Sea Calendar Year 1478!
Rocks' home base, Hachinosu (Pirate Island)!
As per custom, whenever Rocks recruited a powerful member, a grand feast was held. Rocks had spent five whole years capturing the Golden Lion. This feast was arguably the most spectacular one held in years.
Inside the Skull Island.
The feast had begun. Pirates set up grills, and various meats sizzled with oil over the flames. The scent of spices mixed with the aroma of roasting meat permeated the air. Paired with a glass of chilled rum—pure bliss! Countless pirates, holding bowls in their left hands and skewers in their right, danced unknown dances around the roaring bonfire. The atmosphere was completely ignited!
Looking across the crowd, there were tens of thousands of pirates, representing various races. There were the most numerous Humans, as well as the rarer Minks, Longarm Tribe members, Fish-Men, Longleg Tribe members, and Giant pirates—everything was present. The tens of thousands of pirates were divided into small groups, clinking glasses and engaging in all sorts of entertainment. Fish-Men pirates performed acrobatics, Longarm pirates breathed fire, and Giant pirates wrestled each other... The most exciting performances drew waves of applause and cheers from the other pirates. In this vibrant atmosphere, the pirates forgot all their troubles and completely immersed themselves in the celebration.
Below, at the table closest to Rocks.
Shiki the Golden Lion raised his bowl, forcing a smile.
"Gurarararara... Golden Lion, do you remember what you told me back then?!!" Whitebeard (Edward Newgate) drained the rum in his bowl and looked at Shiki with a mocking expression. In the East Blue, Shiki had mocked him for abandoning his pride and spinelessly joining the Rocks Pirates. And now? Shiki was doing the exact same thing, drinking here and calling them brothers. Where was his temper now?
Stung by the reminder, Shiki's face darkened, though he felt unwilling to concede. But there was nothing he could do; Rocks was simply too terrifying! He was completely beyond Shiki's ability to resist! His ambition hadn't been realized yet. He couldn't afford to die, so he could only temporarily submit!
"Accept your lot and make the best of it. Don't overthink it!" Captain John, noticing the awkward atmosphere, stepped in to smooth things over.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA..."
Just then, a wildly arrogant laugh suddenly erupted, echoing throughout Hachinosu!
"Everyone!!"
Rocks abruptly rose from his throne, spreading his arms wide in a gesture of embrace! He glanced down at the tens of thousands of pirates, grinned widely, and laughed maniacally:
"HAHAHAHA... My monsters, let's welcome the Captain of the Rocks Pirates' Second Division, Shiki the Flying Pirate, the Golden Lion!!"
"OH!!!"
"Captain Golden Lion!!"
"The Flying Pirate!!!"
The pirates immediately stopped everything they were doing, raised their cups and bowls, and all turned to Shiki, shouting loudly! They then drained their drinks in one gulp!
No one was dissatisfied that Shiki, despite having just joined the Rocks Pirates, was immediately appointed Captain of the Second Division, a position second only to Captain Rocks and First Division Captain Whitebeard! Throughout the entire Rocks Pirates, Rocks held absolute authority! When he made a decision, even if that decision was wrong, it was right! This was the iron rule of the Rocks Pirates! There were only two voices in the Rocks Pirates! The first was Rocks' voice, and the second was the voice agreeing with Rocks! There were no exceptions!
Rocks nodded in satisfaction, looking at the explosive atmosphere below.
Currently, the pirate landscape of the New World was largely defined.
First was the Rocks Pirates, led by him!
First Division Captain: Whitebeard, Edward Newgate!
Second Division Captain: Shiki the Flying Pirate, the Golden Lion!
Third Division Captain: Captain John!
Fourth Division Captain: Wang Zhi!
Fifth Division Captain: Silver Axe!
Furthermore, during the five years he spent pursuing Shiki, he had recruited every named and notable pirate across the six regions, including the four Blues and the New World, into the Rocks Pirates. Most of the recruitment process had gone smoothly. As for the small fraction that didn't go smoothly, the grass on their graves was likely half a meter high by now. To date, besides the five Division Captains, the Rocks Pirates contained over thirty pirates with bounties exceeding 100 million Beri. Each of them was famous in the New World, and figures who ruled their domains in the four seas. But now, they were merely members of one of the five divisions!
Second was the Roger Pirates, led by Gol D. Roger.
Vice-Captain Silvers Rayleigh, known as the "Dark King"!
Crew member Scopper Gaban, whose strength was comparable to a Navy Admiral!
In addition, the Roger Pirates were not lacking in members with bounties exceeding 100 million Beri!
Third was the Reynold Pirates, led by Reynold. (Detailed member list omitted.)
In the current New World, all major, named pirates were gathered within these three crews. There was no longer a single powerful lone wolf remaining on the seas. (Douglas Bullet was only one year old.)
After a few rounds of drinks, the feast gradually started to wind down. Satisfied pirates began to leave, heading back to their resting quarters. The massive skull hall was soon left with less than a fifth of the original crowd. However, many who were not yet satisfied formed new small groups and started fresh rounds of celebration.
Wang Zhi, having drunk his fill, looked up at Rocks, hesitant to speak.
"If you have something to say, just say it!" Rocks' voice, imbued with slight authority, slowly rang out. Wang Zhi, gathering his courage, finally spoke.
"Boss, in the current New World, most pirates have already been recruited into the crew. There are no more suitable targets left. Are we going to war with the Navy and the World Government next?!"
At these words, Whitebeard and the others paused their drinking and all looked toward Rocks on the throne. Rocks' ambition was known to all! That was to overthrow the World Government and subsequently become the King of the World! Now that there were no more pirates left on the seas to recruit, then next...
"HAHAHAHAHAHA..."
Rocks let out a wild laugh and shook his head: "No rush. Now is not the time to go to war with the World Government. Although your strength is great, it can still be greater! I will search for several powerful Devil Fruits for you to enhance your strength. That way, when we finally go to war with the World Government, our chances of success will be much higher!"
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ONEPIECE My Crewmates Are All God-Tier! (152 Chapters, Ongoing)
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Hearing Rocks' decision, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. It wasn't the joy of imminent Devil Fruit acquisition, but the relief of not having to fight the World Government immediately! As formidable pirates, they were all mad. But compared to Rocks' madness, they were mere amateurs! To start a war with the World Government now would be pure lunacy! Better to postpone it as long as possible!
Just as everyone was preparing to drink heartily again out of relief, Rocks' voice suddenly turned grave.
"However, before all that, I need to go see Reynold!"
Reynold?!!
Hearing the familiar name, Wang Zhi frowned deeply. He had previously gone to Castre on Rocks' orders to recruit Reynold, but not only did he fail, he was also soundly beaten by Hajrudin. He still held a grudge over it! Later, while pursuing Shiki, they learned about a series of events involving Reynold through the newspapers. They also learned about the strength of the Reynold Pirates.
Although the Reynold Pirates were few in number, they were all elites. Among the people they knew of, five individuals—Reynold, Lingling, Jess, Hajrudin, and Flame Flower—all possessed Navy Admiral-level strength, with verifiable battle records! (They were unaware of the Red Count's strength, which would be explained later.) Their high-level lineup was already on par with theirs and the Roger Pirates. Of course, Rocks was beyond even that high level!
"Boss, are you planning to absorb the Reynold Pirates?"
"Exactly!!"
Rocks, whose thoughts had been guessed by Captain John, rose abruptly, his eyes shadowed with menace. "There is no one in this world who can refuse Rocks! Hehehehehe... Perhaps Reynold thinks that defeating the Navy gives him the confidence to reject me! How ridiculous!!"
"Once I absorb the Reynold Pirates, and find a few more powerful Devil Fruits for you, overthrowing the World Government will be within reach! HAHAHAHAHA... Only I, Rocks, am the true King of the World!!"
The wildly arrogant laughter echoed through the hall and spread across the entire island.
"King of the World!!"
"King of the World!!!"
The pirates below raised their cups and roared their response in unison.
In a corner that went unnoticed, under the command of Third Division Captain John, a pirate with a somewhat youthful face, nearly three meters tall, and two horns on his head, looked at Rocks on the throne with burning eyes, lost in thought.
...
The New World, an unnamed sea area.
The ship sailed slowly across the calm sea. The melodious sound of a violin drifted gently from the deck.
"Brook, today's tune sounds better than yesterday's." Lingling walked over and naturally handed him a glass of juice.
"YOHOHOHOHO, thank you for the compliment. I will try my best in the future!" Brook slowly stood up and gave a gentlemanly bow. "If you are satisfied, then may I see your pan—"
Bang!
Lingling, completely used to this, calmly walked past Brook, who was sprawled out on the deck.
"Mr. Brook, are you alright?!"
"Lingling, can't you hit him a little lighter?!" Redfield, who had fully integrated into the group, hurriedly helped Brook back up. Seeing Brook's dislocated jaw, Redfield snapped it back into place, sighing helplessly: "Mr. Brook, is seeing those panties absolutely essential?"
"Brook, you haven't seen any panties, but you've been beaten for five years straight!" A teasing voice, accompanied by flashing lightning, rang in Brook's ears.
Brook calmly glanced at Jess, his empty eye sockets holding a strong conviction: "I believe I will definitely be able to see the two beautiful ladies' pan—"
"Silence!!" Flame Flower, having appeared from nowhere, landed another kick, sending Brook flying.
"Amplify: 'Ten-Times Speed'!" Brook, having just become a tiny black dot, was caught and brought back by Hajrudin.
"Phew My heart is racing so fast, I nearly fell into the ocean. Wait, I don't have a heart, YOHOHOHOHO"
"Mr. Brook, your body is incredibly tough!" Rupert the shipwright walked up to Brook, examining the skeletal body from head to toe. "Five years, and you still haven't broken!"
After Flame Flower finished hitting him, Lingling would hit him. After Lingling finished, Flame Flower would hit him. Or sometimes it was a mixed double attack from both! Yet this skeletal body remained resilient and intact—truly remarkable!
In his rocking chair, Reynold glanced at his playful crew, turning a page in his book with a faint smile. This kind of scene had practically become their daily routine. And they never tired of it.
Five years ago, they first went to Reverse Mountain and met Laboon. After saying goodbye, they went to the Giant Kingdom of Elbaf! Lingling, Jess, Shadow, the Soul-Soul Fruit, and the Haki Kingdom—these were all of Reynold's gains from Elbaf! To him, that place was highly significant, and maintaining a good relationship with the Giants was beneficial and harmless.
Leaving Elbaf, they went to Water Seven and met Tom. Tom was also filled with emotion upon hearing the accounts of Reynold and the others. He felt increasingly certain that allowing Rupert to join the crew had been the right decision.
After visiting all these places, Reynold took his crew traveling extensively. In the previous years, he had been constantly busy searching for talented crew members and powerful Devil Fruits. Now that the pirate crew was formed, it was natural to take a proper tour of the sea. They had practically traveled through all six areas: the East Blue, West Blue, South Blue, North Blue, the Grand Line, and the New World. They visited many countries and witnessed various customs and traditions. They went to Alabasta in the desert, Drum Kingdom with its most advanced medical technology, and even accompanied Flame Flower on a trip to Amazon Lily... On a side note, the trip to Amazon Lily was the most severely injured Brook had ever been. His skeleton was nearly scattered into pieces, and he almost couldn't be revived.
Without realizing it, five years had passed.
During these years, Reynold hadn't recruited any new members, although he did occasionally acquire a few Devil Fruits. However, they were relatively common Devil Fruits and were currently gathering dust in his System Storage. He would deal with them if the opportunity arose later!
"Open System."
[System Panel is opening!]
[Host: Reynold]
[System: Great Voyage System]
[Swordsmanship: Lv52 — 53/400,000]
[Observation Haki: Lv30 — 31/400,000 (Future Sight)]
[Armament Haki: Lv30 — 31/400,000 (Internal Destruction)]
[Conqueror's Haki: Lv28 — 29/600,000 (Conqueror's Coating, Haki Kill)]
[Navigation Points: 30,000]
[Recruits: Omitted]
[Luck Points: 70]
[System Storage: Vast amount of Gold, Pure Gold, Six Powers of the Navy, Supreme Grade Sword Sea Splitter, Zoan-type Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Dalmatian, Paramecia-type Slice-Slice Fruit, Zoan-type Bug-Bug Fruit, Model: Maggot!]
The Navigation Points gained over five years from reading ancient books and traveling were sequentially added by Reynold to the four categories of Swordsmanship and Haki. Although no new abilities were derived, the powers of the four categories were significantly enhanced. Luck Points also reached 70, just 30 points away from a guaranteed Luck Event trigger. Additionally, Reynold had acquired three Devil Fruits: the Zoan-type Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Dalmatian (a very ordinary Zoan type); the Paramecia-type Slice-Slice Fruit (Daz Bonez's Fruit); and the Zoan-type Bug-Bug Fruit, Model: Maggot (the one Reynold wished he could discard). However, none of these three Devil Fruits were suitable for him, so they remained untouched in storage.
"Boss!!" Just then, Shadow's voice approached from a distance. Reynold pulled his thoughts back. A black crow was rapidly flying in the distance, landing on the deck. Ever since Shadow acquired the Soot-Soot Fruit, he had become the scout for the Reynold Pirates, specifically responsible for intelligence. A perfect fit for his specialty!
"Boss, latest news!" Shadow handed Reynold a still-warm newspaper.
"Hehehehe... So the Golden Lion has also joined the Rocks Pirates?"
Reynold stroked his chin, carefully reviewing the Rocks Pirates' lineup in his mind.
"If that's the case, the Rocks Pirates are pretty much complete."
Aside from Lingling and Flame Flower, whom he had poached earlier, it seemed everyone else had been recruited by Rocks. Oh, right, there was also Kaido. According to the timeline, Kaido was only fifteen years old now. He was either a very new member of the Rocks Pirates or still wandering the seas, about to join. Reynold wasn't in a rush concerning Kaido. It would take a long time for Kaido to truly grow into his power. Once Rocks was defeated and the Rocks Pirates disintegrated, he could simply poach Kaido then.
"With the Golden Lion joining the Rocks Pirates, there's practically no one left on the seas. Rocks wouldn't come looking for trouble with me, would he?"
If it were anyone else, Reynold wouldn't be sure. But knowing the vindictive nature of Rocks, he was probably already on his way.