After crossing the Calm Belt and entering the West Blue.
"This time, I'm not going to the Fronce Kingdom!"
"While I'm off the ship, Ignis will be the person in charge of the Rocks Pirates."
"I'll wait for you all in mafia territory!"
Aboard the floating Xebec's Sword, Rocks suddenly announced that he would temporarily leave the crew.
Ignis raised an eyebrow. He knew this guy was definitely heading back to his hometown in the West Blue, God Valley.
Actually, in the original timeline, it wasn't uncommon for Captain Rocks to act independently.
He had once gone to the Lulusia Kingdom in Paradise on the Grand Line, fallen in love with Eris, and later had a son, Teach.
After Teach was born, Rocks personally escorted Eris and Teach back to God Valley and introduced them to the members of the Davy family.
All of this had been secret operations conducted away from the Rocks Pirates.
The only question was whether Wang Zhi had completely sold information about Rocks' repeated disappearances to the World Government.
"What?! Rocks, where are you going?"
"Why is Ignis the one in charge? Are you really planning to make him vice-captain?"
The officers of the Rocks Pirates immediately erupted in uproar.
None of them expected Rocks to temporarily leave as soon as they arrived in the West Blue.
"Do I need to report my whereabouts to you people?"
"It's settled. Ignis, take charge of the Rocks Pirates properly. Don't let the World Government wipe you all out while I'm gone."
"And you two, Kyo and Shiki, if you're dissatisfied, then duel Ignis!"
"Whoever wins gets to be temporary leader."
Rocks directly made the decision while packing his spoils and valuable supplies onto a small boat he had prepared long ago.
"Tsk tsk, Rocks, are you going to hide treasure or something?"
"Please remember to draw a treasure map!"
Looking at the treasure-loaded little boat, Ganzui's face filled with greed.
He thought Rocks, the world's most evil pirate, was about to imitate those legendary pirates and hide his treasure on some secret island known only to himself.
Watching the busy Rocks, Newgate suddenly felt a strange sense of familiarity.
Why did this resemble his own obsession with sending money back to his hometown?
'Could Rocks be transporting these treasures and supplies back home?'
"This really looks like he's taking treasure back to his hometown."
The observant Stussy noticed the subtle expression on Rocks' face.
It clearly resembled the feeling of a traveler returning home.
'That brutal monster actually had family and still cared about his homeland?'
"Rocks, your hometown is in the West Blue?"
Shiki, Kyo, and the others curiously questioned him.
"Shut up!"
"Ignis, I'm leaving these idiots to you for now!"
Rocks couldn't even be bothered responding to them.
After loading up the treasure and supplies, he directly rowed his small boat away along the edge of the Calm Belt until he vanished over the sea.
"Bahahaha! Now the vice-captain is finally a real vice-captain!"
Barbell, Sunbell, Gill, Streusen, and Stussy had always addressed Ignis as vice-captain.
Even Polo Gram had begun calling him vice-captain.
Newgate and Linlin had already accepted this fact by default, though they still refused to verbally address him that way.
Only Shiki, Kyo, and Ganzui still retained some thoughts of resistance.
"Let's go, Ignis! We're going to the Fronce Kingdom to seize Emperor Blade Napoleon!"
Seeing Ignis now become the acting leader of the ship, Charlotte Linlin immediately urged him onward.
After seizing that famous blade, they would head into West Blue mafia territory to recruit the mafia boss Marlon, who had already begun unifying the West Blue underworld.
If Rocks failed to return in time, they could directly suppress Marlon themselves.
Just a mere mafia boss.
There were plenty of officers here capable of crushing a so-called "big shot" from one of the Four Seas.
These great pirates from the New World fundamentally looked down upon the "overlords" and "bosses" of the Four Seas.
"Then let's move out!!"
Ignis drew the Seven-Star Demon Sword and gave a rather formal swing, officially taking over Rocks' command authority.
Now he was the one calling the shots aboard the ship.
"Hmph!"
Only Kyo snorted coldly.
Shiki and Ganzui said nothing and silently accepted Ignis as the pseudo vice-captain.
The Xebec's Sword continued sailing toward the Fronce Kingdom.
Looking in the direction where Rocks had disappeared, Ignis suddenly frowned slightly.
'Was the future God's Knight Figarland Garling discovering God Valley really just coincidence?'
'Could it be that some of the treasures serving as Heavenly Tribute had leaked out from God Valley, ultimately exposing its location?'