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Daichi wandered aimlessly through the streets with X Drake. Since he had never been there before, he simply went wherever his feet took him.
"Drake, it's been three years since we last met, hasn't it?"
"Exactly three years." X Drake's face was grim. Three years ago, the Hachinosu incident. He had suffered the biggest failure of his life.
To atone for his mistakes, he resolutely left the Marines and chose a perilous path of no return.
Daichi smiled, asking a question he already knew the answer to. "How did you become a pirate?"
"Because of that incident back then, I took full responsibility for acting on my own. I escaped while being transported to Enies Lobby for interrogation, and then I fled back to the North Blue to become a pirate," X Drake explained in a deep voice.
This was the reason for his downfall that Fleet Admiral Sengoku had prepared for him. To avoid suspicion, he specifically returned to the North Blue and was a pirate for two years.
Only after gaining some notoriety did he head to the Grand Line. This way, the Beast Pirates would have no reason to suspect him of being an undercover agent.
With Kaido's preference for Zoan Devil Fruit users, he would definitely not refuse him, an Ancient Zoan ability user. Once he entered the New World, he would only need to invade the Beasts' territory and display his abilities to naturally infiltrate the Beast Pirates.
A rather perfect plan!
"So that's how it is." Daichi stopped, stroking his chin. After a long period of thought, Daichi's smile bloomed as he suggested, "Do you want to follow me?"
"Ah?!" X Drake's mouth dropped open in astonishment. What was going on?
He had prepared a perfect plan, even intending to feign resistance and show some masculinity after being captured by the Beasts, eventually being forced to submit, all to raise his worth. But as soon as they met, he was recruited?
"Why?"
"Haha, well," Daichi looked appreciative. "Actually, the first time we met, I wanted to recruit you. You should know that the Beast Pirates are famous for their Zoan Devil Fruit users, and I personally admire you greatly."
X Drake's eyes went dark. Three years, he had been preparing for three years! What was it all for?
His subordinates heard the conversation and exchanged glances. So their Captain and a big shot like Daichi, the Destroyer were old acquaintances, and Daichi even wanted to recruit their Captain to join the Beast Pirates.
Shocked, very shocked! And surprised! If they could join the Beast Pirates, then in the future, they would truly be backed by a great tree and could even walk sideways in the treacherous New World.
X Drake struggled internally. He certainly wanted to join the Beast Pirates, but agreeing so easily would likely mean he wouldn't be valued.
However, if he missed this opportunity, it would be difficult to justify joining the Beast Pirates later. If the other party offered a chance and he didn't take it, insisting on a beating first... Wasn't that just being tsundere?
Also, he was very concerned about the other party's purpose for being in the Sabaody Archipelago. Such important information had to be conveyed to Marineford.
X Drake took a deep breath and quickly made up his mind. "Daichi, joining your command is not just my decision. Can I discuss it with my partners?"
"Of course you can." Daichi smiled and nodded, gesturing with his hand. Although this kid was a Marine undercover agent, he was hardworking and efficient, much more diligent than the other Tobi roppo.
Most importantly, X Drake was a former Marine Rear Admiral, formally trained. Daichi precisely lacked such a disciplined, idealistic, and righteous general to help him manage the fortress. He certainly wouldn't be suitable as a confidant, but as an employee, X Drake was exceptionally good!
X Drake and his partners huddled together.
"Captain, this is an opportunity not to be missed!"
"We're about to soar!"
"Daichi, the Destroyer personally invited us, truly giving us face!"
X Drake was helpless. His crew members were completely swept away by joy, but it was also his fault for never showing too much ambition. In the New World, joining a Yonko crew was the best outcome.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The sound of battle reached their ears. X Drake looked ahead, his gaze darkening. It was "Mad Monk" Urouge and "Massacre Soldier" Killer!
"Wait for me!" Without any hesitation, X Drake drew his sword and axe and charged forward, leaping up, dual-wielding his weapons to simultaneously block the Mad Monk's iron pillar and Killer's scythe!
"If you have the guts, go cause trouble in the New World!"
The immense power immediately startled the two Supernovas, who were in intense battle, making them hesitate to act rashly for a moment. Urouge shouldered his iron pillar, recognizing the man who had disrupted their fight.
"You're the Fallen Rear Admiral X Drake, aren't you!"
"That's me." X Drake sheathed his sword and axe and turned to leave.
A shout came from nearby. "I was just getting warmed up!" Trafalgar Law sat on a wooden crate, asking with ill intent, "Drake-ya, how many people have you killed?"
X Drake's gaze narrowed slightly. Also from the North Blue, he naturally recognized Trafalgar Law, a man known for his cruelty.
However, on this island, it was not strange to encounter anyone. After all, could there be anything more terrifying than encountering Daichi, the Destroyer?
"Kid, why did you suddenly leave me and act alone?" Daichi strolled over, and upon seeing Law nearby, and the Mad Monk and Killer confronting each other in the distance, he couldn't help but be stunned.
He couldn't find them when he wanted to, but now they were appearing in droves. Could it be that these Supernovas also attracted each other?
Law, Urouge, Killer. The three were simultaneously startled upon seeing Daichi. Cold sweat trickled down their cheeks.
"I never dreamed I'd run into this big shot here."
"The legendary great pirate, the Beast Pirates' Vice Captain, [Daichi, the Destroyer]!"
Daichi smiled and raised his hand to greet them. "Yo, hello there!"
Not good at all! The three tensed their muscles, fearing that Daichi would suddenly attack. They didn't want to clash with a big shot so early.
"Haha, don't be so nervous. I'm just here for sightseeing. I'm not very interested in you newcomers." Daichi chuckled, his tone relaxed. "After all, you're too weak."
"Crack!" Veins bulged on all three of their faces simultaneously. Too... too weak!
"I can't pretend I didn't hear that!" Law stood up with a cold expression, transparent circles, indicative of his Room ability, appearing from his palm. Urouge and Killer also gripped their weapons, ready to strike.
"Want to fight?" Daichi smiled faintly. He actually wanted to recruit these Supernovas, but he would wait until they had grown stronger. He didn't want to be a babysitter.
At this stage, these Supernovas were indeed very weak, a world apart from two years later. Letting them forge their own paths was the fastest way for them to grow.
X Drake, Basil Hawkins, Capone Bege, the Supernovas who joined the Yonko didn't fare particularly well; their strength was mediocre. However, the Supernovas who didn't join later became incredibly formidable, with even Urouge, who had the lowest bounty, defeating a 600 million bounty Sweet Commander. A massive gap!
As for X Drake, that kid had already been in the New World, and he was training him, so his combat power was secondary.
The three Supernovas surrounded Daichi, but their subordinates panicked first, desperately pulling their respective Captains.
"Captain, don't be impulsive! We still need to go to the Human Auction House!"
"Brother Killer, Captain Kid is waiting for us to return!"
"Monk-sama, calm down!"
Killer hesitated slightly, but Law and Urouge were unmoved. Being mocked was one thing, but they also wanted to witness the power of a big shot.
"A common flaw among newcomers, forget it." Daichi stretched lazily. He might as well play with them for a bit.
Thirty seconds later. Law, Killer, Urouge. The three were stuck headfirst into the ground, neatly arranged from lowest to highest, not even lasting a single round.
"Captain!!!" Their subordinates were dumbfounded. The battle ended too quickly; they couldn't even see clearly, only knowing that their vision blurred, and their Captain was embedded in the ground. How terrifying!