# Chapter 645: The Believer's Mindset
Use money to create happiness, if you're broke then don't bother playing!
If you don't spend money, how can you get stronger? Ian was now deeply understanding the meaning of this phrase.
A new powerful card brought not just a simple boost in attributes, but also more changes in abilities. Just like how the combination of the Black Dragon Wave's Flame Wings and Sky Dance Technique could produce a double acceleration effect.
And the prerequisite for all of this was having the money to acquire new cards...
Ian was gradually figuring out that although the card system couldn't turn him into an invincible superman with a single card, it allowed him to freely use the skills and abilities of the cards within the rules.
So as long as he had imagination and creativity, he could develop his abilities.
"Right!" Ian suddenly remembered an idea he'd had last night. He slammed on the brakes mid-air, instantly stopping from supersonic flight.
He was currently in Super Saiyan state, the purpose being to amplify his attributes for a more sustained flight condition.
However, when Ian stopped, he suddenly shook his body, and massive amounts of electrical currents erupted all over him. These currents crackled and popped around his body, occasionally flashing with lightning!
"Haha! Just as I thought!" Ian laughed triumphantly. "The Onee-sama's Electromaster ability, combined with Super Saiyan state, I can also transform into Super Saiyan 2!"
Indeed, Ian was now erupting with golden aura all over his body, surrounded by electrical light, looking extremely similar to the Super Saiyan 2 state!
Of course, this state was fake, just similar in appearance. It didn't mean Ian had truly become a Super Saiyan 2. One could even say that simultaneously using the Onee-sama card's ability meant an additional psychic power consumption.
But... damn, this pose was too flashy, wasn't it!?
With Ian's current style, anyone who saw him would think he was a big boss!
Appearance is justice, style is popularity. If a person doesn't show off, what difference is there from a salted fish? Ian had already decided that from now on, his Super Saiyan state would follow this style, even if it meant a bit more consumption!
"Hehe!" Quite satisfied with his creativity, Ian looked at the Log Pose on his wrist, confirmed the direction, then instantly accelerated again, kicking up a sonic boom airwave as he flew straight forward, splitting the seawater. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared from the sea surface.
It was precisely because he now had such high flight speed that the materials and equipment needed for building the research institute were all purchased by him. If he relied on slowly flying from the Sky Island, going from island to island, he didn't know how much time would be wasted.
However, as Ian left, he didn't notice that on a Marine warship far away on the sea surface, the newly appointed Marine Admiral, White Wolf Arest, was raising his telescope watching his departure.
"Indeed, it really is him!" Arest put down his telescope and sighed. "Truly terrifying. It's unimaginable that a human body could achieve supersonic flight..."
Standing beside him, the Marine Captain who had also raised his telescope and witnessed this scene couldn't help swallowing his saliva and said with difficulty, "It seems the speculation is correct. Black Dragon Ian's Devil Fruit ability has evolved again. The Golden City incident was a huge oversight. If we had known this earlier, the World Government should have notified Tesoro to transfer those reserve funds away..."
After capturing Tesoro, Arest, along with Edward Weevil, had handed both of them over to the Marine prison ship that came to receive them, letting the prison ship escort Tesoro and Edward Weevil back to Marine Headquarters. Meanwhile, Arest continued with his men to track the Dragon Hunter Pirates' trail.
This was a very difficult task. Currently, information about Ian and their Sky Island base was scarce for both the Marines and the World Government. Because high up in the sky, no CP intelligence personnel could get close to their base, and they had no idea about the situation up there. Meanwhile, they could only sail on the sea surface. If they encountered weather changes with more clouds in the sky, they might lose track of the Sky Island.
However, perhaps it was Arest's luck that because the research institute was now being built on the Sky Island, activities up there had been very frequent in recent days. When Ian went out to purchase supplies, he was naturally discovered by Arest and his men, allowing them to continue tracking the Sky Island's movements.
And when Arest first discovered Ian's supersonic flight ability, he became much more cautious, making the warship stay much farther below the Sky Island's position, afraid that Ian might discover their trail while flying.
One Tesoro and one Edward Weevil were clearly not enough for the Marines to report to the World Government and the Celestial Dragons. Akainu's order to Arest was the same: to follow the Dragon Hunter Pirates for a while longer.
At least to show that the Marines had done their best...
The position of Fleet Admiral was really difficult. Akainu wanted to win more autonomous power for the Marines, but he couldn't completely break free from the World Government's influence. He could only try to find a balance point.
However, Arest had other ideas. He understood Akainu's meaning: follow for a while, then find an excuse to withdraw. No one could say anything about that. But Arest, who came from the Church Kingdom, was an unrepentant fanatical believer. Unlike those merciful nuns and priests who saved the world, Arest's understanding was somewhat skewed. He believed that eliminating sinners was the best salvation.
Arest was like someone from the Inquisition. He felt that the Blood Fruit was the power given to him by the Lord, allowing him to wash away the world's sins with blood.
Over the past few decades, the Church Kingdom had been plundered by many pirates, but every time, Arest had killed them all. It was precisely because of this that his name became known to the World Government, and during this civilian recruitment plan, he was exceptionally promoted to Marine Admiral.
As for Ian, this recently risen powerful figure, Arest had also paid attention to him. Especially after watching the live broadcast of the New Edd War naval battle, he became even more concerned.
The black Flame Wings, as powerful as a demon, made Arest feel that the Lord's test had arrived.
Whether he could eliminate this powerful demon was the key to determining his faith...
So now, he was genuinely tracking Ian, not just going through the motions. He really wanted to find an opportunity to see if he could kill Ian.
But... the power Ian had displayed was somewhat beyond his expectations. He didn't know if he could win if he fought Ian.
"Lord Arest!" the Marine Captain beside him asked, "He has now left the Sky Island base. Should we take this opportunity to board the Sky Island?"
"How would we board it?" Arest asked back.
"Uh..." The Marine Captain was also stunned. Yes, how would they board it? Among the people on this ship, most were ordinary Marine soldiers. Although there were one or two Marine Captains with strength similar to his who could use the Six Powers Moon Step technique, given the Sky Island's height, their strength probably wouldn't be enough to reach that high.
Among those present, perhaps only Arest had enough strength, but Arest was a civilian-recruited Admiral who didn't know the Six Powers at all...
"Sorry, I didn't think it through!" The Marine Captain quickly saluted and apologized after realizing.
"Continue following!" Arest said. "They can't stay on the Sky Island forever. Also, did you find out what I asked you to investigate earlier? Why did the Big Mom Pirates contact Ian? This might be a breakthrough point."
"Yes, Lord Arest, we've found out some information!" The Marine Captain quickly reported. "Although there isn't much intelligence, it's speculated that they were probably delivering an invitation to Ian. It's said that Big Mom's tea party is about to start again, and this tea party is also related to the wedding between one of the Supernovas, 'Capone Gang Bege,' and Big Mom's daughter, Charlotte Chiffon..."
"Oh!? Capone Gang Bege has joined the Big Mom Pirates?" Arest asked.
"Indeed!" the Marine Captain replied. "Among the eleven Supernovas, most of them clashed with the existing Four Emperors' forces after entering the New World. Capone Gang Bege was the same. His Fire Tank Pirates encountered the Big Mom Pirates. After being defeated, their entire crew was absorbed by the Big Mom Pirates. However, Big Mom seems to appreciate Capone Gang Bege and plans to marry her 22nd daughter to him..."
"So, this should be a wedding tea party..." Arest pondered. "Specially inviting Ian, what do they want to do?"
Thinking for a moment, Arest suddenly asked the Marine Captain, "By the way, has the World Government publicly announced my appointment as Marine Admiral?"
"Uh, not yet!" The Marine Captain was startled, then replied, "Because you haven't reported to Marine Headquarters yet, and with the Golden City incident, the World Government and Marine Headquarters have temporarily suppressed this news."
"Perfect!" Arest nodded. "Contact Marine Headquarters and tell them to temporarily not announce this news."
"Hmm? Lord Arest, what do you plan to do?" The Marine Captain asked somewhat puzzled.
"To attend Big Mom's tea party!" Arest grinned. "Perhaps you don't know, but Big Mom is very friendly toward church people. The reason isn't clear, but it's true. I was once invited by her to visit her Whole Cake Island."
"Ah!?" The Marine Captain was shocked. "Th-this means... you..."
"That's right, I know Big Mom!" Arest said. "If Ian really received Big Mom's tea party invitation, then he'll probably go. When that happens, I can get close to him!"
"B-but that's too dangerous, isn't it?" The Marine Captain wiped cold sweat. "If you're discovered... no Marine Admiral has ever gone alone into a Four Emperor's territory..."
"That's why I told you to temporarily suppress this news!" Arest said. "Such a small request should be easy to fulfill, right? When the time comes, I'll go as a priest..."