The next day.
The news that "Iron Balloon" Charlotte Linlin had joined the Rocks Pirates hit the newspapers.
The most wicked pirate crew now boasted another powerful Executive!
The atmosphere throughout the New World grew increasingly oppressive!
Pressure from the Rocks Pirates on all other pirate crews surged.
With Streusen officially appointed as Head Chef, the sailors and laborers on the Saber of Xebec were unhesitatingly thrown overboard by Rocks.
His ship had no room for the weak!
Sunbell, the "Little Brother," instantly switched to helmsman and sailor, becoming a low-ranking Executive just like the chef, Streusen.
Fortunately, Streusen's bounty was still lower than Sunbell's current one.
Thus, Streusen remained the lowest-ranking member on board.
[Gourmet Knight Streusen, Bounty: 177 million Berries.]
This bounty was earned by Streusen tagging along with Charlotte Linlin.
Streusen usually didn't get involved in fights.
But his true strength was likely far beyond that bounty.
His Paramecia-type Cook-Cook Fruit ability had already reached a remarkable level.
He could turn any non-living material into food.
He could now effortlessly transform an entire pirate ship into a soft, fluffy cake.
"Worororo! Delicious! I've never tasted anything so good!"
Even Rocks was conquered by Streusen's cooking, feasting heartily.
The food they ate before was practically mud.
Future Head Chef Streusen, besides using his Cook-Cook Fruit to create food, possessed superb culinary skills himself.
"As long as Captain Rocks likes it!"
"Vice-Captain, this is the dish I prepared especially at your request."
Streusen showed great respect to Rocks, while fawning over Fang Huo, serving him plate after plate of Chinese-style dishes like a sycophantic servant.
This left everyone quite puzzled!
How did Fang Huo tame this guy so completely?
"Golden Lion" Shiki was a bit annoyed—he and Fang Huo were the ones who had roughed up Streusen.
Why did Streusen show him the same respect he showed Fang Huo?
Was it because of the First Mate position?
Was Streusen that pragmatic, only bootlicking Captain Rocks and the "Pseudo-First Mate" Fang Huo?
Even Charlotte Linlin felt a twinge of jealousy—her personal chef was acting like a junior servant to Fang Huo.
"Trouble, Sunbell. This human runt wants to steal the spot of Vice-Captain Fang Huo's top supporter."
Babel thought he had already successfully ridden Fang Huo's coattails, but this dwarf was shamelessly kneeling even lower.
This human chef was shameless, indulging in such petty competition!
"The Vice-Captain probably dislikes such flattery; he says we're true partners, urging us to grow stronger and become independent great figures."
Sunbell also disliked the sycophantic Streusen, but he wasn't worried that the clever, wise Vice-Captain would be swayed by all this.
In his heart, Fang Huo was the all-knowing Prophet Lord!
Seeing the respectful Streusen, Fang Huo thought his Seven-Star Sword still had some effect, having successfully influenced the treacherous dwarf.
That made dealing with Charlotte Linlin even easier.
"Fang Huo, how long must we stay together before you give me a prophecy?"
Since Charlotte Linlin boarded the ship, she had asked Fang Huo over fifty times, yet he never gave a precise time.
He only feigned a fleeting mood or a sudden flash of insight.
This left Linlin a bit dissatisfied!
Now that her chef had been appropriated by Fang Huo, and she couldn't beat Rocks, she had to remain on the Rocks Pirates' ship.
"If you keep asking every day, it'll take even longer!"
Fang Huo wouldn't indulge this Charlotte Linlin, who was transitioning from a chubby glutton into a beautiful woman.
"Hmph~"
Charlotte Linlin felt a bit aggrieved—both Rocks and Fang Huo suppressed her, and it didn't feel good.
Even the "obedient" Streusen wasn't listening to her.
"Let's go take a stroll around the North Blue!"
"Silver Axe" Fierce still couldn't let go of his obsession with finding Devil Fruits in the North Blue!
Fang Huo, Newgate, Shiki, and Linlin were all powerful Devil Fruit users; he needed a strong ability too.
Otherwise, there was no chance of defeating those bastards!
"Let's take down that 'Pirate Patriarch,' then we'll head to the West Blue to find 'Mafia' Maron!"
Rocks gave "Silver Axe" a brief glance, again rejecting the North Blue proposal; he wanted to return to his hometown, God Valley in the West Blue, to check for any unexpected developments.
He also wanted to secretly send a few items back.
"Hmph!"
"Then let me fight Wang Zhi first!"
"Silver Axe" Fierce spoke up angrily, eager to prove his strength and raise his bounty.
"Just don't get killed!"
Rocks smiled cruelly; even Linlin couldn't defeat him, and it was unlikely anyone could defeat the so-called "Pirate Patriarch" Wang Zhi easily.
But this gave the "Pirate Patriarch" a chance to test the strength of his subordinates.
He wanted Fang Huo, Newgate, Shiki, and Linlin to build their reputations by stepping over Wang Zhi.
Let the world see the might of the strongest pirate crew.
That way, Wang Zhi would die a fitting death!
From now on, the New World would have only the Pirate Overlord Rocks, not the "Pirate Patriarch" Wang Zhi.
"If even a suddenly-emerged 'Black Flag' Black couldn't be put down, I bet Wang Zhi is nothing special!"
"Silver Axe" didn't believe Wang Zhi could defeat him; that "Pirate Patriarch" was notorious for greed and lechery, so how strong could he really be?
"That 'Black Flag' Black, like Rocks, popped up out of nowhere; we had no intel on him before."
"When the time comes, I'll test his strength myself to see if I can force out his true abilities."
Fang Huo looked at the latest Underworld intel, his expression turning quite serious.
If he really was a CP0 agent, once cornered, he would surely resort to techniques like the Six Powers to survive.
"Worororo, heroes of the Four Seas are like schools of fish in a river—sudden appearances are nothing new."
Rocks was far more interested in "Black Flag" Black than in Wang Zhi, the so-called "Destined Traitor."
And there was Bolo Gram.
He wanted to recruit more strong individuals beyond the prophecy, truly changing the future.
Deep down, he despised fate and destiny; he wanted to break this cursed fate!
New World, Paradise Island.
Wang Zhi looked at the newspaper, seeing that the Rocks Pirates had recruited another monstrous Executive.
He got the feeling Rocks would soon come after him.
After all, his title "Pirate Patriarch" was indeed flamboyant.
A tyrannical monster like Rocks certainly wouldn't let him go.
Fortunately, he had already struck some deals with the World Government.
Joining the Rocks Pirates now wasn't impossible!
When the Rocks Pirates seized a territory, he'd find a way to cooperate with the World Government to eliminate Rocks.
Then he could seize—or even inherit—everything belonging to the Rocks Pirates!
The more he thought, the more excited he became, his long tongue fluttering joyfully in the air.
Rocks, the mighty dragon crossing the river, was ultimately destined to work for him, the local snake.
In a secret base on the island.
Two CP0 agents and "Black Flag" Black received the latest intel: the Rocks Pirates' airship was approaching Paradise Island.
"The big fish is already in the net!"
"One day, we'll avenge the late Admiral Walker!"
The three CP0 agents seemed to have already glimpsed the day Rocks would be brought to justice.