# Chapter 189: First Mate? (Part 1)
After listening to Old K's story, Ian finally understood.
Although he still didn't know which high-ranking official from the G5 branch was blackmailing Old K, there was no doubt that Old K had become a white-glove intermediary helping someone else launder money.
This wasn't the first time Ian had encountered the dark side of the Marines. Back in the East Blue, there was that Captain Mouse who had also colluded with pirates to make money. Such situations invariably occurred in remote areas where the Marines Headquarters couldn't effectively supervise them, so these things naturally happened.
As for why the casino was set up in such a place, Ian guessed there might be two reasons. First, the G5 branch official using Old K to make money didn't want to be too conspicuous. After all, they were still Marines. If the mastermind behind the scenes was exposed, they would be expelled from the Marines. Second, it was Old K's own problem. The Illusion Fruit ability, in Ian's impression, was a rare illusion-type Devil Fruit. In theory, if used well, it should be quite powerful. But perhaps because Old K hadn't developed the fruit's abilities well enough, his combat effectiveness was low. If the casino were set up in a better location where money poured in daily, it would inevitably attract jealous people trying to take over the casino. Then Old K might not be able to handle it, so he could only choose a relatively remote island to prey on the local residents.
After understanding the whole story, Ian turned to look at Fujitora, wondering what he would do.
Fujitora probably understood this himself, so he had remained silent, sitting there with his eyes closed in thought. He had his own sense of justice and couldn't bear to see the island's residents continue to be poisoned by this casino. But as things stood, going through Old K, the casino owner, seemed impossible. As long as Old K's companion was in the Marines' hands, he couldn't leave this island. Even if the casino could be destroyed, Fujitora couldn't stay on this island for too long. Once he left, Old K would just rebuild the casino.
So the key still lay with the G5 branch...
However, no matter how lawless the G5 branch was, as long as their identity remained Marines, moving against them meant becoming enemies of the Marines. As for going to reason with them or negotiate, that was even more out of the question. Ian was certain that trying to reason with the people at G5 branch was impossible. Fujitora was very powerful, that was true, but his current identity was just an ordinary civilian. If Fujitora rashly went to the G5 branch demanding they shut down this casino, he might end up getting arrested instead.
So Ian was curious to see how Fujitora would choose.
He remained silent, waiting for Fujitora to think. He really wanted to see what kind of mindset Fujitora had about becoming a pirate.
Yes, Ian had his own plans. He hadn't expected to unexpectedly encounter Fujitora on this island, so initially, Ian had only planned to get some money from this casino and then destroy it. As for the gamblers on the island who had lost everything, Ian didn't feel responsible for them.
While Old K's casino was one factor, these gamblers' lack of willpower was also an important reason. Old K's fruit ability only created illusions but couldn't necessarily control people's psychology. Ian himself didn't like gambling, so he believed everyone should be responsible for their own actions. He didn't see himself as some savior who had to save everyone.
Of course, this was his thinking before meeting Fujitora. But after Fujitora appeared, Ian's thoughts changed somewhat.
Facing a formidable figure who would later become a Marine Admiral, and who was currently just an ordinary person, it would be a joke to say Ian had no thoughts about Fujitora.
The Dragon Hunter Pirates still lacked a first mate. The first mate was generally the second soul figure in a pirate crew. Now that he had encountered Fujitora, a high-end combatant, Ian naturally wanted to recruit him to be that first mate.
Ian roughly understood Fujitora's character. He knew Fujitora wasn't the type to become an evil person. Similarly, Ian's Dragon Hunter Pirates were the same. Although they carried the name of a pirate crew, it was out of necessity. He couldn't really become the kind of pirate who killed, burned, and looted.
Based on this, Ian and Fujitora were actually quite compatible because both were people with their own sense of justice.
However, Ian didn't know what Fujitora was thinking. He didn't know if Fujitora was willing to become a pirate. In this world, while being a pirate was a kind of "fashion," not everyone was willing to have a bounty on their head, especially an uncle of Fujitora's age. Ian couldn't be sure what he was thinking.
Forcibly dragging someone onto the ship wasn't Ian's style, and if their philosophies differed, conflicts might arise later. So Ian could only use this matter to test Fujitora's reaction first.
Fujitora thought for a long time before finally standing up with his staff sword and asking Old K: "How many companions do you have? What are their names? Are they all locked up in the G5 branch base?"
Old K was stunned, not knowing what Fujitora meant by this.
Ian smiled slightly and said to Old K: "You're in luck, old man. It looks like Uncle is willing to help!"
Then he asked Fujitora: "Uncle, have you really thought this through? That's a Marine base. Whether you succeed or not, you'll get a bounty. Then you'll become a pirate!"
"So what?" Fujitora shook his head with a smile: "Even if they are Marines, evil must be corrected! Although I am blind, I cannot truly treat myself as blind and pretend not to see such things!"
Ian couldn't help but sigh inwardly. This Fujitora really was a man with his own convictions.
Fujitora felt like a combination of Aokiji and Akainu. He had both his own principles and his own kindness. Even though Old K was right in front of him, he didn't completely place the blame on Old K but could face the real culprit behind the scenes, even if that culprit was a Marine.
This reminded Ian of the scene where Fujitora had confronted Akainu. Fujitora wasn't the type to blindly follow orders but had his own way of doing things.
People like this easily earned admiration from others.
So Ian smiled and said: "Uncle, do you know where the G5 branch base is? Even if you do, how will you get there?"
Fujitora's face showed a stunned expression, then he said somewhat awkwardly: "I forgot about that. I'm blind, and I don't have a ship..."
Ian almost burst out laughing. He asked in surprise: "Uncle, then how exactly did you get to this island?"
"Going with the flow!" Fujitora said. "I came here on a pirate ship before."
Ian slapped his forehead. This familiar feeling of hitchhiking — what was going on? It seemed like he had done the same thing back then...
Ian increasingly wanted Fujitora to be his first mate.
"Uncle, you can't go on like this. You can't see anything and you're just hitching rides everywhere. Aren't you worried someone might sell you into slavery?" Ian said helplessly.
"Ah, I've actually been a slave twice already!" Fujitora chuckled.
Ian had been trying to steer the conversation toward his own ship, but Fujitora didn't catch on and just said that. Now Ian really didn't know how to continue.
"Fine, then I won't bother with you!" Ian's eyes rolled, and he stood up, saying: "I hope you can hitch a ride all the way to the G5 branch! I'm leaving!"
With that, he pretended to leave.
This made Fujitora anxious. He quickly called out: "Young man, wait!"
"What is it?" Ian stopped, taking the opportunity to ask with a smile.
The fish had taken the bait.
"I wonder if I could hitch a ride on your ship?" Fujitora scratched his head and asked sheepishly.
"Are you kidding?" Ian shook his head. "Uncle, that's a Marine base. I'm a pirate. There's no reason for me to willingly walk into a trap, right?"
Fujitora was confused and asked: "Aren't we partners?"
"But I don't even know your name yet!" Ian shrugged. "And you're still calling me 'young man.' Does that sound like partners to you?"
"That's true!" Fujitora sighed. "That was careless of me. I am Fujitora Issho. Young man, what should I call you?"
"Call me Ian."
"Ian, could you let me hitch a ride on your ship?" Fujitora asked again. "I don't need you to help me much. Just take me to the G5 branch base. I won't drag you into it, and I won't short you on the fare."