Although it was just a crow, everyone had witnessed its terrifying power just now. It had managed to injure Pokken—a feat unimaginable for most. Its strength was clearly among the top in the New World. None of them were a match for it.
"Too strong… as expected of the Black Crow Pirates. Lord Hei, and even Hei Er, are shockingly powerful," Araki said excitedly. He had originally planned to call the crow something else, but upon seeing Hei Er's piercing gaze, he quickly recalled the name Mio had just used.
"Hahaha! Looks like I didn't choose the wrong boss," Katsumata Wuliu laughed heartily.
They were just like Trebol, who had followed Doflamingo because of his Conqueror's Haki. If they couldn't seize the throne themselves, then they would place their ambitions on someone who could—someone like Mio. If Mio ascended the throne, it would be as if their own ambitions had been fulfilled.
And now, after seeing the strength of the Black Crow Pirates, Katsumata Wuliu was convinced—there was definitely a seat for Black Crow at the table of kings in the New World.
In the future, they could stand as equals with Whitebeard, perhaps even surpass him.
"Lord Black Crow, what should we do now?" Katsumata Wuliu asked respectfully, turning to face Mio.
Mio's eyes sparkled as he gently stroked Hei Er's head and grinned. "I need… a Devil Fruit."
"Hehe." Araki grinned bloodthirstily. "Understood, Lord Black Crow. Please return to the ship and wait. I will help you get what you want."
"Hahahaha! After all, I'm a pirate!" Katsumata Wuliu laughed wildly before turning to leave.
There were many people selling Devil Fruits on this island.
He would consider buying one for a reasonable price. But if the price was too high… well, he was a pirate after all!
As Mio's words echoed, many of the pirates around him grinned in admiration. Mio's bold and direct behavior was exactly the kind of leadership they admired. Some pirates even shouted enthusiastically.
"Lord Black Crow! If I offer you a Devil Fruit, would you let me join the Black Crow Pirates?"
"If you want to join, you'd better be strong enough," Mio replied without hesitation. "Why would I want trash?"
The Black Crow fleet only accepted the strong.
At the very least, recruits needed the strength of a New World backbone. Anything less was pointless.
"In that case, just wait and see, Boss Black Crow! Hahaha! I'll find a Devil Fruit, eat it, get stronger, and come back!" one pirate laughed before running off.
The show was over.
Many pirates began to retreat, but it was clear that today's events would soon shake the entire New World.
Pokken was a remnant of the previous era—an old-timer, yes, but still a top-tier powerhouse.
Black Crow had forced Pokken to flee. Even if Bullett's arrival played a role, it still symbolized power.
By tomorrow, the entire New World would be in an uproar.
Mio glanced around, picked up a Devil Fruit from the ground, and tossed it to Lilith. Grinning, he said, "Let's head back."
As Araki and the others had said, Mio simply needed to wait.
He was confident they'd bring him a surprise.
Their next destination—Crow Island.
Aboard the Black Glory
Lilith stood beside Mio with a bright smile. "After today, our Black Crow Pirates are probably considered one of the top forces in the New World, right?"
"If nothing unexpected happens, probably," Hei Yan replied, leaning against a wall with his arms crossed. "I just wonder if we'll encounter another top-tier power next time."
He wasn't afraid—he was eager.
If he became strong enough, he even wanted to challenge Whitebeard himself. After all, Whitebeard was the first to claim the throne and was currently hailed as the strongest in the world.
"That's great! Won't it be easier for us to find the Poneglyphs now?" Robin asked happily.
"What are you thinking?" Mio rolled his eyes. "The New World is still unstable. Before it settles, we still need to be careful while searching for the Poneglyphs. It's best not to be discovered by the World Government."
The future would be different.
In the future, the New World would be a pirate's territory. That's why the Four Emperors could search for Poneglyphs openly. The World Government and Navy wouldn't dare intervene easily—because in a stable New World, the Four Emperors could unite and retaliate.
But now?
Only Whitebeard held the title of Emperor.
If the World Government wanted to make a move, it could bring out its full might. Most pirates wouldn't interfere unless they were directly threatened.
"At least there's strength in numbers," Robin said playfully, sticking out her tongue.
"Still, the locations of the Poneglyphs aren't easy to find." Mio scratched his head, sounding a little helpless.
Currently, only a few locations were known, and not all of the Poneglyphs' contents interested him. Some were simply useless to him.
Especially the Road Poneglyph leading to Raftel—Mio wasn't even interested.
He already knew where the Eternal Pose to Raftel was, after all.
"Yeah, we'll take it slow," Robin nodded in agreement.
"Warwick, take the Devil Fruit to my room," Mio ordered, tossing the fruit to Warwick before sitting down cross-legged on the deck.
Erica emerged from the cabin, tossed a bottle of whiskey to Mio, and smirked.
Catching it, Mio uncorked the bottle, took a sip, and said, "Alright, let's get things in order. We'll set off early tomorrow."
"Then I'll go train," Hei Yan said, turning toward the training room in the cabin.
Bai Feng shrugged, sat cross-legged nearby, and picked up a book to read.
"Brother! I want to go out and play!" Mashi suddenly ran over to Mio, blinking her large eyes pitifully.
"You can go, but don't go overboard," Mio replied, rubbing her head. "Don't kill too many people. If you do have to kill, make sure it's for a reason. For example, if someone has something good—take it. Especially if it's a Devil Fruit."
"Don't worry, Brother! I'll make sure to take them all—one by one!" Mashi cheered, pumping her tiny fist.
"Then go." Mio waved her off. She was lively by nature, and with nothing urgent going on, letting her play was fine.
"I'll go with her," Robin said, catching up. "Maybe I can find someone selling books."
"Okay! I'll protect you, Sister Robin!" Mashi grinned.
The two girls disembarked together and strolled toward the heart of the island.