More than half a day later, in a remote area of the Paradise sea within the Grand Line.
Rocks was incredibly satisfied with today's masterpiece.
He had once again successfully slapped the World Government in the face.
He had made his move right at the gates of Marineford, so what!
What could those powerful Marines and World Government experts even do to him?
Having escaped the danger, Rocks finally relaxed.
He finally had time to check his heavenly tribute treasure and the slaves in the cabin.
"Hey hey hey!! You little pieces of trash, get the hell out here!"
Inside the cabin prison of the tenryuubito tribute battleship, Rocks spoke crudely as he looked at the numb-faced slaves.
They were just some elite soldiers.
He didn't need such weak subordinates.
"Benefactor, our country has been destroyed. Please, take us in!"
A few young soldiers gradually regained their spirits and spoke up excitedly.
They truly hadn't expected that someone would actually dare to attack the World Government's heavenly tribute battleship.
This meant they wouldn't have to go to the Holy Land Mary Geoise to become miserable slaves of the Celestial Dragons.
"worororo! People of a fallen nation, eh? Right now, I'm a Great Pirate wanted by the World Government across the globe!"
"You want to follow me? Are you prepared to die?"
"Actually, forget it. Your strength is garbage; I have no use for you."
Rocks looked at these desperate slaves with a grin, looking down on these weakling soldiers without a shred of pity.
"We aren't afraid of death!! My Lord!"
Out of the fifty or sixty prisoners, nearly half of the fallen soldiers spoke up quickly.
But the majority of the soldiers hesitated. As warriors of a nation, they truly didn't want to become pirates hunted by everyone!
Most importantly, they still wanted to return to their homeland for one last look.
They wanted to find the bodies of their deceased families to bury them... and finally, find a way to take revenge... Rocks saw all of their reactions.
"Hmph, right now my ship needs about a dozen sailors and handymen... at the next island, anyone who wants to leave can get the hell off!"
In the end, Rocks didn't kill these fallen soldiers and gave them a way to live.
"Thank you, benefactor!"
Several soldier prisoners quickly knelt on the ground and kowtowed in gratitude.
---As the scene shifted.
"Hey, kid. Being tied up like that, what special ability do you have?"
Rocks noticed a black-haired youth who was imprisoned separately, bound up like an iron ball.
"Cough, cough... please help me unlock this explosive collar around my neck, and these Sea Stone handcuffs and shackles..."
The youth coughed, his weak voice carrying a hint of a desire for life.
Seeing this domineering figure, he knew he wouldn't end up as an experimental subject for that old fossil Satan Saint.
If he became an experimental subject, his life would truly be worse than death.
"Hey, kid, answer my question first. You are my loot right now!"
Rocks laughed. Not only did this kid not answer his question, but he even dared to make demands. He had some nerve!
"I know information about that king of the world in the Holy Land Mary Geoise."
"Also, my name is Fang Huo, Gu Yue Fang Huo!"
Fang Huo felt the violent aura coming from Rocks, but a trace of a smile appeared on his pale face as his spirit seemed to relax at that moment.
"What?!"
"Kid, do you know the consequences of lying to me!"
Rocks' eyes suddenly changed, his fierce gaze locking onto Fang Huo.
He didn't quite believe that this prisoner brat could know information about the king of the world.
One must know that even within the Davy Clan, information regarding Imu was vague and incomplete.
"One of the original Twenty Kings who has lived for over eight hundred years, Nerona Imu, the king of the world who sits upon the Empty Throne, to whom even the Gorosei are but hounds and servants..."
Fang Huo's dry, cracked lips moved as he spoke, his tone weak as if he might stop breathing at any moment.
"worororo~, you actually know? Aren't you afraid of Him?"
Rocks' eyes lit up. This kid not only knew of the king of the world's existence but didn't even seem to feel fear.
It seemed he had some courage and mettle.
He was starting to appreciate this little fellow!
One must know that many people on this sea, even some Great Pirates, would instinctively feel fear upon hearing the names of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.
Rocks straightforwardly crushed the steel chains on the courageous youth, opened the Sea Stone handcuffs and shackles, and ripped off the explosive collar, tossing it into the sea.
A loud "Boom" rang out.
As the sound of the explosion echoed, the threat of death hanging over Fang Huo vanished.
"Why should I be afraid? I'm not facing Him head-on right now."
"I need some water and food. I'm about to die of hunger and thirst..."
Fang Huo spoke weakly, treating the brutal Great Pirate Rocks as if he were one of his own.
"worororo! Kid, you're really not being polite at all!"
Rocks was almost annoyed by Fang Huo's words, but he still handed food and water to him.
After Fang Huo wolfed it down... "I've finally come back to life!"
"Those damn CP Agents didn't give me a single bite of food or a drop of water. They almost killed me."
Fang Huo's complexion improved significantly, and the Crescent Moon Mark on his forehead regained a faint, deep-blue glow.
"If you hadn't tried to escape so many times and attacked those men in black, why would they have treated you like that..."
A young soldier complained softly in a low voice.
Because of Fang Huo's resistance and escape attempts, even they had suffered punishment, being beaten for no reason and having their rations and water reduced.
"Heh! Should I just wait for death like you guys?"
Fang Huo snorted coldly. If it weren't for these soldiers failing to protect their country, leading to its destruction and ruining his plan to lie low, forcing him to expose his abilities to save himself...
How could he have fallen to this state!
"worororo! Not bad! You've got some backbone, kid!"
"If your strength is up to par, stay on my ship. Otherwise, after you tell me the info about the king of the world, get off my ship too!"
Rocks appreciated Fang Huo more and more.
However, his plan wouldn't change.
He only needed powerful subordinates and partners.
Those sailors and handymen were only staying on the ship temporarily to man it.
"Rocks, I have seen a fragment of the future. Since fate has chosen us, we are destined to be on the same ship."
After recovering some strength, Fang Huo slowly stood up, observing Rocks—this savage monster of the D Clan—from head to toe.
He met Rocks' gaze directly.
"Seen the future? Then tell me, kid, what did you see?"
Rocks became increasingly interested in Fang Huo's confidence and composure, crossing his arms and laughing.
"I saw you recruiting men and forming your own pirate crew. I also saw you going to Elbaf to find the Giant King, Harald."
Fang Huo stood up and, ignoring everything else, grabbed more food and continued to eat voraciously.
"Harald? So he's the Giant King. No wonder he's so powerful!"
Rocks' eyes shone brightly. He had only met Harald once.
He didn't have detailed information on Harald yet.
He indeed wanted to recruit that powerful giant into his crew.
However, the idea of recruiting Harald had only been born in his mind in the last two days.
Could this kid really see the future?
Was this a prophecy-type Devil Fruit ability?
No wonder this guy was being specially held by the CP Agents.
"Rocks, do you want to know more information capable of changing the world?"
"Help me get stronger!"
"The stronger I am, the more of the future I can see. I can even foresee information about the three ancient weapons."
As Fang Huo finished eating and drinking, the Crescent Moon Mark on his forehead emitted a faint blue light as he directly stated his needs and purpose to Rocks.
"The three ancient weapons??!!"
"worororo!! Fang Huo, I declare that you have officially become my first partner!"
"I will make you stronger!"
"Let's turn this world upside down together and drag that king of the world down from his altar!"
Rocks' eyes erupted with golden light. He never expected that by stealing the heavenly tribute to prepare funds and a ship for himself, he would actually gain a subordinate with the ability to foresee the future.
It seemed that even fate was on his side!
He would definitely take down that old monster, then seize the entire world and become the king of the world!
---