This didn't surprise Li Cang. Ye Yu was now quite ordinary, while Lin Muxue, who had obtained the powerful Rumble Rumble Fruit, naturally looked down on him.
Li Cang stepped forward and called out more affectionately.
"Xue Er, it seems the position of Captain of the Chosen One Pirate Crew won't be given to him."
Lin Muxue glanced at Ye Yu with disdain and nodded. "Of course, he's not worthy. It seems the position of Captain will have to be taken by me, who has obtained the powerful Rumble Rumble Fruit. As for the Vice-Captain, you can take that position for now. Until someone stronger comes along, you, Li Cang, will be the Vice-Captain of the Chosen One Pirate Crew."
Li Cang was delighted. "Great! With the Might Might Fruit, I definitely have the qualifications and will undoubtedly become a powerhouse."
As he spoke, he glanced at Ye Yu with contempt, as if wanting Ye Yu to hear that he had obtained the Might Might Fruit.
As for this fruit, Ye Yu naturally knew about it. The ability of Burgess, the helmsman of the Blackbeard Pirates, wasn't particularly impressive.
As for the Rumble Rumble Fruit, it had to be said, it was indeed powerful. Enel's early appearance and being countered by the overpowered Luffy were his downfall. If Enel had appeared two years later in the story, things would have been very different.
So, Lin Muxue's potential was indeed not low, but Ye Yu wouldn't stoop to flatter her.
Before the contract, he was the most talented. After the contract, he remained the strongest, and would continue to be so, far surpassing others.
Lin Muxue glanced at Ye Yu with disdain.
"I was puzzled when I first came out. My level is still ten. After obtaining the Rumble Rumble Fruit, I went from level nine to ten, while you haven't leveled up at all. No wonder, you contracted seven Non-Ability Users."
However, only Ye Yu knew that the reason his level hadn't increased was because he had contracted seven individuals, making it more difficult for him to level up compared to others, requiring more effort.
But it didn't matter much, as his talent was high, and his cultivation speed was fast. Moreover, this would grant him even greater combat power to surpass levels.
At this moment, many people wanted to join the Chosen One Pirate Crew.
"Sister Xue, I have a level four talent and an Artificial Devil Fruit, the Spider. Can I join the Chosen One Pirate Crew?"
"Sister Xue, I have a level five talent and the Zoan-type Dog Dog Fruit, Jackal Form."
"I have a level four talent. Although I contracted a Non-Ability User, it's a twenty-meter-tall giant. Can I join the Chosen One Pirate Crew?"
"I have a level three talent. The Non-Ability User I contracted is named Krieg. Can I join?"
…
Lin Muxue nodded indifferently. "Those with level five talent can become combat crew members of the Chosen One Pirate Crew. Those with level four or three talent, who contracted Non-Ability Users, can board the ship, but as the lowest-ranking crew members. As for those with level one or two talent, don't even think about it. The Chosen One Pirate Crew has standards; not just anyone can join."
"That's great!"
This made many people happy.
Lin Muxue reminded them, "However, there are too many people, and one ship can't accommodate everyone. So, only the combat crew members will stay on the main ship. Once we have a secondary ship, the lower-ranking crew members can board that."
"Understood, that's very reasonable."
Li Cang glanced at Ye Yu and asked Lin Muxue.
"Xue Er, what about him? How should he be arranged?"
Lin Muxue said disdainfully, "He naturally can't even become a combat crew member. Although he contracted seven, he's not even comparable to an Artificial Devil Fruit. At most, he can be a low-ranking crew member."
Li Cang felt a bit regretful, hoping that Ye Yu wouldn't even be able to board the ship.
Lin Muxue looked at Ye Yu and asked, "How about it? Don't think I'm heartless; at least I'm willing to let you join as the lowest-ranking crew member."
Li Cang sneered inwardly, "If he becomes a low-ranking crew member, during future adventures, when facing danger, I'll just order him to charge ahead as cannon fodder and then he'll be done for. Hehe, that's how it'll be."
However, Ye Yu shook his head, "I've seen through your true colors. Even if you offered me the Captain's position, I wouldn't take it. Unless you kneel and beg me, I might reluctantly consider it."
His words left everyone stunned. No one expected Ye Yu to say something like that.
Li Cang and Lin Muxue exchanged glances and both laughed, finding it utterly ridiculous.
Lin Muxue scoffed, "Where do you get the audacity to say that? Do you still think you're the most talented? Letting you be Captain? Unless I've been kicked in the head by a donkey! There's no way I'd even let you be a combat crew member, let alone Captain. Don't make me laugh!"
Ye Yu asked firmly, "Are you sure? You won't beg me to be Captain?"
"Nonsense! Who would let someone who contracted seven Non-Ability Users be Captain?"
Li Cang covered his mouth and laughed, "He really has a screw loose. It seems among the seven he contracted, there are quite a few with not-so-great brains, and he's been influenced by them."
Many people stepped forward to flatter them.
"Brother Cang is absolutely right; that's very likely the case."
"How pitiful, but pitiful people often have their own faults."
"Do you still think you're a prodigy, that everyone will fawn over you? Face reality; you're just ordinary now."
"Letting you be a low-ranking crew member is already doing you a favor."
"If you don't like it, just leave. Do you still think you're a prodigy? Begging you to be Captain? Sister Xue has obtained the powerful Rumble Rumble Fruit. Are you even worthy of having her beg you? Pfft!"
...
Lin Muxue and Li Cang listened and gave approving glances, signaling that the flatterers had done well.
These sycophants were overwhelmed by the praise, their hearts blooming with joy.
At this moment, Zhang Tian stepped forward angrily.
"You're going too far. Before, you were all respectful and fawning over Ye Yu, and now you're acting like this."
Many people turned their gazes to Zhang Tian. Although they knew she was a seventh-level talent, considered a genius, with Lin Muxue and Li Cang backing her, they weren't afraid.
"He can't see himself clearly now. We're saying this for his own good, to help him recognize his place."
"Yeah, he's like this now. Could there still be someone fawning over him? Don't tell me you're still going to fawn over him?"
"You're at least a seventh-level talent. I heard you obtained the Paramecia Flower-Flower Fruit, which should be decent. There's no need to fawn over Ye Yu."
...
Zhang Tian frowned, "I'm not fawning or flattering. I just can't stand how you're acting. It's too much."
Many were surprised. They didn't expect Zhang Tian to be so assertive. In their impression, she was a quiet, introverted girl who often sat in the corner, shy and seemingly timid. Yet, she stood up at this moment.
Ye Yu felt more favorable toward Zhang Tian and thanked her, "I appreciate you standing up for me, but there's no need to say anything more. I don't care how they act. It's good to see their true colors."
Ye Yu looked at Lin Muxue and reminisced, "On the evening after my talent test, you personally came to my place and invited me to co-found a Pirate Crew with you in the future, offering to be my Vice Captain. I said I'd think about it, but you kept coaxing and pestering me with all sorts of sweet talk, which was quite unexpected. It was such a stark contrast to your usual aloof demeanor. When I finally agreed, you were so excited that you kissed me. Even now, I can still vividly recall that feeling. I must say, your lips were quite soft."
As he finished speaking, Ye Yu licked the corner of his mouth, as if savoring the memory, while glancing at Li Cang.
This made Li Cang clench his fists tightly, his expression turning grim. He felt deep
ly upset inside. Lin Muxue had actually given her first kiss to Ye Yu—how infuriating! He had pursued her for so long in the past and hadn't even held her hand!
(End of Chapter)