Night.
Aboard the Gibeck's Sword.
"What! You want to stay on Ohara and keep studying for a while?"
Rocks's head throbbed when he heard Fang Huo's decision.
He still had to rush to Red Line Island and secure Patrick Redfield—a top-tier talent who possessed all Three Types of Haki.
"What! Recruiting one Executive needs me to move out personally?"
Fang Huo really had too much information he wanted to look up; one day was nowhere near enough.
He couldn't possibly cart away every book in the tree of knowledge.
The key problem—he had no spatial ability.
"I'm worried about your safety!"
Rocks's face turned grave. He could let Golden Lion and Silver Axe run wild without a care.
That was simply because he didn't care whether those guys lived or died.
If they managed to grow stronger, the Rocks Pirates would only become more powerful.
If they were buried at sea, he wouldn't shed a tear.
They could only blame their own weakness and rotten luck.
But Fang Huo was the crew's strategist and Prophet; losing him would be a devastating blow to Rocks.
"Relax, I'm such a coward I'll run at the first sign of trouble."
Fang Huo smiled faintly, proclaiming his fear of death as if it were a virtue—utterly lacking the domineering spirit a Haoshoku awakened should have.
"..."
Rocks was speechless. Seeing the resolve in Fang Huo's eyes, he knew persuasion was futile.
Unless he himself was willing to waste time and stay on Ohara with Fang Huo for a spell.
"How about I stay behind and protect Fang Huo?"
Whitebeard Newgate suddenly spoke up; though he itched to meet Patrick Redfield, Fang Huo's safety mattered more.
"If anyone's protecting him, it's me!"
"We can fly! We'll withdraw fast!"
Charlotte Linlin shouted again, casting a disdainful glance at the flightless Newgate.
If they had to beat a strategic retreat, he might slow them down.
"..."
The land-bound Newgate's face darkened; his "sword-riding flight" had always relied on Fang Huo's Gravity Ability just for show.
When it came to running, Fang Huo and Linlin were indeed far nimbler.
"Then how will the pirate ship fly?"
Maron asked weakly. Although Golden Lion Shiki had bestowed buoyancy upon the Gibeck's Sword, their daily cruising still depended on Fang Huo's lateral Gravity boost.
"Can't you row? The oars are still on board!"
"Worst case, we drop back to the sea and sail normally."
"Don't tell me we're so used to Flying Battleships we've forgotten how to sail the sea?"
Fang Huo shrugged. With monsters like Rocks and Newgate around, they had no reason to fear the World Government or Marine HQ even on surface waters.
A tsunami from Newgate's Tremor-Tremor Fruit could repel any warship.
Later, when Golden Lion Shiki formed his aerial armada, the other flying ships still had to row through the air or use sails—Shiki wouldn't escort every single craft.
Golden Lion Shiki certainly wouldn't stay with every Flying Battleship all the time.
"..."
Maron shrank back under Fang Huo's glare.
"I'm staying with Fang Huo!"
Stussy clung neatly to Fang Huo, seeing a perfect chance for some alone-time together.
"Fine! Just don't die! If you meet an enemy you can't beat, run immediately!"
"I'll secure Patrick Redfield as fast as I can, then come right back for you!"
Rocks figured that with Fang Huo's prophetic power and cowardice, the man would probably be safer than the rest of them.
If the World Government or Marine HQ wanted to target Fang Huo, their warships would probably still be on the outer sea when Fang Huo had already slipped away.
Rocks had full faith in Fang Huo's ability to flee.
Vampire Ability plus Gravity Ability—even if the Gorosei and an Admiral came, they couldn't catch him.
"I'm staying on Ohara with Fang Huo!"
Charlotte Linlin and Stussy spoke in unison, tone absolutely firm.
"..."
Rocks, Newgate and the rest were speechless.
Rocks granted the two female Executives' request.
Thus Fang Huo, Linlin and Stussy temporarily left the crew and remained on Ohara.
The rest of the Rocks Pirates set sail at dawn the next day, heading for Red Line Island.
They wanted to secure Patrick Redfield quickly and return to pick up their people.
Even Captain Rocks himself joined the rowers to speed the Flying Battleship along.
The Fish-men Babel and Sanbel voiced no complaints; as helmsmen and sailors, rowing was just another workout.
Newgate and Fūgetsu Kisaburō didn't mind either—it was only rowing.
"Didn't think we'd just gained Fūgetsu Kisaburō and now three people are leaving."
"So our first mate really is that important—my idol! Day one of missing the first mate!"
Only Maron and Kiel Bastard grumbled under their breath, a little depressed.
They had been pirate Captains and Mafia bosses, yet now they had to row day and night.
Long Bread the cook could at least use meal prep as an excuse to slack off and row less.
"Think the first mate 'snatched' Patrick Redfield's future Vampire Ability, so he doesn't want to meet the unlucky guy?"
Amid the endless rowing, Babel actually started muttering.
The remark left even Newgate and Sanbel stunned and silent.
Damn—there might really be something to that!
Luckily Fūgetsu Kisaburō, Maron and Kiel Bastard were rowing on the other side of the Gibeck's Sword and didn't hear the whispering.
The later-joining Executives seemed unaware of these secrets.
Only Golden Lion and Silver Axe knew a little.
After Rocks took an interest in Patrick Redfield, the topic was rarely brought up aboard.
"Let's not speak of this again."
Whitebeard Newgate cut in decisively; he rather suspected Fang Huo didn't want Patrick Redfield on board.
"Hah! So what! We'll just find Patrick Redfield another Mythical Zoan later!"
Rocks spoke carelessly; he didn't believe the thick-skinned Fang Huo would avoid the newcomer.
When Fang Huo mentioned the man, his eyes sparkled—there was no rejection at all.
Besides, the future can be changed by anyone!
Blame yourself for not being able to see it!
If Patrick Redfield felt wronged, he could go pick a fight with Fang Huo.
Rocks would love to watch those two slug it out.
"True enough!"
"The future hasn't happened yet—nothing is destined to belong to anyone!"
Newgate, Babel and Sanbel all nodded; they believed the loyal, rule-abiding Fang Huo would compensate Patrick Redfield with a comparable Mythical Zoan fruit.
—Above Ohara.
Charlotte Linlin and Stussy were enjoying their time with Fang Huo.
Between hunting for data, Fang Huo even befriended Three Sheep, the Mink.
He found a moment on the beach to use his Moonlight Ability and send Three Sheep into the berserk Sulong form once more.
Yet when he withdrew the moonlight, the rampaging Sulong instantly reverted to normal.
That settled it: he could control a Mink's transformation at will.
The Moonlight Ability seemed anything but simple.
As his very first power, Moonlight Ability was fated to be formidable.
—