NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: Chapter 2: The Path to Becoming a Cadre
(Word Count of the chapter, not note: 1,000)
"Is my bounty not enough?" Himmel asked casually, his tone carrying an edge of indifference.
"No, it's more than enough," the pirate replied quickly. "We'll be docking soon. Head on up and wait."
Himmel rose from his seat, his movement drawing fleeting glances from the gathered pirates.
The ship's sails unfurled, and the fleet headed toward Yas Island—a place notorious across the New World.
---
Known as the "Source of Evil," Yas Island was the Rocks Pirates' base of operations. Only those who became official crew members could remain on the island.
To the countless pirates who dreamed of joining, Yas Island was a symbol of power and an unattainable holy ground.
"Welcome to Yas Island!" the Rocks crewmember announced as the ships docked. "You don't have time to sightsee.
If you make it, you'll be free to stay forever. Now, follow me! Captain Rocks is waiting for you."
Albert followed closely behind Himmel, his steps faltering as he noticed the envious stares from the other pirates.
His gut churned with regret, but it was too late to turn back. He could only press forward.
---
"Captain, I heard the Rocks selection process is brutal," Albert whispered nervously.
Although he'd accompanied Himmel through countless battles to reach the New World, his own bounty of 30 million berries was a glaring reminder of his relative weakness.
"Is that so?" Himmel replied, smirking as he reached into Albert's pack, pulling out a bottle of wine. He uncorked it with ease and took a long swig.
"From what I've heard, the process is simple: pirates fight each other, and whoever survives gets to join the crew.
Maybe the rules have changed, but honestly, it doesn't matter."
Albert swallowed hard. "Captain, I trust you, but some of these guys have bounties over 300 million berries.
They've made names for themselves in the New World, even taking down Marine Vice Admirals!"
Himmel snorted, his expression laced with disdain. "If they've been in the New World this long and only have a bounty of 300 million, they're trash. Not even worth the title."
---
Albert's face went pale, and his heart sank. Himmel hadn't bothered lowering his voice, and his words rang clear for everyone to hear.
The surrounding pirates froze, their attention snapping to Himmel.
Murderous intent filled the air, and a few of them even placed hands on their weapons, ready to draw.
The temperature seemed to drop as the tension thickened.
"Don't start anything here," barked the pirate leading the group. "You'll regret it if you do."
The threat in his voice silenced the crowd, though it didn't extinguish the fire in their eyes.
One pirate, a burly man with a bounty of 320 million, raised his massive cleaver and sneered. "You've got a lot of nerve for a rookie. I'll enjoy cutting you down later."
"Supernova or not," another pirate jeered, "you're just a kid who doesn't know the New World's cruelty."
"This isn't the Grand Line, brat. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes."
The crowd buzzed with rising animosity, each pirate convinced of their superiority.
Himmel chuckled, unbothered by their threats. "I hope your strength matches your big mouths."
---
The group finally arrived at a towering palace in the center of the island, its opulence a stark contrast to the bloodthirsty aura surrounding Yas Island.
The grand structure seemed to have once belonged to a noble family, now repurposed as the Rocks Pirates' lair.
The pirate leading them stopped before a massive, eight-meter-high gate.
"Jihahaha! The newcomers are here?"
A loud, gravelly laugh echoed from behind the doors, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps.
The gates creaked open, revealing a man seated at the head of a grand hall. Rocks D. Xebec exuded an oppressive presence, his wild hair and piercing gaze giving him the air of a beast ready to strike.
Flanking him were his infamous lieutenants:
Whitebeard, his massive frame and iconic crescent-shaped mustache unmistakable.
Golden Lion Shiki, his yellow hair gleaming under the torchlight.
Charlotte Linlin, already indulging in desserts piled high before her.
---
Behind them sat the rest of the Rocks Pirates' elite crew, a chaotic mix of strength and danger.
"Captain, these are the newcomers," the escort announced.
Rocks leaned forward, his gaze sweeping across the recruits with cold calculation. The sheer weight of his presence made the air feel heavy.
"You've all heard how we do things around here," Rocks began, his deep voice commanding silence.
The gathered pirates' eyes gleamed with anticipation, already glancing at their competition.
Himmel stood calmly in the crowd, his relaxed demeanor making him seem like an easy target.
Albert, on the other hand, fidgeted nervously behind him, flinching at every glare directed his way.
"None of you are ordinary people," Rocks declared with a sinister grin. "So prove it. Fight.
If you survive, you're officially one of us."
Golden Lion and the others smirked, clearly amused by the impending bloodbath.
To them, the lives of these newcomers were worth less than the drinks in their cups.
---
The room erupted in chaos as pirates turned on each other, weapons drawn and blood spilling across the hall.
Amid the frenzy, Himmel stood still, unfazed by the carnage. His hand rested lightly on his sword, waiting.
"What about becoming a cadre?" Himmel asked, his voice cutting through the noise.
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(Translator note ahead! If you aren't interested in this fic, skip to next chapter.)
T/N: The amount of power stone given on Sunday, after Power stone reset, till Wednesday and more determines the update schedule for this work (this is cause I'm a bit too busy handling 3 works at the same time, don't mind me.👍)
150 PS on Monday morning and 400 PS (before Wednesday arrives) = 8/Week.
250PS On Monday morning, 600PS before Wednesday= 11/week.
300 on Monday morning, 800PS before Wednesday = 14 - 15/week.
400 On Monday morning, 900 before Wednesday = 17/week for that specific week. (Ignore this if you aren't interested in this translation, and especially no need to criticize me off useless topics like power stones. It's my hobby as a translator to see the book I'm translating goes to high ranking.)
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