I just became the Pirate King, and you're telling me I also time-traveled at the same time.

Chapter 51 The Future Direction

At night, Chu Yang was training alone on the deck when a figure walked out of the cabin and came to his side.

"Why didn't you accept Tiger's invitation?" Jinbe looked at Chu Yang with a puzzled expression. He had thought that after so many battles, they had become comrades long ago.

Chu Yang stopped what he was doing, slowly sat down, and explained, "If it were Tiger who was planning to travel the world, I would have joined him without hesitation. But now, all his energy is focused on liberating slaves. That's his ideal, not mine."

Jinbe fell silent. Indeed, as Chu Yang said, everyone has different ideals. Using one's own ideals to kidnap the freedom of others, no matter how great or righteous one's own ideals may be, is it right to do so?

After pondering for a long time, Jinbe looked up at the sky and sighed, his face full of regret. In his eyes, Chu Yang was a promising junior. It was such a pity that such a person left the Sun Pirates!

Filled with regret, Jinbe plopped down on the deck and asked, "So, your dream is the same as Tiger's—to travel the world?"

Chu Yang laughed and said, "Pretty much. I want to travel around and see the sights, spar with some strong individuals to hone my skills, and also see the scenery from all over the world. I've come all this way to this world, I can't let the Navy keep chasing me like dogs, can I?"

Jinbe warned, "Given your previous behavior, you've probably already attracted the Navy's attention. You'll still be wanted after you disembark."

Chu Yang replied firmly, "So be it. At least I can freely decide where I want to go."

Jinbe remarked, "You really are like a real pirate now."

"I already am..." Chu Yang said with some emotion. Then he patted Jinbe on the shoulder and laughed, "Don't be discouraged. I'm not leaving right away. I'll be staying for a while longer."

Jinbe rarely showed a smile.

Looking at the moon hanging high on the horizon, Chu Yang began to ponder the words that the magical Chu Yang had spoken to him in the Soul Palace.

There are many people in the world of One Piece who are proficient in Haki, but those who possess Conqueror's Haki are extremely rare. There are only a dozen or so known individuals to date. Apart from Boa Hancock, who was not yet fully developed, the deceased Pirate King Roger, and Kozuki Oden, almost all the rest are renowned pirates.

The Navy also has powerful individuals who understand Conqueror's Haki, but Chu Yang, who was once a slave of the Celestial Dragons and then joined a pirate ship, has no chance of joining the Navy.

Therefore, if Chu Yang wants to further strengthen his domineering aura, he still needs to find a way to do so with the pirates.

There are only a few pirates we can target.

First are the Four Emperors.

In the current timeline, Kaido has been operating in Wano Country for nearly 12 years, and the underground black market for weapons is thriving, with even the World Government involved, making him incredibly powerful.

Charlotte Linlin, nicknamed "Big Mom," has completely established herself as a powerful force on Whole Cake Island. With her children growing in number and the number of pirate crews joining her ranks increasing dramatically, her Whole Cake Island is gradually gaining momentum.

That same year, calls for the two to become "Sea Emperors" grew louder and louder.

Ultimately, they found themselves in a pincer movement against the world's strongest man, Whitebeard.

At this time, although Shanks was also famous, his reputation paled in comparison to the other three.

The formation of the Four Emperors system will take another 6 years.

After much deliberation, Chu Yang decided to give up on learning Conqueror's Haki from Kaido and Big Mom.

Not to mention that both of them are located far away, in the latter half of the Grand Line, their styles are completely incompatible with Chu Yang's.

Both of them were a bit neurotic, and what Chu Yang disliked most was neuroticism.

The Whitebeard Pirates would be a good place to go, but you'd have to call them "Dad." The thought of calling the Whitebeard Pirates "Dad" sent chills down Chu Yang's spine.

Although Chu Yang admired Whitebeard, he refused to acknowledge him as his father.

Shanks is currently the weakest of the Four Emperors, and the easiest for him to join.

The problem is that Chu Yang cannot confirm Shanks' current level of Conqueror's Haki, considering that it will be a full six years before he becomes one of the Four Emperors.

The remaining Hades Rayleigh is easy to approach; he's in the Sabaody Archipelago.

However, as a pirate who has lived in seclusion for many years, the chances of Rayleigh being willing to come out of seclusion and teach Chu Yang are not very high.

Not everyone has the protagonist's halo.

Other options, such as Doflamingo and the pillar of the Eight Treasures Water Army, are the worst possible strategies.

After considering all the options, Shanks is actually the most reliable.

Thinking of this, Chu Yang was suddenly startled. This year is not only the year that Kaido and Big Mom rose to power, but also the year that Shanks met Luffy in Windmill Village!

Gum-Gum Fruit!

Its true name after awakening is Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Nika Mode!

Shanks stole the Gum-Gum Fruit from Who's Who, intending to give it to Ace, the posthumous son of Pirate King Roger, but Luffy accidentally ate it!

Chu Yang found it hard to believe that Shanks knew absolutely nothing about the secrets of the Gum-Gum Fruit.

It's not surprising that a pirate of his caliber would steal a Devil Fruit from the World Government.

Strangely, he happened to arrive at Windmill Village, where Ace was, with this fruit.

Clearly, Shanks hoped Ace would be the chosen one, but fate chose Luffy instead, and Shanks himself saw the shadow of Captain Roger in Luffy.

Therefore, he respected fate's choice and placed all his bets on Luffy.

Now, as long as Chu Yang is willing to pay the price and bear Shanks' wrath, he can turn the wheel of fate and steer it in an unknown direction.

The protagonist doesn't have to be Luffy; it can be anyone, including Chu Yang himself.

Is Chu Yang willing?

Of course not!

The success rate is too low, and the price to pay is unimaginable!

Is it really that easy to pull these little tricks right under Shanks' nose?

Regardless of how strong Shanks' Observation Haki is, Usopp's father, Yasopp, possesses top-tier Observation Haki. Before Chu Yang could even get close to the Gum-Gum Fruit, he would probably be blown to the head by the opponent.

Luffy's accident happened because he was young and everyone was less wary of him. Chu Yang is clearly not the kind of person who can make the entire Red-Haired Pirates wary, even if he successfully joins them.

The only outcome that Chu Yang could influence...

The only remaining task is to stop Luffy from eating the Gum-Gum Fruit.

But what's the point?

The following day, Chu Yang found Tiger and told him about his idea of ​​going to the East China Sea.

Tiger was surprised. He had expected Chu Yang to disembark at any stop on the Grand Line, but he never thought Chu Yang would go to the East Blue.

Despite his surprise, Tiger respected Chu Yang's decision and decided to escort him back with the Sun Pirates.

The fastest route for them to reach the East China Sea from their current location is to force their way through the doldrums.