The new recruit, smuggler Ganzi, had been quietly studying the internal dynamics of the Rocks Pirates.
A Captain who did nothing—Rocks—and a first mate who held real power—Fang Huo.
Apart from the thorny Silver Axe, every Executive seemed to respect Fang Huo.
Now he knew exactly how to survive inside the world's strongest pirate crew.
"Hmph, got it!"
Silver Axe's murderous grudge toward Kiel Bastard had almost melted away; what filled his eyes now was the resolve to grow stronger and redeem himself.
He'd even let go of his old obsession with Shiki, his long-time rival.
Fang Huo was right—if you wanted to be a true king, both strength and spirit had to break through.
"Wahahaha, Fang Huo, you can double as the Rocks Pirates' life-coach!"
Rocks burst into laughter when he saw that Silver Axe really had changed a little.
He even felt like dragging Fang Huo back to God Valley to knock some sense into his laid-back clansmen.
Especially that Straw Hat-wearing dad who only wanted to farm in peace.
In build alone, Rocks's father was even more massive than Rocks, possessing the same colossal frame as the Buccaneer race.
Rocks's mighty physique was an inheritance from that formidable father.
If his old man hadn't resigned himself to mediocrity, Rocks believed his potential would've matched his own.
"Isn't that exactly my duty as chief strategist?"
Fang Huo merely smiled; even if the world called him the Rocks Pirates' first mate, as long as Rocks never officially announced it, he wouldn't claim the title himself.
Yet he would make these unruly fellows acknowledge him as first mate—willingly.
"Only chief strategist?"
Rocks shot Fang Huo a reckless grin; he still remembered how Fang Huo had conned Sanbel into calling him first mate.
"I'm simply enforcing the rules our Captain set!"
Fang Huo spread his hands, gave Rocks a wicked grin—both knew the game.
If Rocks wouldn't name him first mate, Fang Huo wouldn't force it.
As long as the other Executives recognized him, that was enough.
"A little punk who hasn't even awakened Haoshoku."
Rocks raised an eyebrow, still refusing to name Fang Huo his right hand—but the future was open; strength would do the talking.
"It's only a matter of time!"
Fang Huo's eyes were hard as iron, brimming with absolute confidence.
"What's going on here?"
Hearing the cryptic exchange, Ganzi was lost; from Rocks's tone, Fang Huo didn't seem to be the first mate at all.
"Gahahaha! The Rocks Pirates have no first mate—if you can make the others call you that, then you are."
Golden Lion Shiki started stirring trouble again, egging on the newcomer to become the next source of amusement.
Shiki had noticed the big change in Fierce's attitude toward Fang Huo.
With that, Fierce might no longer serve as the crew's thorn.
For the sake of entertainment, Shiki felt he had to groom a new troublemaker.
"Fang Huo isn't the first mate?"
Ganzi's eyes bulged; wasn't that announced in the papers and on the bounty posters?
"Ganzi, clad in golden armor and full of swagger, you should be the face of our crew."
"I back you to fight Fang Huo for the first mate seat."
Golden Lion Shiki put on a deadly serious look, as though he'd suffered grievously under Fang Huo and now stood firmly behind Ganzi.
"You support me?"
Ganzi was pleasantly surprised—he hadn't expected a fan in Golden Lion Shiki.
Maybe he really could compete with Fang Huo.
"Shiki! You backing him for first mate?"
Charlotte Linlin was the first to explode, cursing Shiki and shooting Ganzi a dangerous glare.
If those two dared move against Fang Huo, she'd incinerate them without hesitation.
"Heh-heh~"
Shiki meekly floated back, still tossing Ganzi an encouraging wink.
"I'm just a rookie here."
Ganzi flashed a go-with-the-flow smile, showing no ambition—for now.
But the seed of trying had already sprouted in his heart.
He'd wait until he'd settled in before sizing things up.
Both Golden Lion and Silver Axe seemed unconvinced by Fang Huo.
Of course, Rocks's own attitude mattered most.
As long as Rocks didn't recognize Fang Huo as first mate, Ganzi still had a chance.
Fang Huo saw Shiki raising the difficulty level—he'd have to single him out for special treatment later.
Still, he didn't mind their ambitions.
These fools wouldn't know pain until they were taught a lesson.
"Fang Huo isn't the first mate? But to me he is."
Kiel Bastard was equally surprised, but what he valued was Fang Huo's popularity—he just wanted to piggyback on the exposure and appear before beauties worldwide.
He knew he lacked the strength to compete; he couldn't even match Whitebeard or Golden Lion.
Kiel Bastard's declaration earned an approving nod from Babel.
Who'd have thought this four-armed guy would pick the correct answer.
By not calling Fang Huo first mate, Ganzi had already shown his stance.
Hopefully he wouldn't end up worse than Fierce—marginalized and turned into comic relief.
Right then, beneath the night sky of Paradise Island, the pirates burst into heated cheers; countless Wolf-whistles detonated, whipping their hormones into a frenzy.
"What's happening now?"
Drawn by the uproar, Rocks moved to the edge of Skull Eye and looked down on the dense crowd of pirates.
"Heh-heh, looks like a super-beauty~"
Gunslinger Kiel Bastard whipped out his special telescope and spotted a gorgeously dressed, curvy figure below.
"Super-beauty?"
The old lecher Golden Lion Shiki dashed out for a look.
Even stone-faced Fierce and solemn Newgate showed up at Skull Eye to watch the fun.
Only the fish-men Babel and Sanbel had little interest in human women.
"Tsk, fine figure, fine face,"
Rocks wore an appreciative grin, but he wasn't obsessed.
"Gahahaha, not bad at all!"
Golden Lion Shiki looked smitten—he wouldn't mind spending a night with that blonde beauty.
"It's her!"
Fang Huo recognized the grand entrance, though it felt a bit staged.
Pretty slick marketing.
No wonder the future clone Stussy would become the queen of the underground pleasure quarter.
"Who?"
Rocks glanced back—someone important?
"That's 'scientific bandit' Stussy, a third-rate scientist."
Fang Huo hadn't expected this recruitment drive on Paradise Island to flush out so many big-name pirates.
Seems he'd underestimated the draw of the world's worst pirate, Rocks, and the strongest pirate crew.
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