Just as Rocks, Babel, and the others waited with bated breath for Fang Huo to speak, he simply declared the banquet officially open—without giving any further details.
Rocks's fists cracked in frustration, veins bulging on his forehead.
Even Newgate felt an urge to punch someone!
"Hey~! My Chief Advisor Fang Huo, my First Mate Fang Huo, spit it out—this suspense is ruining our appetites."
Babel had dropped all arrogance, calling him First Mate just like Sunbell.
After all, even their boss, Rocks, called everyone by name; there was no need for "Captain."
If Rocks claimed the position of First Mate didn't exist, they could simply ignore him.
They just liked addressing Chief Advisor Fang Huo as First Mate—what could Rocks do about it?
On this ship, only one rule mattered: the strong call the shots.
Everything else was personal preference.
Sunbell stared at Fang Huo with longing—who wouldn't want to grow stronger?
Hearing Babel's title for Fang Huo, Rocks's eyes blazed; he finally saw the brat's game.
He suddenly itched to throttle Fang Huo!
Yet, a method to raise the odds of awakening Conqueror's Haki was something the Davy Clan needed too.
Rocks also wanted his clan to grow mightier.
Then he wouldn't have to fight alone while scouring the seas for powerful allies and subordinates.
Right now, apart from him, the rest of the clan were pretty mediocre.
Centuries of seclusion had dulled their royal bloodline.
Rocks's father, once a powerhouse, now pottered about in a straw hat tending veggies—an old farmer through and through.
Newgate finally understood how Fang Huo could steer Rocks, the monster who had slain an Admiral.
Fang Huo was the Rocks Pirates' Chief Strategist, their brain trust!
Sunbell had just whispered that Fang Huo could glimpse the future.
He'd said Newgate was fated to join as the crew's strongest officer.
Had Newgate been Captain, he'd treasure a talent like Fang Huo as well.
Able to foresee the future, recruit powerhouse crewmates, and possess countless ways to grow stronger—
the guy was practically cheating!
"Oy, Babel, Sunbell, calling me that will get me pummeled by Captain Rocks."
"Say Chief Advisor; there's no First Mate position on this ship."
"Newgate, you'll be a master swordsman one day, and you'll obtain a Supreme Grade Blade..."
Fang Huo spread his hands, beaming at Babel and Sunbell while flatly rejecting the First Mate title.
He casually tossed Newgate a teaser.
Newgate's ears pricked up; a Supreme Grade Blade in his future?
He felt the same thrill as hitting a jackpot.
No wonder Rocks and Babel danced to Fang Huo's tune—it seemed he was falling for it too.
"Don't care—I like calling the Chief Advisor 'First Mate'; Rocks can't stop me."
Babel declared boldly, though he still sneaked a glance at Rocks, dreading another beating.
Yet a beating paled in comparison to a shot at awakening Conqueror's Haki.
"Ahem, Chief Advisor or First Mate, it just shows our respect for you, Fang Huo."
Newgate spoke solemnly, tacitly affirming Fang Huo's status. He wanted that shortcut to Conqueror's Haki—and the name of his future Supreme Grade Blade.
Rocks said nothing, only grinned at Fang Huo.
Clearly dying to deck him.
Yet he couldn't bear to lose any method that might help awaken Conqueror's Haki.
Fang Huo stopped provoking Rocks—otherwise, those fists might land harder and heavier.
"Hey, everything I do is to strengthen the Rocks Pirates—why would I hide anything?"
"To boost your odds of awakening Conqueror's Haki: confront fear, break fear!"
"The simplest way—kill Celestial Dragons!!"
"Back in a certain era, Captain 'Dad Die' of the Big Daddy Pirates and Captain 'Toyo Arlong' of the Wild Dragon Crew loved leading their men to hunt Celestial Dragons, and most of their senior officers awakened Conqueror's Haki."
"Nowadays, the world fears the World Government; it fears the Celestial Dragons."
"Slay a Celestial Dragon and your spirit transforms, giving you a chance to become a first-generation Conqueror's Haki user with kingly potential."
"Especially you Fish-Men and rare races—your terror of Celestial Dragons is bone-deep."
"There, the method's out—do you dare to try it?"
Fang Huo flashed a wicked grin at Rocks, Babel, and the rest.
Sure enough, Babel and Sunbell paled; they'd never imagined such a terrifying approach.
They did fear the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.
Countless kinsmen had been enslaved by Celestial Dragons, yet they could neither fight back nor change it.
And if they killed a Celestial Dragon, would Fish-Man Island suffer for it?
"Worororo—a fine method indeed."
"But what era were those guys, 'Dad Die' and 'Toyo Arlong', from? I'd love to meet them."
Rocks laughed wildly, licking his lips, hungering to mingle with such ruthless titans.
"Kill a Celestial Dragon? That's insane!"
Newgate arched a brow; it didn't feel like his path.
Still, he was confident he'd awaken Conqueror's Haki on his own before ever meeting a Celestial Dragon.
With a monster like Rocks beside him, the urge to grow stronger burned hot.
"Babel, Sunbell, quit overthinking. People change; the more you face, the stronger you get. No need to fret now."
"When you've got the guts to look a Celestial Dragon in the eye, you may have already transformed!"
"Now—let the banquet begin!"
Fang Huo laughed; platters of food floated in the air, forming a 'forest of meat and wine' as everyone grabbed delicacies and drinks at will.
"Hmph, mere Celestial Dragons! I'll wipe them out sooner or later!"
Babel stuck his neck out, spitting defiance, refusing to lose face before Rocks and Newgate.
Sunbell stayed quiet and low-key; with these big shots around, maybe he didn't need to be a king.
Yet Fang Huo's words and method had already seared themselves into their hearts.
Rocks memorized the names 'Dad Die' and 'Toyo Arlong'; he'd wring more intel from Fang Huo later.
Too bad he was doomed never to meet them—Fang Huo had invented them on the spot.
Newgate decided "Dad" sounded nice; once he had kids and a crew, he'd have them call him Pops.
The welcome banquet ended on a happy note; everyone had fun.
Newgate, the rookie, loosened up and turned into a roaring drunk.
The next day, Fang Huo hunted for intel on Shui Gu Town while Rocks already had his next target picked out.
"Gangster" Shiki, a black-market samurai with the Paramecia Float-Float Fruit.
Recruit him, add Fang Huo's Gravity, and the Saber of Xebec would sail faster than ever.
Speeding up to gather more powerhouses and complete the Rocks Pirates' roster.