Chapter 72: Provocation
"It seems they've all arrived."
Shiki looked into the distance; many familiar figures had appeared and were watching from afar.
In just two hours, the matter had already blown up.
All members of the Rocks Pirates knew the news of the Son of Jaeger arriving on the Island.
Crew members, their curiosity piqued, rushed over to watch.
Facts proved their choice wasn't wrong; otherwise, they would have missed a good show.
A group of weak pirates simply couldn't force out the duo's true strength.
Fighting continuously for two hours also showed the depth of their foundation.
The final burst of the Death Fruit's power undoubtedly injected a shot of adrenaline into their hearts.
"It truly brings back memories."
Some elders of the Rocks Pirates, like John, Silver Axe, and Wang Zhi, who joined as newcomers in the early days of the Rocks Pirates' establishment, had witnessed just how terrifying Jaeger was.
Apart from Rocks D.
Xebec, no one could match him.
Looking at the potential Hades is now displaying, he absolutely possesses the potential to grow into the next Jaeger.
You can even clearly see Jaeger's shadow.
Such astonishing performance made some people realize that trying to secretly deal with Hades was impossible.
With Hades' strength, he already has the qualifications to become a Cadre.
Although there's still some gap compared to the new generation of Monsters like Shiki and Newgate, it's merely a disadvantage of age.
In just a few years, he will truly grow up, stand shoulder to shoulder with Shiki and the others, and eventually become a Core Cadre of the Rocks Pirates, second only to Captain Rocks.
As long as no accidents occur, Hades will not die prematurely.
For the young Monsters he favors, Rocks D.
Xebec will provide them protection, allowing them to grow under his wing.
A Monster is only a true Monster once they have grown.
John, Silver Axe, and Wang Zhi were like this.
Shiki, Edward Newgate, and Charlotte Linlin were also like this.
And the other Monsters of the Rocks Pirates.
It is precisely because of this that the Rocks Pirates' strength has been continuously increasing over the years, especially in terms of high-end combat power.
Although it's unknown if Rocks D.
Xebec cherishes talent or if he has some other purpose?
The Rocks Pirates are indeed a breeding ground for Monsters, provided you can reach a level that catches the Rocks Pirates' attention, even to the point where they actively provide precious Devil Fruits to cultivate you.
"This is truly wonderful."
The youthful Charlotte Linlin was excitedly watching Titan.
An invulnerable body, a physique as tall as hers, it was as if she saw another version of herself.
He was practically a match made in heaven for her, if they could bear offspring.
Charlotte Linlin had long held the goal of establishing Totto Land, which was the idea of building her own faction.
Unlike Edward Newgate, who is currently alone, she, like Shiki, also wanted other pirates to join her under her protection.
Unfortunately, she was a woman.
Even as a Monster, not many were willing to become her subordinates.
Many pirates were unwilling to be bossed around by a woman.
Seeing this, Charlotte Linlin changed her mind.
Since no one was willing to become her subordinate, she would just give birth to her own.
As long as she gave birth to many children and established the Charlotte Family, once her children grew up, they would naturally secure a place in the New World.
With her strength, the children she bore would definitely not be weak in the future.
However, she hadn't put this into action.
It wasn't that she hadn't tried, but she had been rejected too many times.
People like John and Silver Axe rejected her without hesitation.
Even Edward Newgate and Shiki, from the same generation, were unwilling.
How could they possibly want to become Charlotte Linlin's breeding tools? The children born wouldn't even belong to them, and in the future, their children wouldn't truly be theirs.
No one was a fool.
Despite being rejected too many times, Charlotte Linlin did not abandon her original ideas, whether it was establishing Totto Land or establishing the Charlotte Family.
It was just that she needed greater strength and higher status.
Since Monsters like Shiki weren't suitable, she would look for slightly less powerful individuals.
If that didn't work, she would just use force.
Titan had clearly become a target favored by Charlotte Linlin.
Streusen, standing nearby, saw through Charlotte Linlin's thoughts and couldn't help but sigh.
The identity of the Son of Jaeger was clearly someone not to offend.
He had always heard the legends of Jaeger.
However, since Charlotte Linlin wanted it, he would try his best to help.
For Streusen, who was already forty years old, regardless of his initial purpose, he had watched Charlotte Linlin grow up.
Now, in his eyes, Charlotte Linlin was like his daughter.
Titan, in the distance, couldn't help but shiver.
He felt a bit confused.
What was going on? Why did he feel a little cold?
While the vast majority of the Rocks Pirates acknowledged Hades, there were also those who didn't put him in their eyes.
A pirate walked out.
This attracted the attention of many pirates.
"Madman Leiman, what's he coming out for?"
"Something interesting is about to happen."
Pirates who knew Leiman revealed smiles as if watching a show.
Just as Leiman's moniker suggested, Leiman was a Madman, extremely arrogant and boastful.
But it couldn't be denied that Leiman was a powerful pirate, with a Bounty exceeding two hundred million Beli.
He was not a weakling among the Rocks Pirates.
The pirate named Leiman walked up to Hades, an arrogant smile on his face.
His gaze towards Hades was full of disdain, and deep within his pupils lurked intense jealousy.
"Brat, having powerful abilities means nothing in the New World. As an Elder, let me properly educate you. Only Haki is everything."
Leiman's hands were coated in a translucent black from Haki Imbuement, and then Armament Haki continuously spread, covering his entire body.
Leiman looked at Hades, his heart filled with confidence from being fully armored.
He greatly enjoyed the scene of countless gazes falling upon him in such an occasion.
He didn't notice Hades' increasingly cold eyes.
As well as some disdainful and mocking gazes from the surroundings.
He was extremely jealous, jealous of why Hades possessed such a powerful Devil Fruit Ability.
In his eyes, Hades hadn't even learned Haki yet and was merely relying on the power of his Devil Fruit.
Dealing with these ordinary pirates, fighting non-stop for two hours, he believed he could also do the same with his own strength.
Although the power of the Death Fruit was strong, it could be completely resisted with Armament Haki.
So what if he's the Son of Jaeger? Without learning Haki, he's ultimately no match for me.
Leiman thought to himself, then burst out with astonishing speed, charging towards Hades, appearing beside Hades in an instant.
He unleashed his full-power punch, intending to crush the Son of Jaeger with his powerful Haki and use him as a stepping stone.
(end of chapter)