Vander Decken IX

Vander Decken IX is the current captain of the Flying Dutchman and the ninth descendant of the Vander Decken of legend.

Appearance


From what can be seen of him, he is about the same height as the rest of his crew. He is a rotund man, with a pointed jaw and pointed teeth. He has a small beard on his chin. He also wears a hat similar to Luffy's, but with a wider brim. He has skinny arms and wears gloves on his hands. He also wears a cloak with a collar that comes over his head.

Personality
Vander Decken has been described as a bandit of the sea floor, and the residents of Fishman Island feared him for years. He seems to have been attracted to the Mermaid Princess, sending her letters, packages, and even threatening marriage proposals. He is the reason why the three princes raised an army. He also has a desire for treasure as he does not approve his angler fish of eating ships before he can collect the ships' treasure.

Abilities and Powers
Like his predecessors, he has shown an apparent unique ability to move underwater without a coating. He also appears to easily control at least two gigantic sea creatures, although whether Wadatsumi and Ankoro were tamed by him or his ancestors is not yet confirmed.

He has the ability to target anyone he wants, simply by throwing something. He uses this power to threaten Shirahoshi by sending weapons to kill her.

History
Eventually, Vander Decken IX became captain of the Flying Dutchman and formed a crew which included Wadatsumi and Ankoro, hunting down coated ships that tried to descend to Fishman Island for their treasure.

He also started to send letters, which became packages, which became threatening marriage proposals to the Mermaid Princess. His actions angered Neptune, the Princess' father, which led the Ryugu Kingdom to raise an army against Decken and his crew. Decken was also noted in posters in Fishman Island to be dangerous.

Fishman Island Arc
After many years passed, he encounters the Straw Hat Pirates when his umibozu, Wadatsumi, stops an angler fish from eating the Thousand Sunny. Vander Decken then orders Wadatsumi to attack the Thousand Sunny so he can take their treasure. Unfortunately for him, the kraken, Surume, having been tamed by Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji, intervenes and defeats the Umibozu. Decken then yells at Wadatsumi to get up and retaliate, but is informed by one of his crewmates that the undersea volcano is about to erupt.

With the volcano starting to erupt, he orders Ankoro and Wadatsumi to pull the Flying Dutchman away from the approaching magma, saying that his business with the Straw Hat Pirates isn't finished.