Compared with the character in the original series, he has not changed much and he doesn't even look too young, but his hiding methods and tricks are dazzling. If Ross had not locked him firmly with his Observation Haki, he would not have been able to find any trace of him after several moves.
"I don't have any ill intends and I don't see anything I shouldn't have seen."
Seeing that he couldn't escape from Ross, Laffitte decisively gave up on fleeing, He stood on the roof of a house and looked at Ross, showing a very helpless expression and gently spread the cane in his hands.
Ross calmly looked at him and said: "You don't look like a Law abiding person… So, are you interested in joining me and making the world turn upside down?"
Laffitte was slightly surprised and various thoughts flashed through his eyes. Then he put one hand on his chest and made a gentleman's bow. He smiled and said:
"I will be honored to join The Ghost Hand Pirates, Captain."
He has been constantly learning about the world and the situation of the West Blue and he has even gotten a lot of details about Pirates, the Ghost Hand Pirates has gotten famous recently and now they are on the top of West Blue.
As a restless person, he naturally did not plan to live in peace and security. He always wanted to find a chance to join someone strong and roam around in this world. Although he didn't plan to join someone so early, Ross went out of his way to invite him. Rejection may not be a good thing.
Smart people will always make the smartest choices.
Ross slightly smiled.
"Ross."
"Laffitte, I am good at hiding and sailing."
Laffitte put his hand on the corner of his hat, with his head slightly beneath his side and his fingers gently lifted the corner. He looked like an orthodox gentleman, totally out of line with the name Demon Sherrif.
It was easier then Ross imagined to recruit Laffitte. Laffitte has nothing to pack up or he seems to hide everything in his body, but Ross doesn't know where he hides it.
The trip to Goldwater sea ended with Laffitte's joining their crew. Ross crossed two streets with his new Navigator and found Robin.
"Nico Robin, Responsible for Intelligence…" Ross introduced Robin and nodded to Robin: "Laffitte, Our new navigator."
Both of them are highly intelligent and in some ways, Laffitte is better than Nico Robin. After all, Robin puts her wisdom on her subjects of learning.
"Speaking of it, Marines has been watching you in the dark."
After a brief greeting, Laffitte rotated the red cane in his hand and smiled at Ross.
Ross shook his head said: "There are naturally Marine's on this island because of the two strongest pirates, don't bother. Before entering the Grand Line, I don't think Marines will come to find any trouble with us."
"That's true."
Laffitte put down his cane. He intended to say that if he did not mind then he could pull Marine's Eyes out and torture them and even send some false intelligence to the Marines, but It didn't look like he needs to mention it.
"If there is nothing else, you can go to the ship and consider the next stage… The Grand Line!"
"Grand Line, that's a very challenging place, huh, huh."
Laffitte smiled and his laughter and expressions were filled with a strange style.
"Then, you will be responsible for the next drawing of sea maps and the choice of sea route. When the ship arrives, I will give you the sea maps and compass."
Ross said as he walked away, while Laffitte and Robin followed him from left and right.
Walking on the street, all the way unimpeded, even if someone noticed Ross, they were all shocked and they hid on both sides of the street, carefully watching Ross walk away.
Quickly.
Ross returned to his ship with Laffitte and Robin and did not encounter any trouble on the way. Marines did not dare to do anything to him.
More than ten miles away from the island, on a Battleship which is preparing for the attack on the island, A Marine branch Rear Admiral asked his subordinate on Den Den Mushi with a serious and nervous look:
"How is it, what is the result?!"
"The Double Swords Pirates were completely annihilated… Nothing was left, Ghost Hand Ross won the fight without any losses on his side and another weird man followed them to their ship."
When he heard that Ross had won a great victory without being hurt in both battle, Rear Admiral knew that there was nothing that he could do and when he heard that a strange man accompany them to Ross' ship, he could not help asking:
"Weird man… did you took a photo?!"
"It has been taken!"
"Okay, submit the photo quickly."
They have failed to arrest The Ghost-Hand Pirates and the Double-Sword Pirates, They have to at least submit some new information, otherwise, they will get in trouble with the Headquarters.
After he hangs up on the Den Den Mushi, a Captain whispered to him, "Rear Admiral, shall we continue to Chase the Ghost Hand Pirates?
The Rear Admiral looked annoyed at Captain words next to him. As a Rear Admiral, he looked at the pirate but didn't dare to go. It was a very shameful thing for him and then this guy had to ask a clear question.
"We are Temporarily on standby for further orders!"
A few days later.
Ross is sailing through the Goldwater sea, the news of the defeat of Double Sword Pirates was published by various newspaper news agencies, with various newspaper broadcasts spread throughout West Blue.
On a route to the Grand Line, the Ghost Shadow Ship was sailing at full speed and Ross was standing on the deck of the Ghost Shadow Ship with a newspaper thrown by a news bird.
Shocking! West Blue's hegemony is in twists and turns, changing ownership again.
After reading half of the newspaper Ross threw the newspaper into the sea and said helplessly, "What these messy news agencies have published is no more reliable than what the government has published."
Robin covers her mouth and laughs lightly. "It's impossible for them to publish accurate news honestly, but Captain, you've become the focus of news agencies in West Blue."
Ross shook his head and asked Laffitte, who was observing the direction and course of the wind at the top of the mast. "What's the direction and speed of the wind? How long will it take us to reach Berros town?
Berros Town
It is the closest island to Grand Line in West Blue, similar to East Blue's Logue Town, which is considered as the last island before the Grand Line.
"Without any surprises and with the speed of the ship, it will take us one month to reach the Berros Town, Captain." Laffitte leaped and floated down from the mast like a piece of paper.
Ross nodded and said: "The problems of navigations are up to you."
Laffitte is responsible for navigation and even if he is limited to a navigator, it saves Ross a lot of time.
"Captain may rest assured."
Laffitte slightly bowed and smiled as Ross returned to his cabin.
Before embarking on the ship, his knowledge of Ross was limited to all kinds of intelligence and news. In the past few days, he had a more detailed understanding of all aspects of Ross and he more and more confirmed that Ross is a valuable Captain to follow.
"Turning the world upside down, I'm looking forward to it, huh-huh."
Walking into the cabin, Ross went all the way to the exercise room.
After closing the door, he willed and before his eyes appeared a translucent Talent System panel that only he could see, where three Talents Trees stood quietly.
Living Talent Tree is unchanged for a long time and there is still only one Navigation Talent on it. Now, with his new navigator, Ross would like to take back the 1 Talent Point he spent to learn navigation, but apparently, the system will not let him easily take the points away.
The Battle Talent Tree is also refreshing after it has been activated.
Firearms Shooting: 50
Close-Combat Fighting: 100
Distortion Fruit: 215
Soru of Marine's Rokushiki: 0
Kami-e (Paper Drawing) by Marine's Rokushiki: 0
Marine's Rokushiki's Geppō (Moonwalk):0
Observation Haki:0
Observation Haki shows a golden activated state, meaning that Ross can indeed save one Free Talent Point by self-practicing. As for Talent Proficiency, it brings an extra bonus, but self-exercise does not increase Talent Proficiency.
The General Talent Tree has also changed a lot from the previous one.
Agility Enhancement: 100 (High-Level Strengthening)
Physical Enhancement: 200 (Top Level Strengthening)
After killing the Double Sword Pirates, Ross gained 2 Free Talent Points and 110 Talent Proficiency points which allowed him a lot of choices.
"Observation Haki's strength is enough for now. If I encounter an enemy whose speed is faster than what I can see, hear and feel, even if I could perceive his actions, I wouldn't be able to respond to them physically."
Ross thought a little and ruled out the two options, Observation Haki and Agility Enhancement. His speed and strength are in balance and the improvement in Speed and Observation Haki will have very little effect on his overall strength.
As for Physical Enhancement…
After such a long period of exercise, his physical fitness is much better than when he just arrived at the Top Level Physical Enhancement. Even if the strength of Distortion Fruit is enhanced further, his physical fitness is enough to bear its burden, so he is not in any hurry to fill in that particular proficiency.
The last remaining option is Distortion Fruit. If all 110 proficiency points are put in it, then the basic conditions for activating the branch of 'Gravity Distortion' will be reached in an instant.
"If I put 85 proficiency points on Distortion Fruit, only 25 proficiency points can be used to improve my physical fitness… I don't know if such a disparity of advancement can afford a huge increase in the power of distortion.
Ross thought it would be nice to have a few dozen more Talent Proficiency points, but there may have been new choices at that time. Talent Proficiency points and Free Talent Points were always scarce resources.
In addition to proficiency points, 2 Free Talent Points also brings several options.
Armament Haki can undoubtedly be activated, Haoshoku Haki can also be activated and even Strength Enhancement in the General Department, etc., are all within the options.
Due to the scarcity of Free Talent Points, the best solution is naturally based on the practicing Armament Haki to activate it, but currently, Ross does not have any practice method of Armament Haki and without any clue, he can not practice Armament Haki.
He can also hope that he will be able to awaken Armament Haki in battle.
Haki's practice methods are difficult to obtain in the first half of the Grand Line. They can only be obtained in the second half of the Grand Line, New World.
Without Armament Haki, the situation would be very dangerous when encountering someone with a Logia Devil Fruit abilities.
Ross thought it over for a long time.
"Armament Haki…"
Ross watched the trunk of the Talents Tree representing Armament Haki and took a deep breath before choosing to consume one Free Talent Point to activate Armament Haki.
Buzz!!
The remaining Free Talent Points changed from 2 to 1 and the Armament Haki's green branch flashed with a golden light and turned into a golden color.
At the same time.
A lot of knowledge about Armament Haki was sent to Ross' mind. He closed his eyes as his body kept shaking. Within a few seconds, he consciousness experienced three-month Armament Haki training.
A slight heat flow gushes out of his heart and runs through his entire body, bringing a slight increase in Ross' physical fitness, while a will hiding in his body, which has never been stimulated was released and a very weak Armament Haki enhances one part of his body.
Hu!
When Ross opened his eyes, his senses have changed a lot. In addition to feeling the power of Distortion Fruit in his body, he can now feel another kind of power contained in his body which is quite different from his Devil Fruit power.
Busoshoku (Armament)…… Haki
It is slightly similar to Observation Haki in origin, but major parts of it are completely different. As Ross wills, an invisible breath comes out of him and surrounds him on outside.
The skills activated by the Talent System have always been complete without any default and the Armament Haki around Ross'body is flexible and free from any sense of stagnation.
"This is Armament Haki…"
Ross manipulated the aura around his body, muttered a sentence and then his eyes twinkled slightly, he concentrated his thoughts on his arms and control the convergence of the Armament Haki.
Buzz!!
The gathering of Armament Haki formed a strong aura around Ross' arm and squeezed and condensed under Ross' control, but when it was about to form a black hardening, it suddenly broke apart and the aura dispersed.
Ross tried twice in a row and failed to harden Armament Haki. As for the cause of his failure, he found it all at once.
"Insufficient strength."
Perceiving Armament Haki around him, Ross shook his head.
First, his Armament Haki is too weak. Second, his physical strength is not strong enough. Although his physical strength is more abnormal than any ordinary person, it is still a little far from the Armament Haki hardening.
Being able to mobilize Armament Haki is just a startup skill. By practicing enough to form Armament Haki hardening, then one has thoroughly mastered this kind of Haki.
Thinking about it.
Ross still gave up the idea of putting proficiency points in Armament Haki.
There is still a month to go before he officially enters Grand Line. After Armament Haki is activated, there is no need for practice. Even if it does not meet the hardening criteria in one month, some improvements can be made.
As long as he has a certain level in Armament Haki, even if hardening is not achieved, he will be able to do something against a Logia Devil Fruit user.
For him.
Distribution Fruit is still his main development direction. Armament Haki can mainly be used against the BUG-like ability of "elementalization". After all, it is unrealistic to try to raise all of his abilities to the top at the same time.
Ross intends to reserve the remaining 1 Free Talent Point until the proficiency of the distortion fruit reaches 300 proficiency points after which he can activate The Gravity Distortion ability which may require 1 Free Talent Point.
"There is still 110 Talent Proficiency Points…"
Ross looked at the branch of Distortion Fruit. He didn't add it up just a little. He directly put 45 Talent Proficiency Points in it.
In a flash of light, Distortion Fruit's proficiency turned to 260. Meanwhile, Ross suddenly felt a burning sensation in his body. The power of distortions rose rapidly in that burning heat. In a few seconds, the power of distortions had risen dramatically.