"If Kaido's not around, I'm in charge. Who agrees? Who objects?" Rosha said, shouldering the massive mammoth tusk, her gaze dominating the entire hall.
The moment her words rang out, the Beasts Pirates, still reeling from Lord Jack's crushing defeat, all widened their eyes in shock. Some even turned red with anger.
Agree? Who would agree!
She was just a rookie who had barely joined the crew!
Even if all she did was boss people around, fine. But she had the audacity to declare herself the vice-captain of the Beasts Pirates!
Let alone that the crew technically didn't even have a vice-captain position, even if it did, no newly recruited rookie would have a chance at it.
In the minds of the Beasts Pirates, there was only one person worthy of being the second-in-command: Flame Calamity Jin.
This was the silent consensus of everyone present. Of course, they kept these thoughts to themselves. Even the boldest among them wouldn't dare speak out.
The reason was simple: right now, Rosha's aura was too sharp and overwhelming.
Many of them had initially shared Jack's opinion, thinking Rosha was just a heavily armored turtle strong in defense, but no threat in attack.
But she had obliterated Jack in just two or three moves, leaving him badly injured and unable to rise again.
Jack, the crew's top calamity, ranking just below Kaido and the other two calamities, had been completely powerless in front of her. That was terrifying beyond words.
Now, Rosha, carrying the mammoth tusk, appeared like a war god to everyone in the hall.
"No one spoke, so I'll take that as consent," Rosha said, her eyes sweeping across the silent Skull Hall.
At her words, anxious expressions spread across the Beasts Pirates. Some wanted to protest but didn't dare be the first to speak.
At that moment:
"Enough of this farce."
A commanding voice came from the second floor of the hall.
A man wrapped in black armor, wings unfurled from his back, descended.
The top calamity of the Beasts Pirates Flame Calamity Jin!
"Ughhhhhh !"
"Lord Jin!"
"Hahaha, Lord Jin is here!"
"Lord Jin, please punish this arrogant newcomer!"
"Lord Jack was seriously injured by that man, and now she claims she wants to be our vice-captain!"
The Beasts Pirates, now finding a figure of authority, shouted excitedly, eager to see Flame Calamity Jin take action.
But Jin ignored them, his eyes locked solely on Rosha in the crater.
"If your goal was to assert dominance, I think you've proven it," Jin said coldly.
Rosha didn't reply. At first, she had only wanted to test her Armored Dragon-Slaying Magic through Jack.
It wasn't until Jack had spoken that provocative line that she had unleashed her full power. Gaining respect in the process was just a bonus.
Among the Four Emperors' crews, the Beasts Pirates were the purest representation of the pirate jungle law.
Whitebeard's crew was a father playing house with his sons.
Big Mom's crew was a family business held together by blood ties.
The Red-Haired Pirates, inheriting Roger's will, were pure adventurers.
Only the Beasts Pirates upheld the law of the jungle: survival of the strongest.
Here, status was earned through strength. The bigger your fists, the louder your voice.
Take Pegivan, for example. Half a year ago, he was just another low-ranking pirate, bullied by the senior members.
After stealing the powers of the Spinosaurus Ancient Zoan, his rank shot up. Now, ordinary pirates bowed to him, addressing him as "sir."
That is the power of sheer ability!
To establish a foothold in the Beasts Pirates, the fastest way is to demonstrate strength and command respect through absolute force.
Though many of the pirates appeared resentful or rebellious, they would understand once they saw the consequences.
And if Rosha had the strength to suppress their mental image of a second-in-command, they might come to terms immediately.
"Jin, interested in sparring?" Rosha grinned, radiating wild energy.
Many pirates' eyes lit up. They wanted someone to tame this arrogant rookie. If it were Flame Calamity Jin, it would be perfect!
Hopeful eyes turned to him.
Yet Jin remained calm. "Send Jack for treatment. The rest will be decided when Kaido wakes."
With that, Jin turned and left, disappearing from their sight.
"Fine, no rush," Rosha said, shaking her head.
Compared to using Jin to assert authority, she was more interested in a pure fight.
She wanted to test the so-called invincible defense of the Lunaria bloodline and taste their natural fire firsthand.
But Jin wasn't a reckless hothead like Jack. That challenge would have to wait.
Tap tap!
Rosha walked through the hall, tusk resting on her shoulder. People instinctively moved aside.
"You… what are you planning?" Pegivan asked, worried.
Runti bared her teeth. "Aaah! I didn't lose last night! Once I recover…"
"Quiet, dummy sister. Even Jack got trashed, what can your little body handle?" Pegivan quickly covered her mouth.
"Here, this is for you!" Rosha tossed a tusk worth 450 million berries to Runti.
"Eh?"
Runti froze mid-rant, eyes lighting up.
"For me?"
"It's a reward for your performance last night," Rosha nodded.
Runti was the first to earn Rosha's approval. A small reward wouldn't hurt; she didn't really need the tusk anyway. If she wanted another later, she could take one from Jack.
"You're really kind. I've wanted this for so long," Runti said happily.
"Dummy sister, don't be so easily bought!" Pegivan said.
"Little Pegivan, that's the third time today you've called me a dummy," Runti said, slipping into older-sister mode.
Rosha's gaze shifted, just a look making Maria shiver.
"Lord Rosha, I'm just a weak woman, not skilled in combat. If you require other services, I'm at your disposal," Maria said, flashing a charming smile.
"Hmm, very well. Prepare a room for me," Rosha said.
She didn't insist, but she didn't trust Maria's words.
Weak? Not skilled in combat?
The Flying Six were never simple. Rosha still remembered her fighting Robin with brass knuckles.
Later, at a cave in Oni Island's back mountains:
"Yum yum yum, so good! Too good!"
Awakened from hunger, Yamato dove at the pile of salmon, devouring it happily.
"Rosha really is a good person, leaving me so much food…" Yamato froze, noticing Rosha's note on the wall: Eat well. Next time, more.
"Noooo!" the girl wailed.
That night, back at Skull Hall:
"Listen up! This is Rosha, my new partner from overseas. I'm sure you've all seen her strength!" Kaido laughed heartily.
"Rosha, I've heard about today. You're still too early to be my right hand, but…" Kaido's tone shifted, "…you do have the qualifications to be considered a candidate for vice-captain of the Beasts Pirates!"