Shiki immediately turned his gaze to the rest of the crew. If he couldn't beat Rocks, surely he could still beat someone else.
He would become the second-in-command of this ship!
'So strong!'
The moment Shiki saw Newgate, he sensed this "Little Giant" was even stronger than him.
When he swept his eyes over Fang Huo and Babel, he felt neither of them was weaker than himself.
Only Sunbell looked like someone he could bully.
As for the sailors and deckhands, he ignored them entirely.
"Bahaha! None of us ever picked on a rookie the moment he came aboard—yet you're already asking for a fight?"
Babel grinned broadly; every newcomer had to fight to establish his place on the crew.
"Jihahaha! The strong rule—power is everything—so of course we fight!"
"But I'm not at my best today; let's do it in a few days."
Shiki showed no fear, meeting Babel's savage stare head-on.
Newgate merely gave Shiki a calm glance.
He had already sparred with Fang Huo, so he had experience and moves ready to deal with flight-based abilities.
If Shiki dared provoke him, Newgate wouldn't mind using the Tremor-Tremor Fruit to sink the Golden Lion into the sea.
"As I said, no fighting on a newcomer's first day—only a banquet!"
Hovering in mid-air, Fang Huo spoke up, doing his best to keep the ship's atmosphere normal.
"Got it, First Mate."
Babel was remarkably obedient; he'd rather anger Rocks than offend Fang Huo, the Prophet.
"He's the First Mate? I thought this ship respected only the strongest!"
Shiki was instantly indignant; he'd sooner believe Newgate was the deputy than that Fang Huo held the post.
"My ship has no First Mate!"
"Beat them all and make them gladly call you First Mate—if you can."
Rocks shrugged, giving Fang Huo a mischievous look.
Looks like he wouldn't have to personally thump Fang Huo anymore—Shiki would keep picking fights with him.
"Jihahaha, beat them until they gladly call me First Mate, huh!"
Shiki now had a small goal: thrash every elite on the crew.
"I only acknowledge Vice Captain Fang Huo."
Sunbell spoke up honestly, not caring if he offended the newcomer Shiki.
"Jihahaha, I'll beat you all one by one—hope your mouths stay that tough!"
Arrogant and wild, Shiki would do to them exactly what Rocks had done to him.
Let them learn what "the strong rule, power is everything" really means!
"Bahaha, if you're going to vie for Fang Huo's post, I hope you won't regret it."
Babel laughed loudly; he wondered if Shiki would still laugh once he learned Fang Huo was a Prophet.
Even Rocks attached great importance to Fang Huo.
With a few schemes from the brilliant Vice Captain Fang Huo, Shiki would probably suffer plenty.
If Fang Huo truly wanted Shiki's Float-Float Fruit, Rocks and Newgate might even help kill the Golden Lion.
That was how vital Fang Huo was!
On the Rocks Pirates' ship, the law of "the strong rule" applied to everyone—
except the Prophet Fang Huo.
"Regret? I'll never regret anything!"
Shiki gave Fang Huo a provoking glance, but Fang Huo ignored him and kept directing the sailors and deckhands in setting up the welcome banquet.
When Shiki saw the floating "Lake of Wine and Forest of Meat," he was reminded of the Gravity crush he'd just suffered.
"What exactly is your ability?"
Feeling that Fang Huo's power countered his Float-Float Fruit, Shiki casually asked.
After all, know yourself and your enemy, and you'll win every fight.
"Gravity Ability."
"Welcome aboard, Golden Lion Shiki!"
Fang Huo smiled faintly, plucked a floating glass of red wine, and raised it toward Shiki.
"Golden Lion? That my new nickname?"
At this point, the yakuza-style samurai Shiki was simply called "Gangster" Shiki; he hadn't earned any other moniker yet.
Still, the title Golden Lion did suit his blond mane.
"Sorry, force of habit—Golden Lion Shiki is the title you'll bear in the future."
Fang Huo looked indifferent; letting these guys know their future titles wouldn't hurt.
"Future title?"
Shiki frowned, a sudden bad feeling welling up.
"Bahaha, Vice Captain Fang Huo can see the future—offend him while trying to steal his post and you'll regret it."
"Maybe every opportunity meant for you will be intercepted—famous blades, Devil Fruits, you name it..."
Babel watched Shiki with a wicked grin; they all knew Fang Huo had snatched the Vampire Fruit that should've gone to Patrick Redfield.
Offend Fang Huo and your future turns into endless bad luck.
Run into a deadly crisis and Fang Huo might not even warn you.
"What? A Prophet?"
Shiki's pupils quivered; he'd just been planning to acquire two famous swords—if Fang Huo obstructed or misled him...
Would that plan go up in smoke?
So those two Fishmen telling him not to regret it meant this.
"Hmph, I don't believe it!"
Shiki stuck his neck out stubbornly, though the look he gave Fang Huo was already far less cocky.
"Fang Huo, I've got a lead on the Supreme Grade blade Murakumogiri I'm fated to obtain."
"I like the look of that naginata—when do we go steal it?"
Just then Newgate, tearing into roast meat, laughed and spoke to Fang Huo.
Seems he really would become a master of the naginata in the future.
Right now, the fist-fighting Newgate was already preparing to train with the long-handled blade.
"What? A Supreme Grade blade?"
Shiki's eyes went red; the Prophet had helped the Little Giant find a fitting Supreme Grade blade?
That was the charm of a seer!
"Heh, ask Captain Rocks—he decides where the Rocks Pirates head next."
"I only provide a bit of intel."
Fang Huo savored his wine, deliberately ignoring Shiki's complicated stare.
Shiki was a few years older than Newgate but still only in his early twenties, far from his peak.
Wanting to vie for Fang Huo's post? He wasn't qualified yet.
Possessing three Devil Fruit abilities, Fang Huo's strength had reached a very decent level despite his weaker physique.
With the Seven-Star Demon Sword boosting him, handling the young Golden Lion Shiki was no problem at all.
"Worororo, Newgate, don't worry—we'll definitely steal you a Supreme Grade blade!"
"Fang Huo here already secured himself the Seven-Star Demon Sword long ago, the sly fox."
Rocks laughed heartily; he loved this kind of precise plundering.
"But right now we're off to grab the assassin who's been chasing Shiki—'Gangster Killer' Kyo—and recruit him!"
Now that Shiki had joined, Kyo ought to be somewhere in these waters.
He'd board the ship a decade or so later anyway, so why not earlier?
Maybe sailing with them would let him grow even stronger.
"You're going to recruit Kyo?"
Shiki's eyes widened again—then he broke into a nasty grin.
"Then Captain, you'd better beat him good—Kyo's famous for being stubborn and cocky!"
Shiki started needling Rocks, hoping he'd pummel Kyo half to death.
Since he'd boarded before Kyo, he'd be the senior; he could taunt that bastard forever after.