"Hey, Rocks, explain the rules properly! Don't just start fighting right away!"
At this moment, Ignis spoke up. He remembered that in the original timeline, Rocks had recruited Edward Newgate sometime in the eight years after the Reverie incident.
But it was clear that Newgate had always been quite defiant towards Rocks.
Most likely, when Rocks defeated Newgate's original captain, Vaghar, he had been too rough, causing Newgate to hold a grudge.
It wasn't until the Hachinosu period and the God Valley Incident that Newgate began to acknowledge Rocks more.
Currently, Newgate was just a combatant on the White Whale Pirate. He didn't care much for treasure.
He had always longed for a family and sent the treasure and supplies he got from sharing the loot back to his hometown, Sphinx Island.
Even Captain Vaghar had mocked Newgate for chasing the illusion of family, saying treasure was far more reliable.
Now with Ignis's appearance, the timeline for recruiting Newgate had been significantly advanced, and Newgate's strength hadn't yet reached its peak.
Perhaps Newgate could become a true partner.
At the very least, he should become a good partner of Ignis's.
After all, a guy like Rocks didn't value this kind of camaraderie.
Otherwise, the alternative was to kill Edward Newgate and seize the Tremor-Tremor Fruit!
"Which pirate in this world doesn't know the rules of a Davy Back Fight?"
Rocks snorted lightly, but he still halted his advance towards an immediate fight with Vaghar.
He knew that if Ignis was saying this, there must be a reason.
Maybe Ignis had seen something further in the future.
Vaghar, Newgate, and the other pirates were stunned to see that this kid, Ignis, could actually stop the demonic pirate Rocks's actions.
Even Rocks listened to this kid's advice?
"Captain Vaghar, Edward Newgate, our captain wants to have a Davy Back Fight with you. We hope you will abide by the rules."
"Otherwise, I won't be able to stop our captain's actions. After all, he's the one who dared to kill a Marine Admiral!"
"Newgate, I believe you've already sensed it. We have indeed come for you!"
"Captain Vaghar, we want to win Newgate. We hope that for Newgate's sake, you'll be in your best form and fight our captain with the resolve to die."
Ignis floated into the air, addressing Vaghar and Newgate. As for the other pirates, he ignored them all.
'So it really is for me!'
Newgate frowned. To be honest, he was quite satisfied with the White Whale Pirate crew right now. He didn't want to leave them.
He had joined the White Whale Pirates since childhood; he valued loyalty!
"You want Newgate?"
"I concede. Newgate is yours!"
Vaghar's face instantly changed. Fight with the resolve to die? There was no way he could beat Rocks.
He couldn't even beat a Marine Vice Admiral, let alone Rocks, who had killed an Admiral!
"Newgate, please, save me..."
"Newgate, you're already so strong, far surpassing me. You should become an even more famous pirate."
Vaghar pleaded quietly with Newgate, hoping he wouldn't anger the monster Rocks.
Hearing his captain's plea, Newgate felt a pang in his heart. His 'pirate partner' of many years weren't genuine partners or family after all.
He was being 'sold out' so quickly!
"The point of a Davy Back Fight is to win fairly and lose squarely! We will never break the rules."
"If Captain Vaghar wins, he could gain a top fighter like Rocks!"
"Aren't you tempted?"
"Alright, the rules are clear. Let the game begin!"
"Newgate, do you have anything to add?"
To make Newgate more sincerely convinced, Ignis had managed to keep the hot-tempered Rocks quiet for quite a while.
If it weren't for this 'prophet' Ignis, Rocks would have already solved everything in his own way.
Edward Newgate really wanted to object to this game, but Vaghar's pleading eyes made him finally shut his mouth and silently accept the rules.
Seeing that Newgate didn't vehemently object, Vaghar breathed a huge sigh of relief.
"I'll decide the competition event!"
"I want to have a tug-of-war with Captain Rocks!!"
Vaghar obviously knew the rules of a Davy Back Fight, too. He proposed an event first.
To avoid direct contact with the monster Rocks, he didn't even dare to suggest arm wrestling, for fear Rocks might break his arm.
As for dangerous competitions like boxing, swordsmanship, or shooting, there was even less chance he'd suggest them!
He didn't want to be killed by Rocks!
"What! Tug-of-war?"
Rocks was very dissatisfied. He had wanted to have some real fun with Vaghar.
And he ends up with this simple, childish game?
"That's right!"
"If you win, you can take Newgate, take my Jolly Roger, or even me!"
"But if I win, I hope Captain Rocks will become my vice captain!"
Vaghar knew he couldn't win, but he still used provocation, hoping Rocks would agree to this tug-of-war quickly.
"Hmph! You think you can beat me? Bring it on!"
Rocks accepted Vaghar's game. After all, his original goal was just to take Edward Newgate.
Soon, a serious tug-of-war game began!
Even the two fish-men, Vander Decken and Sunbell, were excited. So this was a game between pirates.
To obtain a desired strong individual, you just needed to fight and win.
Newgate was in a bad mood!
He hated others controlling his fate, and he was even more dissatisfied with Captain Vaghar treating him like an object.
"Newgate, it doesn't have to be this way. Maybe leaving the White Whale Pirate will give you a better future."
"What's the point of a life spent robbing and dividing treasure all day?"
"The family you want isn't on the White Whale Pirate crew!"
"If you don't mind, you can call me 'bro'. I'm 20 years old, two years older than you."
At this moment, Ignis floated over to Edward Newgate's side and spoke to the young giant.
Newgate was already an adult now, over 6 meters tall, nearly reaching his peak height of 6.66 meters.
"Killer Arsonist Guyue Ignis, bounty 80 million Berries. Did you really kill the king and general in Cang, kill countless soldiers, and burn down the capital?"
Newgate glanced coldly at Ignis, seeming unimpressed by him.
"I only killed the enemies who destroyed my village. As for the arson, that was Rocks's doing."
"I believe you also hate all the enemies who destroyed your hometown, don't you, Newgate?"
Ignis didn't deny killing the Cang king and general, and he also brought Newgate's hometown situation into the conversation.
He wanted Newgate to recall the feeling of his hometown being destroyed.
"..."
Sure enough, the look in Newgate's eyes towards Ignis changed instantly. They were both pitiful souls without families, with their hometowns destroyed.
Taking revenge for one's family and hometown wasn't evil.
Neither of them was wrong; the world was wrong!
This damn Heavenly Tribute system meant that non-member nations and weak countries didn't deserve peace, and the poor and commoners didn't deserve a stable life with enough to eat.
On the competition field, Rocks pulled the rope just once, and Vaghar was yanked over, flying backwards and crashing into a big pit.
"Vohahaha! I won! I want Edward Newgate of your White Whale Pirate!"