It was a coincidence that when Loki was carrying Roya back to the castle, Rocks had just come out with Whitebeard.
"Let's go, kid."
The captain's voice was as grim as ever.
"Ah? So fast, Captain?"
Roya said in surprise, "It took more than a week to get here!"
Are we leaving now after only staying for two hours?
I didn't even drink a sip of water.
"The matter has been settled. I don't have time to waste here."
Rocks said coldly, "Do you think I have nothing better to do?"
Indeed, the captain had a lot to do, needing to recover the stolen treasures while preparing for the ultimate battle with the World Government.
"Oh, that's a shame."
Roya jumped down from Loki's shoulders, then turned back and looked up at the giant with regret.
"Looks like I have to say goodbye in advance. Don't forget me! And don't reject me when I ask for your help in the future!"
"Ah?"
Loki was a little confused and nodded subconsciously. "Oh..."
"That's good. Goodbye, my friend."
Roya nodded with satisfaction.
The friendship between men is so simple.
"Let's go, Captain."
After saying goodbye, Roya walked toward the captain calmly.
The three of them headed straight for the pirate ship not far away.
Watching their backs, Loki couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
"Wait!"
Loki shouted, "I haven't joined the Rocks Pirates yet! Take me with you, bastard!"
"Oh? What's wrong, my friend?"
Roya turned back in surprise. "Do you want a warm hug? Really, such a greedy little cat. Okay, I'll indulge you."
He opened his arms enthusiastically. "Come on!"
"What are you talking about?!"
Loki was furious. "Didn't you say you'd tell me the secret to joining the Rocks Pirates?"
"Oh! That's it!"
Roya suddenly realized. "Hahaha, I almost forgot!"
Rocks stopped and looked back at the back of Roya's head with interest.
This little devil...
"It's simple, my friend,"
Roya said seriously. "You just need to do one thing well."
"What is it?"
Loki was eager.
"Wait! Just wait!"
Roya said, "When I become the captain of the Rocks Pirates, I'll come and recruit you personally!"
"Ah?"
Loki was stunned for a moment, then immediately became furious. "You bastard! Are you kidding me?!"
Without hesitation, his massive iron club swung mercilessly toward Roya.
"It can only be like this, right? After all..."
Black wings suddenly unfolded from Roya's back, and the horn-like markings on his head spread.
"You're too weak right now."
Whoosh!
A violent gust erupted!
The howling wind formed blades that slashed at Loki before he could react.
Slash!
Blood splattered instantly.
"Argh!"
With a cry of pain, blood gushed from Loki's body, and he collapsed.
Without Armament Haki, even the powerful body of an ancient giant bloodline isn't invincible. Even Whitebeard once couldn't withstand a musket shot in his youth.
"Anyway, goodbye, Loki."
Roya smiled and withdrew his power. "You'd better be stronger next time we meet, or I won't let you board the ship."
"Damn... you..."
This time, Loki truly didn't have the strength to get up. He could barely lift his head and watch Roya walk away.
Didn't you say you wouldn't bully the wounded?
Just wait! Bastard... I'll kill you next time we meet!
"Take care of yourself."
The pirate ship once again sailed onto the Rainbow Bridge, and the members of the Rocks Pirates set out on their journey home.
It wasn't until they landed in the Blue Sea again that Roya suddenly sat up from his nap.
"Oh no! I forgot to tell Loki my name! What if he doesn't recognize me next time we meet?"
Isn't that kind of plot common in novels?
So many melodramatic misunderstandings come from mistaking the savior for someone else.
Whitebeard sneered. "I think you're overthinking it, kid. That guy hates you so much he'd recognize you even if you were reduced to ashes."
"Eh? Are you mistaken, Uncle Newgate?"
Roya asked in surprise. "Loki and I are friends! Isn't it normal for friends to play around like that?"
Whitebeard continued to sneer.
"That kid has some talent, but he was born too late,"
Captain Rocks commented sharply. "There's no longer a stage in this world for him to shine."
So that's what the captain thinks?
Because he believes he's going to end everything and seize the world from the Celestial Dragons, he no longer needs a future star like Loki.
After all, the final battle the captain envisioned was drawing near.
How arrogant of you, Captain.
Popping champagne at halftime never ends well.
That's why uncovering the truth of the Void Century is so important. At the very least, we need to know what cards the World Government is still hiding.
But Rocks couldn't have imagined that the sudden battle at God Valley would be the end of his ambition.
It took just as long to return as it did to arrive.
More than a week later, the pirate ship finally docked again at the port of Beehive Island.
Roya couldn't wait to disembark. After eating ordinary rations for over a week, he was eager to enjoy a feast.
But—
Gloriosa greeted them at the port. The beautiful woman said, "Captain! You're back just in time! The Den Den Mushi received a strange audio transmission today!"
"Audio?"
Rocks raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. It says the Celestial Dragons are planning a hunting event on an island in the West Blue called God Valley!"
Roya's pupils shrank.
It's here.
Later, in the conference room of the Skull Building—
All the officers of the Rocks Pirates were gathered.
"My treasure was indeed stolen by those World Government bastards!"
Rocks roared in fury. "Those damn rats! Stealing from me?!"
"But Captain, you secretly obtained the Mythical Zoan Azure Dragon Fruit, didn't you say you were keeping that for yourself?"
Wang Zhi, wearing his usual hat, said with interest.
"Once you get it back, how about giving it to me, Rocks?"
Kaido said excitedly, "Ugh! That fruit suits me perfectly!"
"That's mine!"
Rocks glared at them fiercely.
It was one of the most powerful Devil Fruits—an invaluable treasure, even for Rocks.
"Not just the Azure Dragon Fruit. In two weeks, even more treasures will appear in God Valley, including the Paramecia-class Paw-Paw Fruit."
Charlotte Linlin's eyes gleamed with greed. "That fruit is incredibly versatile!"
"There's also a treasure so grand even the Celestial Dragons covet it!"
Captain John even stopped drinking, his eyes burning. "Hey Rocks, are we really going to miss out on this event?"
"But is it reliable to act on a single audio clip?"
"We don't even know who sent it," Gloriosa pointed out.
It was Ginny.
Though still young, the unfortunate girl excelled in intelligence and communication.
Who would have thought?
The root of everything came from a few slave children no one cared about.
Roya pondered silently.
The Battle of God Valley was truly about to begin.
If he remembered correctly, Ginny leaked the information exactly two weeks before the hunt began.
"Investigate!"
Rocks ordered coldly, "If a large group of Celestial Dragons is moving, the Navy will definitely send a fleet to escort them. As soon as we confirm the Navy is mobilizing toward the West Blue, we move immediately!"
"Hahahaha! A whole bunch of Celestial Dragons? Even if there weren't treasure, we'd still go! Let's raise hell!"
"Kurarara! Human hunting... That's just like those scumbags. Time to teach them a lesson!"
"Mamamama!"
"Ugh, ugh, ugh!"
Here we go again.
Otherwise...
"Hahahaha!"
(Be sure to send powerstones and add this book to your Library.)