Very soon, Shiki controlled the two ships to land in the waters near Hachinosu.
Seeing the pirate ships touch down, Lind didn't hesitate. He directly used his telekinetic power to fly over to Shiki's side.
"Jihahahaha! Everyone, this is Lind, the one I told you about earlier. He's also the vice-captain I've chosen in advance!"
Shiki slung an arm around Lind's shoulder as he introduced him to the others. Fortunately, the two of them were about the same height—both around two meters tall—falling within the range of a normal person's height.
"Hurhahahaha! Shiki, having such an outstanding talent as just your vice-captain is a bit of a waste!"
"With Lind's potential, possessing such powerful Conqueror's Haki at this young age, in a few years, he might not be any weaker than you!"
"Gurararara! That's right! Shiki, you're dreaming too big! I think Lind should be the captain of the Seventh Division instead!"
Rocks and Whitebeard spoke one after another, clearly believing that Lind's strength was too great and would disrupt the balance between the divisions. They didn't want Lind to become Shiki's subordinate.
"Of course, we still need to see Lind's true strength! John, since you're also a swordsman, why don't you spar with Lind?"
"Lind, you don't have any objections, do you?" Rocks first looked at John, then turned to Lind to ask for his opinion.
Although he had already decided to make Lind a division captain, Rocks still wanted to assess his strength firsthand.
"Hahaha! Alright, ever since I heard Lind's name, I've been looking forward to this! Lind, let's have a duel!"
John, without hesitation, directly issued a challenge to Lind.
On Lind's side, seeing how the atmosphere had already built up to this point, he didn't refuse and agreed to the match.
"Captain John, my fighting style might be a little different from that of typical swordsmen—I hope you don't mind!"
After giving John a heads-up, Lind flew into the air, leaving only his Haitaka behind.
"This sword is called Haitaka. Its blade is three feet nine inches long and weighs thirty-nine pounds. It was forged from deep-sea cold iron and meteorite iron, embodying the fusion of sea and sky—thus the name Haitaka!"
"Though it is not listed among the Supreme Grade Blades, it is in no way inferior. Captain John, please enlighten me!"
Steadying himself in midair using his telekinetic power, Lind introduced his sword first.
Hearing Lind's voice from above, John felt a bit overwhelmed.
'Are all swordsmen this flashy nowadays?'
Unfortunately, he wasn't someone who was good with words, so he could only respond simply.
"My swords are named Rum and Gin. They were gifts from an old friend and are both ranked among the Fifty Skillful Grade Blades!"
After finishing his sentence, John twirled his swords in an elegant flourish.
"Is this really John?"
Hearing John's words, the other division captains widened their eyes and stared at him.
'Is this the same drunkard we know?'
Although John's introduction wasn't as extravagant as Lind's, coming from him, it still carried an unexpectedly refined aura.
'We agreed to be illiterate pirates together—why are you suddenly so cultured?'
Lind, on the other hand, was also taken aback by John's response.
'Didn't expect that from you, you thick-browed drunkard.'
But before anyone could dwell on it further, as soon as John finished speaking, Haitaka, coated in Armament Haki, shot straight toward him.
Over the past few days, Lind had learned some sword techniques from Shiki, but the time was too short for any significant improvement.
For now, his combat method remained the same—his simple and straightforward flying sword technique.
Facing someone on the same level, or perhaps even stronger, Lind quickly fell into a disadvantage, only managing to hold his ground without losing outright.
'So frustrating! I really need to train my swordsmanship properly after this. Just relying on raw power isn't enough. I wonder if I can create a fruit that enhances comprehension?'
Lind dodged another one of John's slashes, muttering to himself in frustration.
Like this, the two exchanged blows—Lind launching his flying sword, John countering with his slashes—battling continuously for over an hour.
The fight was dull and repetitive, to the point that the spectators on the sidelines were getting sleepy.
In the end, both realized that a short-term battle wouldn't yield a clear winner. Similar to Lind's match with Shiki earlier, the duel concluded when Lind effortlessly blocked John's ultimate move.
After all, this was just a sparring session—the main purpose was to let the senior members of the Rocks Pirates gauge Lind's strength.
"Hurhahahaha! Lind, your swordsmanship really doesn't match your strength at all. I feel like even Silver Axe, that guy who wields an axe, would be better than you with a sword!"
Seeing that the fight was finally over, Rocks burst out laughing.
"Shiki mentioned earlier that he wanted you as his vice-captain. Fine—consider yourself the captain of the Seventh Division of the Rocks Pirates from now on. But for now, you'll temporarily act as Shiki's deputy and take time to refine your skills."
"Once you become a true swordsman, you can officially establish the Seventh Division. With your talent, that shouldn't take long!"
Hearing Rocks' words, Lind didn't entirely achieve his initial goal, but this was still good enough for him. Seeing that Shiki had no objections, Lind quickly agreed.
"Hahahaha! Thank you for your trust, Captain. I'll follow Captain Shiki's lead for now."
"Captain Shiki, I'll be counting on your guidance from here on."
Shiki knew he couldn't argue with Rocks' decision. Besides, this arrangement benefited him as well—he had gained a powerful and highly promising ally. Naturally, he was very welcoming toward Lind.
"Jihahahaha! No need to be so polite, Lind! From now on, we're on the same crew. If you need anything, just say the word!"
"Gurararara! Congratulations, Shiki! With Lind joining you, your Second Division might just surpass my First Division in strength!"
"Ma ma ma ma! That's right! Next time a powerful recruit shows up, don't you dare fight us for them!"
Whitebeard and the others, though envious of Shiki's luck, didn't say much more and simply congratulated him.
"Hurhahahaha! Boys, to celebrate the arrival of our Seventh Division Captain, let's have a feast!"
In high spirits, Rocks waved his hand, declaring a grand banquet.
Soon, a massive celebration erupted on Beehive Island, with tens of thousands of pirates reveling together!
At the heart of the island's palace, while Shiki was preparing to perform a dance for everyone, Lind finally found a moment to be alone.
Holding a glass of wine, he walked to a window, gazing at the pirates partying across the island. The unique atmosphere of the celebration filled him with emotions.
"Without realizing it, I've been in this world for two and a half years now, and this is my first time attending a pirate feast."
"I really have stepped onto the path of a pirate, huh? I guess this counts as my official debut. The Navy and Cipher Pol agents have probably already reported my existence by now."
"I wonder what my first bounty will be? Will it reach nine figures? Kind of looking forward to it."
The sea breeze brushed against Lind's refined face. He closed his eyes slightly, his mind filled with countless thoughts.