Chapter 458: The Official Formation of the Magic Pattern Association
"Guhahahaha, I believe many will recognize the force this ship belongs to, even without my explanation!" Morgans announced.
As the broadcast screen shifted to the ship's flag, most viewers watching the live feed instantly recognized it.
A black cross pattern, resembling the World Government's flag but distinctly black.
This was the flag of the Magic Pattern Association's official Anti-Demon Agency.
The World Government had named it so, and the name's meaning was clear.
It was chosen to unite major forces against the demon clans.
The Anti-Demon Agency targeted the Hunter Association's Holy Hunt organization, and the World Government nearly adopted their original flag design.
Thus, the flag was familiar to most people.
Clearly, the ship on the broadcast belonged to the Anti-Demon Agency.
Specifically, it was one of their official guilds, Eve.
Months after the Hunter Association's founding, the World Government established the Magic Pattern Association.
At that time, many individuals wielded magical power.
Once these individuals formed magic patterns, their abilities underwent a qualitative leap.
By activating the magic pattern form, they gained formidable powers, akin to innate abilities.
Their strength could even rival the average demon clan member.
With such potential, the World Government naturally sought to harness it.
Thus, the Magic Pattern Association was born.
Numerous major forces participated in its initial establishment.
Like the Hunter Association, the Anti-Demon Agency comprised multiple official guilds.
Each founding force contributed one guild, totaling six initial members:
The World Government's Magic Pattern Guild.
Chasing Light from the Corti Kingdom's Miracle Land.
The Ruler of the Realm of Chaos.
Shadow Demon of the Dark Curtain.
The North Blue New World Alliance's Magic Alliance.
And Eve from Fish-Man Island.
Notably absent were Morgans' underground organization from the Hunter Association and the giant nation of Elbaf.
At the time, the Hunter Association was undergoing a massive expansion.
Morgans and Elbaf lacked sufficient resources.
Though Morgans earned from his newspaper business, he had to share profits with the Extremely Evil Fleet Group.
Having relied on Hisoka's protection, he could not afford to skip tributes.
Morgans' allied underground organizations were too busy building hunter bases to invest in this new venture.
Their resources were stretched thin, and Morgans' sharp tongue had offended the Five Elders.
The Five Elders sneered and said they would not accept a "poor man" like Morgans.
As for Elbaf, beyond resource constraints, their king showed little interest in magic pattern users.
Most giants, with their straightforward nature, rarely produced magic pattern users, making it hard to form a strong guild.
They had no desire to collect magic patterns from humans or other races.
Humans and others, often cunning, tended to develop darker traits as magic pattern users, which clashed with Elbaf's king's values.
Thus, the World Government turned to Fish-Man Island.
Whoosh!
In the Sea Vortex Layer, the ship Morgans highlighted moved swiftly.
Roaring currents beneath propelled it forward at great speed.
It navigated steadily between the swirling whirlpools.
Even when a whirlpool shifted suddenly, a group of fish-men and mermaids in magic pattern form aboard the ship resolved the threat.
On the deck, a fish-man with gray skin, clad in blue robes, stood at the forefront of his kin.
"Could it be the treasure?" he murmured.
He gazed at a distant whirlpool-free spot and pondered.
"Brother Thunder Ray, Morgans mentioned us! Can everyone on Fish-Man Island see us?" a companion behind him asked with a smile.
"They must be watching." Thunder Ray replied.
"We will become famous worldwide and spread Eve's light across the globe." he declared.
Turning to his companion, his light blue hair danced in the wind, and his stern face softened with a warm smile.
"Yes, I believe Brother Thunder Ray can surely do it." his companion said optimistically.
Hearing the trust in his companion's voice, Thunder Ray drifted into thought.
After a moment, he responded softly, "Yes, I can definitely do it."
His simple words carried unwavering resolve.
At that moment, Morgans' booming voice echoed across the sea.
"Guhahahaha, everyone, we can see that Eve from the Magic Pattern Association's Anti-Demon Agency is leading the Sea Vortex Layer." he announced.
"Eve represents Fish-Man Island's magic pattern users, recruiting fish-men, mermaids, and other aquatic and marine race magic pattern users."
"Even sea beasts have joined their ranks."
"With hundreds of official members, over half possess the ability to control ocean currents or water systems."
"It is a nightmare for ordinary Devil Fruit users to face this guild at sea."
As Morgans spoke eloquently, many began to understand Eve, a guild under the Anti-Demon Agency.
"Eve? Fish-men?" Hokubu muttered.
Hokubu, leader of the Magic Pattern Guild's Tornado Guild, watched the distant ship, his progress lagging.
His guild's ship had to dodge whirlpools, pushing them off course.
Even as Eve overtook them, he was powerless to act.
The distance—one or two kilometers—was too great for his influence to reach.
He could only watch as they surpassed him.
The opponent's many sea-current-controlling members made this stage their domain.
Fortunately, as a prominent wind-type guild, their progress was not slow.
He had to claim that treasure.
It would propel his guild's rapid growth.
Hokubu thought quietly.
As a former noble, his initial wealth and strength had fueled his guild's expansion.
Magic pattern users were costly to maintain.
Magic wands, knives, guns, beast materials, fruits, potions, and Holy Light Potions all came at a price.
Without funds, guild growth stalled.
Hokubu relied on a small magic mine he controlled.
Otherwise, his hundreds of members would bankrupt him swiftly.
While members could hunt beasts for self-sufficiency, a guild without benefits attracted no followers.
Joining a stronger guild was always preferable.
Guilds were now caught in a competitive spiral, chasing better resources.
Magic minerals and fruits were scarce, and magic pattern users were few.
To recruit, guilds had to offer superior benefits, leading to this cutthroat environment.
Yet, Hokubu was a magic pattern user with ambition.
He preached gratitude, dedication, and loyalty to his subordinates daily.
This ensured that, even after his magic mine was depleted, he could rely on loyalty to sustain and grow the guild.
It was a painstaking effort.
But now, a shortcut lay ahead.
If he missed it, he would be struck by lightning.
He resolved to seize it.
"Mizuki, let the first group rest to restore their magic power." Hokubu instructed.
"Have the second and third groups activate their magic pattern forms. Let Tian propel our ship through this Sea Vortex Layer in one push."
Hearing Hokubu's orders, Mizuki paused briefly.
Then he nodded and agreed.
Without further words, he began organizing the crew.
Seeing Mizuki's efficiency, Hokubu nodded with satisfaction.
This was the subordinate he valued—no questions, no doubts, just quiet, effective task completion.
An ideal subordinate.
(End of Chapter)