"Ripley, you're really joining my crew?"
"Of course. How many times are you going to ask that? We agreed on it ages ago. Worst case, if something happens, I'll just ditch you and run back to Elbaf."
Ripley giggled. "We're heading off to steal the Adam Tree branches now, right? I know where they're kept. I'll show the way."
"Who said anything about stealing?! It's a fair trade!"
Sitting on Ripley's shoulder, Magnus jumped up and knocked her on the head—hard.
"Ow! That hurt!"
Ripley pouted. "Geez, old man, don't just go whacking my head! I'm not a kid anymore!"
"Haha, my bad, my bad."
Magnus stood up on her shoulder, gazing into the distance.
"Alright, we'll wait a bit."
"That's it? Already too much for you?"
"Can't be helped. Rocks has a weak foundation. Even with talent, he's going to need more effort to catch up."
That was why so few pirates made a name for themselves young. Unless they had overwhelming talent, raw potential alone doesn't make power.
Ripley glanced back.
A disheveled figure was trailing far behind them.
You had to understand: Ripley was a 20-meter-tall giant woman. Her legs alone were over 10 meters long. Each step she took, an average person would need to sprint several just to keep up.
Since Ripley told them the rainbow bridge wouldn't be ready for another week, Magnus abandoned the idea of taking it to the upper village.
Instead, they would trek on foot from Elbaf's bottom layer to its middle layer.
But what giants could cross easily—mountains, hills, and forests—was a slog for Rocks. After a short time, he could still manage, but after a long while, even after a month of Magnus's training, the exhaustion was real.
Magnus, who'd once risen from nothing himself, understood perfectly: push too hard, and you break instead of grow.
But their conversation earlier gave him a new idea.
Pressure isn't enough.
You also need motivation.
As the saying goes—smack with a stick, then hand them a candy.
"Here!"
Watching Rocks pant and gasp, Magnus tossed him a canteen and grinned. "Brat, you thinking of cursing me in your head right now? Plotting revenge when you're stronger?"
Rocks's heart skipped. How did this old man know?
Seeing his face, Magnus burst into laughter.
"Puhahaha! Knew it! I could tell you're the vengeful type. Still holding a grudge about me forcing you into the crew, huh?"
As the future ruler of the seas, Rocks would never accept being under someone's thumb so easily. Magnus knew from the start that taming him would be tough—even in his youth.
"So here's the deal."
Magnus smirked, his grin full of mischief.
"This sea respects strength above all. Do you think your current power could defeat me or Ripley?"
Rocks froze. He remembered Magnus cutting the sea with a single slash… and Ripley's monstrous speed and strength.
Gritting his teeth, he had to admit—not even close.
"Don't be fooled by our tiny crew of three. As long as I'm here, no one dares look down on the White Wolf Pirates."
"In this ocean, without strength, you're nothing. You'll be bullied, robbed, unable to protect even yourself."
"Power is wealth."
"Power is dignity."
"Power is everything."
Magnus's voice echoed like thunder. Rocks couldn't help but clench his fists.
"So I'll give you a chance."
"Right now, you're just an intern in the White Wolf Pirates. But that title doesn't have to stay."
Now that Magnus had the qualifications for Haoshoku no Haki (Conqueror's Haki), he was no longer the worn-down man from before. He was slowly returning to who he had been when he first arrived in this world.
Before, he didn't have the system. No Haoshoku potential. Talent limits were real—he had done his best, but couldn't break through.
But now? He had both.
So what if they were the chosen ones?
So what if they were protagonists?
Under equal conditions, when had Magnus ever lost to anyone?!
"Rocks, Ripley!"
Magnus looked at the two and shouted, "Starting now, the White Wolf Pirates have a new rule!"
"No matter who you are—"
"If you can beat me in a fair fight, you qualify to become the captain!"
"Rocks, you're just an intern now. But if one day you beat Ripley, I'll promote you to official crew. And if you beat me—go ahead, take the captain's title!"
"Ripley, same goes for you. Don't get cocky just because you're a giant. If he beats you, don't come crying to me!"
If it were years ago, Magnus would've thought this rule was about finding a successor.
But now?
Now, he was recruiting monsters with endless potential, and using their pursuit of him to push himself forward—to never slack off again.
What's more thrilling than being the captain of the future Yonko?
Hell, even the Pirate King?
This era—belonged to Magnus!
At that moment, his aura surged—his Haki boiling from within like a dragon awakening in the depths.
Rocks's blood boiled too.
He'd thought Magnus would just keep suppressing him forever. Teach him, maybe—but never let him surpass.
But now?
Magnus wasn't afraid of his challenge at all!
Then what was there to hesitate for?!
Rocks clenched his fists, eyes burning. "Old man, you said it! No take-backs when I beat you!"
"Puhahaha! If you can beat me, why would I even need to lie?!"
Rocks thought for a second. That… made sense.
"Old man, I'm good to go! I can keep running!"
He didn't feel tired anymore.
If beating Magnus meant taking over the White Wolf Pirates—
Then the faster he got stronger, the better!
"Quit calling me 'old man' all the time!"
A giant finger came down from the sky, nearly flattening Rocks.
"Old man? You think you can just call him that? It's Captain Magnus! And you're still an intern—until you beat me, you don't even get to challenge the captain!"
"Right, old man?"
Ripley teased with a grin.
Magnus gave her a firm flick on the forehead.
"Watch your mouths, both of you! So what if I'm seventy? In giant years, that's prime age to fight!"
He grumbled, annoyed.
"You wanna challenge me? Then run, both of you! Ripley, go carry the Black Pearl back—weighted run!"
Originally, Magnus was going to leave the ship with Mardo to watch over, docked at Elbaf's coast.
But now that Rocks and Ripley were fired up?
Might as well haul it back to the giant village.
No need to trouble Mardo.
"Yes, Captain!"
Ripley gave him a salute, then grinned again.
"But Captain, if both of us are training hard—what about you?"
She looked at him smugly, still perched on her shoulder.
"As captain, shouldn't you lead by example?"
"Cough cough—"
Magnus choked a little. He was old! He couldn't train like a young man anymore!
Just as he was about to refuse—
[A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step!]
[Success is 1% talent, 99% sweat. At 18, how can you sleep if you're not working hard?!]
[Daily Mission: Training]
[Requirements: 1,000 weighted pushups, 1,000 weighted sit-ups, 1,000 weighted squats, 100 km weighted run]
[Reward: Stamina restoration, slight increase in cell activity!]
Magnus: "…"
You've got to be kidding me.
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][www.p@treon.com/euridome]
[Thank You For Your Support!]