If the Hell Pirates showed up, they could steamroll every officer in the Rocks Pirates' crew. Without anyone noticing, the Hell Pirates had grown into a juggernaut!
Sure, Brook's raw combat power didn't quite match a true overlord's, but his officers? They rivaled or even surpassed the top brass of any dominant pirate crew.
The Hell Pirates were renowned for their balanced strength. Every crewmember was young, brimming with potential, and five of them wielded Conqueror's Haki. Plus, they were all top-tier Devil Fruit users!
Together, the Vesper Pirates and Hell Pirates could crush the Rocks Pirates flat. But if Rocks got desperate and unleashed his full might, neither crew could handle him alone.
On top of that, Vesper and Brook had their own issues—schemes and rivalries bubbling beneath the surface. Neither fully trusted the other, which made taking on Rocks with full commitment tricky. That's why Rocks still ruled supreme.
For now, Vesper could live with this uneasy balance. He wasn't counting on staying the top pirate for much longer. Once his grandkids were born, he was half-tempted to retire.
If he waited until he was too old to fight, it'd be too late to step back gracefully.
Retiring didn't mean fading away—he'd still need enough strength to mentor the next generation. He wondered if that old Ice Demon was grooming some promising kids or if he'd already kicked the bucket.
...
Aboard the Saber of Xebec, Rocks stood stone-faced at the bow.
(T/N: The Saber of Xebec is a large warship, with three masts containing either 3 or 2 sails.)
This time, he was making a risky bet, potentially fattening up the Hell Pirates. Was it the right call? He wasn't sure.
But one thing was clear: Brook had the guts to take on the Celestial Dragons. That's why Rocks pulled him in as an ally. Old-timers like Vesper, Ice Demon, Wilank, Dawei, or Saracha? None of them dared touch a Celestial Dragon.
Even among the Supernovas, only World Destroyer World had the nerve to raid their caravans. Rocks respected that kid, but—shockingly—World didn't have Conqueror's Haki!
No matter. Once Vesper was dealt with, Rocks would seal the alliance with Brook and then go after World. That guy's temper fit the Rocks Pirates perfectly, and his More-More Fruit was a powerhouse ability.
As for Naguri or Chinjao, sure, they had Conqueror's Haki, but they still flinched at the thought of attacking Celestial Dragons or even their slave-hunting crews in allied nations.
If those guys could be tamed, great. If not, Rocks wouldn't hesitate to cut them down. In the New World, there was no room for too many Conqueror's Haki users.
What Rocks didn't know was that Brook had his own eyes on World and his More-More Fruit. Once their alliance was set, it'd be a race to see who could claim him first. Whoever's turf World was on got first dibs to recruit or kill him.
Miss a shot and let the prey slip to the other's territory? Tough luck—blame your own incompetence.
Rocks had his own plans. Plenty of Supernovas and big-name pirates were stirring trouble on his turf. If he moved fast, he could snag a few promising ones before Brook did.
With Brook as an ally, Rocks' location wouldn't leak to the Pirate Guild or anyone else. But he knew Brook would still keep tabs on him.
Once these loose ends were tied up, Rocks planned to build his own intelligence network. He and Brook could carve up every industry in the New World. No more playing the helpless bystander!
...
"Captain Rocks! Are we sure about this? Brook's too slippery. What if he raids Beehive Island again while we're out?"
Navigator Miss Buckin was spooked. The Hell Pirates' intel network and mobility were unmatched. Brook's Float-Float Fruit and Orion's Wind-Wind Fruit made them a nightmare to counter.
That's exactly why Rocks and Brook struck a deal—a ten-year truce. Their target: God Valley and its coveted Mythical Zoan Devil Fruits. Even if Brook's crew took to the skies, Rocks was confident he could bring them down.
Why did Rocks know God Valley held his prize? That was his little secret. With his D lineage and status as an era-defining overlord, his Observation Haki was anything but ordinary—whether it was hearing the Voice of All Things, reading minds, glimpsing the future, or even syncing with others' senses. Anything was possible.
"Relax, Buckin. Brook and I have a contract. No fighting for ten years. After that, we'll turn our sights on the allied nations in the first half of the Grand Line."
Rocks had promised Brook all of Vesper's territory, and he wasn't one to break his word. If they wanted to expand further, they'd have to target unclaimed islands or allied nations.
Digesting ninety-plus islands and recruiting enough officers and crew would take years—a win-win for both sides. At 46, Rocks was still in his prime. Ten years later, at 56, he'd still be a force. Brook didn't scare him.
He was certain he could unify the New World in his lifetime, especially if he got his hands on God Valley's treasures.
"Captain, what about those punks stirring up trouble on our turf? The Den Den Mushi's been ringing off the hook!"
Grimm Vane groaned. Their territory was a mess, and taking Vesper's islands wouldn't mean much if they didn't have enough officers to hold them.
"I told you, once Vesper's done, we'll head back and crush those nobodies. Without Brook's intel, they're just trash!"
Rocks' voice dripped with killing intent, silencing his officers. In the Rocks Pirates, his word was law.
"Captain, there's an island ahead!" Miss Buckin called, peering through her binoculars.
"Jiehaha! I can already smell that old bastard Vesper's stench. Get ready for war! Today, we wipe the Vesper Pirates off the map!"
Rocks hadn't expected Vesper to come out and face him head-on. Was it confidence in his own strength or blind trust in that schemer Brook?
Either way, it was perfect. Rocks could finish Vesper quickly. But could he still loot Ten Kings Island afterward? Brook wouldn't just sit back and let him plunder it all.
Once Vesper was dead, Rocks would hit his stronghold, Madagascar Island, where the real treasures were stashed. The rest of the Ten Kings Islands? He'd leave those to Brook—let that sly dog have his scraps!
...
The Vesper Pirates spotted the oncoming Rocks Pirates. Tension gripped the crew. Their artillery and long-range attack units stood ready, cannons primed, waiting for the order to unleash hell.