Who told him to become the Pirate King!

Chapter 5 Clay Fruit, Figure Fruit!

A few minutes later.

Storm went from the admiral's office on the top floor to the Navy Finance Department below.

His purpose was simple and clear—to collect his salary!

That's how the navy works.

Pirates only need to commit evil deeds, burn, kill, and plunder, and stir up trouble on the seas to make money.

However, the navy could only obediently wait for the World Government to pay its military salaries.

The Navy operates on an annual salary system.

The annual income of a newly enlisted marine is as follows:

Two million Berry!

This does not include other aspects, such as subsidies and bonuses for uniforms, meals, etc.

From this perspective, the Navy's welfare benefits are quite good.

Not long after that.

Storm received his salary from the finance department.

Two hundred brand-new 10,000-yuan banknotes!

Storm casually pocketed the two million peso.

He turned and left the finance department, then went to the logistics and equipment department.

Isn't the point of getting paid to spend it?

Once the salary is paid, I'll immediately buy the equipment.

Logistics and Equipment Department.

The man who received Storm was a muscular, stubble-bearded middle-aged navy officer.

He glanced at Storm's marine uniform, then his gaze swept over the latter's bulging pockets.

"New recruits? That's rare! What kind of weapons and equipment do you want?"

"I want to order two weapons: a longsword and a baton."

With Pele in his pocket, Storm speaks with confidence.

"However, I have additional requirements regarding the material of the baton."

"I want to order a custom-made sea stone baton."

Storm has not yet awakened [Overpowering Aura].

He came specifically to order a "sea stone weapon" just in case.

Seastone baton, specifically designed to strike those with special abilities.

Every hit is a real wound, every blow a critical strike.

As for the longsword.

Storm is, after all, just a mortal.

He doesn't possess Big Mom's innate, monstrous "steel balloon" talent.

Storm can box.

But he also used a knife!

Storm's original goal was to purchase a good knife that met his needs from the equipment department.

It would be even better if there were a "famous sword" of the level of a fine and fast sword.

Generally speaking.

A fine, sharp knife is worth around one million Berries.

This price is still affordable for Storm.

However, a fine, sharp knife is often available but not in demand.

There are more people who use knives on the high seas than people who play with fire.

The navy also has countless swordsmen and even sword masters.

Genuine, high-quality knives are rarely found on the market.

"Seastone? You have an eye for knowledge!"

The middle-aged naval officer gave a thumbs-up in praise.

"I remember the last person to come to the Equipment Department specifically to order Seastone weapons was that kid Smoker."

"The Seastone Equipment Department has stock, but we don't have the 'Seastone Baton' you mentioned at the moment."

"If you want to order a weapon like this, it might take a day or two."

"Can."

Storm nodded; he could wait a day or two.

"Where's the longsword?"

"Swords and blades..."

The middle-aged navy man rubbed his stubble a few times, then glanced furtively at the recruit's pocket.

"Speaking of which, the Equipment Department just received a batch of iron ore recently."

"This is a very rare and special mineral; it can be ignited like alcohol."

"Weapons crafted using iron ore can 'burn'!"

The Burning Sword?

A flaming sword?

Storm subconsciously thought of the "Flame-Flame Fruit".

Now even swords can be used to play with fire?

"The iron ore weapon can be ignited not only manually, but also by friction."

The middle-aged naval officer continued to promote what he called "wine iron ore".

"This type of weapon is very popular in the New World."

Although the power of such "fire weapons" is not optimistic.

But it's cooler! More dazzling! More stylish!

The key point is that it costs more to forge than ordinary swords and other weapons!

A sly, merchant-like smile crept across the middle-aged naval officer's lips.

"That sounds really interesting."

Storm asked the most crucial question.

"How much does this iron ore military knife, along with a sea stone baton, cost in total?"

"Seastone batons aren't difficult to process, so I'll just charge you the cost price! Two hundred thousand Berries!"

The middle-aged navy man's smile immediately became more pronounced.

"The Iron Ore Saber costs 800,000 Berries! Although it's not a famous sword, it's definitely worth the price!"

"That's one million Berries in total! Would you like cash or a check, sir?"

"I……"

Just as Storm reached for the money, he suddenly caught sight of his marine uniform.

He paused, then changed the subject.

"I'm a new recruit!"

"?"

A sense of foreboding suddenly welled up in the middle-aged naval officer's heart.

Is this kid going to say something like, "I'm a new recruit, send me here"?

No! Absolutely not!

Don't even mention that you're a new recruit; even if you were a new recruit, it wouldn't work!

"Sir!"

Storm smiled brightly.

"I'm a new recruit! Go ahead and slash me!"

All I want to do right now is cut you!

The middle-aged navy man clenched his fists instantly.

……

"The head of the logistics and equipment department is actually quite nice!"

A cheerful Storm walked out of the equipment department.

Just now, he spent one million Berries to buy a slag knife and a sea stone baton from the equipment department.

There's also a Den Den Mushi that crosses the sea.

And a permanent pointer for the Navy Headquarters.

The latter two were free gifts from the hospitable Equipment Department.

Not worth mentioning.

Storm left the Naval Headquarters building with light steps and then went to the Headquarters training ground.

The "200x Effort" skill requires a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication to unlock.

You can't just casually say something and suddenly become a cheat code.

Over the past year.

Storm had been training intensely in boot camp, where he learned a lot of skills.

This includes techniques such as the Six Styles, swordsmanship, and spearmanship.

But today, having arrived at the headquarters training grounds, Storm has no intention of continuing to hone his physical skills.

In comparison.

Storm was more interested in the Clay Fruit he had just acquired.

"Hey!", "Roar!", "Ha!", "Eek!"

Storm is getting closer and closer to the training ground.

The sounds of muscles clashing, powerful roars, and a few strange groans filled the air.

He heard these sounds more and more clearly.

But just as Storm stepped onto the training field...

A rather offensive remark drifted over on the wind.

"I really want to be Miss Peacock's dog—"

Along with it came a rhythmic "slap," "slap slap" sound.

The sound was exactly like a whip lashing against a body.

Do not!

It's not "like," it's "the truth"!

Storm stopped and looked over.

It was on an open space not far from him.

A tall, blonde, blue-eyed young woman is mercilessly whipping a marine.

Storm raised an eyebrow slightly.

He recognized the blonde girl who was wielding a whip and striking people at a glance.

Peacock is the granddaughter of the Chief of Staff Tsuru!

However, according to Storm's understanding...

The weapon the peacock used before was not a "whip," but a "longsword."

Storm observed carefully for a while longer.

Only then did they realize that the "whip" in the peacock's hand was not a "whip" at all.

To be precise.

That was a softened longsword, like a whip!

Storm immediately realized what was going on.

Has the peacock already eaten the Whip-Whisper Fruit?

And at this time.

The peacock seemed to sense Storm's gaze as well.

She stopped hitting him, turned her head to look in Storm's direction, and her green eyes lit up instantly.

"Storm?!"

Peacock raised the leather whip in her hand, her eager expression like that of a female beast about to catch her prey.

"Hurry up and come over here!"

Putting aside their past relationship of counting stars and admiring the moon together.

Storm and Peacock were among the best-performing marines in last year's recruit training camp.

The two frequently sparred and fought.

Storm knew the peacock's depths.

The peacock understood the strengths and weaknesses of Strom.

They're very close!

At this moment, the peacock once again took the initiative to invite the battle.

Strom, who originally wanted to test the specific effects of the [Demon Ring], naturally wouldn't refuse the other party's enthusiastic invitation.

however.

Storm has just taken a step forward.

The impatient peacock took off with her two long, straight, snow-white legs and rushed straight toward the former.

Her speed was so fast that ordinary people couldn't react; it was—

Six Styles - Shave!

"Storm!"

The peacock raised the leather whip in her hand, and the figure of the man in front of her was clearly reflected in her green eyes.

"Let me teach you a lesson!"

Peacock swung his right arm forward with great force, and the whip shot out through the air, heading straight for Storm.

woo-

The soft sword, shaped like a long whip, whistled through the air, emitting a piercing scream that sent chills down the spines of the onlookers.

Faced with this sudden attack.

Storm seemed startled; he stood rooted to the spot, motionless.

However, his skin color had somehow turned into a smooth, clay-like white.

There was no dodging, no defense.

The peacock's whip struck Storm with perfect accuracy.

But it was like hitting a puddle of soft mud.

A dull sound echoed around.

puff--

"What?!"

The peacock's eyes narrowed slightly.

She, who was closest to him, could clearly see that Storm's left arm, which had been hit, was almost severed by the whip.

But what's rather strange is that...

The "wound" struck by the long whip did not gush out bright red blood.

It was white clay!

A steady stream of white clay gushed from Storm's "wound" like a bubbling fountain.

The white clay, like spring water, surged and swelled on Storm's body, causing his physique to grow and expand wildly.

A few breaths.

Storm's height exceeded six meters, as if he had transformed into a giant.

next moment.

Storm's right hand swept across his chin, and his crescent-shaped, upward-curving white beard took shape.

Clay Fruit? ×!

A figurine-shaped fruit? √!

After "transforming," Storm let out a strange, low laugh.

"Gurala la la..."

Before the peacock could react...

The "elites" from headquarters who were watching the battle around the area were the first to burst into a series of howls and wails.

"Whitebeard!"

"The world's strongest man!"

"Whitebeard has stormed Marine Headquarters!"

(End of this chapter)