"Yo, need a hand?"
The moment Fang Huo appeared, he used his Gravity Ability to levitate another dozen pirates for Bolo Gram.
The Bolo Pirates also seemed to follow an elite route; the whole crew barely numbered twenty.
Yet even these elite pirates couldn't withstand Rocks's terrifying Conqueror's Haki.
On Paradise Island, almost everyone below the level of a Marine Vice Admiral collapsed.
Those with the strength of a standard Vice Admiral could only struggle to stay conscious under Rocks's burst of Conqueror's Haki.
Not to mention that the earlier clash of Conqueror's Haki had also carried the bursts of Shiki, Linlin, and Newgate.
"..."
Bolo Gram looked at Fang Huo who had appeared and gave a bitter smile.
"Give us a chance—can you let us leave?"
Bolo Gram didn't want to fight the Rocks Pirates; besides, they had no chance of winning.
He only wanted to get off this cursed island and flee as far as possible.
"I'm fairly easy to talk to, but that brute of a Captain, Rocks, might not be."
"See, even the Executives who've already joined—Golden Lion Shiki and Whitebeard Newgate—were half-beaten to death by Rocks."
"I advise you to join the Rocks Pirates. I can personally arrange for your Bolo Pirates to become one of our affiliated crews—no need to disband."
"You know, Shiki's flying pirate fleet and all his men were wiped out by a single slash from Rocks—none survived."
Fang Huo spoke gently, calmly spelling out the stakes for Bolo Gram.
Fortunately, Fang Huo hadn't brought Shiki along; he'd left Shiki and Linlin with Newgate.
Otherwise, hearing Fang Huo bring up the annihilation of his former crew would have enraged Shiki again.
"..."
Bolo Gram's expression stiffened. When he'd spoken with Newgate earlier, Newgate had said Fang Huo had a decent temperament.
As for Rocks, he was utterly brutal—only the strong survived.
He'd snatch anything that caught his eye; if he couldn't have it, he'd probably destroy it.
"There's really no way you'll let us go?"
Bolo Gram's face was bitter as he tried one last time.
"Look how many strong people on the island are still standing after that Conqueror's Haki?"
"You're too conspicuous; there's no escaping Rocks's Observation Haki."
Fang Huo's voice remained flat; he wasn't forcing Bolo Gram, but what Rocks would do was beyond his control.
Not far away,
Rocks had already gathered the Executives who'd been sent flying and was heading toward Fang Huo and the three top officers.
"If you people hadn't started an internal fight, we'd have left Paradise Island tomorrow..."
Bolo Gram felt helpless and powerless; it seemed he had no choice left.
Unless he was willing to challenge Rocks to a Davy Back Fight and win, he could never safely take all his companions away.
"Joining us isn't so bad. We'll soon head to the West and North Blues to find strong fighters and Devil Fruits—an exciting adventure."
"Your crew can sail under the Rocks Pirates flag and keep adventuring in the New World."
Fang Huo continued; he could see Bolo Gram wavering—he had practically decided.
Back then, the deckhands kicked off the Gibeck's Sword by Rocks had formed the Guyue Club—and they'd actually survived.
Hearing that the Rocks Pirates had taken Paradise Island, they rushed over.
Fang Huo had kept his promise, making them the first affiliated crew of the Rocks Pirates, in charge of keeping order on Paradise Island.
"Newgate said no one can out-talk you—now I see what he meant..."
After a long struggle, Bolo Gram finally gave in, successfully persuaded by Fang Huo.
He didn't want to gamble his companions' lives on Rocks's mercy.
Because at that moment Rocks was already charging over with a ferocious aura.
"Wahahaha! Fang Huo, found another Executive for the Rocks Pirates?"
Rocks rushed over excitedly; when he saw Bolo Gram, he recognized the Pineapple Head.
He and Fang Huo had discussed this guy on wanted posters before.
If Fang Huo couldn't handle the Pineapple Head, then he'd do it himself.
No thorny problem couldn't be solved with one slash.
If there was—then a second slash!
As Rocks approached, Bolo Gram finally experienced what it felt like to face an oceanic, hellish pressure.
The world's worst pirate, who had killed an Admiral, truly lived up to his monstrous reputation.
"Pretty much. Do me a favor—skip the initiation slash."
Seeing Rocks charge over, Fang Huo casually stepped in front of Bolo Gram to keep their brute Captain from slicing first and asking later.
"Wahahaha! If you say so, who am I to disagree? I've always trusted your eye."
"But—is this guy really willing to join the Rocks Pirates?"
Rocks stopped before them, scanning Bolo Gram, who protected his 'weakling comrades'.
Anyone who couldn't withstand his Conqueror's Haki was a weakling in his eyes.
"Captain Rocks, I'm willing to join."
"Vice Captain Fang Huo, I'll be in your care from now on!"
With Rocks and Fang Huo having said their piece, Bolo Gram had no choice but to agree.
Frankly, he regretted coming to Paradise Island to join the excitement.
He'd thought that with so many pirates gathering, the Rocks Pirates wouldn't have time to notice him.
But a single internal Conqueror's Haki clash within the Rocks Pirates had knocked the rest of the pirates flat.
Only those with real strength remained standing, as conspicuous as a crane among chickens.
"Wahahaha, great haul from this fight—didn't expect a fourth Executive to join today!"
Rocks laughed loudly; choosing to open a recruitment rally on Paradise Island had really paid off.
Even if Skull Castle and Paradise Island were smashed to bits, it was still a bargain.
"You?"
Kiel Bastard recognized the Pineapple Head he'd seen during the day—never imagined the guy would join the Rocks Pirates and become his 'buddy'.
"Vice Captain Fang Huo, I'm hurt—I need your Gravity lift hug~"
Seeing Fang Huo's dashing aura now laced with Conqueror's Haki, Stussy suddenly burned with desire to possess this godlike man.
She had to win him over!
This man who had awakened Conqueror's Haki—whether or not he was the Rocks Pirates' Vice-Captain—had to be hers.
"Vice-Captain, I heard from Rocks that you've awakened Conqueror's Haki!!!"
Babel's tone was full of envy, while Sanbel wore an expression that said I-knew-it-all-along.
He'd always believed Fang Huo was an all-knowing, all-powerful genius and a great guy.
Behind them, Ganzi listened to Babel calling Rocks—the real Captain—by name without the slightest respect, yet addressing Fang Huo, the fake Vice-Captain, as Vice-Captain with utmost reverence.
The whole scene was absurd and ridiculous.
Seeing that even Fang Huo—whom Rocks called a 'weakling'—had awakened Conqueror's Haki after Shiki, Silver Axe felt an indescribable mix of sourness, envy, and hatred...