In the secret room of a tavern on Elysium Island.
"Your Excellency, we have successfully bribed Wang Zhi!"
"Also, Black will make a name for himself in the New World as a pirate, using the alias 'Kuroki'!"
A CP0 team reported the latest progress to a den den mushi on the table.
"Continue. You must successfully join the Rocks Pirates and report back all their actions and objectives promptly."
An aged voice came from the other side of the den den mushi.
This time, they were pursuing a two-pronged approach: bribing a great pirate and planting a CP0 undercover.
As long as Rocks targeted one of them, the World Government could plant a spy within the Rocks Pirates.
Then the Rocks Pirates would be nothing to worry about!
A few days later.
On the famous Elysium Island, a pirate named Kuroki made a name for himself by defeating seven or eight pirate captains in a row.
Kuroki even challenged the master of Elysium Island, the 'Pirate Guru' Wang Zhi.
The two engaged in a fierce battle on Elysium Island, ultimately fighting to a draw, ending with Kuroki leaving safely.
This much-talked-about battle spread rapidly through the New World.
Another powerful great pirate had risen.
Based on his performance, fighting Wang Zhi to a draw, the World Government issued Kuroki his first bounty: 444,000,000 Berries.
This newcomer forcefully dominated the headlines.
...
Aboard the flying Xebec's Sword.
"Ignis! Another powerful newcomer! Is this guy an executive of the Rocks Pirates?"
"Either way, I'm going to take him. Whether he is or not!"
Rocks looked at the news from the past couple of days, a confident smile on his face.
He had originally planned to beat the 'Pirate Guru' Wang Zhi into submission, but after hearing Ignis say the guy would definitely betray them and constantly sell information about the Rocks Pirates, Rocks decided to kill Wang Zhi instead.
Since he couldn't recruit this guy who dared to call himself the 'Pirate Guru', he would kill him and make a name for the Rocks Pirates.
Recruiting a big shot like the 'Pirate Guru' would have been a great way to raise their profile, but killing him would also make them famous and solidify their position as the overlords of the New World.
Furthermore, Rocks had felt a little regret about having to kill Wang Zhi, but now that a substitute of equal strength had suddenly appeared, Rocks would be even more merciless.
Wang Zhi probably never dreamed that cooperating with the World Government to increase his chances of joining the Rocks Pirates would actually lead to his death sooner!
"Kuroki?"
Ignis looked at the news of the Elysium Island battle and Kuroki's wanted poster.
This was a face he had never seen before.
It seemed to be a minor character not appearing in the original story, one who probably died somewhere unknown.
"I haven't seen this guy in the future I've witnessed."
"He probably died somewhere."
"Of course, we could investigate his background. He might be a World Government spy, for all we know."
Ignis spoke calmly. He was very familiar with the World Government and Marine Headquarters' tactics.
Especially since Ignis had recently been paying attention to the World Pirates, a rapidly growing rookie crew in the Grand Line.
This year, Byrnndi World was 23 years old. After obtaining the More-More Fruit, he seemed to be getting more and more arrogant, even daring to call himself the 'World Destroyer'.
He was even more arrogant than the future 'Captain' Kid.
The expanding World Pirates might already have spies planted within them.
"A spy?"
Rocks's good mood instantly subsided. Ignis said he hadn't seen this Kuroki in the future.
That meant either the guy died early, or the future had already changed, and this guy had popped up out of nowhere.
"Regardless, let's take him first!"
"If he is a spy, I'll root him out. I'm sure you'll find clues too, Ignis!"
Rocks didn't want to let such a promising pirate slip away. If there were problems, they could deal with them after he came aboard.
"Whatever you say."
Ignis spread his hands. In the original timeline, Rocks hadn't even discovered the traitor Wang Zhi.
Their actions had been leaked time and again, leading to Marine ambushes.
In the end, even their headquarters on Hachinosu had been infiltrated, Marlon was killed, and Shakuyaku, the 'Flower of Hachinosu', was captured.
Ignis suspected that Rocks's 'Voice of All Things' was incomplete or flawed, unable to distinguish good from evil, and could only communicate mentally with other D-clan members.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have asked Roger and Garp to kill him; he could have asked Newgate and the others to do it.
Perhaps another reason was that most of the executives on the Rocks Pirates harbored ill will, and Rocks didn't care, which was why he never identified Wang Zhi as the traitor.
"Then it's decided! Kill the 'Pirate Guru' Wang Zhi! Snatch Kuroki and bring him aboard!"
Rocks made the decision. He trusted himself, and he trusted Ignis even more.
The future of the Rocks Pirates would definitely reach Mary Geoise!
"Rocks! When are we going to the North Blue?"
Kyo was very eager to search for the Magma-Magma Fruit and the Glint-Glint Fruit in the North Blue, but Rocks was now going after Charlotte Linlin, then the smuggler Ganzui, and Kuroki...
And he wanted to go to the West Blue to find the Mafia boss Marlon...
When would there be time for the North Blue? Kyo didn't want to wait that long.
"Wait. Probably within the next year or two."
Rocks answered casually. In any case, after leaving the New World, he had to return to his hometown, God Valley, in the West Blue to deliver treasure and supplies.
"Bastard!!"
Kyo was annoyed. That was still so long.
Watching Shiki grow stronger and stronger made him feel more and more pressure.
Shiki's talent was greater than his, and he had a powerful Devil Fruit ability.
Would he really be left behind by Shiki?
"Jehahaha! Like Ignis said, luck is also a part of strength."
"Blame yourself for not encountering a powerful Devil Fruit."
Shiki spoke slyly, his words instantly igniting Kyo's anger.
The two began their daily routine of arguing and fighting.
...
The Rocks Pirates spent a full two and a half months searching these waters before finally finding traces of Charlotte Linlin and Streusen.
It was as if the two were trying to avoid the Rocks Pirates.
This reminded Rocks of his experience chasing that bastard Shiki, filling him with rage.
And the new year had already passed; they were now in another year.
Rocks had been away from home for over a year.
"So they can fly too!!"
Rocks on the flying warship spotted Charlotte Linlin riding on a thundercloud.
Streusen, upon seeing the Rocks Pirates' flying warship approaching, urged Charlotte Linlin to run faster.
The Rocks Pirates chased for another two and a half days before finally intercepting the fleeing duo.
Once he cornered them, the short-tempered Rocks showed Charlotte Linlin and Streusen what demonic fury looked like.
The supposedly impregnable 'Iron Balloon' was beaten black and blue by Rocks in an instant.
Rocks didn't care that Charlotte Linlin was just a thirteen-year-old female pirate!