This time, Whitebeard didn't recite anything upon returning to Hachinose like Shiki had.
Instead, he and Lind merely released a slight aura of their presence before stepping onto the island and heading toward Rocks and the others.
"Huahaha, I thought Newgate would act like Shiki! The poem he and Lind recited in front of Sengoku a few days ago was quite something!"
"Hahaha, that's why he's the First Division Captain. He's just more composed than some people!"
As they watched Whitebeard, they were reminded of the scene when Shiki returned to Hachinose previously and couldn't resist teasing him.
"Jihahahaha, as a pirate, I should be free to do as I please. If I feel like speaking, I'll speak!"
"Newgate is obviously holding himself back right now!"
Shiki didn't mind their teasing at all and even took the opportunity to poke fun at Whitebeard.
"Gurarara! I don't have a habit of showing off in public! That was just to suppress Sengoku's momentum!"
Hearing Shiki's comment, Whitebeard immediately fired back.
"Huhaha, like we don't know what you're thinking!"
"Enough of this. Today, you're only half the main character."
"Lind, you did an excellent job this time. You gave the Navy a real slap in the face!"
"You won't be serving as Shiki's vice-captain anymore. You'll officially take charge as the Seventh Division Captain and form your own crew. Many of the people gathered here today came specifically for you—they want to join your division!"
Rocks cut into their conversation and brought up the matter of forming the Seventh Division.
"I'm giving you two months to properly modify your ship and recruit and train a group of competent subordinates."
"You're in the spotlight right now, so if you go out, the Navy will target you. These two months can also serve as a time for you to lay low on Hachinose."
"Jihahaha, that's right! If you need any help, just let me know. I won't say no!"
It was clear that Rocks and the top figures on Hachinose valued Lind highly and genuinely wanted him to become the newest division captain of the Rocks Pirates.
"Hahaha, thank you, Captain, and all of you for your support. If you ever need my help, I'll give it my all!"
Seeing their goodwill, Lind quickly expressed his gratitude and returned the favor.
"Huhaha, since that's settled, let's not put it off. We'll hold the selection for your first batch of crew members today!"
"A new batch of pirates recently arrived, and many haven't yet been assigned to a division. I'm sure plenty of them would love to join your Seventh Division!"
Rocks decisively arranged the first step.
"Hahaha, then I'll leave it to you, Captain!"
Lind had no objections. The sooner he became a captain, the sooner he could begin building his strength.
"Huhaha, listen up, everyone! To celebrate the victories of our First and Seventh Division Captains, the Rocks Pirates will be holding a selection today to recruit new members for the main crew and the divisions!"
"All existing members, move ten kilometers away from the port! Only those who wish to participate in the selection should stay behind!"
At Rocks' command, the crowd at the port quickly divided into two groups within just ten minutes.
Satisfied with the number of participants, Rocks waved his hand and declared:
"Huhaha, now, according to the Rocks Pirates' tradition!"
"The last 300 people standing will earn the right to join the division of their choosing—provided the captain accepts them!"
"Huhaha! Let the slaughter begin!"
At his words, the remaining pirates immediately engaged in a chaotic battle.
Every pirate who made it to Hachinose was a seasoned killer, with countless lives already claimed by their hands.
In just ten seconds, Lind saw at least several hundred people fall on the battlefield, making him keenly aware of the fragility of life.
Though somewhat unsettled, Lind understood his place in this world and respected the fate of others.
He expressionlessly spread his psychic power across the battlefield.
While most of these pirates were far weaker than him, they were all hardened warriors, honed by countless battles.
Observing their combat techniques through his abilities allowed Lind to benefit greatly.
Using his psychic perception, he assessed the strength of each fighter on the battlefield.
Before long, several pirates stood out, drawing Lind's attention.
The most striking among them was a young man standing over six meters tall with horns on his head—likely a member of the Oni race, just like Kaido.
The Oni were truly a race blessed for battle, probably second only to the Giants in terms of sheer combat potential.
This towering yet youthful Oni warrior clumsily wielded Armament Haki as he swung his massive club without technique or refinement. Yet, through sheer brute force, he crushed every opponent in his path.
"Gurarara! The Oni truly are born for battle. That kid in the middle looks about fourteen or fifteen and has clearly never received proper training, yet he's already this powerful!"
"Lind, does he interest you? He seems like a great candidate to be your right-hand man. You're both young prodigies—you'd get along well!"
Newgate had also taken notice of the Oni youth and suggested that Lind recruit him.
"Hahaha, of course, I'm interested in such a promising subordinate. But it still depends on his choice—I don't believe in forcing people to join me."
"Mamamama, well said. That Oni kid does have great potential, but which division he joins should be up to him!"
It wasn't just Rocks—several other division captains also showed interest in the Oni youth, clearly recognizing his value.
Aside from him, other pirates displayed impressive strength and potential.
The captains casually discussed those who caught their attention.
One of them was a short, sharp-eyed dual-wielding swordsman who cut down enemies from east to west, leaving rivers of blood in his wake.
His movements reminded Lind of a certain character from a past-life film.
Another was a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user with the Black Cat Fruit, who was both a master swordsman and a sharpshooter.
Despite his Zoan abilities, his greatest strength was his marksmanship, and his transformed state evoked a strong sense of nostalgia in Lind.
Among the remaining fighters, some excelled in raw physical combat, some in swordsmanship, and others had powerful Devil Fruits—but Lind was particularly interested in the first two categories.
Despite the skill and experience of those gathered, the vast majority were no match for the elite.
Within just an hour, the weaker ones had all fallen, leaving only around 300 survivors.
"Huhaha, the battle is over! Congratulations on surviving. From today onward, you are all members of the Rocks Pirates!"
While Lind was still reflecting on the harsh realities of life, Rocks assessed the situation and decided the selection had lasted long enough.
He unleashed his Conqueror's Haki, blanketing the battlefield and forcibly putting an end to the fighting.
"Huhaha, now it's time to decide which captain you'll serve under!"
"Alright, captains—go ahead and claim the subordinates that interest you!"
Despite the large number of survivors, only a handful possessed true potential.
During their casual discussions, the captains had already divided up the most promising recruits.
Since Lind had no existing crew, the others made sure to accommodate him by assigning him five strong subordinates.
Alongside the Oni youth and the Black Cat marksman, he received two martial arts specialists and a swordsman.
All five had mastered two types of Haki, making them excellent candidates for Lind's first batch of officers.