Meanwhile, in Wano Country.
In the Shogun's Mansion, Kozuki Sukiyaki was still playing with his beautiful dolls.
He was completely unaware that a terrifying fleet was rapidly sailing into his isolated nation.
In Shimotsuki Castle within the Ringo District, Shimotsuki Ichiran had already collected three Devil Fruits and was waiting for his fine son-in-law to arrive.
He missed his daughter Furiko dearly, as well as his grandson Kogetsu Ryuma.
Shimotsuki Ushimaru's Dual Blade Style had become increasingly refined; holding Frostmourne and firejoy, he looked forward to sparring with his brother-in-law Gu Yue Fang Huo to reach higher levels of swordsmanship.
Among them, the Shogun's son, Kozuki Oden, had also been lingering at Shimotsuki Castle, eagerly anticipating the reappearance of those from the Outer Seas... Meanwhile, Fang Huo, along with his women and children, did not take the Rocks Pirates' main ship, Sword of Xebec, this time.
Instead, they were aboard their own large, magnificent galley.
The Sacred Ancient Moon Empire's [great love immortal venerable] and the [Sword of Xebec] sailed side-by-side.
Golden Lion Shiki followed closely behind in his own small-to-medium island-ship, the [Lion King].
Among the many Cadres, his division's main ship was the only one deployed personally to show off his uniqueness.
The other Cadres were all aboard the Sword of Xebec.
After all, he was the user of the Float-Float Fruit and held control over the Flying Fleet.
The main ships of other divisions couldn't come even if they wanted to; Golden Lion didn't care to acknowledge them at all.
One show-stealing King Cadre was enough.
Behind the three warships was a massive Flying Fleet composed of giant warships.
However, the distance between Elbaf and Wano Country was not very far.
Thus, Golden Lion Shiki's time to show off was not long.
Silver Axe Fierce, Barbel, and the others could only tolerate this showy, attention-seeking flying ginger cat.
---
Aboard the Sword of Xebec.
Leaning against the ship's railing, the siblings David D. Presley and Davy D. Tinajet watched the masked powerhouses on the opposite ship.
They hadn't expected Gu Yue Fang Huo to have so many experts under his own command.
According to descriptions from other Rocks Cadres, Fang Huo also possessed a Blood Servant with Conqueror's Haki.
He seemed to be called Tyrannosaurus T-Rex.
He was a captive that Golden Lion Shiki had sold to Fang Huo.
Damn it, even the two of them from the Davy Clan hadn't awakened Conqueror's Haki, yet Fang Huo's subordinate was already an awakened user.
This made the siblings feel somewhat embarrassed and envious.
There was also that Magnet-Magnet Fruit user named John, whose combat power was actually stronger than Maron, a formal Cadre of the Rocks Pirates.
Under Fang Huo's training, this Blood Servant's combat power was not even inferior to Ganzi or Bolo Gram.
There were also those Blood Servants turned from CP0 and CP9 agents; the siblings currently still struggled to defeat them.
Even Stussy's pet Sky Fox, which had eaten the Paramecia Type Mushroom-Mushroom Fruit, almost caused the siblings to suffer a major loss.
Their poor performance had led Rocks to scold them more than once, delivering several sets of 'Fists of Love' combos to them.
Whether it was the powerful Cadres of the Rocks Pirates or Fang Huo's subordinates, these two newcomers from the Davy Clan felt immense pressure.
If they couldn't rise up and become stronger soon, they might not even have the right to step onto the Sword of Xebec next time.
The Rocks Pirates do not accept weaklings; this was the iron rule of the ship.
Even if they were Rocks' own kin, there were no exceptions.
Rocks had already lowered the requirement for them to simply defeating Streusen, the chef.
If they couldn't even beat Streusen, the siblings would be demoted to other divisions.
They would have to see which Cadre was willing to take them in.
In any case, Rocks couldn't bear to look at these two cousins.
---
Those Celestial Dragons were originally meant for public execution, but for the safety of his clansmen, Rocks did not let any family members besides these two siblings show their faces.
Coupled with Fang Huo's need to gamble and trade with the World Government, the public execution of the Celestial Dragons was repeatedly delayed.
However, Rocks let his father, Old Chuck, kill several Celestial Dragons in a non-public setting to see if he could awaken Conqueror's Haki.
But Rocks was very disappointed!
This burly father, who inherited half the bloodline of the Buccaneer Tribe, had actually killed eight Celestial Dragons without awakening Conqueror's Haki.
This angered Rocks so much he nearly cursed his farmer father.
As a result, the father and son had several more physical altercations.
As for Rocks' mother, his great-uncle and his wife, and his uncle and his wife—these old folks were equally useless.
Each of them wasted three Celestial Dragons.
A total of twenty-three Celestial Dragons died at the hands of these six old people alone.
Even Presley and Davy D. Tinajet had each killed ten Celestial Dragons.
The result was the same: no awakening!
This made Rocks' liver ache with anger!
Those fifty or so Celestial Dragon captives were almost all killed off by the Davy Clan.
Next time, there might not even be any Celestial Dragons left for Fang Huo to trade with the World Government or for public execution.
Rocks could only call a halt to his clansmen's plan of slaughtering Celestial Dragons to awaken Haki, saving a few for other purposes.
Precisely because of the uselessness of these clansmen, Fang Huo's three sons were made to look even more outstanding.
It made Rocks increasingly fond of his three godsons: Kamui, Ryuma, and Katakuri.
Of course, Old Chuck was also constantly nagging Rocks to hurry up and marry to have children, leaving behind his own bloodline.
Since Rocks looked down on their mediocrity, then he should go produce some himself.
He believed that with Rocks' bloodline, his offspring would surely be very strong.
At the very least, they would be ten or a hundred times stronger than Presley and Davy D. Tinajet.
---
"Davy D. Tinajet, Vice Captain Fang Huo is the smartest. Maybe he can help us awaken Conqueror's Haki."
"If our cousin's ship has no room for us, let's just join Fang Huo's command."
Presley's expression was somewhat bitter; he also wanted to awaken Conqueror's Haki and bring glory to the Davy Clan to share some of his cousin Rocks' burden.
But he had killed so many Celestial Dragons and just couldn't awaken it.
He looked at Fang Huo's Blood Servant subordinates, and even those from rare tribes; every one of them was stronger than them.
Fang Huo's teaching ability was indeed stronger than Rocks'; he knew how to teach according to the student's aptitude, possessed vast knowledge, and had many methods.
He could make even a simple Magnet-Magnet Fruit ability flourish.
Even that seemingly weak Cube-Cube Fruit user, under Fang Huo's guidance, could develop all sorts of exaggerated and bizarre moves.
He wasn't like Rocks, who only knew how to give beatings.
But how many geniuses could survive Rocks' beatings and comprehend the Three Types of Haki and powerful swordsmanship?
The two siblings admitted they couldn't compare to peerless geniuses like Fang Huo, Newgate, or Redfield.
They could no longer stand Rocks' barbaric teaching.
It seemed that seeking refuge with a great sage and great prophet like Fang Huo was their only way out.
Furthermore, by joining Fang Huo, they might even get a chance at some powerful Devil Fruits.
One must know that Fang Huo already had a collection of various Mythical Zoan and Paramecia Type fruits.
Now they had to admit that Gu Yue Fang Huo was indeed the world-renowned [supreme great succubus].
Whether it was the charm of his looks and temperament, or the endless resources, wealth, and infinite knowledge... all of these deeply attracted everyone!
"Then shall we go?"
Davy D. Tinajet looked at the [great love immortal venerable] opposite them, really wanting to just jump over.
If this place won't keep me, there's a place that will!
If Cousin Rocks couldn't teach them well, that was Rocks' problem; she now believed more in Fang Huo's teaching ability.
Looking at those powerful masked men, she finally realized that Fang Huo was still more appealing!