The skin on Wang Zhi's face tightened; his expression turned grave. He stroked a beard worthy of Guan Yu. "A CP0 ambush on a Heavenly Tribute convoy… a Logia, the Cloud-Cloud Fruit."
He clicked his tongue. "None of that was in our intel. We nearly sailed straight into the trap."
CP0 was legendarily opaque. Even the Rocks Pirates could seldom learn their names or strength; when CP0 moved, it meant the stakes were extraordinary. They were a trump card the Government did not play lightly.
Wang Zhi's gaze returned to Ares. A slow grin. "And you trading blows with CP0's director, a Logia user, and walking away? That's no small thing."
"No wonder Newgate and Shiki both took to you. In a single year you've climbed this far astonishing." He chuckled. "Now that you're back, the Rocks Pirates gain another tiger one whose very name will make people blanch."
He was reeling inside. Ares had been with Rocks scarcely a year and a half, and he already held his own against the Government's "secret weapon."
"Captain Wang Zhi, I've grown a lot this year too," Kaido said, grinning ear to ear. "Once we're back, I won't be a rookie anymore. Still miles behind big bro Ares but sooner or later I will be a division commander!"
Pride colored his voice.
Ares answered Wang Zhi's praise with a sheepish smile. "I'm still a long way from my dream."
Wang Zhi clapped a hand to Ares's shoulder. "You're moving faster than anyone I've seen. Keep at it, and you will get there."
"Of course he will," Kaido cut in, puffed with pride. "This last year was brutal. Most people would've quit. Our gains were beaten out of sweat and pain."
Wang Zhi smiled, noncommittal. He knew Ares trained unlike anyone else. He tossed Kaido a nod as well. "Before Ares joined, you were already a monster. With the war against the World Government heating up, there's no shortage of chances. Stack enough achievements, and a commander's seat is within reach."
"Count on it!" Kaido beamed.
Wang Zhi turned back to Ares, relief plain on his face. He patted that iron-cabled arm. "Good thing you were here to ruin their plans. Otherwise Silver Axe and I might've walked right into it."
"Good thing you arrived when you did," Ares said. "Otherwise Kaido and I might've been the ones in trouble." He paused, then asked after the Golden Lion and Whitebeard.
Wang Zhi snorted a laugh. "You don't know the half of it. After you vanished, Newgate and Shiki acted like strangers. If they hear you're back, they'll be over the moon."
"And you've earned big merit today. Rocks will reward you when we return."
"I just want to see Newgate and big bro Shiki," Ares said. Rewards didn't interest him; treasure even less.
Silver Axe, meanwhile, had the crew hauling cargo and treasure to their own ship, tallying the take as they went. The Rocks Pirates were no longer merely a crew they were a gathering of armed power.
The men were all grins. A mission without a fight and a share of loot? The easiest pay day.
The count finished quickly.
Silver Axe strutted over, grinning so wide his face might split. "Wang Zhi, Ares we're sitting on…"
"Twenty billion belli!"
Even Wang Zhi, who'd seen more than his share of big scores, sucked in a breath. "Well now. That much?"
"Just this Tribute haul beats our bounties combined," Silver Axe quipped. He sidled up to Ares, rubbing his hands. "You're the MVP. A few billion at least. How're you gonna spend it?"
"How about I take you to "
"Out," Wang Zhi snapped, cutting him off. "We all know your tastes. You're not dragging Ares to those places."
Silver Axe pouted. "Tsk. Women and wine are a man's joys."
Wang Zhi tipped his chin at Ares, suddenly stern. "Don't let him lead you astray. Your dream is to surpass the Twelve Supreme Grade Blades don't forget."
At fifteen or sixteen, blood runs hot; that's when a man is easiest to derail.
Ares scratched his head. "I'm not interested in women."
"Good." Wang Zhi nodded. Silver Axe sighed theatrically, muttering in his heart about the greatest pleasure in the world, then slunk back aboard.
Ares and Kaido crossed over as well. Course: Hachinosu.
Elsewhere
Cloud ferried Saint Khristin at speed toward Mary Geoise. The bald swordsman wasted no time seeking an audience with the sitting Five Elders.
There were only two, for now. The title was fixed; the appointments, far rarer than an admiralship and restricted to the purest bloodlines among the so-called Celestial Dragons, descendants of the nineteen royal families that founded the World Government eight centuries ago. There were many Dragons; a single royal line could run to the hundreds or thousands. "True lineages" were not few.
They enjoyed the world's richest cradle born at the finish line.
Among the dregs were prodigies, molded by bottomless resources to feed the great machine of Government.
In the Chamber of Authority
Two middle-aged men sat opposite Saint Khristin. One in a black suit, black curls, a full beard muffling his jaw. The other in deep navy, his dark beard falling to his collarbone. Power clung to them; their casual pressure squeezed the air.
The room held only three.
Khristin reported in detail the encounter with Ares.
When he finished, the lead Elder's face was unreadable. A cold light flickered under lowered lids. He spoke unhurriedly: "You're saying the Rocks Pirates' 'Bloodhand' Ares now fights at admiral level."
He tapped a dossier the Government's last intelligence on Ares.
"Sixteen years old, and already that strong," he went on, voice shadowed. "A rare Mythical Zoan at that. More troubling is his potential. At this pace he's another Rocks in the making."
A pause. "And he's not one of the D.?"
The Elder lifted his eyes to Khristin. "You didn't come here only to report, did you?"
"No." A thin, confident smile touched Khristin's lips. "I have a plan support Ares as the World Government's 'spy,' and turn him into Rocks' enemy."
Both Elders showed surprise. "You think he can be an agent for us?"
"He doesn't need to be," Khristin said. "We only need Rocks to believe he is."
He let that hang, then asked, lightly, "Isn't that so?"
An Elder's brow arched. Interest kindled. He leaned back, almost amused. "Oh? Then say your piece. I'm very interested."
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