68 Chapter 67: The First Step

A/N: Chapters in advance in Patreòn

Checkout My P.A.T.R.E.O.N

Pa treon.com/HolyJoker

(30+ chapters in advance)

DISCORD: https://discord.gg/M9hghrm

______

Chapter 67: The First Step

***

After leaving Marineford, two weeks passed as we traveled across the sea and towards the Red Line, where we would then pass to the New World. 

Kureha told me that everything was alright in the Drum Kingdom, and the one I have to keep an eye on the old hag also said the same thing. Also had another person to keep an eye on the one who spies on Kureha, and none of them said anything. As expected, the old granny wasn't dumb enough to try and go against me.

The Lulusia Kingdom was the same too, and with these two Kingdoms, I had gained quite a lot of wealth. Because while Pirates have money on them and bounties, even a Billion Beri isn't anything special in comparison to a whole country's income.

Still, though, there was a need to find some new comrades, ones that I would be able to trust. I was lucky to meet with Negan and Raynare early on, they both probably perished during the canon timeline. Or maybe become nothing more than Marine Captains in North Blue. None of that mattered though, as now I will have to find people who have appeared in the Manga and would at the same time be willing to listen and work in my vision.

The first one in my mind would be T-Bone, a man who wasn't anything special at the time and a Marine Rear Admiral called the Ship-Cutter. He was a man who cared about his subordinates deeply and had a high sense of justice. Also, he was defeated by Zoro during the Water 7 Arc, which hasn't happened yet. Meaning that I wouldn't be able to recruit him at the moment.

On the other hand, there was now another Marine that operated close to Sabaody Archipelago. It wasn't hard to contact her, and I had already sent out a signal that I wanted to meet up.

Currently, we were close to Sabaody and our ship had set anchor. A couple of dozen marines were fishing and some others sang Bink's Sake, with Negan was leading the group.

Marines singing a pirate's song… that wasn't something one saw every day. But Bink's Sake was a song that everyone in this world knew. Though it was a little surprising how no one else seemed to have noticed the hidden message in it.

*

"Sir, the Lieutenant that you have been asking for, her ship is within sight," Raynare notified me. Well, it was time to get to business then.

I went towards the deck and looked at the ship very far away, normal people wouldn't be able to see it, but my vision was quite good. "It looks like a normal marine ship."

Raynare must have noticed the disappointment in my voice as she chuckled. "Most marines don't bother building a whole new ship since technically it doesn't belong to them. You doing all this was unnecessary too, though no one complains since the crew are happier this way."

Well, I doubt any other marine would want my ship. Mostly because I have it 'marked' as mine, the bear head at the front, the bear ornaments, paintings inside, and my room built specifically for me. It was like I had marked my territory everywhere, any other marine who used this ship would just be a copy of me or a Max wanna-be. They would be mocked and laughed at behind their backs, at least from my crew.

Negan might do more than laugh at them if someone took my ship though. He always took things a little too far.

***

Lieutenant Isuka, a young woman with short vermilion hair, brown eyes, a bandaid on her left cheek, and a burn scar on the back of her hand. 

She was known quite well around these parts, and as she looked at me, a look of disapproval was obvious on her face. She must have heard some rumors, and someone like her with a strong sense of justice would never even think of cooperating with me.

"Vice-Admiral Max," she saluted as per protocol. "What would be the reason for your journey all the way here?"

Oh? So she had the common sense to be rational and respectful towards her superiors. Even though she had a bad impression of me.

"At ease, Lieutenant," I reassured her and scratched the back of my head uncomfortably. "Can I call you Isuka? That would be easier as I am not used to all the title callings. You can call me Max too?"

Isuka nodded, that was her only response as she didn't say anything more. Well, better get to business, and show her how fake the rumors about me were, even if some had a part of truth in them.

"Well, I will get straight to the point," she straightened at my serious expression. "My goal is to take down one of the Yonko and I need your help. Will you come with me and help with my goal?"

"A Yonko?" She repeated, her brain seemingly not having registered what I had said. "Yonko!!" Isuka yelled out once she came to her senses.

"No, no, no, no, that's impossible! No one can take down a Yonko that easily, even the whole Marine Forces attacking them head-on in their territories would lead to defeat for us."

She was flustered and I listened to her words without saying anything at first. But that didn't last as I repeated my words. "I will take down a Yonko, can't tell you which one yet though. Also, this isn't something that will happen just because I said so, the plans and calculations needed for it will take months, possibly years to finish."

"I -I understand," she stuttered, her act of professionalism dropping like a stone. "But how would I be any help there?"

Well, she was naive enough to be incompetent at acts of betrayal and such. But those things were unlikely to happen since she doesn't have the build of someone who can stab a person in the back without a second thought. But even if she resolved herself, she wouldn't be able to scheme competently enough to become a threat.

But saying those words would undoubtedly anger her. No one liked to be called incompetent. "Your strength and youth are the main reasons. Also, the growth potential that you possess. After all, you are only in your 20s yet already are quite strong."

This had a hint of truth to it since Isuka didn't have a teacher to guide her, yet she grew quite strong. With my guidance and the right Devil Fruit, she could grow into someone quite fearsome. Of course, she would be by my side, if she ever decided to leave… Well, people die all the time. Can't have the Devil Fruit I give her to go away like that.

But that situation hopefully doesn't come to pass, I always had a… predetermined talent for changing people's views to align with myself.

Raynare also used to be like Isuka, but now she was probably the person I trusted the most in this world. Negan came to a very close second. But both of them were worthy to trust with my life too, and that was something that I would never usually do. Especially since this world had powers like to copy someone's appearance, so even when trusting someone people had to be careful about it.

*

Isuka seemed to have calmed down after a minute or two. I let her absorb things thoroughly so she doesn't think that the thoughts I was putting on her mind weren't her own. No, she must think of them as her ideas.

"Can I think about it for a bit?" She asked, just like I had expected.

This was a crucial part of making someone think like they had a choice. The person must come to his own 'conclusion'... of course, this was like offering a homeless man money and asking him to choose whether he wanted it or not.

The choice was obvious, Isuka's sense of justice would lead her to me.

"Okay, we will wait a couple more days in Sabaody Archipelago," I nodded. "Hopefully by then, you will have everything figured out."