Shiki could not remember how he had let go of his last lifeline.
Indeed, before those top-tier powerhouses, he could not even protect himself.
"Haha, kid, do not overthink it."
"Though what you did would deserve hanging on Fish-Man Island, your heart does not agree with kidnapping mermaids, does it?"
This was the convenience of Observation Haki.
Different people's awakened Observation Haki had different focuses.
Silas focused on perception and emotions.
His Observation Haki could sense a wider range than ordinary Observation Haki users and could slightly perceive a person's emotions.
Of course, Silas could only sense relatively intense emotions.
It could be considered useful or not.
But now, Silas felt that after Rocks defeated Shiki's captain Butler, Shiki's emotion was not anger but the satisfaction of revenge.
So Silas believed that in this mermaid kidnapping operation, Shiki was just an insignificant outsider.
If the current Golden Lion Shiki was an irredeemable scumbag, then no matter how talented he was, Silas would not take him under his wing.
But fortunately Shiki was still young, and was not the mastermind of this operation.
So Silas was willing to give him a chance.
But many things, once done, were done. Death could be avoided, but punishment could not be escaped.
Even if Shiki was not the main culprit.
"How about this? I see you have some talent. You will stay on Fish-Man Island as forced labor. When we return from this voyage, if you can master any one of the 'Six Powers' techniques I am about to teach you, I will let you join my ship as an apprentice crew member."
"Of course, you can refuse."
When mentioning refusal, Silas's face showed a kind smile. This smile made Shiki swallow back the words that had reached his throat.
"I understand."
No unwillingness. So-called winners and losers.
He was currently weaker than Silas, even weaker than any White Wolf Pirates member.
So it was natural he had no right to choose.
And Silas had given him an option.
Join the White Wolf Pirates!
Though only as a White Wolf Pirates apprentice, Shiki clearly understood that one day in such a pirate crew would teach him more than a year in his original crew.
Like now.
Though he would be taken for forced labor until the White Wolf Pirates returned from the Grand Line's first half due to kidnapping mermaids, there were also gains.
Silas would have Rocks demonstrate the Six Powers for him once.
Whether he could learn them depended on his talent.
After everything ended, Rocks followed behind Silas expressionlessly.
"Does that person have great talent?"
"Pretty decent."
Hearing Silas's words, Rocks's expression immediately became much more serious.
In his view, Silas had extremely sharp eyes.
Though the White Wolf Pirates currently did not have many new members, each one was a first-rate monster!
Rocks was not a newcomer anymore either. He knew that on these seas, great pirates were not anything special. You needed power to contend with Marine Admirals to be considered a hero.
So Rocks seriously suspected those Silas favored either had special abilities or had the potential to become Admiral-level powerhouses!
Though saying this seemed self-congratulatory, Rocks had always believed this.
Contending with Admiral-level fighters had never been his goal.
Surpassing Silas was!
If he could not even reach Admiral level, how could he surpass Silas?
At this moment, the mermaid he had rescued finally recovered.
Seeing them, the mermaid girl's face showed an excited expression.
"Captain Silas, you saved me again!"
Hm?
Rocks looked at the mermaid girl with obvious displeasure, practically having a question mark floating over his head. "Hey hey, I'm the one who saved you!"
"But you're Captain Silas's crew member, aren't you?"
The mermaid girl tilted her head with innocent logic. "You only came to rescue me because Captain Silas told you to, right? If he hadn't given the order, you wouldn't have saved me, so naturally I should thank Captain Silas."
Unable to refute!
Rocks admitted that without Silas's orders, he could not be bothered with such matters.
But he also noticed the mermaid girl's words had deeper meaning.
"You know the Captain?"
"Of course!"
The mermaid girl's face showed a happy smile.
"Captain Silas saved me once eight years ago. I never expected Captain Silas to come save me again when I was in danger."
The girl cupped her hands, looking at Silas with sparkling eyes. "Captain Silas, you are truly Kokoro's hero!"
Kokoro? Which Kokoro?
Ancient memories surfaced in his mind. With the girl's words, Silas also remembered that among the mermaids he had rescued eight years ago, there had indeed been several young mermaids.
"You have grown up!"
Seeing the girl's current appearance, Silas could not help feeling emotional.
After coming to this world, he had changed many things.
Some changes were for the better, others for the worse.
Regardless, Silas only sought a clear conscience.
"Captain Silas, thank you for saving me, and for eight years ago too. Both I and Nana and the others have always wanted to thank you."
The girl familiarly came before Silas and hugged his arm.
"Captain Silas, would you like to visit my home?"
"No, no."
Silas quickly waved his hands. This really would not work.
If he remembered correctly, Kokoro had just turned fourteen this year.
If he dared make any moves, forget his female crew members. Even the censorship gods would not spare him!
"I am just passing through Fish-Man Island this time and will leave soon. But if there is a chance, we might meet again somewhere else."
Silas looked at Kokoro, saying in a joking tone, "I am planning to open a trade route between Fish-Man Island and Sphinx. If you are interested, Kokoro, you could participate too."
"A trade route? I understand!"
Originally hearing Silas could only stay briefly on Fish-Man Island and could not visit her home, mermaid girl Kokoro had been somewhat sad.
Now hearing Silas say this, the girl's expression immediately became excited.
She knew she had no combat talent and definitely could not join the White Wolf Pirates, but managing trade fleets would be much simpler.
"Captain Silas, I will work hard!"
The girl quietly cheered herself on.
Whether Shiki or Kokoro, both were just small episodes Silas encountered on Fish-Man Island.
After a brief rest, the White Wolf Pirates headed toward their original destination, the location of the lanternfish that had swallowed Pure Gold.
This next battle would be in the deep sea!