Chapter 6: Rocks D. Xebec
While the cleanup of enemies was happening on one side, another pirate ship was approaching Hachinosu. Before long, it arrived at the very port where Nereus was waiting.
On the black sails of the ship, the letters ROCKS stood out prominently, with the letter "O" replaced by a crimson skull. This was none other than the flagship of the Rocks Pirates.
The man standing at the bow was exactly who one would expect. With wild blue-and-white hair, a single lock falling over his forehead, and a lightning-shaped mark on his left cheek, it was Rocks himself.
Although he bore some resemblance to Blackbeard, he possessed an imposing aura of Haki that Blackbeard could never match. Before the ship even docked, he leaped down, letting out a hearty laugh.
"Wahahaha! Nereus, I'm back! Have you thought about what I mentioned before?"
Rocks, having jumped down ahead of his crew, walked up to Nereus with familiar ease. Two folding tables had been set up, laden with fruits and bottles of liquid.
This setup had already been here when Nereus arrived.
Neither Nereus nor his executives, like Sebastian, had taken the slavers seriously.
They had merely treated them as target practice to test their combat strength, hence the relaxed atmosphere.
Rocks grabbed a nearby bottle and chugged it down, only to frown immediately after.
"Why is it grape juice? I thought it was red wine."
"I don't drink alcohol. Aside from being bitter, all it does is dull the nerves."
"Honestly... A tavern owner who doesn't drink... Do you know how much effort winemakers put into removing the sweetness from grapes?"
"I don't know, and I think they're wasting their time. There's orange juice here too. Want to try?"
"Forget it. I'll stick to this. This is wine from the West Blue."
After Rocks arrived, the surrounding Fish-men and merfolk dispersed, leaving a wide berth. For them, keeping a safe distance was wise.
The man before them might seem boisterous, but his name was synonymous with terror on the high seas.
Rocks D. Xebec. Real name: David D. Xebec. Captain of the Rocks Pirates and currently the most vicious criminal on the ocean.
Within two years of the Rocks Pirates' formation, they had become a massive headache for the World Government.
Rocks alone was enough to give them migraines, let alone his entire crew.
His record included sixteen assaults, seventy-six sunk vessels (mostly large Marine warships), fourteen burned ports, five destroyed towns, and the annihilation of an entire kingdom.
There were three special cases violating Article 18 of World Law, and another 25 criminal records that had been erased simply because the World Government didn't want them made public.
And that was just in the first two years.
Because of this, Rocks had practically become the emblem of this era. Although there were many strong individuals on the sea, Rocks always fixated on two people.
One was Harald of the Kingdom of Giants, and the other was Nereus. Both were men capable of fighting him 1-on-1. It was precisely because of this martial prowess that Rocks treated them with special regard.
"So, what is your answer?"
Wiping the wine from the corner of his mouth, Rocks waited quietly for Nereus's reply.
"Xebec, my answer is the same as before. It hasn't changed."
Nereus's tone was flat, but his rejection was undeniable.
"Hah? Why?! If you join forces with me, and we figure out a way to convince that guy Harald, the combined strength of the three of us would be enough to stand at the peak of the world and rule it!"
"Didn't you swear in Elbaf that you wouldn't invite him ever again?"
"That's right. So you go invite him."
Two years ago, Rocks and Harald had fought. Harald wanted to lead the Giant Kingdom of Elbaf toward peace and join the World Government.
The World Government made it a condition that Harald deal with Rocks. The two fought a massive battle to a draw. Nereus didn't know the specifics of what was said.
But after that, they refused to look each other in the face. Rocks, however, had complained about it plenty since returning to Hachinosu.
Judging by his words now, Rocks hadn't completely given up on the idea. He had even come up with a new plan: sending Nereus to do the inviting.
This was a sudden brainstorm Rocks had during his recent voyage. After all, that particular Devil Fruit was most compatible with the Giant race. Only if Harald ate it could its true power be unleashed.
If possible, Rocks still wanted to recruit him.
Nereus had heard similar pitches countless times. Perhaps because he couldn't have it, he wanted it even more.
Rocks valued Harald not only for his martial strength but also due to personal sentiment. In a sense, it was similar to how Cao Cao looked at Chen Gong.
"You... don't tell me you're like Harald, trusting those guys in the World Government?"
Rocks's gaze turned peculiar. He couldn't understand why the two strong men he acknowledged both thought so poorly of his plan.
"No, I never trust them. Whether it's the pursuit of peace or racial equality, those self-proclaimed gods, the Celestial Dragons, are parasites that need to be exterminated.
But by the same token, I don't support your idea either. The World Government is no saint, but it has ruled this world for eight hundred years. Throughout this long history, its position has remained unshakable.
Over one hundred and seventy affiliated nations recognize its existence. You can think the World Government is stupid, but it is not weak.
The Marines, Cipher Pol, the God's Knights—these are all violent instruments the World Government can mobilize."
Besides that, Nereus knew very well that the so-called World Government was merely a tool in the hands of Imu, serving the Celestial Dragons overall.
And Nereus knew exactly what kind of scum the Celestial Dragons were. If they existed in reality, they all deserved to be sent to a soap factory.
Furthermore, even though he lacked detailed knowledge of the plot after the Egghead Arc and didn't know much about this specific time period, Nereus knew one thing for certain: Rocks would lose the Battle of God Valley.
He wasn't here because he wanted to be a pirate, but due to a series of events triggered by liberating slaves—like wiping out the pursuing Marines, which led the World Government to brand him a pirate.
Hachinosu didn't have many Marines or World Government agents, and Nereus needed to hone his strength. Due to these various factors, he stayed here. That didn't mean he agreed with Rocks's plan.
"You want to fight a blitzkrieg using the power boost from two Devil Fruits, but you don't understand the World Government's trump cards. And have you even considered how to clean up the mess afterward?"
"Why do you sound so much like Harald... That guy is a King, but you aren't. Although you have high prestige on Fish-Man Island, still..."
"Coincidentally, becoming the King of the Ryugu Kingdom is also part of my plan."
Hearing Nereus say he intended to become the king of a nation, Rocks looked as if he had heard something unbelievable.
"Hah? What did you say? Someone like you is interested in playing house as a king? Isn't that just like Harald?!
Next, you're going to tell me you want to be like him—begging for the World Government's scraps in exchange for so-called peace! You bastard!"
Hearing Nereus speak such "naive" words, Rocks appeared extremely annoyed.
He didn't understand why Nereus and Harald were both like this. Despite possessing such immense martial power, they refused to acknowledge his perfect plan.
"Of course not. I just need that status to better realize my own plans. As for the specifics, that's my secret.
It seems we're back to the usual routine. Meet you at the old place."
As he spoke, a pair of broad bat wings suddenly sprouted from Nereus's back. He flew toward the giant skull-like rocky mountain in the center of Hachinosu.
The mountain didn't originally look like a skull. Later, Ochoku (Wang Zhi) and Silver Axe joined, and to demonstrate their strength, they carved out the two eye sockets.
The peak of this mountain was where Nereus and Rocks often sparred.
"Tch. No wonder that brat Kaido gets along with you. I think you're the real warmonger here."
Watching Nereus fly high into the sky, Rocks muttered to himself but didn't give a direct answer.
The "usual routine" Nereus mentioned wasn't complicated. Whenever Rocks brought up this topic, their conversation would inevitably devolve into a fistfight.
For Nereus, this was part of his training. Without fighting strong opponents, growth would always be slow.
There weren't many people on the sea who could serve as his whetstone. Rocks fit the bill perfectly.
Rocks shook his wrists, then with an explosive burst of power from his legs, he shot up, stepping on the air repeatedly to chase after him.
The technique was similar to Moon Walk (Geppo)—a method of temporary flight. for top-tier fighters like them, achieving this with physical prowess wasn't complicated, though it wasn't as free or convenient as true flight.
"Let's change the location this time. If we fight there, that rock won't survive our thrashing. On the way back, I spotted a reef shoal. Let's do it there."
"Choosing the sea as the battlefield? are you serious?"
"Of course. I know you're special. Even though you're a Devil Fruit user, knocking you into the sea is useless.
But this time... I want to see what you look like when you go all out."