An hour later, the entire plaza was divided into several camps. At the forefront were the top ten from the tournament; by right, Nokiyoru, being the first, could have had 1,000 subordinates. However, after much selection, he only kept 300.
Turning to face the young recruits, Nokiyoru displayed a charming smile.
“Ahem… ahem…” Zephyr coughed from the high platform, then said, “Now that you’ve all made your selections, you will have a month to train together. After that, barring any major issues, you are free to set sail and explore.”
With that, Zephyr glanced at Nokiyoru’s smiling face and couldn’t help but smile himself before leaving the grounds.
As Zephyr left, Nokiyoru stood before his 300 new recruits and clapped his hands, speaking warmly, “From now on, we are a family. Here is 150 million beri. Divide it among yourselves and send it to your families. Starting tomorrow, we will begin a month of intensive training.”
“Wow…” Nokiyoru’s words not only stunned his 300 recruits but also shocked the other camps’ recruits. To give away 150 million beri to their families right off the bat… This act won Nokiyoru immediate admiration from all the recruits.
“Quiet down and listen to me,” Nokiyoru raised his voice slightly, seeing their excited faces.
“As my subordinates, I have only three requirements.”
Walking back and forth, Nokiyoru’s expression turned stern. He raised three fingers and said, “First, survive. Second, survive. Third, survive by any means necessary. You can have no discipline, indulge in vices, do whatever it takes; but here, you must share joys and hardships with your comrades. Anyone who betrays this rule will face my wrath.”
His tone turned icy, and his final words were delivered with conviction, leaving no room for doubt.
“I don’t care about your past or future behavior, but now, you must follow my rules. As my subordinates, you must stick together. If anyone dares bully you, you can kill them, even if they are a Vice Admiral. I will take full responsibility. As my subordinates, do not cause trouble, but do not fear it. Stand tall and firm.”
“Remember, our group will be called Sky Bird. Our principle is simple: anyone who bullies, oppresses, or provokes us will face our retaliation, even if we have to fight as one. Do you understand? As long as it doesn’t violate my principles, I will support you even if it costs my life.”
“Boom…” He stomped his foot, causing the ground to crack open, forming a large pit. His gaze was sharp as lightning.
Domineering and unreasonable, Nokiyoru’s speech instantly roused the 300 recruits to a fervor.
“Sky Bird! Sky Bird…”
Shouting fervently, the recruits’ faces turned red with excitement, and even those in other camps were stirred, some of them turning red-eyed with envy. Encountering a leader like Nokiyoru felt like…
“To follow our first principle: survive. The upcoming training will be extremely tough. You’ve all heard of me, so there’s no need for an introduction. In this month, anyone who fails to meet my standards will be eliminated. Some of you will leave this team.”
The recruits momentarily froze, then returned to their fevered state.
“Pakass, distribute this 150 million beri among everyone. Today, you have the day off to bid farewell to your families. From tomorrow, your lives will be on the edge.”
Taking a deep breath, Nokiyoru handed the suitcase to a young recruit named Pakass, who was visibly excited.
Seeing Nokiyoru’s team distribute money, other camps looked on enviously. This scene made Akainu particularly angry.
“What are you all staring at? Focus! What’s so great about an undisciplined team? They’re just a bunch of pirates in Marine coats. Such people should be exterminated,” Akainu’s voice was a mix of jealousy and resentment.
“You dog, I’m right here. Come and exterminate me,” Nokiyoru taunted, raising an eyebrow.
“Hmph!” Akainu grunted, clenching his fists tightly.
“See that? That’s a weakling. Remember, always train hard. On the field, the less you bleed. If one of you can’t win, then all of you should attack together. Survival is the goal. Don’t think it’s shameful. If you’re dead, you’ll have no more chances. But if you live, there’s always hope.” Pointing at Akainu, Nokiyoru’s expression was severe, not caring if his words seemed dishonorable.
“Unhappy? Want to fight? Should I come to you or will you come to me?” Nokiyoru’s eyes narrowed as he provocatively watched the furious, vein-popping Akainu.
“This is the misery of the weak. If you don’t want to be taunted like this, you’d better tie your lives to your belts. In Sky Bird, there are no weaklings. The upcoming training will be hell.”
“Tomorrow at 5 AM, meet at the port! Anyone late will be eliminated!” With that, Nokiyoru used a Moonwalk and disappeared into the sky.
The night was starry and vast, with countless lights twinkling. At Zephyr’s house, Nokiyoru held the little boy, Pakass, on his lap and spoke to Zephyr, who was sipping tea.
“Master, do you have time this month?”
“Time?” Zephyr took a sip of tea and shook his head. “No. The Five Elders have ordered the Marines to track down the Roger Pirates. So, I, Garp, and Sengoku will all be setting out.”
“I see.” Nokiyoru nodded, thinking that Roger becoming the Pirate King and reaching the final island must have threatened the World Government, making the Five Elders desperate to capture him.
“Master, I want to go to Beast Island. Do you think Fleet Admiral Kong will agree? Could you speak to him for me?”
“Isn’t that too hasty? You’re taking 300 new recruits. They’re not like you. Setting foot on that island means constant danger,” Zephyr frowned, concerned about the risks.
“It’s fine, Master. I have confidence. I feel my strength is improving too slowly. On that island, I can find suitable opponents. And I’ve already cleared the perimeter last time. If they follow my methods, they should be able to handle the danger.”
“I doubt Fleet Admiral Kong will agree. It’s too risky,” Zephyr shook his head.
“Master, people only unleash their potential when their lives are at stake. To quickly improve these recruits’ strength, they must endure hardships beyond normal limits. Otherwise, when pursuing pirates, they will…” Nokiyoru trailed off, but the meaning was clear.
“Alright! I’ll discuss it with Fleet Admiral Kong tonight. You can set off tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Master!” Nokiyoru smiled gratefully. He knew Zephyr would support him regardless of Fleet Admiral Kong’s decision.
“By the way, Master, could you teach me the rest of the Six Powers?”
“You want to learn them?” Zephyr was surprised.
“No,” Nokiyoru shook his head, his eyes shining like stars. “Maybe my subordinates will need them!”
“You… are something else,” Zephyr chuckled.
“Brother Nokiyoru, can I go with you?” Pakass, sitting on Nokiyoru’s lap, looked up with starry eyes.
“No, you can’t! When you grow up, Brother Nokiyoru promises to take you sailing.”
“Hmph…” Pakass pouted, upset. “I’ve already grown up.”
“But Brother Nokiyoru isn’t strong enough yet to protect you fully. Give me time, and I’ll take you out to play. Pinky promise.”
“Alright, pinky promise.”
Their thumbs hooked together, and their shared laugh warmed the room.
Become a Patron read up to 40 chapter ahead public release ^_^
Please join Discord Server so we can talk ^_^
