Chapter 77.2 : For Op-Op Fruit!!

"Don't say that in front of Kaido-sensei," Ian reminded her.

Kaido might not get too angry, but if he were to beat her afterward, he would definitely be more serious. After all, if she had said she was going to beat him, it had to be done more forcefully.

"Then take him away," 

Yamato said.

"I agree," Ian said, his lips curling into a smile.

A fighter at the level of the Tobiroppo was still quite useful.

As for Drake's resistance at this moment, it wasn't much of a problem. 

Such childish justice, this boring admiration for the Navy, shattering it was really an easy task.

After all, the so-called "just" Navy was just a bunch of clowns.

If pirates are scum, then the Navy is a beautifully packaged cesspool. No matter how dazzling the appearance or how deafening the slogans, the unchangeable truth is that they protect a pile of crap—a pile of crap that has stunk up the entire world.

"I will not—"

Drake instinctively tried to argue, but Ian's mere glance made him crumple weakly to the ground.

Conqueror's Haki, kid.

Barrels curled into a ball, trembling in fear.

Ian looked down at the cowardly man, yet he had no intention of killing him.

"You… want to gain the Beast Pirates' friendship?" Ian asked.

Barrels hesitated for a moment, then quickly got up, extremely obsequious. "Of course! I absolutely want to!"

His heart was practically jumping out of his chest! The friendship of the Beast Pirates!

By clinging to such a powerful force, who in the North Blue would dare to provoke me?

Am I finally going to turn the tide?

Ian could clearly see the smugness on the man's face. A smirk appeared at the corner of his lips. "Listen, from now on, you'll do whatever you want, but the Beast Pirates won't give you any help, nor will we allow you to act under our flag."

"Huh?"

Barrels was a bit confused.

Then, what's the difference between this and before?

"But," Ian continued, "if one day you come across something you feel I need to know, contact me."

"If I think it's useful, I'll reward you. But if I think it's irrelevant, I'll kill you."

Barrels' body shook.

He looked like a young child, but why did he feel so terrifying?

He quickly nodded with a forced smile. "Yes, yes, Lord Ian, I understand!"

"Good."

Ian chuckled lightly.

Why give such a bizarre order?

Of course, it was for the Op-Op Fruit.

In the original story, Barrels was the one who found the Op-Op Fruit.

In order to maintain the momentum of the story as much as possible, Ian made this decision.

"Let's go back."

Ian said to Yamato.

Let's see if Barrels can surprise him.

"Eh..."

Yamato was a bit disappointed.

It would've been boring not to take out these guys.

But since Ian said so, she'll just go back.

Oh, right, he still had to leave a way for Barrels to contact him.

...

Suddenly, Drake was jolted awake from the darkness.

He quickly got up and realized he was on the deck of a large ship.

Panicking, he looked around, and what met his eyes was a giant man.

The giant was sitting cross-legged beside him, and even sitting down, he was taller than Drake by at least two of him.

"Quiet."

The giant lowered his head, and only then did Drake notice that this was actually a young boy! He looked about thirteen or fourteen, younger than Drake, and his voice was still very childish.

"Listen, even though you were brought here by Big Brother Ian, don't think you can cause trouble here!"

Drake was a little shocked. What a massive person!

The huge boy bent down and grabbed Drake's shoulder. "If you cause any trouble for Big Brother Ian, I'll crush every bone in your body one by one!"

Drake didn't say anything.

He wasn't too scared either.

So, did this mean that he was really taken by Ian the Skyfire?

"Alright, Jack, there's no need to scare him like that."

Drake heard Ian's voice and turned his head.

Not far from the deck, Ian was playing cards with the white-haired girl. His face was already covered with several pieces of paper, and the girl, still smiling mischievously, placed another note on his face.

"After all, Drake will be our companion in the future."

"I won't join you guys!" Drake said firmly.

It's just death, he thought. After he struck his father one last time, he no longer felt fear.

"Don't be so quick to make conclusions," Ian said, allowing Yamato to stick another note on his face. He spoke lightly, "I know you want to become a Marine, but... does that make Marines better than pirates?"

"Is this some nonsense about pirates being freer?" Drake sneered coldly. "People like you who bring destruction to the world, how could you understand the value of justice?"

"Justice? Hahaha!" Ian couldn't help but burst into laughter. It had been a long time since he laughed so loudly that Yamato even widened her eyes in surprise. "I told you, don't be so quick to judge."

"Next, I'm going to meet someone. After I meet him, then we can discuss whether the Marines represent justice."

What?

Drake was somewhat confused.

What's this guy planning to do?

He was even more puzzled by why this man would go to such lengths for him.

Honestly, though he despised pirates, this feeling of being valued was something he had never experienced before in his life.

**********

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