Several days later.
Rocks, alone and on foot, finally reached Sicily.
"Wahahaha! It's already done?"
Inside the Mafia stronghold, Rocks merely glanced at Maron, then burst into laughter at his right-hand man, Fang Huo.
By now the relatively weak Maron could hardly give Rocks any thrill.
As the Rocks Pirates grew, Rocks knew Fang Huo was the one who truly mattered.
Maron looked at this demon of a Captain in terror.
With a single entrance he'd knocked out countless underlings—overbearing and wild.
He'd thought Great Demon Venerable Fang Huo, Whitebeard Newgate, Golden Lion Shiki, and iron balloon Linlin were fearsome enough.
Today Maron learned what a monster among monsters looked like!
One look from Rocks sent shivers through him.
"C-Captain… Captain Rocks, hello, pleased to meet you…"
Maron hastily bowed; the question wasn't whether he wanted to board, but whether Rocks would keep him.
If Rocks disdained him, he'd likely follow Pirate Patriarch Wang Zhi's fate.
"Since Fang Huo vouches for you, you're now an Executive of the Rocks Pirates."
Seeing Fang Huo nod, Rocks grinned and accepted the newcomer.
"Yes, Captain Rocks!"
From now on I'll brave fire and water for the Rocks Pirates; even in death I won't retreat or betray."
Maron frantically pledged loyalty and death flags—sincere or just fear-driven flattery, who knew.
Fang Huo shot him an odd look: die without retreating or betraying?
Was he planting a death flag already?
"Wahahaha! Stick with me and I'll make you stronger—let's see the pinnacle of the world!"
In high spirits, Rocks began painting grand visions; he wanted every Executive able to fight the Gorosei or the Celestial Dragons Knights.
And of course Marineford's elites.
To topple Imu's rule, their current strength was still far from enough!
Besides hunting two legendary Devil Fruits, Rocks most wanted to recruit the giant king Harald, who could match him blow for blow.
With Harald and Elbaf behind him, he'd have far greater odds of killing Imu.
He had to find time to visit Elbaf!
Even if Fang Huo said persuading Harald was slim, he wouldn't give up without several tries.
"Rocks! When do we sail for the North Blue!"
Again it was the hot-head Silver Axe, itching to seek the Logia Magma and Glint-Glint Fruits there.
Come to think of it, the Logia Snow-Snow and Swamp-Swamp Fruits were also said to be in the North Blue.
Future Monet and Caribou, both North Blue natives, gained their powers there.
If this era still lacked those two users…
those Logia fruits might be lying somewhere, silently awaiting their destined owners.
Besides the Ope-Ope no Mi, the North Blue truly bred talent.
The powerhouses and Devil Fruits it produced were top-tier.
No wonder the North Blue is the most chaotic and strongest of the four Blues!
"Don't forget the man called Patrick Redfield."
Whitebeard Newgate ignored Silver Axe's impatience and reminded Rocks.
He did want to see that monster born with awakened Observation Haki.
"Since we're in the West Blue, I'd like to visit the tree of knowledge on Ohara."
scientific bandit Stussy stated her desired stop; the scholar isle with the most books surely held tech she coveted.
Hearing her mention Ohara, Fang Huo recalled it was indeed in the West Blue.
He calculated: Nico Robin's mother, Nico Olvia, should have just been born this year.
Nico Olvia: born 6 Feb 1486 (55 years ago), died 1519 (22 years ago), aged 33.
Main timeline: Year 1541 of the Sea Circle Calendar, Year 4131 of the Heaven Calendar.
2,590 years ago some mighty Great Kingdom likely founded the Sea Circle Calendar, replacing the ancient Heaven Calendar worldwide.
"I'll plunder a few more kingdoms!" Golden Lion Shiki chimed in, eager for chaos.
"Then I'll attack Marine Branches to hunt for the nun's intel!" Charlotte Linlin wouldn't be outdone.
Executives Babel, Sanbel, Kiel Bastard, Bolo Gram and Long Bread quietly watched their king-tier peers vie for say.
Ganzi glanced at Stussy beside Fang Huo—this woman threw her weight around, barking with borrowed authority, daring to join core-Executive spats.
Don't think clinging to Fang Huo makes you untouchable.
Still, if Fang Huo spoke, Rocks might actually listen.
Newcomer Maron, seeing the big shots clash, silently stepped behind the crowd, shielding everyone with his body.
"You bastards!"
Silver Axe cursed, glaring at these lawless king-Executives, especially the trouble-stirring Golden Lion Shiki.
"Fang Huo, what do you say?"
Undecided himself, Rocks looked to his strategist and chief advisor.
"How should I know? You're the Captain!"
"Why not let them draw lots?"
Fang Huo shrugged; if the Captain couldn't decide, he recalled the Straw Hat Pirates' daily lottery.
Leave it to fate—full of unknown fun!
"Then draw lots!!"
Silver Axe loudly approved; a lottery gave him a chance, whereas waiting for Rocks might leave him out.
"Hehahaha, draw it is!"
"We're destiny-blessed kings, unlike some talentless wretch who can't even find a Devil Fruit or weapon."
Golden Lion Shiki fired at Silver Axe, but Stussy caught the stray bullet, glancing at Shiki before turning teary-eyed to Fang Huo.
She seemed to seek his comfort and sympathy.
Shiki's indiscriminate barrage even made Bolo Gram and Babel blanch.
Fang Huo stroked Stussy's golden hair like petting a cat; she brightened at once and hugged his arm in delight.
"Damn you, Shiki!"
Silver Axe gnashed his teeth, itching to kill that wretched lion.
"Wahahaha, then draw lots!"
"As Fang Huo says—luck is part of strength!"
The easy-going Rocks approved Fang Huo's idea; let the Executives have their fun.
They had all the time in the world!
——