Chapter 9: Edward Newgate
"Hey, Rocks, explain the rules properly. Don't start fighting the moment you show up!" Akane spoke up.[1]
Akane remembered that in the original timeline, Rocks only recruited Edward Newgate sometime within the eight years after the Reverie incident.
But it was obvious Newgate had always been unconvinced by Rocks.
Most likely, when Rocks defeated Newgate's original captain, Uharu, he hit too hard and left Newgate with resentment.
It wasn't until the Hachinosu period and the God Valley war that Newgate truly acknowledged Rocks.
Right now, Newgate was only a combatant in the Whale Pirates, and he didn't value treasure that much.
He had always longed for family, and he sent the treasure and supplies he got from splitting the loot back to his hometown, Sphinx Island.
Even Captain Uharu had mocked Newgate for chasing some vague, illusory "family," saying treasure was more reliable.
Now that Akane had appeared and the timing of recruiting Newgate was being pulled far earlier, Newgate's strength also had not reached its peak.
Maybe Newgate could become a true partner.
At the very least, a good partner to Akane.
Because Rocks didn't really value bonds between partners.
Otherwise, would Akane have to kill Edward Newgate and seize the Tremor-Tremor Fruit ability?
...
"In the pirate world, who doesn't know the Davy Back Fight game?" Rocks snorted, but still stopped himself from charging straight into a battle with Uharu.
He knew Akane wouldn't say this without a reason.
Maybe Akane had seen a farther future.
Uharu and Newgate and the other pirates all widened their eyes when they saw that this kid could actually stop Rocks from moving.
Even Rocks listened to this kid's advice?
"Captain Uharu, Edward Newgate, our captain wants to play a Davy Back Fight with you. We hope you follow the rules."
"Otherwise I won't be able to stop the strongest captain from acting, because he's the one who even dared to kill a Navy admiral!"
"Newgate, you've probably already noticed it. We really did come for you."
"Captain Uharu, we want to win Newgate. For Newgate's sake, bring out your strongest state and fight our captain properly, with the resolve to die."
Akane floated into the air and spoke to Uharu and Newgate, completely ignoring the other pirates.
So it really is for me.
Newgate frowned. Honestly, he was fairly satisfied in the Whale Pirates right now, and he didn't want to leave.
He had joined the Whale Pirates when he was young, and he valued loyalty.
"You want Newgate?"
"I surrender. I'll hand Newgate over to you!"
Uharu's face changed drastically. Fighting with the resolve to die was impossible. He couldn't beat Rocks.
He couldn't even beat Navy vice admirals, let alone Rocks, who had killed a Navy admiral.
"Newgate, please, save me..."
"Newgate, your strength already surpasses mine. You should become an even more famous great pirate."
Uharu begged Newgate in a low voice, hoping Newgate wouldn't provoke a monster like Rocks.
Hearing his captain's pleading, Newgate's heart tightened. After years together as pirate "companions," they still weren't true companions or family.
He was being "sold" so quickly.
"A Davy Back Fight is about winning clearly and losing clearly. We will never violate the game's rules."
"If Captain Uharu wins, you'll get a super hitter like Rocks."
"Aren't you tempted?"
"Alright, the rules have been made clear. Next, the game begins."
"Newgate, do you have anything to add?"
To make Newgate accept it more fully, Akane had already kept the hot-tempered Rocks quiet for a long time.
If not for Akane the "prophet," Rocks would have solved everything with his own way of fighting.
Edward Newgate wanted to object, but Uharu's pleading eyes made him shut his mouth in the end, silently accepting the rules.
Seeing that Newgate didn't resist fiercely, Uharu let out a deep sigh of relief.
"I choose the event!"
"I want a tug-of-war against Captain Rocks!!"
Uharu clearly knew the Davy Back Fight rules and proposed an event first.
To avoid physical contact with Rocks, he didn't even dare suggest arm-wrestling, afraid Rocks would snap his arm.
As for dangerous events like boxing, swordplay, or shooting, there was no way he would propose them.
He didn't want to be killed by Rocks.
"What? Tug-of-war?"
Rocks was extremely dissatisfied. He had wanted to have some real fun with Uharu.
And it was going to be a simple children's game?
"That's right!"
"If you win, you can take Newgate, take my pirate flag, even take me!"
"But if I win, I hope Captain Rocks will become my right-hand man!"
Uharu knew he couldn't win, but he still tried to provoke Rocks into agreeing quickly.
"Hmph! You think you can beat me? Then come!"
Rocks accepted the game. From the start, all he wanted was to take Edward Newgate.
Soon, a serious tug-of-war began.
Even Babel and Sanbel, the two fish-men, were thrilled. So pirates had games like this too.
If there was a powerhouse you wanted, you just had to win them through battle.
Newgate's mood was terrible.
He hated having his fate controlled by others, and he resented Uharu for treating him like an object.
"Newgate, you don't have to be like this. Maybe leaving the Whale Pirates will give you a better future."
"Robbing all day just to split a bit of treasure, what meaning is there in that kind of life?"
"The family you want isn't in the Whale Pirates."
"If you don't mind, call me big brother. I'm twenty this year, two years older than you."
Akane floated to Edward Newgate's side and spoke to the young giant.
Newgate was already an adult, over six meters tall, almost at his future peak of 6.66 meters.
"Murder and Arson Gu Yue Akane, bounty 80 million Beli. Did you really kill the Cang Kingdom's king and general, kill countless soldiers, and burn the royal capital?"
Newgate looked at Akane coldly. He clearly didn't like Akane much.
"I only killed the enemies who destroyed my village. As for the fire, that was Rocks' doing."
"I'm sure you also hate every enemy who destroyed your homeland, Newgate."
Akane didn't deny executing the Cang king and general, and pulled Newgate's hometown into the topic.
Forcing Newgate to remember what it felt like to have a home destroyed.
...
Newgate's gaze toward Akane changed instantly. They were both pitiful people with no family and ruined homes.
Taking revenge for family and homeland wasn't evil.
They weren't wrong. The one at fault was this world.
That damned Heavenly Tribute system meant non-allied nations and weak nations didn't deserve peace, and the poor and commoners didn't deserve a stable life with full meals.
On the field, Rocks took one step, yanked the rope once, and dragged Uharu over, even sending him flying backward and smashing a huge crater.
"Wororororo! I win! I'm taking Edward Newgate from your Whale Pirates!"
[1](https://onepiece.fandom.com/wiki/Rocks_D._Xebec)