As Thor spent more time aboard the ship that Rocks and his followers shared—the same ship where those who had once challenged him in the Davy Back Fights now sailed under his flag—the more Thor came to understand each of their personal reasons for staying.
Despite having lost to Rocks in fair combat, they were all free to leave if they wished. Rocks himself had said that he would not waste his time chasing after those who refused to honor the simple rules of battle.
Yet, he made it clear that if fate allowed their paths to cross again as enemies, there would be no mercy and no peace between them.
The air on the ship was filled with noise and movement. The clinking of bottles, the smell of roasted meat, and the steady rhythm of the sea surrounded them.
Thor often found himself observing how the crew interacted, studying their habits and listening to their conversations to understand the strange bond that kept them together despite their violent beginnings.
At one point, Thor turned his gaze toward Newgate, who was quietly sitting by the deck railing, drinking sake directly from a large jug.
"Newgate, why did you decide to follow Rocks?" Thor asked, his voice steady with curiosity. "Your strength looks almost the same as his, and with that Devil Fruit of yours, I'd even say you could more than handle yourself if Rocks decided to come after you."
Newgate finished his drink before answering, lowering the jug and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "You might think we're equal, but when lives are on the line, never bet against Rocks. He might look like a fool sometimes, shouting and fighting without thought, but his plans always bear fruit in the end. That's why we have the loot we're sitting on now."
His tone carried both respect and irritation, as though he himself did not like admitting it.
Thor followed Newgate's gaze toward Rocks, who was laughing loudly with Wang Zhi, Ochoku, and Shiki, all of them drinking together like old friends.
"Plus," a voice added, "Newgate is a man of his word. He never goes back on what he says. That's why I love him. And, of course, that's why he loves me too."
It was Stussy, sitting comfortably on Newgate's broad shoulder, holding a glass of red wine.
"I'm not in love with you," Newgate replied flatly, his expression serious. That single line sparked an argument that filled the entire deck.
Stussy began talking rapidly, her voice sharp, while Newgate merely sighed, trying his best to ignore her.
Yet Thor noticed that no matter how loud Stussy became, Newgate never once raised his hand against her or even showed anger.
'A true gentleman,' Thor thought, a small grin forming on his face. 'That's why I respect you, Newgate.'
Wanting to save Newgate from further trouble, Thor decided to shift the conversation. "Anyway, Stussy, why would a scientist like you be with someone like Rocks?" he asked, his tone curious but casual.
The question caught her off guard. She stopped mid-sentence, lowering her glass slightly. Newgate gave Thor a brief thankful glance before returning to his neutral expression.
"Hmmm," Stussy hummed thoughtfully. "Mostly profit. His plans have their appeal, and I like to benefit from things that have a high chance of success. Besides," she said with a faint smirk, "I met the love of my life here."
Thor nodded slightly, accepting her half-joking answer, though her eyes told him there was truth behind it. "But there must be more to it than that," he said. "There's no use in hoarding money without purpose. If you gather too much gold and never spend it, it's just useless weight. So why go through all this trouble for profit?"
Stussy smiled at his question, clearly entertained by his straightforward way of thinking. "My, my, you are curious, aren't you? Well, since you already know I'm a scientist, it won't hurt to tell you. I want to continue my own research, specifically on preventing my body from aging too quickly. But research costs money, and without money, I can't even start."
Thor nodded in understanding. Her reasoning was simple and practical. In his mind, he recalled faint memories of the future where Stussy's appearance had changed after many years—her face aged yet still recognizable.
He also thought about Gloriosa, who shared a similar fate, and Shakky, who managed to remain as radiant as ever despite being around the same age. In Thor's eyes, the two are victims of time and unfulfilled dreams, while Shakky got what she wanted.
"What about you then?" Stussy asked suddenly, turning the question back to Thor. "You're young, a prince of a powerful country, and I doubt money is something you lack. So why are you really following Rocks? The story you gave about protecting Elbaph from the World Government's control sounds too convenient."
Thor didn't hesitate. "My reason is the same," he said firmly. "As the prince of the country recognized as the strongest land of warriors, I carry my own pride. I don't want Elbaph—or myself—to kneel to the World Government."
Stussy tilted her head slightly, clearly intrigued. "But why follow Rocks then? Isn't that still being under someone else's command? Wouldn't that be even lower than being under the Government?"
Thor let out a loud laugh that echoed across the ship. His laughter was deep and genuine, reverberating like thunder. Despite being in his smaller form, his voice carried the same weight as his giant self. When he finally calmed down, he wiped a tear from his eye, still chuckling.
"Under Rocks? Please," Thor said with a grin, his tone dismissive. "No one can make me kneel. I joined because our goals aligned for now, not because I serve him."
Stussy smiled faintly, both amused and unconvinced. Their conversation continued, light but filled with unspoken curiosity, as Rocks and the others eventually joined in. The topic shifted from loyalty to territory, and soon enough, Rocks himself jumped into the discussion.
"Elbaph is part of my territory now," Rocks declared with pride, slamming his mug onto the table. "Since your prince sails under my flag, the land of giants belongs to the Rocks Pirates!"
Thor looked at him with a calm expression before leaning back slightly. "You can say whatever you want, but Elbaph belongs to the giants, not to anyone else," he said, his tone firm.
The argument that followed was loud but playful. Rocks laughed while Shiki made jokes, Ochoku tried to take sides, and Newgate simply drank quietly as Stussy rolled her eyes.
In that chaotic but strangely warm atmosphere, Thor began to understand that this crew, for all their madness, had one thing in common: they were bound not by trust, but by strength and ambition, each following Rocks only as long as it benefited them.
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One quiet afternoon while they were still sailing across the vast sea, Thor decided to approach Stussy and Newgate.
The two were, as usual, sitting together near the center deck, talking idly while Stussy scribbled something in her notebook and Newgate drank in silence.
The pair were almost inseparable, and though Thor didn't usually interrupt their moments, this time he had something specific in mind.
He stopped a few steps away and called out, "Stussy, do you happen to have any science books with you? Anything at all—biology, engineering, chemistry, or whatever you've got that I could study."
Both Stussy and Newgate turned to look at him. Stussy blinked a few times, clearly not expecting that kind of request from him.
"What?" she said, her tone halfway between disbelief and irritation. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to learn this stuff? You can't just read a book and suddenly understand science." She crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes as if Thor was mocking her effort.
Thor shook his head lightly. "Of course I know that. I'm just curious. I want to see if I've got a talent for it or not. I've found myself running out of hobbies lately, and I can't exactly ask for a sparring match here with Rocks or anyone else. I'd rather not sink the ship."
His words earned a few chuckles from nearby crewmates who overheard him. Stussy, however, looked at him more carefully this time, studying his expression. She could tell he wasn't joking—there was genuine curiosity in his eyes.
It wasn't the kind of curiosity born from boredom, but rather the kind that came from someone who truly wanted to learn.
She sighed, tapping her notebook with one finger before finally replying, "Fine. But I'm taking your share of the loot from our next siege."
Thor smiled faintly. "You'll get what I decide to give you," he replied without hesitation.
That remark made Stussy instantly glare at him, her temper flaring. "What did you just say?" she snapped, standing up as if she were about to hit him.
Newgate immediately grabbed her by the back of her coat before she could do anything rash, lifting her slightly off the ground while she kicked the air in frustration.
"Calm down," Newgate muttered with a sigh. "You're going to make a scene again."
"I'll make him pay double if he thinks he can bargain with me!" Stussy shouted, pointing at Thor, who was already gathering the stack of books she had reluctantly handed over.
Thor grinned and didn't bother arguing. He simply picked up the pile of thick volumes—some old, some clearly written by Stussy herself—and walked away while she continued to struggle in Newgate's grip.
As Thor carried the books back to his corner of the ship, he thought about how unusual it felt to be excited about reading.
He had been using his Essence's gift—his mind that could retain everything perfectly—to review all the knowledge from his previous life, but this time he wanted something new, something that would actually push his understanding forward.
It felt almost strange to think about studying while being surrounded by pirates who only cared about fighting, drinking, or looting.
Still, Thor knew that knowledge was another kind of power, one that lasted longer than strength. And since he already had strength beyond anyone else on board, there was no reason not to add something new.
Later that night, while everyone else was busy drinking or sleeping, Thor sat quietly by a lantern, flipping through the pages of the first book.
His reading was fast and focused, every word sinking into his mind as if he'd read it a hundred times before.
From that moment on, Thor's quiet studies became part of the ship's daily rhythm. Some of the crew found it strange at first—seeing a giant-born warrior bent over a stack of books—but eventually, they got used to it.
Every time the others drank and laughed, Thor would be there at the corner of the deck, absorbed in diagrams and formulas.
That was how Thor began his first steps into science—through curiosity, a handful of books, and the stubbornness of a man who refused to waste his own potential.