"The New World side only needs Hakuza to bring a few Fish-Man and go with me to provide support."
"Fish-Man Island is the most important. Although you are nominally a pirate crew, what you actually do is no different from a kingdom army—protect Fish-Man Street and establish order."
Vane pointed at himself and continued,
"I will go to the New World to find seas where we can establish territory and expand our domain. At that time, we and Fish-Man Island will be able to form coordination."
"Fish-Man who yearn for land can also move freely within our shared territory without worrying about being discriminated against by those around them."
Fish-Man Island has at least around two hundred thousand Fish-Man. This number can be seen from the fact that when they surrounded Luffy and his group back then, there were already one hundred thousand people.
Although most of them were cannon fodder and only a few were truly powerful, they still belonged to elite cannon fodder due to their natural ocean advantage.
Speaking of which, there's also something rather amusing. Fish-Man have appeared in many forces—one of Whitebeard's adopted sons even looks somewhat like Jinbe.
Big Mom's daughter, and Jack under Kaido… all of them are members of pirate crews.
Yet Fish-Man Island, as a member nation of the World Government, can only be seen in slave shops and in the prisons of the Celestial Dragons. You can't find Fish-Man in the navy.
...
After a night of wild celebration, many people fell asleep right where they were, until the next day when they were attracted by a huge commotion.
"What happened?"
"The Rocket Team pirates are reorganizing. They're going to establish their structure before entering the New World."
"Then we have to go take a look."
On an open field of Fish-Man Island, the minotaur Minotauros sat in the center holding his giant club, with a vacant and dull expression.
"Anyone confident in their strength and wishing to directly become a combat cadre must defeat Minotauros!"
This was the rule set by Vane. Anyone capable of defeating Minotauros would have at least over 100 million in strength, making them perfectly qualified to serve as mid- or low-level cadres in the New World.
Among these slaves, quite a few had previously been pirates, and they all stepped forward to show their abilities.
Then… they basically all ended up lying flat on the ground.
They witnessed the terrifying strength of the minotaur, and Vane also saw the abilities of two other ability users hidden among the group.
They were a pair of twin siblings, a brother and sister.
The older brother, Airon, was a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user of the Flour-Flour Fruit.
The younger sister, Abby, was a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user of the Kilo-Kilo Fruit.
Vane felt that Big Mom would definitely want the Flour-Flour Fruit.
Airon's development of his ability was using flour to cover people's faces, or creating massive amounts of flour to bury others… if only he had developed the flour to the point of crushing people with it, it would've been nice to perform flour burials.
Abby's fruit ability was one Vane was somewhat familiar with—the Kilo-Kilo Fruit. It was the same ability as Valentine, who used an umbrella to jump high and smash people with her body.
Honestly, judging from its superior version, the Ton-Ton Fruit, if one didn't know martial arts, the upper limit of this ability was just smashing into people.
If one knew martial arts, however, there would be more room for development.
Vane was also relatively lenient toward Devil Fruit users. They didn't need to start as ordinary soldiers and were directly assigned as special units.
"She's too strong. The two sisters together were able to withstand so many attacks."
On the field, the second and third sisters transformed into beast-human forms—a massive python and a cobra attacked simultaneously, enduring many of Minotauros's strikes head-on.
Just being able to remain standing after taking Minotauros's attacks was already difficult. The fact that the two sisters could withstand so many blows together was extremely impressive.
"You two step down."
After washing and dressing up, Hancock now had some of the bearing of her future Pirate Empress.
"Sister, you must be careful."
"Its strength is tremendous, and its speed is also very fast."
The two sisters withdrew from the field and returned to their human forms. Their bodies were covered in bruises.
Minotauros did not pursue them. He had already been thoroughly trained and would not violate the rules set by Vane.
Hancock stepped into the field. The previously relaxed Minotauros immediately changed his gaze—anyone entering the field was a target.
Boom! Boom!! Boom boom!!
Dragging his massive spiked club, each step Minotauros took left a huge crater in the ground. His terrifying aura alone was enough to overwhelm ninety-five percent of the people present.
Many people couldn't help but close their eyes, unwilling to witness such a beauty perish.
"Perfume Femur!"
Hancock formed a heart shape with her fingers. Layer upon layer of pink energy waves surged forward and landed on Minotauros. Clang!
Minotauros turned into a solid stone statue.
"Incredible. That beast turned into stone."
"That girl is unbelievably powerful."
How could she not be? In the future, not just half-beasts—even Den Den Mushi, women, blind people, and even lifeless objects could be turned into stone by Hancock.
The more beautiful the person, the stronger the Love-Love Fruit becomes. And consuming the Love-Love Fruit also enhances one's charm.
The foundation of the future Pirate Empress combined with the Love-Love Fruit's effects would nurture a powerful warrior.
"The first person to defeat Minotauros has appeared. I hereby announce Hancock as the Grand Captain under my command, with priority in selecting female crew members."
This had already been discussed with Hancock in advance, so she accepted it immediately.
No one else objected. Being able to effortlessly turn into stone a monster that no one else could withstand was proof of overwhelming strength. They were completely convinced.
"Hancock, go select your female crew members. You may choose anyone, regardless of age."
There were more than three hundred women in the crew, but not many were willing to fight. Without removing the age restriction, recruiting enough members would be difficult.
"Oh, right. Those who become combat personnel can compete for Devil Fruits."
As Vane spoke, he took out four Devil Fruits—the Frilled Lizard Fruit, the Mastiff Fruit, the Giraffe Fruit, and the Rust-Rust Fruit.
In the end, Vane decided to keep the Arrow-Arrow Fruit, the Gas-Gas Fruit, and the artificial Azure Dragon Fruit together, waiting until the right time to designate specific people to consume them.
"Devil Fruits! Those are Devil Fruits!"
"They're treasures of the sea—and there are four of them."
"Only Celestial Dragons would make such extravagant moves."
The crowd became restless, especially those who had once been pirates. Their desire for battle burned intensely.
On the field, the Pirate Empress released Minotauros from his petrified state. Still confused, he understood that the woman before him was not someone to provoke. He had lost, so he did not attack again.
"Captain, let me challenge him."
This time, the challenger was not a newcomer, but Bonez, who had followed Vane from the very beginning.
As one of the earliest followers, Bonez felt it was necessary for him to advance further and command a ship independently.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo