Chapter 142: Captains and Officers of the Infinity Pirates

Paying salaries to each captain and officer every month was unprecedented in the pirate world. Pirates aren't the navy; how could a pirate crew pay salaries?

But Li Yuan's Infinity Pirates would be the first to do so!

"Long live the Captain!!"

"Captain, I want to be a captain!!"

"I want to be an officer!!"

"Captain, just tell us!!"

"..."

Hearing Li Yuan's words, the pirates below cheered excitedly, eager to recommend themselves for captain or officer roles.

Most pirates love wealth, and becoming a captain or officer meant a substantial income every month, even without plundering.

Where else could they find such benefits?

"Very well, now I'll announce the primary condition for becoming a captain!"

"Anyone who can remain standing under my Conqueror's Haki can become a squad leader."

"Among those who remain standing, whoever can stand straight without bending for twenty seconds can become a captain!"

"Now, anyone who wants to take the test and become a captain, stay where you are."

"Anyone who doesn't want to take the test, step back!"

Li Yuan declared loudly.

"Captain, bring it on, we're ready!!"

"Come on, Captain, I want to be a captain!!"

"Hahaha, Captain, bring it on!"

"..."

Li Yuan's words didn't make anyone step back; they were even more excited, anticipating the arrival of his Conqueror's Haki.

"Buzz!!!"

Seeing no one retreat, Li Yuan didn't say more. His Conqueror's Haki surged forward, enveloping his subordinates!!

Red lightning crackled around them, as if the end of the world had arrived. Their clothes felt torn, and it was as if knives were cutting into them.

The pirates, who had been so excited moments ago, fell silent under Li Yuan's Conqueror's Haki.

All bit their lips, determined to remain standing under the oppressive Haki.

"Thud!!!"

However, their resolve lasted less than three seconds. As Li Yuan intensified his Conqueror's Haki, thousands of pirates began to fall.

After ten seconds, only a few remained standing.

"Hold on!!!"

Barrett, Nepal, Kano, Karu, Mari, Fishman Jerar, Mink Tribe Leopard Kumasi, Scientist Yuma, and the woman Rufiel, who had the Giant Python Zoan Fruit, remained standing.

Rufiel had surrendered to the Infinity Pirates for her family's sake after being captured.

Unable to beat them, join them, was her thinking, and she ended up with Karu.

These nine gritted their teeth, reminding themselves not to fall!

Seeing the nine still standing, Li Yuan withdrew his Conqueror's Haki from the others, focusing it entirely on them.

"Thud!!!"

At that moment, Nepal, Jerar, Kumasi, Yuma, and Rufiel couldn't withstand it and knelt, supporting themselves with hands and knees to avoid collapsing.

"I won't fall!!"

Kumasi gritted his teeth, his fur growing rapidly, turning him into a fur monster.

His fur, hard as steel, supported his body, preventing collapse.

This was the power of the Hair-Hair Fruit.

Li Yuan had given Kumasi the Hair-Hair Fruit. While it might be useless to others, for a Mink Tribe member with lots of fur, it was a top-tier Devil Fruit.

The Mink Tribe's electrostatic power relied on fur friction, and the Hair-Hair Fruit greatly enhanced Kumasi's electrostatic power.

It also gave him control over his fur, a multifaceted benefit.

Not just Kumasi, but Nepal, Jerar, Yuma, and Rufiel used their own methods to endure.

Among the kneeling, only Barrett, Karu, Kano, and Mari remained standing, though not upright.

They knew that to become a captain, they had to stand straight, without bending!

"Roar!!!!"

"Roar!!!!"

Barrett and Karu transformed into half-beast forms, using their Zoan powers to straighten their bent backs.

Seeing this, Kano activated his Devil Fruit, becoming a blade man to resist the Haki pressure.

Mari created iron-like feathers, supporting his body.

"Enough!!"

Twenty seconds passed, and Li Yuan withdrew his Conqueror's Haki.

Suddenly, the pirates felt relieved, the pressure lifting.

Initially, Li Yuan hadn't used full force, so those who fell first were conscious, just unable to rise.

They witnessed the nine who endured to the end.

"Now I announce, Kano, Karu, Mari, and Barrett are captains of the Infinity Pirates, earning two million Berries monthly."

"Nepal, Jerar, Kumasi, Yuma, and Rufiel are squad leaders, earning one million Berries monthly."

Li Yuan announced loudly.

Captains and officers were the crew's face. If they couldn't withstand his Conqueror's Haki, they'd be a joke against others with it!

The pirates, slowly rising, looked at the nine with complex emotions.

They had been confident but ended up falling.

"Captain, what about becoming an officer? What's the condition?"

A pirate suddenly asked.

"Hahaha, want to be an officer? I'll tell you the condition now!"

"Infinity: Sky-Splitting Draw Sword Technique!"

Li Yuan laughed, drawing his sword, Butou Yuhun.

A flash of light burst forth, a kilometer-long slash shooting from the sword.

The slash raced past them, heading for the sea.

"Crash!!!"

Before their eyes, the sea was cleaved open, the slash traveling several kilometers.

The sea seemed split in two, the trench unresolved for a long time.

They saw the seabed rocks split deep, hundreds of meters down, with seawater pouring in, unable to fill the trench.

"The only condition to become an officer is to withstand that slash and still stand, to become an Infinity Pirates officer!"

Li Yuan's voice brought the pirates back to reality.

Many had thought they'd die under the massive slash.

But enduring such a terrifying slash was a condition to become an officer.

No one, not even the nine captains, dared claim they wanted to be officers.

Under a slash that could cleave the sea, they'd surely be bisected, with no other outcome.

Li Yuan was pleased with their attitude. The slash had admiral-level power.

To endure it and stand required at least elite vice-admiral or admiral candidate strength.

That was his condition for officers, who were the crew's key members, the biggest face besides Li Yuan himself.

An officer's strength was akin to the Shichibukai.

A core officer, in Li Yuan's vision, had to be close to admiral-level.

"To celebrate our eight new squad leaders, let's have a banquet!"

After a brief silence, Li Yuan reignited their spirits.

"Banquet, banquet!!"

"Long live the Captain!!"

"Hahaha, I love banquets!!"

"..."

The pirates who hadn't become squad leaders quickly forgot their disappointment with news of the banquet.

"Shocking, Admiral Sengoku fought Infinity Pirates Captain Li Yuan for five days and nights!!"

"Admiral vs. Infinity Great Swordsman Li Yuan!"

"Navy fleet defeated!"

"..."

The day after Li Yuan's battle with Sengoku ended, newspapers spread throughout the New World and even to the Four Seas.

The long-quiet Rocks remnant Li Yuan made headlines.

And his appearance was marked by such a feat, drawing widespread attention.

"Wow, Li Yuan's grown fast. Even Sengoku can't take him down. I wonder how strong he'll be at our age."

Roger remarked, surprised with the newspaper.

Recently, Garp had brought Sengoku to fight the Roger Pirates.

Roger knew Sengoku's strength; he was on par with Garp.

Now, five days of fighting couldn't defeat Li Yuan, and photos showed Sengoku with terrifying sword wounds.

"There's no conflict now; his territory is far from ours, no overlap."

"Focus on our route; Garp's catching up again."

Rayleigh advised.

"Jihahaha, Li Yuan, you were in those remote seas. No wonder there was no news."

Golden Lion Shiki laughed, holding the paper.

"Infinity Great Swordsman Li Yuan, even the navy can't handle him. Our king can't escape his control."

"So, strengthen our swordsmen, gain leverage."

"Perhaps ally with strong nations from the West Blue. Alone, Alex Kingdom is too risky."

Queen Elizabeth El of Alex Kingdom, West Blue, pondered future relations and development after reading about Li Yuan.

Li Yuan, with Rocks, had invaded West Blue, subjugating the sword-strong Alex Kingdom.

Queen Elizabeth El had submitted under duress.

With Rocks dead and the crew disbanded, she thought she'd escape Li Yuan's control.

But seeing the newspaper, she knew Li Yuan would contact her, continue controlling her and Alex Kingdom.

They had no match for Li Yuan. Even seeking World Government help wasn't feasible with Alex's resources.

It might backfire, letting the World Government take over Alex's royal family.

That was no better than Li Yuan's control.

Though a pirate, Li Yuan didn't interfere with Alex's development.

As long as they were loyal, the royal family wouldn't be purged.

So, she felt being under Li Yuan was better than the World Government's control.

**Navy Headquarters:**

"Marshal, I'm sorry, I failed my mission!"

Returning to headquarters, Sengoku apologized to Steel Bone Kong.

"It's not entirely your fault; I underestimated Li Yuan."

Kong waved it off. Had he known Li Yuan could hold Sengoku, he wouldn't have sent Sengoku alone.

"Sengoku, Li Yuan chose that remote sea for a reason."

"If he expands, he'll target the Baikal Kingdom."

Sengoku noted.

"Leave it to the World Government. We can't spare forces for Li Yuan."

"His territory's far from the New World's forefront. Our focus is those nearer."

Kong said.

"What? Even the navy can't handle Infinity Pirates' Li Yuan?"

King Soman of Baikal Kingdom said, shocked by the report.

He thought Rocks' death and crew disbandment made the remnants insignificant.

Yet, the navy couldn't capture Li Yuan, and with Baikal so close to his territory...

If the Infinity Pirates expanded, they'd threaten the kingdom.

Even as a World Government member, he was terrified.

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