Ignis knew that God Valley, despite being a non-member nation, must still have certain trade connections with the outside world.
At the very least, Shanks and Shamrock's mother had been pushing the twins around the streets in a rather luxurious baby stroller.
That was not the kind of product that should appear in an isolated non-member nation.
Overall, God Valley was actually fairly prosperous and stable.
It was nothing like Newgate's chaotic and lawless hometown, Sphinx Island.
Even the Celestial Dragons acknowledged that God Valley's resources were extremely abundant and worth occupying.
'As long as Rocks stays careful, the God's Knights probably won't discover God Valley for at least another decade or more.'
'By then, who knows how strong I'll have become.'
'Still, I should probably remind Rocks when the time comes.'
Ignis temporarily set aside his worries.
After all, Rocks was probably even more cautious than he was.
God Valley was, after all, his hometown, the place where his family lived.
….....
"Jihahahaha! Ignis, make a prophecy for us, did Rocks go to hide treasure, or did he really return to his hometown?"
Shiki's eyes were filled with curiosity.
The world knew very little about Rocks.
Even the officers of the Rocks Pirates were the same, they practically knew nothing about him.
They wanted more information so they could prepare a few backup plans for the future when they eventually left the Rocks Pirates.
"Consultation fee: 5 billion Beli."
"That batch of Heavenly Tribute treasure Rocks has is worth at least 10 billion Beli. I'm already giving you a fifty percent discount. Aren't I being generous?"
Ignis didn't refuse outright. Instead, he smiled lightly at Shiki, Kyo, Ganzui, and the others.
"Screw you! Why don't you just rob us directly?!"
Shiki, Ganzui, and the others instantly cursed him out.
They had only casually asked a question, yet Ignis actually dared to demand an outrageous price.
One question for 5 billion Beli, even selling Rocks wouldn't be enough.
Still, the underworld placed on Ignis, the Supreme Grade Incubus, in the underworld seemed to have risen again.
A group of female Celestial Dragons had already formed an organization dedicated to capturing Ignis.
Their membership had exceeded ten people.
Together, they had pushed Ignis's underworld bounty to 5 billion Beli.
A man like him could only belong to them.
Now bounty hunters and great pirates across the entire underworld had gone completely mad.
At this moment, Ignis had become a genuine walking treasure vault in everyone's eyes.
Whoever captured him could immediately retire and live a luxurious life.
"It's even better than robbery!"
"So, do you want to hear the answer or not? Once you hear it, I'm charging you. IOUs are acceptable too."
Ignis gave an evil grin, frightening Shiki, Ganzui, Kyo, and the others into scattering instantly to avoid giving Ignis any opportunity to extort them.
Leaving aside whether they even had a chance to obtain Rocks' treasure, just thinking about paying Ignis 5 billion Beli already felt like a terrible deal.
Why should they risk being killed by Rocks while Ignis only needed to open his mouth and instantly take half the treasure?
Black-hearted! Too black-hearted!
People who played with schemes truly had black hearts!
"If Rocks knew what you guys were thinking, you'd all die."
"Family is always the most untouchable taboo."
Newgate coldly glanced at these treasure-obsessed idiots.
"Relax, relax, I was just casually asking. I wouldn't dare covet Rocks' treasure."
Shiki immediately shifted the blame and ended the topic.
He definitely didn't want Rocks, Newgate, or Ignis holding grudges against him.
"Family and companions truly must not be harmed."
Polo Gram deeply agreed with Newgate's view and found himself increasingly approving of this companion.
Fortunately, there were people like Newgate, Ignis, and Sunbell aboard, companions who valued loyalty and righteousness.
Otherwise, he genuinely wouldn't have been able to survive in a pirate crew ruled entirely by strength.
"Ignis, are we family?"
Charlotte Linlin suddenly turned and asked Ignis.
She was no longer satisfied with merely being friends or companions.
"Jihahaha, Linlin, do you think we're children playing house?"
"We're just a bunch of pirates gathered together by Rocks for profit."
Shiki directly sneered in disdain.
He completely looked down on these sentimental bonds of companions and family.
Ganzui and Kyo's subtle expressions clearly showed agreement.
They both knew that one day they would eventually leave the Rocks Pirates and carve out their own paths.
Rocks couldn't bind them forever.
"Yes. We are now, and we will be in the future too."
Ignoring Shiki's opinion entirely, Ignis softly answered Charlotte Linlin.
"That's wonderful!"
After glaring angrily at Shiki, Charlotte Linlin happily rushed toward Ignis.
She liked this new family member very much.
"Family, huh…"
Newgate revealed a faint, gentle smile.
Meanwhile, Shiki's expression turned rather unpleasant.
He refused to believe that a wildly ambitious prophet like Ignis truly believed in meaningless things like family bonds and emotions.
Ganzui and Kyo also looked at Ignis strangely.
'This guy really knew how to deceive and manipulate people.'
'Only a someone like Charlotte Linlin would believe such nonsense.'
"Ignis, I also want to become your family. Will you marry me?"
"But you must promise to love only me for the rest of your life."
Stussy immediately clung to him again, wearing an infatuated expression.
"Stussy! Ignis belongs to everyone just like Mother Carmel does. How could he possibly love only you?!"
"And Ignis will become my vice-captain in the future."
Charlotte Linlin angrily squeezed the greedy woman aside.
Trying to monopolize Ignis? Absolutely impossible.
"What do you mean 'belongs to everyone'? You're still too young. You don't understand what love is."
Stussy glanced disdainfully at the fat girl.
She couldn't understand why Ignis valued Linlin so highly.
Wasn't she sexy and beautiful enough?
Or was Ignis's taste simply unusual, preferring fat girls like Linlin?
"What do you mean I don't understand love? I love Ignis very much, just like I love Mother Carmel!"
Charlotte Linlin angrily shouted back.
She was suddenly starting to dislike this short little woman.
"Stop wasting time. Train if you should be training!"
"Sunbell, let's go."
Too lazy to deal with these people, Ignis directly brought along the most honest fish-man, Subell, for special training.
He actually believed that sincere and hardworking people like Sunbell would surpass arrogant and impatient people like Barbell, Kyo, and Ganzui in the future.
"Yes, Vice Captain!"
Sunbell gave a simple, honest smile and followed Ignis into the training room to continue his gravity training.
"Hmph~"
Watching Ignis leave, Stussy no longer bothered arguing with Linlin, that illiterate fat girl.
As a scientific researcher, she was the most educated officer aboard the ship.
Illiterate pirates like Linlin, who had never received any education since childhood and only knew how to solve problems with fists, were impossible to communicate with.
Only a man like Ignis, both intelligent and handsome, could truly make her happy.
But whenever she thought about Ignis's "not taking initiative, not rejecting, and not taking responsibility" playboy attitude, Stussy felt utterly speechless.
'Winning Ignis's heart was truly difficult.'
Still, the moment she thought about Ignis's powerful mutated talent, Stussy became filled with determination again.
Whether it meant giving birth to a powerful child with Ignis, or using scientific technology to create another Ignis, she absolutely had to obtain him.
If possible, she truly wanted to monopolize Ignis, the Supreme Grade Incubus, and make every other woman envy and resent her!