# Chapter 109: Exploding Faction, Stimulated Shiki
The six months starting from when Hades decided to make his move undoubtedly belonged to him.
Not only the Rocks Pirates, but the Marines were also paying attention to this young monster who had already grown up.
No matter how much they regretted it, it had become an established fact.
Hades had also underestimated his own prestige.
Facing his recruitment, none of the pirates he targeted refused.
This was also Hades' objective.
Battle after battle and victory after victory were enough to demonstrate Hades' potential.
Following him meant having a brilliant future.
At merely sixteen years old, he already possessed strength comparable to a Top Tier Combatant, naturally becoming a Core Cadre of the Rocks Pirates at the youngest age.
No one dared to underestimate Hades.
Hades understood the terrifying power of the Death-Death Fruit, so he didn't dare to abuse this power.
This didn't mean others could provoke him.
Pirates with problematic attitudes and who made Hades displeased completely vanished from this world one by one.
Many people witnessed this scene firsthand.
The battle that occurred on the day Hades joined the Rocks Pirates two years ago was unforgettable for many.
Moreover, as the defeated, wasn't it natural to submit to the victor?
As the victor, he also had the right to end their lives.
Regardless, they had no absolute reason to refuse.
"Ring King" Bill Russell, a Paramecia Type Ring-Ring Fruit Ability User, a Great Pirate with a bounty exceeding 400 million Beli, once jointly led a Pirate Fleet with "Blade Edge" Aiji to destroy a World Government Affiliated Nation in the Four Seas.
He was secretly on good terms with "Blade Edge" Aiji.
Aiji's submission undoubtedly influenced his judgment, causing him to lean towards Hades.
Bill Russell's joining was undoubtedly a great surprise to Hades.
Hades himself didn't have much confidence in being able to make Russell submit.
One must know that unlike Aiji and the other two who were Yager's Old Crew, "Violence King" Kosa's Old Faction was easier to recruit, based on strength and treasure.
Russell was indeed a Great Pirate with leadership qualities.
As a High-Ranking Cadre of the Rocks Pirates, he possessed both strength and intelligence, and under his command, he also had a Pirate Crew.
"Iron Fist" Cesarō, possessing super strength.
"Blood Hoof" Sean, a Zoan Type Sheep-Sheep Fruit Black-Headed Sheep Form Ability User.
"Big Bug" Daniel Romand, a Zoan Type Bug-Bug Fruit Earth Dragon Fruit Ability User.
"Iron-Blooded General" Stockton, from a Kingdom destroyed because of the Heavenly Tribute.
"Demonic Beast" Pogba, as a Half-Demon, or known as an Oni Tribe member, naturally possessed great potential.
"Gladiator" Gober, a powerful warrior from Sparta Island, the "Warrior Race".
"Giant Arm" Mark, also possessing super strength.
"Madman" Dean, who fought like a madman and was skilled in killing art.
These were all well-known pirates with bounties between 100 million and 400 million Beli.
In addition to two Giant Race members, Andre and Kali.
Within four months after Hades recruited Cowns and the other two, his Faction expanded explosively.
The number of powerhouses under his command exceeded the power controlled by all other Core Members.
This situation undoubtedly stimulated many Great Pirates, especially "Golden Lion" Shiki.
In the previous two years, he was undoubtedly the most dazzling existence in the Rocks Pirates.
His faction rapidly expanded, yet was so easily surpassed by Hades.
Shiki's faction was enormous, yet couldn't compare to Hades.
Just in terms of quality, there was a huge gap.
Shiki's subordinates didn't have a single High-Ranking Cadre with a bounty exceeding 400 million Beli, while Hades had nearly ten.
Compared to this, it was simply heaven and earth apart.
Originally, he didn't have the idea of actively recruiting others.
Within the Rocks Pirates, it was filled with betrayal and distrust.
Compared to others forced to submit by his own strength, pirates who actively joined were undoubtedly more trustworthy.
The still young Shiki didn't yet have the courage to suppress all defiance by relying on his own strength, or rather, he hadn't realized this point.
Shiki was completely stimulated.
Hades' actions also made him realize that loyalty wasn't actually that important.
Strength was everything.
Just like Rocks, sitting high on his throne, basically didn't care about the Rocks Pirates' internal conflicts.
The stronger the pirate, the more they valued freedom, but as long as you possessed absolute strength, they simply couldn't resist.
He needed to expand his faction, needed more powerful subordinates.
As for who was truly loyal to him, Shiki knew it in his heart.
"Looks like I need to be more proactive."
The thoughts in Shiki's mind had already changed.
How did he develop his faction in the past? Almost passively expanding his faction.
Constantly increasing his prestige, raising his status within the Rocks Pirates.
Coupled with constantly taking action, his goal was achieved.
A large number of pirates joined under his command.
It looked impressive, but in reality, it wasn't that great.
Among them, there weren't many truly powerful ones; more were ordinary pirates.
Originally, he was still quite confident about the development of his faction.
Compared to Hades, the gap was too large.
Compared to powerful cadres, no matter how many cannon fodder there were, they were still cannon fodder.
What he needed wasn't quantity, but powerhouses who could stand on their own.
One must know, he possessed his own Great Ambition, hoping to establish a terrifying faction no less than the Rocks Pirates.
To become the Sea Overlord of the next Era.
Yes, he possessed such ambition, such a vast Great Ambition.
This ambition of Shiki's was known to quite a few people, just like Newgate wanted to gain family, it wasn't hidden at all.
But Hades' explosive rise completely woke him up, making him realize how foolish his former self was.
With how he was before, how could he achieve his Great Ambition? It was simply impossible to do.
No powerhouse would submit to you without reason.
Hades had clearly set a great example for him.
Challenging powerhouses, expanding prestige, specifically recruiting subordinates, all done seamlessly.
Clearly, Hades knew exactly what he wanted.
With Hades' rise, "Golden Lion" Shiki also roughly knew what he needed to do.
He needed to proactively take action.
Actively recruiting wasn't about abandoning his arrogance, but expressing his sincerity.
Shiki even had to thank Hades for making him realize.
What he needed to do now was, like Hades, recruit those he admired and those pirates he valued.
He had already been surpassed by Hades, naturally, he couldn't fall too far behind.
(end of chapter)