Chapter 173: A Lesson

Chapter 173: A Lesson

"Gurahaha! You passed the test, little guy, welcome to the Rocks Pirates!"

"From now on, you are an Apprentice Pirate of the Rocks Pirates. Strive to survive!"

Newgate said with a hearty laugh, finally speaking a phrase with a hint of deeper meaning before turning and leaving.

Kaido clearly didn't notice, nor did he care what an Apprentice Pirate supposedly was.

Witnessing Newgate's terrifying Strength, which left him nearly incapable of resistance without even personally making a move.

This showed him a New World.

His intense desire for Strength made it clear to him that he hadn't come to the wrong place.

With the Rocks Pirates, he could become even stronger.

Ultimately, through Subordinate Overcoming Superior, he would become the strongest in the World!

Starting the next day, Kaido began his journey of challenging the various Cadre of the Rocks Pirates.

And quickly suffered Heavy blows.

"Linlin, you really are being unnecessarily meddlesome."

Shiki glanced at the graceful Charlotte Linlin, then sneered as he looked at Kaido, who was being shielded by Linlin.

"What do you mean, 'unnecessarily meddlesome'? Kaido is my younger brother."

Even when facing Shiki, Charlotte Linlin showed no weakness.

The onlookers clearly saw what had happened.

Although Shiki and Charlotte Linlin seemed to be at daggers drawn, there was actually no real conflict between the two.

The young Kaido was truly a hothead, wanting to grow stronger and increase his Strength by constantly challenging the Cadre.

But others weren't so foolish as to willingly become Kaido's Stepping Stone, a tool for him to grow stronger.

Kaido was someone Rocks favored.

 Those who gave Rocks face would spare Kaido after defeating him, at most leaving him heavily injured.

However, with Kaido's Physique, he could recover in no time after eating a meal.

But for those who disliked Kaido, actually killing him wouldn't be a big deal either.

A Monster that hadn't Grown Up yet? If he died, he died.

 Would the Rocks Pirates really miss this one?

Clearly, Kaido's challenge without reason, like a provocation, nearly brought about a fatal disaster.

One should know that Hades was also low-key for a period after joining the Rocks Pirates, and his sparring was with Newgate and Charlotte Linlin, with whom he was on good terms.

For someone like Kaido, the approach of wanting to turn everyone into a Stepping Stone was simply too naive.

"Stone Buddha" Duncan had no conflicts with anyone after joining the Rocks Pirates.

"Demon King" Nash also developed steadily, and even aligned himself with "\"Golden King\" Donovan".

 On the surface, he was subordinate to Donovan, so no one dared to easily make a move against him.

As for "Tyrant Dragon" Zak, he had the Dragonoid Gang sticking together.

 As long as he didn't offend the Core Cadre, he could essentially do whatever he wanted.

If Charlotte Linlin hadn't stepped forward and saved Kaido, he might have already been killed.

What was Kaido, who hadn't Grown Up yet, worth?

The current Kaido didn't have the Future Undying Body, powerful Defense, and Recovery Power; he was just a greenhorn kid.

Shiki was somewhat dissatisfied with Charlotte Linlin's actions.

The Rocks Pirates had their Rules: killing, Betrayal, Subordinate Overcoming Superior, and bullying the weak were all commonplace.

Before you actively provoked trouble, very few people would make a move against you.

But Kaido's actions were entirely active provocation, giving others a reason to make a move against him.

The young Kaido clearly didn't have the cunning of the Future.

And no one would have expected Charlotte Linlin to suddenly step out and protect Kaido.

This Battle was destined not to happen.

Shiki and Charlotte Linlin's relationship wasn't great, but it was just verbal sparring; he wouldn't completely offend Linlin.

This kind of thing wouldn't benefit him.

 He was just feeling a bit annoyed by what he saw; he and Newgate had Grown Up in this kind of environment.

Kaido had outstanding Talent, but in the end, he was just a kid.

 What did he amount to?

Although being an Oni Tribe member was rare, the Rocks Pirates weren't without them.

 Just among Hades's Subordinate, there was "Demonic Beast" Pogba, who was an Admiral.

The members who were watching the show dispersed one after another.

Charlotte Linlin's stance also made it clear to them that the newly joined kid already had backing.

 If they really killed Kaido, it would be equivalent to completely offending Charlotte Linlin.

As a "Natural Born Destroyer", although Charlotte Linlin gave birth almost every year, this didn't affect the improvement of her Strength.

As a Core Member of the Rocks Pirates, although she didn't have the same Influence as Hades or Shiki, her Strength was on par with theirs.

It was only in the Future, due to years of giving birth, that the speed of her Strength improvement slowed down, and she gradually began to be surpassed by Newgate and the others.

Towards Charlotte Linlin, the vast majority of members felt a sense of Fear.

 No one wanted their Lifespan plundered, or even their Soul eaten.

In their view, Kaido was merely a new tool favored by Charlotte Linlin.

Hades and the others were just watching the show, not taking it too much to heart.

But for Kaido, it was clearly a big deal.

This was his first lesson on the Rocks Pirates.

After everyone left, Charlotte Linlin looked at Kaido, who was supporting his Body and standing up, and warned him solemnly, "Kaido, in the Rocks Pirates, don't trust anyone."

"Before you have enough Strength, it's best not to easily challenge those Monster."

As Kaido's Senior, she clearly had the right to speak.

Her experience was much greater than Kaido's.

Hades only began the path of challenging the Strongman of the Rocks Pirates when he possessed sufficient Strength and established the Pluto Pirates in one fell swoop.

Newgate and Shiki both started only after eating Devil Fruits and having absolute confidence in their own Strength.

This path, while not necessarily the only route to becoming a Core Cadre of the Rocks Pirates, was certainly the most dazzling one.

It showed that your Strength had been given Recognition by all the Core Cadre.

As for Charlotte Linlin, she was someone who reached the Peak upon her debut.

Joining the Rocks Pirates at fifteen, her terrifying Defense alone made people feel Despair.

At that time, Newgate and Shiki were just starting to gain some fame; compared to Charlotte Linlin, they were merely minor characters.

"If you have time, you might as well gather some Intelligence about the Rocks Pirates' internal affairs first."

Charlotte Linlin suggested.

"How annoying."

Kaido, carrying his Spiked Club, stumbled past Charlotte Linlin, speaking stubbornly.

He clearly took it to heart.

 Charlotte Linlin was good to him, but for a man to yield and admit defeat was clearly impossible.

Especially being protected from behind by a woman, this was something that could be called a disgrace.

"Mom! Mom! How interesting."

The young Charlotte Linlin's intelligence was undoubtedly online.

 In her opinion, Kaido's behavior was rather cute.

Although she had thoughts of a physical relationship with Kaido in her heart, she also genuinely regarded Kaido as a younger brother.

Kaido possessed an excellent Physique, and his height was similar to hers at that age.

 If he had been a "shorty," her attitude would clearly have been different.

(end of chapter)