"Kuroki?"
Ignis raised an eyebrow. The appearance immediately reminded him of the wanted poster photo he'd seen a few days ago.
He had already planned a series of tests for this unknown Kuroki.
But now, this upright, military-like posture instantly made Ignis even more suspicious.
'Were undercover agents and spies in this era always this careless?'
Ignis thought of the future 'Deserter' X Drake, a Marine Rear Admiral who was one of the eleven Supernovas of the Worst Generation.
Using a Marine defector as an undercover agent was indeed a bit stupid.
From the moment 'Red Flag' X Drake joined the Beasts Pirates, Queen and the other members of the Tobiroppo never truly trusted him, because of his history.
With this military posture, it was hard for Ignis not to suspect Kuroki!
"Tsk, tsk, this posture isn't very well disguised. Seems he failed his spy course."
"Also, instinct doesn't lie..."
"I wonder if he knows the Six Powers..."
As the Rocks Pirates' Great Strategist and Vice Captain, Ignis felt it was his duty to eliminate potential dangers for Rocks.
He quietly split off two bloodshadow bats, which circled around and suddenly attacked Kuroki from behind.
Kuroki, watching the battle, sensed the sudden attack and was startled. He instinctively used 'Kami-e'.
His body became as soft as paper, dodging the first bat's attack.
But the second, faster bat he couldn't quite avoid.
Again, he instinctively used 'Tekkai', which he had practiced thousands of times, to defend.
The bloodshadow bat only managed to tear a hole in Kuroki's clothes before being shattered by his hard, muscular body.
"Who?!"
Kuroki immediately looked around cautiously, especially at the ferocious-looking pirates behind him.
'A bounty hunter?'
'All these damn pirates and bounty hunters were bad news.'
'It seemed that to be a great pirate, one must always stay vigilant.'
High above, Ignis's lips curled into a cold smile.
The evasion skill of Kami-e, and using the signature Tekkai for defense...
"Tekkai, huh..."
Ignis almost laughed. Based solely on this guy's posture and the instinctive techniques he used, he was clearly a spy for the World Government and Marine Headquarters.
He had originally prepared a whole series of tests.
After all, that brute Rocks, was determined to recruit Kuroki.
But now the answer was obvious.
"The average intelligence, the various stupid maneuvers, the laughable disguises in this world... they're as consistent as ever."
Ignis stopped observing the now-cautious Kuroki and turned his attention back to the battle between Wang Zhi and Barbel.
After about half an hour, Barbel, having sustained quite a few injuries, was reluctantly replaced by the eager Kyo.
Kyo excitedly charged at Wang Zhi. Today, he would use Wang Zhi's reputation to rise!
"Rocks!! What is the meaning of this?!"
Enraged by the successive challenges, Wang Zhi truly felt Rocks's contempt.
This was completely contrary to his plan to fight Rocks and become the second-in-command.
If he kept fighting these executives, his reputation as the 'Pirate Guru' would be trampled into the dirt.
"Vohahaha! I just wanted to see how strong you really are, daring to call yourself 'Gurur'!"
Rocks shrugged with a smile, a look of disappointment on his face. This 'Pirate Guru' Wang Zhi was indeed a bit weak.
He couldn't even get past Rocks's own subordinates.
He wasn't qualified to fight Rocks himself.
"Rocks, are you afraid of me? Is that why you're using these bastards to wear me down?!"
Wang Zhi punched the frenzied Kyo away and shouted mockingly at Rocks.
"You want to die?"
Rocks's smile turned cold. He was ready to draw his sword and kill this bastard!
"Rocks! We haven't gone yet! Don't you dare finish him!" Whitebeard quickly spoke up, afraid Rocks would one-shot their stepping stone to fame.
"Ignis, you said that if I beat him, you'll be my good friend, right?"
Charlotte Linlin's chubby baby face was full of anticipation.
According to Streusen, once she became good friends with Ignis, he would surely prophesy for her.
In her view, good friends always helped each other.
Then she could find Mother Carmel faster!
"That's right!"
Ignis smiled softly. It wasn't that he was trying to discipline Charlotte Linlin now; this chubby girl was actively trying to curry favor with him.
"Good! I'll beat the crap out of him!"
Charlotte Linlin clenched her chubby fists, her eyes full of fighting spirit.
Ignis looked at Wang Zhi, then glanced at Kuroki.
He had thought about discussing with Rocks the idea of turning both into his thralls.
But such an evil technique would probably make the other executives endlessly wary of Ignis.
That wouldn't be good for unity or growth.
So, Ignis decided to completely 'devour' both the 'Pirate Guru' Wang Zhi and Kuroki.
After all, rather than spending a massive amount of power to transform them into thralls,
it would be better to just 'devour' them, turning them into his own power, helping his body accelerate its transformation!
Ignis knew that enduring hardship wouldn't make you a better person, but devouring people could!
No matter how many thralls you had, they were ultimately an external force. True strength came from within!
...
As the battle between Wang Zhi and Silver Axe continued, the pirates on Elysium Island began talking among themselves.
They hadn't expected the famously fierce 'Pirate Guru' to have to fight for so long against just Rocks's executives.
Aside from a single punch that sent Sunbell flying, Wang Zhi hadn't even completely defeated Barbel.
And now he had been fighting Kyo for another half hour!
Barbel and Kyo became famous instantly, stepping on Wang Zhi's reputation and appearing to be on par with the 'Pirate Guru'.
Even Sunbell was praised for his toughness.
Wang Zhi was still winning, but his 'Guru' mystique was thoroughly shattered.
Soon, Silver Axe was ultimately unable to defeat Wang Zhi.
Charlotte Linlin, riding on a thundercloud with her right fist wreathed in the sun Prometheus, boldly entered the battlefield.
This 'Iron Balloon's' entry into the battle instantly elevated the battle to another level.
The headquarters of the Wang Zhi Pirates on Elysium Island was blasted to smithereens by Charlotte Linlin's lightning and fire.
Enraged, Wang Zhi brought out his full strength to fight Charlotte Linlin.
"Damn it! I still can't win!"
Silver Axe wasn't disappointed; he had achieved his goal.
He had proven to the world that he wasn't much weaker than the 'Pirate Guru' Wang Zhi.
If Wang Zhi wasn't killed this time by Rocks and Ignis, he would sooner or later surpass him and step on his head.
"Guru Wang Zhi got beaten away by Charlotte Linlin!!"
"Are all the Rocks Pirates' executives this strong?"
"Golden Lion, Whitebeard, and the Great Demon Lord haven't even fought yet!"
"It looks like the Guru will be forced to join the Rocks Pirates!"
"The world's strongest pirate crew has been born! All villains! Rejoice!"
"That's an all-star lineup! Captain Rocks, you're my idol!"
The entire island of Elysium erupted in excitement. Countless pirates began to worship the invincible Rocks Pirates.