"Where did you hide our Golden Adventure?!"
Roger, who had been thrown onto the deck of the Gibeck's Sword, scrambled up with a bruised face and shouted anxiously.
In his eyes, even a pirate ship was a companion.
This Golden Adventure was not the small sailboat they had when they first set out from the East Blue, but a new pirate ship they had obtained after entering the Grand Line.
During their voyages and adventures in the East Blue, they had already changed ships once, replacing the original small sailboat with a small-to-medium-sized pirate ship.
But that pirate ship was damaged when it charged up Reverse Mountain to enter the Grand Line.
This Golden Adventure was a new pirate ship they had 'half-bought and half-robbed' on a pirate island.
Although the quality of this pirate ship was not very good, it was still a companion ship that they had personally named.
They were planning to go to Water 7, the island known for shipbuilding, in the future to build the strongest pirate ship that could sail the whole world.
"We're flying!!!"
Gabban and the other crew members didn't care about the Golden Adventure; instead, they were all leaning over the railing, excitedly watching the sea and thin clouds receding rapidly below.
They never expected to have the chance to board the legendary Flying Battleship Gibeck's Sword.
"Tsk tsk, is this gold?"
"So rich!"
Some of Roger's crew members saw the large amount of gold machinery in the Lightning Flight Device, and their eyes widened one by one.
"Wow! These shells actually blow wind! What kind of black technology is this!"
The helmsmen and shipwrights, who had never been to Sky Island to see sea shells, were all shouting in surprise, as if studying this legendary warship like a treasure.
"Country bumpkins!"
"Joining us is the greatest honor of your lives!"
Kiel Bastard floated in the air, looking smugly at these rookie pirates who hadn't seen the world.
However, the fact that this rookie pirate crew actually had three people who had awakened Conqueror's Haki did indeed shock him greatly.
You know, even he didn't have Conqueror's Haki, yet three rookies here had it.
This world is really a bit unfair!
A brute like Roger and a Simp like Gabban both had Conqueror's Haki, while someone as smart and hardworking as him didn't.
On the other hand, Rayleigh, who had remained calm and composed, maintaining the air of a master, had a temperament like Redfield and was worthy of Conqueror's Haki.
"Your pirate ship is only being temporarily kept by our Vice Captain using his spatial ability."
Bolo Gram explained calmly after hearing Roger's clamoring.
He was afraid that if he were a step slower, Newgate, Linlin, and the others would step in and make this noisy fellow shut up physically.
"So that's how it is!"
Straw Hat Roger clapped his hands, showing an 'I see' expression. With no more worries, he immediately rushed to the railing as well, excitedly looking at the sea below.
Rayleigh felt increasingly exhausted; what kind of heartless fellows were these companions?
"Exhausting, isn't it? Taking care of these guys like a patriarch."
At this time, Fang Huo's voice sounded beside Rayleigh, his tone carrying a sense of empathy.
"Vice Captain Fang Huo..."
Rayleigh looked in surprise at this Rocks Vice Captain, who was known for his beauty and wisdom.
"Hey, hey, Fang Huo, I'm not as stupid as that brute Roger!!"
Rocks didn't think he needed Fang Huo to take care of him; he just dumped the miscellaneous chores on Fang Huo.
If he wanted to manage the Rocks Pirates, the entire crew would surely be managed by him with clear levels and in perfect order... "Ah, right, right, right..."
Fang Huo didn't argue, simply responding by blindly agreeing with Rocks' words.
---
After flying for half a day, Roger suddenly realized something.
"We haven't finished touring the islands of the Grand Line yet! We don't want to enter the New World so soon!!"
Roger didn't want to miss the exciting adventures on other islands and wanted Fang Huo to let them down.
"Staying in the Grand Line will make your strength grow slowly. You need high-intensity special training."
"Moreover, there's about to be a top-tier 'adventure' in the West Blue!"
"This will be a super 'adventure' that changes your lives."
Fang Huo ignored Roger's request and spoke slowly.
Wanting to get off after boarding? Who do they think the Rocks Pirates are?
"Really? A super adventure?"
Straw Hat Roger's eyes lit up, filled with fantasies of exciting adventures.
What kind of island could it be that even the Rocks Pirates would find it exciting?
This must be wonderful!
It's decided!
They must participate in this exciting adventure.
As for the remaining islands and routes in Grand Line Paradise, they would come back later.
For now, they would go on an adventure in the West Blue.
Anyway, they hadn't been to the West Blue yet, and this was part of the journey to travel around the world.
But Rayleigh's expression was grave; he had no expectations for a top-tier adventure, only hearing endless danger in Fang Huo's words.
What "super adventure"? This was likely a major operation like a war.
Otherwise, how could the Rocks Pirates be so serious?
Thinking about how the Rocks Pirates had previously destroyed Enies Lobby and established the New World Alliance to oppose the World Government... this super adventure, could it be an action against some important Affiliated Kingdom or institution of the World Government?
Rayleigh took a deep look at Fang Huo, who was fooling Roger, but he didn't speak.
He knew he could no longer change this fact.
He could only hope that this super adventure would allow all his companions to survive.
---
While the Rocks Pirates were quickly returning to the New World with the Roger Pirates.
Harald, who had restarted his peaceful diplomatic activities, was approached by World Government Cipher Pol agents in a certain sea area of the New World.
The Cipher Pol agents secretly conveyed the World Government's will and conditions to Harald.
As long as Harald killed Rocks and captured Gu Yue Fang Huo, the World Government would allow Elbaf to officially join the World Government and become one of its Affiliated Kingdoms.
It could also directly become one of the 50 strongest nations participating in the World Conference.
It could participate in conferences to formulate various policies of the World Government and possess higher authority.
Currently, the World Government had nearly two hundred Affiliated Kingdoms, which was nearly ten times more than the Pirate Kingdoms of the New World Alliance.
The World Government's conditions were unacceptable to Harald.
He would not join the World Government at the cost of killing friends and allies.
Harald could only negotiate with the World Government with other conditions.
He could agree to act as a check on the New World Alliance and help the World Government maintain world peace and stability.
He wanted to join the World Government while also being part of the New World Alliance.
He even swore he would maintain the balance and peace of the world, and could even go to Marineford and Mary Geoise to show his determination.
This made the Gorosei feel that this King of Elbaf's brain was too simple and had a screw loose!
He actually wanted to have it both ways?
No way!
How could the World Government allow such a fence-sitter to appear!
There was a huge disagreement in the transaction and negotiations between the two sides, and it temporarily came to nothing.
The high-level combat power of Marineford became increasingly intense in their suppression of pirates in the early part of the New World, and more and more Affiliated Kingdoms were caught in the flames of war.
The Great Pirates squeezed by the Rocks Pirates and Marineford became increasingly frenzied and moved toward disorder; the early and middle parts of the New World fell completely into chaos.
Golden Lion Shiki and Silver Axe Fierce became famous for their bellicosity, and their reputations grew louder and louder...