"The King of Offensive Power among Logias, the Mag-Mag Fruit, and the fastest Logia, the Glint-Glint Fruit, are both in the North Blue?"
Rocks licked his lips, eyes gleaming with greed.
If he could snatch them, even if he didn't use them himself, he could hand them to the Davy Clan in God Valley.
Those two top-tier Logia abilities were formidable; he had no intention of giving them to "Silver Axe" Fierce for free.
"I only said the future users of those two powers will come from the North Blue!"
Fang Huo spread his hands, adding a disclaimer.
Who knew whether Sakazuki and Borsalino had actually eaten their Devil Fruits in the North Blue?
"Worororo! You sly bastard!"
Rocks laughed and cursed; he knew Fang Huo wouldn't divulge such vital intel so easily.
That bastard Fang Huo clearly wanted those mighty Logia powers for himself.
Right now, Fang Huo already possessed the Mythical Zoan Vampire Fruit ability, plus the Paramecia Moonlight and Gravity abilities—he'd definitely covet a top Logia as well.
At the moment, he also seemed interested in the Paramecia Magnet-Magnet Fruit, Barrier-Barrier Fruit, Warp-Warp Fruit, and Castle-Castle Fruit abilities.
He kept asking about time- and space-related powers!
Lately, he'd even been paying attention to a rookie named Byrnndi World.
The kid's ability sounded like the More-More Fruit!
Why the hell was Fang Huo so obsessed with Paramecia abilities?
Apparently, he only wanted one or two Mythical Zoans and a single Logia!
Everything else would be Paramecia!
"Still beats having no intel at all!"
A flash of longing crossed "Silver Axe" Fierce's eyes.
The North Blue—he was going, no matter what.
Even if the odds were slim, he had to try.
"Jihahaha! Finders keepers! Fang Huo! Fierce! Don't blame us for fighting you for them!"
"Golden Lion" Shiki had no intention of backing down; when it was time to snatch, he'd snatch.
He was sure even Rocks would join the fray!
"Hmph! Feel free to try!"
"Silver Axe" Fierce shot Shiki a cold glare; he wouldn't hold back either.
He'd cut down anyone who stood between him and greater power!
"Jihahaha! Watch and learn, Number Five!"
"Golden Lion" Shiki and "Silver Axe" Fierce were at each other's throats as usual.
"Fang Huo! Don't you have any leads on those two fruits at all?"
"I'm teaching you the Cannon-Hammer Sword Style—still not satisfied?"
"Once you awaken the Three Types of Haki, I'll pass on my ultimate skills!"
Provided your body and Haki can keep up.
Apart from intel on the Ancient Weapons, those two legendary Devil Fruits were what Rocks cared about most.
Fang Huo looked into Rocks's serious eyes, slowly floated into the air, raised his hands high, and let faint moonlight wash over him—looking every inch the high priest and Prophet charlatan.
"One should be somewhere toward Elbaf; the other will appear decades from now in a New World sea..."
With an "exhausted" air, Fang Huo settled onto "Deep Sea Titan" Babel's broad shoulder.
With his powerful Observation Haki, Rocks instantly saw through the act but chose not to call it out.
Babel and Sunbell, though, thought Fang Huo's prophecy power must drain stamina and spirit tremendously.
Even Newgate, Shiki, and Fierce were fooled by the performance.
They truly believed using prophecy carried a price.
"Elbaf... decades in the New World..."
"So both are in the New World!"
"I believe the future can change—fate will favor me!"
Rocks grinned, not disappointed in the least; instead, he brimmed with hope.
Even if the fruit appearing decades later slipped by, he could still seize the one in Elbaf.
Still, he leaned toward the Dark-Dark Fruit!
He knew his personality didn't mesh well with the Sun God Nika Fruit.
But if he couldn't find the Dark-Dark Fruit, he'd devour the Sun God Nika Fruit anyway!
"Rocks, you're already so strong—do you even need a Devil Fruit power?"
"Silver Axe" Fierce thought Rocks meant to compete for the fruits and instantly darkened.
"Worororo! Relax, I've got no interest in Logias like Magma or Glint."
"Of course, when it's time to fight, I'll still fight—there are folks back home who could use strong abilities!"
Rocks ignored Fierce's scowl; by ship rules, whoever snagged a fruit owned it, while treasure was split by strength.
"You lot won't get the chance!"
Fierce swept an irritated glance at his rivals Rocks and Shiki, finally landing even on Fang Huo.
"Worororo~, enough chatter!"
"Once that Cook-Cook Fruit user boards, we'll have a proper cook on deck."
"Move out! Find that 'Iron Balloon' and the 'Gourmet Knight'!"
Rocks cut short the talk of the Magma and Glint fruits, aiming for the next two recruits.
Aboard the Saber of Xebec, sailors and deckhands were filled with dread and reluctance.
They really didn't want to be thrown off the ship!
But their strength couldn't catch Rocks's eye at all!
Luckily, Fang Huo had offered them a path!
Let them form their own pirate crew and sail as a subordinate unit of the Rocks Pirates.
Once the Rocks Pirates seized islands and territory, they could come and help manage it.
Provided they lived that long!
So these guys trained like mad these days, even asking the approachable Executives Fang Huo and Newgate for advice, striving to survive the perilous New World.
If they really made it, they'd be forever grateful to Fang Huo for the favor.
Rocks couldn't care less about such trifles; he wouldn't waste attention on weaklings.
He knew full well that under Imu's Haoshoku, no amount of fodder mattered—they'd fall in one move.
He could leave these minor matters to that "Pseudo-First Mate" Fang Huo.
All he wanted on his Saber of Xebec were the strong!
The weak didn't deserve a place on his mightiest warship.
"Jihahaha! I've wanted to test the so-called 'Strongest Female Pirate'!"
"Golden Lion" Shiki was thoroughly irritated by this twelve- or thirteen-year-old girl already carrying a 500-million-Berry bounty.
If not for joining the Rocks Pirates and fighting in the Omaha Sea Battle, who knew how many years it'd take his own bounty to surpass Charlotte Linlin's.
"I wanna see this monster of a she-pirate too!"
"No one fight me for it! I'll beat her myself!"
"Silver Axe" Fierce didn't believe the girl was that strong.
Once he defeated Charlotte Linlin, his bounty would top 500 million and overtake that bastard Shiki's!
Shiki flaunted his bounty daily; Fierce had swallowed plenty of anger over it.
"A Great Pirate at twelve or thirteen—her talent's really that scary?"
Newgate felt his own gift couldn't match Charlotte Linlin's and sighed.
Back then, he'd set sail at eleven or twelve, while Charlotte Linlin had gone to sea at six, earning a 50-million-Berry bounty soon after.
"The girl's gift is frightening—she can reach Emperor-level just eating and drinking..."
Fang Huo acknowledged Charlotte Linlin's talent.
He wondered how far this "Iron Balloon" could grow under his guidance—without popping out offspring like popcorn.
At the very least, she wouldn't end up the disgrace of the Four Emperors!