Chapter 51: Owing a Favor

He analyzed Li Yuan's data and, according to Qi Kai, Li Yuan's swordsmanship is very strong, but his physique and Haki are not. This means he is more easily targeted compared to other Rocks Pirates officers.

"Marshal, once Li Yuan leaves the Rocks Pirates, I will personally go and capture him," Steel Bone Kong said. Given his strength, capturing Li Yuan would be simple for him, after all, he is a man who can withstand Rocks' attacks.

"Alright, Kong, I'll leave it to you. Make sure to bring him back."

"Next is the bounty on the Rocks Pirates. The World Government demands we increase the bounty."

"Rocks D. Xebec, captain of the Rocks Pirates, bounty of 3.55 billion Berries, extremely dangerous, dead or alive."

"Rocks Pirates officer John, bounty of 1.62 billion Berries, extremely dangerous, dead or alive."

"Rocks Pirates officer Silver Axe, bounty of 1.68 billion Berries, extremely dangerous, dead or alive."

"Rocks Pirates officer Wang Zhi, bounty of 1.67 billion Berries, extremely dangerous, dead or alive."

"Rocks Pirates officer Kurozumi Muchan, Miro Miro no Mi user, bounty of 550 million Berries, extremely dangerous, dead or alive."

"Rocks Pirates officer Kurozumi Semimaru, Bari Bari no Mi user, bounty of 590 million Berries, extremely dangerous, dead or alive."

"Rocks Pirates officer Whitebeard Edward Newgate, Gura Gura no Mi user, bounty of 1.88 billion Berries, extremely dangerous, dead or alive."

"Rocks Pirates officer Golden Lion Shiki, great swordsman, bounty of 1.84 billion Berries, extremely dangerous, dead or alive."

"Rocks Pirates officer Charlotte Linlin, Soru Soru no Mi user, bounty of 1.85 billion Berries, extremely dangerous, dead or alive."

"Rocks Pirates officer Li Yuan, swordsman, bounty of 1.65 billion Berries, extremely dangerous, dead or alive."

"Rocks Pirates apprentice Kaido, bounty of 310 million Berries, extremely dangerous, dead or alive."

Once the bounties were set, the bounty posters were distributed worldwide in the shortest time possible.

Roger Pirates:

"The Rocks Pirates are really strong, they even completely defeated the Navy."

Rayleigh exclaimed as he looked at the newspaper in his hand.

"The Rocks Pirates are indeed strong, but their methods are too domineering, brutal, and ruthless. So many kingdoms have been plundered by them, causing countless deaths, making the sea turbulent, and robbing many pirates of their freedom."

Roger grew more displeased with the Rocks Pirates, but there was nothing he could do except avoid them.

"Forget it, let's not concern ourselves with the Rocks Pirates. Let's have a banquet and enjoy ourselves!"

With that, Roger tossed the newspaper aside and started a banquet right where he stood.

"Wow, the captain is wise!"

"Wow hahaha, back to Beehive Island, time for a banquet!"

When the Rocks Pirates returned to Beehive Island, Rocks laughed loudly, full of excitement.

"Long live the captain!!"

"Let's have a banquet!!!"

"Hahaha, more fine wine to drink!!"

Back at their base, the Rocks Pirates members cheered. Pirates love nothing more than money, women, power, strength, and parties. No pirate would refuse a banquet.

"Gurararara, Li Yuan, I heard you defeated the former Navy Admiral Qi Kai. It seems you've made significant progress in just three months!"

During the banquet, Whitebeard came over to Li Yuan to share a drink, making a compliment to avoid any awkwardness.

"Qi Kai seemed to intentionally lose to me," Li Yuan said after downing a bottle of wine.

"Jihahahaha, that guy probably wanted to stay retired, so he intentionally lost to you."

The Golden Lion joined in, bringing wine with him.

"Shiki, I heard you reached the level of a great swordsman during your fight with Garp?"

Li Yuan asked curiously. Previously, he had faced Shiki's slashes and could affirm that Shiki was not a great swordsman then.

"Jihahahaha, Garp's fists are really hard. If I hadn't become a great swordsman, I might not have been able to cut through them."

The Golden Lion laughed proudly.

A great swordsman and a swordsman are a huge divide. A great swordsman's attack power is almost equivalent to a top admiral-level powerhouse. Now that the Golden Lion has reached the level of a great swordsman, his strength is entirely at the admiral level.

Moreover, the Golden Lion as a great swordsman is not like Qi Kai, who is old and retired. He is a peak great swordsman, incredibly terrifying.

Great swordsmen are truly rare on the seas due to their incredibly high threshold, which confines 99% of swordsmen. Even in the original work, there are very few great swordsmen.

"Shiki, when can we spar as we talked about before?"

Now that he confirmed Shiki became a great swordsman, Li Yuan was even more eager to spar with him. A great swordsman-level opponent is rare, and he wanted to use Shiki's swordsmanship to help him break through to the great swordsman level.

Once he reached that level, his strength would skyrocket again.

"Jihahahaha, Li Yuan, if you had asked before I broke through, I wouldn't mind, but now, sparring with you would just be me training you, which isn't interesting."

The Golden Lion said arrogantly.

With his current strength, defeating Li Yuan would be effortless, given the considerable gap between an admiral and an admiral candidate. In a situation where he couldn't go all out, Golden Lion Shiki didn't want to spar with Li Yuan. If he wanted to spar, it would be with Whitebeard, as their similar strength would make it interesting.

"Shiki, how about you spar with me six times, once every ten days, and I'll owe you a favor?"

Li Yuan knew his request was somewhat unreasonable. For someone stronger than him, his request was indeed difficult, as strength commands respect, and the weak must be aware of their place.

"Oh? No problem!!"

Hearing Li Yuan's offer, the Golden Lion became interested. Although Li Yuan's strength was temporarily behind, his potential was tremendous. Otherwise, he wouldn't have deliberately befriended Li Yuan before.

Now, with Li Yuan owing him a favor, he could gain tenfold or even hundredfold returns in the future. Moreover, he needed a sparring partner to adapt to his great swordsman level. 

-Support me in Ko-Fi 20+ advance chapters in there.

https://ko-fi.com/zxc1015

Thanks!