"I didn't expect to trade back so many supplies all at once, even if they're all just raw materials, meow."
The underworld's efficiency was extremely high. In less than two days, a small, dedicated boat delivered the ordered materials.
Gunpowder made up the vast majority, along with some firearms and artillery. Meowth had no interest at all in the guns and cannons themselves—he only wanted certain components from them.
Of course, aside from materials, they also purchased a large number of tools. In the hands of ordinary craftsmen, these tools could only be used for basic repairs. But in Meowth's hands, they became an assembly line—hand-building an aircraft carrier was comparable to using machine tools.
"We're still lacking energy. Burning wood alone is just way too inefficient, meow."
"Bear with it for now, Meowth. I'm not asking you to make anything amazing—just enough to arm ordinary pirates."
The Buri Pirates' unstable elements had now been completely eliminated. The remaining twelve people were all "honest folk" who followed strength because of circumstance.
The cook Hambak, the navigator Briggs.
The remaining ten were truly ordinary pirates with no outstanding skills. Though saying they had no skills wasn't entirely accurate—things like basic handiwork and fishing, they could still do.
But being a pirate meant you had to have strength. Vane didn't expect these people to achieve physical transcendence—being accurate with a gun was enough.
Produce a batch of rapid-fire muskets, and ten people could be used like several dozen.
"From now on, you're my and Meowth's subordinates. If I tell you to go east, you don't go west. If I tell you to stand, you don't sit…"
"That's right, meow. From now on, you're all my, Meowth's, subordinates."
Taking in more than a dozen underlings at once, Meowth felt his cat life had taken a significant step forward.
"Captain, may I ask what our pirate crew's name is?"
"Does the captain have a cool nickname?!"
These people had long been prepared for their former crew's collapse, just waiting to grab onto the thigh of someone strong enough to kill Buri. The thicker the thigh, the better their lives would be.
The pirates responded with great enthusiasm—definitely usable.
"First of all, I haven't formed a pirate crew yet."
At present, it wasn't even certain whether a pirate crew would be established at all. For now, he'd train this group of pirates first. If they really needed to go to sea later, they'd have ready-made manpower.
"For now, we're just a small, unknown team."
The pirates could understand that. West Blue was the sea of gangs; they simply regarded themselves as a small gang for now.
"As for the name… Meowth, do you have any ideas?"
Vane was hopeless at naming things, so he tossed the problem to Meowth.
"You want me to name it, meow? Then how about calling it the Rocket Team."
The corner of Vane's mouth twitched slightly. The name Rocket Team was really… hard to describe. Would they have to use a red 'R' as their emblem later?
Whatever. Rocket Team it is. Boss Giovanni wasn't going to send his Beedrill tearing through dimensions into the pirate world to demand naming fees anyway.
"Then from now on, we're called the Rocket Team. Meowth, figure out a way to make a flag."
To properly lead a group, you needed a shared spirit. A flag was a very good object of spiritual focus.
The Rocket Team was officially established in the pirate world, in the West Blue Thorn Rose Sea Region, outside Shell Town on Shell Island.
Thirteen members and one cat.
Leader: Vane. Vice Leader: Meowth.
Cook Hambak, navigator Briggs, and ten team members.
"Meow. Our Rocket Team is a team that fights for a better tomorrow for the world, meow."
Watching Meowth instill an ideology he hadn't discussed at all into a group of pirates, the scene looked far too much like a pyramid scheme brainwashing newcomers.
"Understood, Captain Meowth. We'll definitely work hard for a better tomorrow."
"That's right—for a better tomorrow, for a better world."
When a group of pirates responded together, the sense of imagery became even stronger.
Vane: "Alright. In order to make sure you don't get beaten to death before that beautiful tomorrow arrives, next you'll need to undergo physical training and firearms shooting training."
At the mention of guns, the pirates grew even more excited. Shooting was their favorite thing!
"We can all become musketeers."
"You still need talent for shooting. If you practice all the time and still can't hit anything, then behave yourself and go use a blade."
Strong or weak, blades and guns were equal—but for the weak, firearms reigned supreme.
"However, since the guns haven't been made yet today, there's only physical training. Go run laps!"
Huh? No guns yet, and they still had to run laps?
Compared to handling guns, running laps was obviously exhausting. But resistance in their hearts was useless—anyone who ran slowly or refused to run would get their butt kicked hard by Vane.
And so, a group of pirates ran around Shell Town crying and wailing, giving the townspeople a huge scare—they thought pirates had come to slaughter them again.
They ran out to look, only to see Vane chasing a group of pirates and kicking their butts.
...
"I want to join the Rocket Team too."
"That's right, Meowth-sama, I want to join the Rocket Team too."
Attracted by the commotion were a bunch of children. They didn't go watch the pirates running laps; instead, they all ran over to Meowth.
After learning that Vane and Meowth had established the Rocket Team, these kids desperately wanted to join. They didn't know what the Rocket Team meant… actually, Vane didn't know either—it was just a name.
But when it came to touching guns, these kids were far too young.
"That's why the thing I hate most is annoying brats, meow. You're too young—you can't join the Rocket Team yet."
"No… we want to join, Meowth boss, take us in."
"Yeah, we'll grow up soon."
...
"You brats are really annoying. Fine, fine—I appoint you as Rocket Team reserve members."
Driven to annoyance, Meowth could only placate the kids with a fake title.
"That's great, Meowth-sama, we're reserve members now… but what do reserve members do?"
"Reserve members… for now, come with me to pick up firewood. We'll need it for cooking tonight."
Might as well take these brats to do some work. If they got tired, they'd quit on their own. Truly clever, meow.
So Meowth led seven or eight kids into the island's forest. He didn't dare let them come alone—there weren't any large beasts on the island, but the forest was still dangerous for children.
"Don't wander too far, meow. Just pick up firewood in this area."
"Don't worry, Meowth-sama. We sneak into this forest to play all the time—nothing happens."
"Yeah, there's even an apple tree up ahead, but the fruit's a bit sour. Meowth-sama, let's go eat apples."
Meowth waved his paw. "What's so good about apples?"
His recent meals had been extremely rich—basically all his favorite seafood: scallops twice the size of a palm, sea fish as big as ships.
Especially at the beginning, when the townspeople served him scallops bigger than their palms, they even apologized awkwardly and said,
"Sorry, we're poor here, we can only treat our benefactor… benefactor cat… with such ordinary food."
He wondered what Vane would bring back tonight. Bullfish tasted great, and armored lobsters were delicious too.
"Huh? Why are bananas growing on this apple tree?"
Bananas growing on an apple tree? That was interesting.
Meowth was immediately drawn over beneath the apple tree. The kids were pointing at the fruit, discussing how bananas could possibly grow on this tree.
"They really are bananas, meow… but they look poisonous."
Meowth saw it with his own eyes. Among many slightly green-looking apples, there truly was a banana—and it even had patterns that looked poisonous.
A banana on an apple tree, and patterned at that… Vane might know what this was. It could be a major discovery.
With a push of his paws, Meowth jumped up in two or three moves and plucked this "banana" down.
"Brats, mission temporarily suspended. We need to report this brand-new discovery to the captain, meow."