Chapter 6: Later, We'll Snatch Rayleigh and Scopper Gaban Too
"Akane, what are you looking at over there? That's the East Blue. Is there a strong person over there?"
Rocks D. Xebec's eyes lit up, sensing Akane was hiding something.[1]
"I heard there's someone from the Clan of D in the East Blue who became a Marine. That guy is very strong, and in the future he'll be one of your enemies."
"Forget it. For now, let's head to the New World."
"In the New World and the West Blue, we'll recruit your future subordinates!"
For the time being, Akane had no plans to go to Skypiea to look for the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. Rocks wouldn't allow endless time-wasting just so Akane could profit.
It was better to wait until Rocks could clearly see the benefits.
Besides, among the things with clear locations, apart from the Seven-Star demon sword, there was also the Mythical Zoan Vampire Fruit on Sleepy Ancient Island.
Those were all Akane's targets.
Akane wanted eternal youth!
Even Captain John's Magnet-Magnet Fruit ability was a target.
When the time came, Akane would need to find a chance and a reason to kill him.
If the Rumble-Rumble Fruit wasn't available for now, then the Magnet-Magnet ability would do.
"Clan of D, a Marine, a future enemy?"
Seeing Akane's serious expression, Rocks frowned too.
How could someone from the Clan of D go be a dog for the Celestial Dragons?
Had he fought that Marine from the Clan of D in a fierce battle?
"Forget it, forget it. Why think so much!!"
"Charge, charge, charge. Let the Rocks Pirates appear as soon as possible!"
"I can serve as vice-captain for a while and help you straighten out those arrogant officers, guide them toward the same goal."
Akane licked their lips, ambition surging. If the Rocks Pirates were united, maybe they really could crush Imu.
Just imagining it was exciting.
And once the Roger Pirates took shape, Akane would specifically bring Rocks to snatch the Roger Pirates' crew.
Even snatch Roger himself onto the ship.
Whether he accepted it or not didn't matter—snatch him first.
Rayleigh, Gaban, all of them—snatch them all.
As for timelines and butterfly effects, Akane didn't care at all. If it got messed up, then it got messed up.
...
"You, vice-captain? With your weak body? Awaken the three types of Haki first."
Rocks slapped Akane on the shoulder, and Akane's face twisted instantly.
This damn brute had no decency at all.
"I was going to tell you some information about the Great Kingdom and the Red Poneglyphs."
"But that slap hurt my blazing heart!"
Akane activated gravity and shot up onto the mast. Looking at the blood-red handprint on the shoulder, Akane cursed on the spot.
"Wororororo! Don't be so petty, Akane. I'm reminding you how important physique and the three types of Haki are."
"Stop obsessing over playing with bugs and stealing Devil Fruit abilities!"
Rocks laughed loudly, as if he'd just heard even more important information.
He knew the secret of the Red Poneglyphs, but he didn't know where in the world they were scattered.
Could Akane have foreseen the locations of the Red Poneglyphs too?
Red Poneglyphs, the three Ancient Weapons…
The more Rocks thought, the more excited he became.
Akane really was a treasure.
In that case, whoever Akane wanted to kill to seize a Devil Fruit ability—fine, let it happen.
"Fish-Man Island has a Red Poneglyph and also Joy Boy's apology letter. When we enter the New World, we should stop by Fish-Man Island."
"Also, one of your future subordinates is a catfish fish-man named Babel. We can recruit him early."
Akane spoke irritably. These days, Rocks really had been doing his best to help Akane grow stronger.
Of course, Rocks was also afraid this weak prophet would get killed by someone else in the future.
"Wororororo! A Red Poneglyph? A catfish fish-man? Looks like my second officer is about to come aboard."
Rocks raised an eyebrow and laughed. His plan was finally getting back on track.
"Troublesome. If Observation Haki isn't strong enough, you can't sense a space meteor to pull it down."
Akane also wanted to awaken the three types of Haki, but physical growth was countless times slower than soul growth.
They say a person only needs seven years to replace all the cells in their body. Who knows if that's true.
If Akane lived in this world for seven years, would every new cell fully gain this world's power?
Akane had lived in this world for two or three years. The body really had been getting stronger, but it was still far from the monster physiques of this world.
"Gravity Gu, five times gravity first."
Akane had already started using gravity to train.
Thinking about the monstrous officers who would soon join, Akane had to become stronger.
Otherwise, one careless moment and those vicious bastards would injure or kill Akane by accident.
For someone like Shiki, tossing bombs as a joke was normal.
If even bombs couldn't be endured, what right was there to be a high-level officer?
Most importantly, Imu, that thousand-year-old undying thing, was practically cheating.
Teleportation, possession, immortality, enslavement and conversion, all kinds of Devil Fruit abilities, and powerful Conqueror's Haki too.
Even Rocks, Roger, Garp, Whitebeard, Linlin, and Kaido together couldn't kill it.
A boss like that was terrifying.
Akane had to become stronger as fast as possible—at the very least, to have the strongest strategic retreat ability.
...
"Hey, Akane, you already have two Paramecia abilities and you still want the Magnet-Magnet Fruit ability?"
"Your physique really won't cut it."
"I suggest you get a Mythical Zoan ability first."
Rocks watched Akane train hard under gravity and finally offered some advice.
"Captain, you're really smart. After we enter the New World, come with me to find a Mythical Zoan Fruit."
Akane immediately latched onto Rocks' words.
Akane had their eye on the Magnet-Magnet ability, but the next ability was already set: the Mythical Zoan Vampire ability.
After all, Sleepy Ancient Island was in the early part of the New World.
"You bastard, using me again. Always thinking about your own business?"
"Fine, fine. I'll help you one more time."
"But you'd better hide your bugs properly. Otherwise, someone will kill you."
Rocks spoke irritably. Akane really was shameless, always taking advantage for personal gain—first the Seven-Star Sword, now a Mythical Zoan Fruit.
But thinking about Akane's weak physique, for Akane's safety, Rocks still planned to help find a Mythical Zoan ability first so Akane could stay alive.
"Heh heh, thanks, Captain Rocks."
"I'll definitely work hard to turn the World Government upside down for you!"
Akane grinned. Boarding Rocks' ship really was about using Rocks' overwhelming strength to do the hard work and help Akane survive the weak early stage.
Once Akane developed, Akane would seize the abilities personally.
"Then tell me about the three Ancient Weapons…"
Seeing Akane in a good mood, Rocks asked casually, trying to get the important information Akane had foreseen.
"The Heavenly King Uranus is in the World Government's hands, but because it lacks an energy source, it most likely can't be activated right now."
"The Sea King Poseidon is the mermaid princess of a future era. She hasn't been born yet."
"As for the Underworld King Pluton… that one, the timing isn't right."
Akane suddenly stopped, raised an eyebrow at Rocks, and gave a meaningful smile.
"What timing? Looks like you want me to do something for you again so you can profit, you bastard!"
Rocks wanted nothing more than to slap Akane flat. He hated people who spoke halfway and stopped.
"Hey, hey, that's not how it is. This is a fair trade."
"But Pluton is a super battleship. You wouldn't really expect the two of us to go operate it, right?"
"At minimum, we need to expand the Rocks Pirates first."
"Otherwise we'd just be helping the World Government find the Pluton warship."
"Do you think we can hold on to the Pluton warship!"
"And to operate a massive warship like Pluton, it's best to gain the giants' support."
"Legend says the Pluton warship was built jointly by the giants and the shipwrights of Water 7…"
Akane spread their hands, quickly soothing the hot-tempered Rocks, afraid this brute would swing a blade instead.