They naturally understood what Rocks meant by this move.
Simply put, Rocks had taken an interest in Ayr, and these two pirates didn't want to get in the way of that. They weren't about to start a fight over someone their captain was watching closely.
And when Ayr heard their words, he understood immediately. Rocks had sent them to defuse the situation.
So, instead of standing around, he followed the pirate sent by Rocks straight to his assigned room.
"This is your room, Lord Ayr," the crew-mate said respectfully.
Presented before him was a spacious, luxurious chamber, far more lavish than what you'd expect on a pirate ship. Every kind of daily necessity was accounted for. The room was spotless, the bed was massive, and the furnishing screamed wealth.
"Not bad," Ayr said with a nod of satisfaction.
He hadn't forgotten how he'd spent the past year sleeping on rough planks aboard a creaking old boat. Just the sight of a real bed made him feel like a king.
"Lord Ayr," the pirate added in a quieter voice, "normally only First mates are allowed to stay in rooms like this."
As Ayr knew, the Rocks Pirates operated more like a partnership than a standard crew.
Everyone's status was determined by their value.
Interns slept in cramped, bare-bones quarters. Regular crew members got something slightly better. But the true luxury was reserved for the First mates, the elites of the crew.
Technically, Ayr was supposed to be an intern. This was his first day aboard the ship, but his clash with the Golden Lion had changed everything. He'd made an impression, and a fairly big one at that.
Rocks took notice, and just like that, Ayr had skipped the ladder. He was now a full-fledged crew member.
More than that, Rocks had placed him directly in a First mate's quarters.
"Really?" Ayr laughed under his breath.
Strength, talent and potential. That was what decided your place on this ship. And Rocks clearly believed Ayr had it.
"I'll take my leave, Lord Ayr," the pirate said, bowing slightly before exiting.
Left alone, Ayr walked over to the bed and sank into it. The softness welcomed him like an old friend.
The next moment, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.
[ Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have gained +50 Sage Body progress points. ]
[ Ding! Sage Body progress has reached 1000. Your Sage Body has advanced to the Mid-Tier! ]
"Tch, I almost forgot about this," Ayr muttered to himself.
He hadn't picked a fight with the Golden Lion for nothing. It wasn't just about testing his new Nine-Tails Chakra Mode. He'd also been gunning for that Sage Body progress.
And the Golden Lion hadn't disappointed.
Just a few minutes of combat, and he'd earned 50 points, enough to push him to the next stage.
As the system notification faded, Ayr felt a wave of warm, surging energy fill his body. It flowed through his limbs, wrapped around his bones, and soaked into every inch of his flesh.
His body trembled slightly, like something ancient was being awakened inside him, the sensation passed quickly. When it was over, Ayr sat up, breathing steadily.
His muscles felt denser. His bones felt unshakable. His skin felt like reinforced armor. Clenching his fists, he marveled at the strength brimming just beneath the surface.
"I wonder just how strong my body is now," he murmured.
The system had told him a Mid-Tier Sage Body meant boosted strength, durability, and recovery, but wasn't enough.
He glanced at the saber strapped to his waist.
Shing!
The blade left its sheath with a cold flash of steel.
Ayr raised his left hand and placed it flat beneath the edge. With his right hand gripping the hilt, he slashed down gently.
Not even a scratch.
"Huh. Alright then… let's push it."
This time, he coated the blade in Armament Haki. A thin black sheen wrapped around the steel like oil.
Then he slashed again.
Zzt!
The blade bit into his wrist, finally drawing blood and a thin red line appeared.
Ayr didn't flinch. He watched quietly.
After a second, the bleeding stopped. A few seconds more, and the wound began to seal itself, in less than ten seconds, the gash had closed entirely, leaving behind nothing. Not even a scar.
"Tch tch tch… not bad," he muttered, impressed.
If the beginner Sage Body gave him recovery on par with Zoan ancient beasts… then this was something else entirely.
Mid-Tier Sage Body was edging into mythical territory, approaching even the regeneration of Marco's Phoenix Fruit. And that was a fruit was known for its healing.
But Ayr's Sage Body was now approaching that line and it wasn't even in its final form.
When it reached the high-tier stage…He didn't even need to finish the thought, just imagining it made his skin crawl with excitement.
Resilience, defense, strength, it all came packaged in this one terrifying ability.
"No doubt about it. Picking Sage Body was the right move."
He had no regrets.
The Sages' Eyes might've looked flashier, but the Sage Body survivability make it flashy in its own beautiful way.
And it wasn't done yet, as if on cue, the system chimed again.
[ Ding! Congratulations, Host. Sage Body has reached Mid-Tier. You've been granted 1x Special Lottery Draw. ]
"A special lottery?" Ayr raised an eyebrow, a crooked smile tugging at his lips.
The system didn't explain what that meant, but it didn't need to.
Who doesn't love a free lottery ticket?