The small boat rowed up next to the pirate ship.
Grizzly Bear Bill put down the oars and shouted toward the ship, "It's me, your captain has returned. Pull us up."
Several heads popped up over the ship's railing, holding oil lamps to look down.
"The captain is really back!"
"But what about those rare beasts?"
"They're terrifying monsters. We can't let them on board."
"..."
The pirates quickly reached a consensus and refused to lower the rope ladder.
Grizzly Bear Bill cursed loudly, "I've already made a deal with them. We're on the same side now. Pull those rare beasts up first and have Hill and the others take care of them."
Soon, a rope ladder was lowered from the deck.
The five gene wolves nimbly hooked their claws onto the ladder and swiftly climbed aboard one after another.
"They fell for it!"
The deck erupted in cheers, followed by the roars of beasts.
Three grizzly bears charged out from the cabin, locking into a fierce brawl with the five gene wolves.
Grizzly Bear Bill turned around with a sinister grin, cracking his knuckles loudly. He sneered, "Who do you think I am? I'm a future captain under Lord Shiki's fleet. Didn't expect my ship to have three trained grizzlies, did you?"
"Say something. Weren't you acting all high and mighty earlier?"
Reddy remained expressionless as Bill roughly pushed him toward the rope ladder.
This is the end.
Sivedia trembled uncontrollably, collapsing into the small boat, his face drained of color.
After Grizzly Bear Bill escorted Reddy and Sivedia onto the deck, the three grizzlies—each standing nearly 1.8 meters tall at the shoulder—were barely holding their own against the five gene wolves.
These three bears had clearly undergone special enhancements, granting them overwhelming strength and fur toughness comparable to the gene wolves' scales.
The cramped deck also disadvantaged the gene wolves, which relied on both strength and agility. The five gene wolves could only rely on their numbers and armored scales to tussle with the grizzlies.
"Hill, bite it!"
"Victor, did you skip dinner tonight?"
"Dole, use your strength to pin them down!"
"..."
The deck turned into an arena.
Dozens of pirates clung to the rigging like monkeys, howling with excitement, their expertise painfully obvious.
This was also the sole reason they hadn't abandoned Captain Bill.
After all, on the vast ocean, three rampaging grizzlies on a ship were akin to death itself.
"Use the rope nets to trap them. Take them alive."
Grizzly Bear Bill interrupted the spectacle, hauling Reddy and Sivedia with one hand each.
The gene wolves had sharp claws and fangs but couldn't break free from the Grizzly Pirates' specially made nets. Soon, they were captured alive and locked in cages.
"Take him to the cabin. That's your privilege."
Grizzly Bear Bill tossed Sivedia to his crew, then threw Reddy over and sneered, "Lock him up in the lowest cell."
"No!"
Sivedia shut his eyes in despair as two pirates dragged him into the cabin.
Reddy's treatment was far worse. The pirates tied him up like a mummy and carried him down to the brig.
"Once I report to Lord Shiki, I'll personally wipe away this humiliation."
Grizzly Bear Bill watched as his men carried Reddy away, then gestured for someone to bring the Den Den Mushi.
Buru buru… Buru buru… Baka.
The Den Den Mushi's appearance morphed to resemble Golden Lion Shiki, even mimicking the helm embedded in Shiki's head.
"Lord Shiki, I've captured some powerful rare beasts."
Grizzly Bear Bill described Reddy and the five gene wolves, emphasizing the wolves' ferocity while barely mentioning Reddy.
"Gehahahaha… Well done, Bill. I'll come over tomorrow."
Shiki was highly pleased with Bill's offering and praised him generously, hinting at formally recruiting the Grizzly Pirates into the Flying Pirates before ending the call.
"Men, we're about to join the Flying Pirates!"
Grizzly Bear Bill, exhilarated by Shiki's promise, couldn't contain his excitement. He ordered his crew to break out the liquor and threw a raucous party on the deck.
Late into the night.
The deck was littered with drunken, snoring pirates.
Then, several test tubes flew onto the deck from below and shattered.
A faint fragrance quickly spread across the deck, and within seconds, the snores grew even louder.
Reddy, treading water, watched as a gene sea beast carrying a clone dove underwater before leaping out and soaring into the air.
The clone arched its body, gripping the beast's maw with one hand, then kicked off with its legs, using the beast as a springboard to vault onto the deck.
Another clone followed suit.
The rope ladder dropped.
Reddy recalled the gene sea beast and climbed up the ladder. He then signaled the two clones.
The clones immediately dispersed, using ropes to truss up the unconscious pirates like livestock.
Meanwhile, Reddy approached Grizzly Bear Bill, summoned his interface, and entered the bio-lab.
[Product Storage]
[Sample Storage]
[Virus Development]
[Pharmaceutical Development]
[Synthesis Lab]
Reddy accessed Product Storage and retrieved a test tube.
Inside was about 5 ml of a colorless, transparent liquid.
This was a byproduct of his earlier experiments—a potent anesthetic.
Reddy uncorked the tube and poured all of it into Bill's mouth, ensuring he wouldn't wake for at least three days.
About half an hour later, Reddy had seized control of the pirate ship using the anesthetic.
Every member of the Grizzly Pirates, including the three grizzlies, had been tied up by the two clones without exception.
Reddy emerged from the cabin, his left hand resting on his sword hilt, now clad again in his tattered white coat. Five gene wolves followed behind him.
Reddy strode to the bow, gazing at the dark sea, murmuring to himself.
"I hope the plan goes smoothly."
...
"Who the hell did this? Untie me!"
The first pirate to wake up found himself bound like livestock, rousing the others.
The anesthetic was potent, but the sea breeze had diluted its effect, merely deepening their slumber.
The five gene wolves bared their fangs, eyeing them menacingly.
The deck fell silent.
The pirates gaped in shock. Who freed them?
Then they spotted Reddy leaning against the railing, their eyes nearly popping out.
How did he get out?
At that moment, a black dot appeared on the horizon.
As it drew closer, it revealed itself to be a massive pirate ship fashioned from a small island.
Soon, a figure flew from the ship.
Golden Lion Shiki landed on the deck. Seeing the trussed-up pirates, his gaze shifted to Reddy, and he grinned. "Gehahahaha… I'm surprised."
Shiki then eyed the five gene wolves, pulling out a cigar, lighting it, and taking a puff. He laughed heartily, "Excellent rare beasts. I like them."
Reddy leaned against the railing, his face cold.
Shiki's expression darkened.
Then another Reddy stepped out from the cabin, smiling faintly. "They're treasures I created myself. I'm quite fond of them too."
As if responding, the five gene wolves nuzzled against him before snarling at Shiki.
"Gehahahaha…"
Shiki glanced at the Reddy by the railing, then at the one who'd just emerged, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "I didn't expect anyone besides Vegapunk and Judge to master the secrets of life. Are you with MADS?"
"Whether you are or not, join my crew. I'll give you whatever you want."