must have looked like a scene straight out of hell.
Truly exaggerated.
The strength of the Beasts Pirates was far beyond just Ian and his top officers.
The sheer power of this pirate crew was already astonishing.
While reflecting on this, Kuzan used Moonwalk to bypass the Fish-Man soldiers blocking his path.
Though powerful, they still weren't quite strong enough to stop him.
Kuzan lifted his head—Onigashima was right there on the sea ahead.
Finally, he had arrived.
Huh?
Kuzan raised an eyebrow.
He sped forward, running at full force, and with one mighty leap, Kuzan finally landed on the coast of Onigashima.
"Really… couldn't they have at least sent someone to pick me up?"
He set the bicycle he had been carrying on his shoulder down on the ground and turned around, loudly complaining, "Is this how you treat someone who responded to your invitation and came all this way?"
"I don't recall giving you permission to enter Wano directly."
Ian sat calmly on the shore, leisurely fishing.
Behind him stood a black, burly man with a slightly strange expression.
"Huh?"
Kuzan carefully set his bicycle aside—it was all he had left of his possessions.
He then stepped forward, glancing in surprise at the black man behind Ian. "Marshall D. Teach, Fourth Division Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates… what is he doing here?"
"He joined my ranks before you did," Ian said calmly.
Teach smiled warmly at Kuzan and nodded as a greeting.
But inside, he couldn't hide his shock.
Even Kuzan, a former Marine Admiral, had joined Ian's crew?
Just how powerful must the Beasts Pirates be?
Even if he eventually found the Dark Fruit, could he really defeat Ian and the Beasts Pirates?
Still…
Teach's thoughts drifted.
This scene seemed… familiar somehow.
"Huh?"
Hearing Ian's response, Kuzan was quite surprised. "Whitebeard's beloved son has become your subordinate? I thought everyone in the Whitebeard Pirates was like one big loving family?"
The words sounded familiar.
Teach couldn't help but sigh quietly to himself.
"I said the same thing at the time, but perhaps this is what people call fate," Ian said lightly, smiling.
"Just as you have appeared before me now, maybe this is destiny's choice."
"Destiny?"
Kuzan paused. "Someone like you… talking about destiny?"
A man like Ian was someone who could decide the fates of countless people.
"And," Kuzan emphasized, "I never said I would join your ranks just like that."
"How does it feel?"
Ian shifted the topic abruptly.
"What?"
This sudden change left Kuzan a bit puzzled. He couldn't quite understand what Ian was getting at.
"I mean, how do you feel about the Beasts Pirates?"
Ian spoke slowly, "After wandering in the New World for so long, you should have seen our rule, and in Wano, you've witnessed our strength."
"So, Kuzan, what do you think of the Beasts Pirates?"
Finally understanding what Ian meant, Kuzan fell into a brief silence.
Indeed, what had he seen of the Beasts Pirates along the way?
After a moment of thought, he said, "They're strong—strong to the point of exaggeration. That much I already knew. But today, I gained a new understanding of just how powerful the Beasts Pirates really are."
He paused, then continued, "However, more importantly, you guys don't feel like a pirate crew. You feel more like a miniature version of the World Government."
"But, far more energetic than the World Government, and treating every nation equally. Even charging membership fees, you're much more merciful than the government could ever be."
Kuzan sighed slightly.
For the World Government, any nation unable to pay the Heavenly Tribute wasn't even considered part of human society. Citizens of non-member nations had no rights at all.
"That's not right."
Ian shook his head.
"Not right?"
Kuzan was surprised.
"It's not mercy," Ian said.
"I just believe wealth isn't something to be extracted—it's something to be created."
"The nations under my command became prosperous, and naturally, so did I."
Kuzan blinked in slight astonishment.
"Ha ha ha ha! I understand what Lord Ian means!"
At this, Teach spoke with a cheerful smile, "Everything under the Beasts Pirates is your property, so naturally, you'll find ways to make it grow in value, rather than draining it dry."
"Exactly, Teach."
Ian let out a hearty laugh. That summed it up perfectly.
"Ah la la la la!"
Kuzan couldn't help but laugh as well. "Truly an extraordinary man!"
Right now, the man sitting in front of him, fishing, was someone who wanted to turn the entire world into his private domain!
Yet fortunately, this man valued his possessions greatly.
"Kuzan,"
Ian suddenly spoke, "Have you decided on your nickname?"
"How about 'Ice Disaster'?"
"Spare me."
Kuzan scratched his head, a bitter expression on his face. "Being ranked alongside King and Queen… that's a bit embarrassing, isn't it?"
He thought for a moment. "If I really have to choose a nickname, what about 'Ice Prince'?"
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
Ian laughed heartily.
Kuzan couldn't help but smirk a little as well.
But in truth, the reasoning was sound. If he were to be ranked alongside someone, it should be with Yamato and Hancock, not just anyone.
For now, that would do.
Kuzan thought to himself.
Looking at it now, joining the Beasts Pirates didn't seem so bad after all.
Only by staying close to Ian could he truly understand what the man intended to do.
Only then could he decide what he should do in response.
Let me witness it, Kuzan thought. Ian, what will you ultimately turn this world into?
**********
Support me on my patreon and read upto 20 early chapters.
patreon.com/PirateKing24