McGuy, Is Your Brain Made of Muscle?
Inside the dining hall, the captains of the various allied pirate crews were slowly trickling in, enjoying a sumptuous meal.
They were also casually exchanging recent news and stories.
McGuy sat with a scowl on his face, his eyes scanning the room.
"Where's Squard? Don't tell me that bastard hasn't shown up yet."
Doma, sitting at the same table, replied with a sour tone:
"The Great Whirlpool Spider? He's tied himself to the Vice-Captain now.
You think he's still gonna sit around with us small fries?"
McGuy's brows furrowed, the lightning-shaped mustache he kept meticulously groomed twitching slightly.
"You mean that Vice-Captain—the newbie with a 1-berry bounty?"
"Squard's really fallen that far, huh? Groveling at the feet of some spoiled brat who climbed ranks through connections?"
Doma's frown deepened. That wild assumption irritated him, and he was about to correct it—
when Elmi leaned in from the next table, unable to stay quiet any longer.
"McGuy, is your brain made of muscle or something?"
"Do you really think Pops would handpick a Vice-Captain just based on connections?"
McGuy scoffed and folded his arms.
"Knowing Squard, he would've challenged the guy right away."
"And yet, what happened? Didn't Doma just say he became the guy's little lapdog?"
---
Doma gave a strange look and said:
"Who says he didn't challenge the Vice-Captain?"
McGuy's mustache twitched again.
"With Squard's blade skills, even Marco would need serious effort to beat him."
"And the deck's clean—no damage, no signs of a fight."
"We arrived around the same time. No way we missed anything like that."
Doma shrugged.
"Or maybe… the Vice-Captain beat him in one move."
---
McGuy scoffed loud and hard.
"One move? Get real."
"Among all 43 allied crews, the only one stronger than Squard is me."
"Even Pops would need a hundred rounds to take me down."
"If that damn Vice-Captain could beat Squard in one hit—
I'd lick his boots clean without complaint!"
---
Doma, used to this kind of thick-headedness, gave up trying.
He simply pointed at Whitey Bay, sitting not far off.
"Ask her, then. She and I were both there when it happened."
---
McGuy slammed the table.
"Forget asking! I'll challenge him myself!"
"Squard might be a bootlicker, but I've got a spine!"
---
Of course, everyone in the room had some level of Observation Haki—and Whitey Bay had heard every word.
She turned her head slowly, a cold sneer on her lips.
"The last person who said what you just did…
is now the Vice-Captain's loyal blade slave."
"You better start praying the Vice-Captain actually needs someone to polish his boots—
because otherwise, your future's looking rough."
"I've heard from the flagship crew…
the Vice-Captain's Observation Haki has evolved to an unimaginable level."
"You do remember what that Haki can do, don't you?"
---
A bead of cold sweat slid down the back of McGuy's neck.
It trailed along his spine, raising every hair along the way.
One warning from Doma, he could brush off.
But Whitey Bay too?
That made it undeniable.
"So it's true… this Vice-Captain really beat Squard in a single strike?"
"Squard, you damn idiot… you set me up!"
McGuy nervously looked up at the ceiling—
just above was the Vice-Captain's quarters and the captain's cabin.
And sure enough—his Observation Haki picked up on dozens of powerful auras, all gathered inside.
All the division commanders were in the Vice-Captain's room.
"Whatever's going on… it's clear the Vice-Captain's strength is now recognized by every single top officer."
McGuy's heart started pounding like a drum, cold sweat pouring.
Gone was the bravado.
No more talk of challenges.
---
Inside the Vice-Captain's cabin, Roya looked helplessly at the fifteen commanders all kneeling before him in two neat rows.
He sighed, then called out toward the door:
"Squard, go tell McGuy—
he has one hour to lick the entire deck clean."
"If he finishes, I won't hold his disrespect against him."
"If not—well, he knows what happens next."
---
Squard answered with a big grin and headed toward the dining room, whistling as he went.
---
Marco bowed low and said:
"Vice-Captain, we've come to request your guidance in our training."
"The war with the Marines is approaching fast. Even a slight increase in strength could make all the difference."
"We humbly beg you to help us grow stronger!"
All fifteen commanders bowed together, chanting:
"We humbly beg the Vice-Captain to guide our training!"
---
Roya scanned the group, slightly annoyed by the forced tone of their request.
But… he could feel their sincerity, their desperation to save Ace.
He sighed inwardly.
"Well, Whitebeard's already all but handed the crew over to me."
"After the war, he's clearly planning to step down entirely."
"These guys… are practically my inner circle now.
Might as well shape them up."
He nodded.
"Alright. The technique I discussed with the old man earlier—Life Return—
you'll all need to learn it."
"Train hard, and master it as quickly as possible."
"I'll be monitoring your progress through my Domain.
When you make mistakes, I'll correct you."
"Train freely—use your own understanding and instincts."
---
The commanders lit up with joy.
To have someone of Roya's power watching over them and personally guiding their progress?
It felt like they were about to level up overnight.
---
They were just about to thank him and leave when Roya spoke again.
"Based on your individual stats and attributes,
I'll design a custom training plan for each of you."
"Once you meet the criteria, you'll receive it."
"That's all. Dismissed."
---
The commanders were now completely overwhelmed with excitement.
They didn't just get advice—they were getting tailored regimens, custom-made by the most powerful being they'd ever seen.
And the Vice-Captain didn't even seem fazed.
To him, it was effortless.
That only made them respect him more.
As Roya stood and left the room, the commanders all knelt in silence, their foreheads pressed to the floor.
Only after he was gone did they finally look up.
They exchanged glances, their eyes blazing with excitement.
"Custom training plans… personal guidance… he's making us into monsters."
A single thought echoed in all their minds:
"We pledge our lives to the Vice-Captain!"