Ganzui, as a new member, had been constantly observing the internal relationships within the Rocks Pirates.
There was the hands-off captain Rocks, and Ignis, the vice captain who seemed to hold all the authority.
Aside from the thorny Kyo, almost every officer appeared completely convinced by Ignis.
So Ganzui now understood how to survive within the world's strongest pirate crew.
"Hmph, I understand now!"
Kyo's killing intent and resentment toward Gill had nearly vanished, replaced instead by determination to improve himself and erase his shame.
He had even let go of some of his obsession toward his old rival Shiki.
Ignis was right.
To become a true king, both one's strength and spirit had to undergo breakthroughs and awakening.
"Vohahaha! Ignis, you might as well also serve as the Rocks Pirates' spiritual mentor!"
Seeing that Kyo had genuinely changed a little, Rocks burst into laughter.
He even felt tempted to bring Ignis back to God Valley so Ignis could properly guide those lazy clan members of his.
Especially his father, who loved nothing more than wearing a straw hat and honestly farming fields.
In terms of physique alone, Rocks' father was actually even stronger and more robust than Rocks himself, possessing a massive build similar to the Buccaneer race.
Rocks inherited his monstrous physique from that powerful father.
If his father hadn't already accepted his own ordinary fate, Rocks believed his father's potential would never have been inferior to his own.
"Isn't this simply my responsibility as chief strategist?"
Ignis smiled faintly. Even though the outside world already regarded him as the vice captain of the Rocks Pirates, as long as Rocks himself didn't officially announce it, Ignis no longer referred to himself as vice captain.
However, he would make these unruly monsters willingly acknowledge him as vice captain one by one.
"Just chief strategist?"
Rocks glanced at Ignis with amusement. He still remembered exactly how Ignis had tricked Sunbell into calling him vice captain.
"I'm simply enforcing the captain's rules!"
Ignis spread his hands and grinned mischievously at Rocks. Both of them understood perfectly.
Rocks wouldn't formally announce Ignis as vice captain, and Ignis wouldn't force the issue.
As long as the other officers acknowledged him, that was enough.
"A little brat who hasn't even awakened Conqueror's Haki yet."
Rocks raised an eyebrow and smiled, still refusing to acknowledge Ignis as his second-in-command.
Though in the future, that might change.
That would still depend on strength.
"That's only a matter of time!"
Ignis's gaze became hard as steel, filled with absolute confidence.
"What's going on here?"
Hearing the cryptic conversation between Rocks and Ignis, Ganzui became confused. From Rocks' tone, Ignis apparently wasn't actually the vice captain of the Rocks Pirates.
"Jihahahaha! The Rocks Pirates don't have a vice captain. If you can make everyone call you vice captain, then you're the vice captain."
Shiki immediately started stirring trouble again, encouraging the newcomer Ganzui to become the next source of entertainment.
Shiki had also noticed the major change in Kyo's attitude toward Ignis.
That meant Kyo might no longer remain the rebellious thorn within the Rocks Pirates.
For the sake of keeping things interesting in the Rocks Pirates, Shiki felt it necessary to cultivate a new troublemaker.
"Ignis isn't the vice captain?"
Ganzui's eyes widened in disbelief. Hadn't this already been announced in newspapers and bounty notices?
"Ganzui, looking at your golden armor and imposing aura, you should become the face of our Rocks Pirates."
"I support you competing with Ignis for the vice captain position."
Shiki spoke to Ganzui with a completely serious expression, as though he had suffered tremendous grievances under Ignis and was ready to become Ganzui's strongest supporter.
"You support me?"
Ganzui felt pleasantly surprised. He never expected to have someone like Shiki supporting him.
Perhaps competing against Ignis wasn't impossible after all.
"Shiki! You want to support him becoming vice captain?!"
Linlin was the first to jump up, angrily cursing at Shiki while also shooting Ganzui a dangerous look.
If those two dared lay hands on Ignis, she would not hesitate to burn both bastards into ashes.
"Hehe~"
Shiki obediently floated back, though he still secretly gave Ganzui an encouraging look.
"I'm just a newcomer."
Ganzui revealed a cautious smile and displayed no ambition whatsoever.
However, a seed of temptation had already been planted in his heart.
Once he became more familiar with the Rocks Pirates, he'd see how things developed.
Neither Shiki nor Kyo seemed entirely convinced by Ignis.
But most importantly, there was Rocks' attitude.
As long as Rocks refused to acknowledge Ignis as vice captain, Ganzui still had a sliver of opportunity.
Watching Shiki deliberately increasing the game difficulty for him, Ignis decided he'd definitely need to properly deal with Shiki in the future.
Still, he didn't really care about these people's ambitions.
These guys wouldn't understand pain until they got beaten down properly.
"Ignis isn't vice captain? Well, in my heart, Ignis is my vice captain."
Gill was equally surprised, though what he valued was Ignis's supreme popularity. He only wanted to ride Ignis's fame and appear before beautiful women around the world.
With his own strength, he wasn't remotely qualified to compete with Ignis. He couldn't even compare to Whitebeard or the Golden Lion.
Gill Bastar's declaration caused Barbel to nod approvingly.
Unexpectedly, this four-armed fellow had chosen the correct answer.
Meanwhile, Ganzui's refusal to call Ignis vice captain was itself a kind of statement.
Hopefully this guy wouldn't end up worse than Kyo, becoming a marginalized joke.
...
At that moment, enthusiastic cheers erupted from the pirates across Elysium Island beneath the night sky. Countless whistles rang out wildly, completely igniting the pirates' hormones.
"What's going on?"
Rocks was drawn by the exaggerated commotion and walked to the edge of the skull eye socket, looking down at the densely packed crowd below.
"Hehe, seems like some super beauty showed up~"
Gill swiftly pulled out a special telescope and looked toward a graceful figure dressed in extravagant attire amidst the crowd below.
"A super beauty?"
Shiki, the ever pervert, immediately rushed over to watch the excitement.
Even the cold-faced Kyo and the always-serious Newgate appeared at the skull eye socket to observe.
Only the fish-men Barbel and Sunbell showed little interest in human women.
"Tsk tsk, that figure and appearance really are impressive."
Rocks revealed an appreciative smile, though not to the point of obsession.
"Jihahahaha, definitely impressive!"
Shiki showed obvious interest. He certainly wouldn't mind spending a passionate night with such a blonde beauty.
"So it's her!"
Ignis recognized the woman making such a grand entrance, though her method of appearing seemed a little too deliberate.
That marketing strategy was quite something.
No wonder the future clone Stussy would become the Queen of the Pleasure District in the underworld.
"Who is she?"
Rocks turned back curiously. Was she some important figure?
"Isn't that just "Science Robber" Stussy? A fake scientist."
Ignis never expected this recruitment gathering on Elysium Island to attract so many famous pirates.
It seemed he had still underestimated the appeal of Rocks, the world's most evil pirate, and the world's strongest pirate crew.