Fang Huo stared at Shiki's young face; right now, the guy was still unreliable and willful, delighting in setting people up.
Tossing bombs or slamming gates to cut off escape routes—those were his daily tricks to torment his own crewmates.
It was hard to imagine he would become the arrogant, ambitious "Golden Lion" Shiki who one day sought to rule the world!
"Vice Captain Fang Huo, that guy's future epithet is 'Golden Lion'—what about me? Do I get a fearsome name that shakes the seas?"
Babel tore into his meat, looking expectantly at Fang Huo, hoping for a resounding title.
Having only just joined the Rocks Pirates, he hadn't caused any major uproar yet; he didn't even have a wanted poster, let alone a bounty or nickname.
"'Catfish Wrestler' Babel!"
Floating lazily in mid-air, Fang Huo sipped his red wine and spoke slowly.
"'Catfish Wrestler'? That's neither loud nor domineering!"
Babel's face fell; the epithet clearly failed to match his imagination, leaving him dispirited.
"First Mate, you're a Prophet, a cultured man of wisdom—please think up a new epithet for me!"
As if struck by inspiration, Babel's eyes suddenly sparkled as he stared at Fang Huo.
He trusted that the erudite Fang Huo would surely satisfy him.
"You want to change your epithet?"
"That's tampering with the future; who knows what butterfly-effect backlash might hit me."
Fang Huo sat upright in the air, an exaggerated "conflicted" look on his face as he spouted solemn nonsense.
"Well..."
"If it could bring trouble, then forget it, Vice Captain."
Watching Fang Huo's grave expression, the fire in Babel's heart was instantly snuffed out.
"Forget it—from the moment we met, the future was destined to change!"
"Everyone, you must believe this: 'My fate is mine to decide, not Heaven's!'"
Fang Huo turned his back to the crew, tilting his head at a 45-degree angle toward the sky, leaving behind a mysterious silhouette.
"Vice Captain..."
Babel was moved beyond words; Sunbell's eyes shone with stars, completely conquered by Fang Huo's charisma.
Rocks raised an eyebrow—did this guy Fang Huo have to act so dramatic?
Always bullying the honest, simple folk on board!
Newgate gave Fang Huo an approving grin, while Shiki's expression grew ever more complicated.
"Let me think what epithet suits you..."
Fang Huo glanced back at Babel's ten-meter-plus colossal frame and thought of some fitting titles.
"How about 'Abyssal Titan'? Sounds perfect for a hulking Fishman like you."
"If you don't like that, there's 'Calamity of the Seas'! 'Deep Sea Roar'! 'Tidal Sea Hero'! 'Ship-Sinker'! ..."
Fang Huo rattled off a long list of imposing epithets, instantly thrilling Babel.
He loved every one of them!
Even Sunbell's eyes lit up, tempted to pick one for himself.
Once Big Brother Babel finished choosing, it would be his turn.
"Worororo, excellent! These names befit my officer!"
Rocks laughed boldly; frankly, he himself was already dissatisfied with the title "World's Worst Pirate."
He too wanted to know what other fierce names awaited him in the future!
"Bahahaha! Then from today I'm 'Abyssal Titan' Babel—'Catfish Wrestler' sounds awful!"
Babel declared excitedly; the epithet "Abyssal Titan" sounded mightier even than "Golden Lion."
"Then you'd better train with a meteor hammer or a long chain-anchor for a weapon."
Fang Huo grinned with mischievous delight.
"Fine! I'll follow the First Mate's advice—I'll master the meteor anchor!"
Babel happily complied with the Prophet's suggestion; besides Fish-Man Karate and Fish-Man Jujutsu, he would add the meteor anchor!
"Vice Captain, I..."
At that moment, Sunbell shyly raised his hand; he'd set his heart on a nickname.
"Worororo, kid, 'Calamity of the Seas' or 'Ship-Sinker' sound perfect—dare you take one of those?"
Rocks eyed the honest, simple Sunbell, suddenly wanting to reshape the lad's temperament with a savage epithet.
"Uh, Captain Rocks, I..."
Sunbell's courage nearly evaporated, his face flushing with awkwardness.
Neither of Rocks's suggestions was the epithet he truly wanted.
"Ignore Rocks—pick whatever you like; I've got your back!"
Fang Huo waved grandly, full of bravado, though his peripheral gaze sneaked a glance at Rocks's wild grin.
"Captain Rocks, Vice Captain Fang Huo—I want the title 'Tidal Sea Hero'; I want to become a hero of Fish-Man Island!"
Sunbell mustered every ounce of courage; even born in the lawless Fish-Man District, his heart brimmed with hope.
He would be a hero—one who could protect Fish-Man Island and change its fate!
"Gurarara! A hero! Fine ambition!"
"But you'll have to work ten—no, a hundred—times harder; being a hero is tougher than being a pirate."
Newgate burst into laughter, giving Sunbell full affirmation, even as he admired Fang Huo's readiness to shield his own.
"Hmph—already pirates, yet you want to play hero?"
Shiki sneered, clearly disliking both the epithet and the dream; he and Rocks shared much the same view.
"Calamity of the Seas" or "Ship-Sinker" sounded far better, far more savage and fitting for the Rocks Pirates.
"Hmph!"
Rocks gave a cold snort, too lazy to intervene; to him, Sunbell simply lacked ambition and drive.
No wonder the lad hadn't the makings of a king!
"Oi, Fang Huo—what epithet will I bear in the future?"
Newgate gulped red wine, then crudely wiped his short beard with his sleeve.
Newgate had long golden hair, only slightly shorter than "Golden Lion" Shiki's, yet the fuzz on his upper lip was white.
"Hahaha, Newgate, your trademark feature hasn't grown out yet!"
Fang Huo glanced at the short beard and shrugged with a laugh.
"Trademark thing? Not grown out?"
"What the hell! Stop talking in circles—spit it out!"
Newgate racked his brain, failed to guess, and demanded with a darkened face.
"Fine, I'll stop teasing—your trademark white crescent beard will one day shake the world!"
"Because of that white crescent mustache, you'll be known as 'Whitebeard' Newgate!"
Fang Huo traced a crescent in the air, then channeled the Moonlight Gu to form a silver arc that hovered beside Newgate's lip.
"Hahaha, yes! This is the 'Whitebeard' Newgate I remember!"
Fang Huo beamed in satisfaction—only with the white beard was Newgate truly complete.
"Whitebeard?"
"That epithet's pretty mediocre!"
Newgate swatted the Moonlight Gu aside, his face full of disdain.
"'Whitebeard'! 'Golden Lion'! These will be legendary names echoed across the seas."
"Countless pirates will copy you—Blackbeard, Brownbeard, Redbeard, Pinkbeard..."
Fang Huo spread his hands, painting a picture of a future trend.
"Gurarara! Seems I really am a big shot in the future!"
Newgate grinned, stroking the white fuzz on his lip, deciding "Whitebeard" actually sounded fine.