Chapter 23: Joining Rocks, "Iron Fist" Garp Arrives
Jaya Island, Mock Town.
In Mock Town, the houses, roads, and trees lining the streets had been completely destroyed. It looked as if it had been swept clean by a nuclear bomb.
The two "culprits" who had turned Mock Town into this state had now withdrawn their auras.
Seeing this, the crowd of spectating pirate lackeys was stunned!
The clash between the two great pirates, Whitebeard and Rono, was just getting good. Why did it stop just like that?
The two were clearly far from deciding a winner.
"Gurarara! If we keep fighting with Conqueror's Haki like this, we won't be able to determine a winner even after three days and three nights."
Whitebeard grinned, speaking first.
Although Rono was just a fledgling rookie pirate in terms of seniority, in the pirate world, strength reigned supreme!
As a veteran pirate, Whitebeard generously admitted that his Conqueror's Haki was on par with Rono's!
One must know, not every veteran pirate possessed the magnanimity to openly admit they were on equal footing with a rookie.
As expected of the man contending with Roger for the throne. This level of breadth of mind was on par with Roger's!
Whitebeard's words also earned him Rono's goodwill.
"You also live up to your name as the Rocks Pirates' second-in-command. Today, you've let me feast my eyes and witness the style of one of this era's pinnacle pirates!"
Rono and Whitebeard engaged in a wave of commercial flattery.
In fact, it wasn't really flattery. Whitebeard truly was one of the men standing at the pinnacle of this era.
Of course, the one standing at the very highest peak was definitely Rocks.
"Gurarara! An interesting rookie!"
Just then, Whitebeard laughed, suddenly retracted his aura, and planted Murakumogiri into the ground, disappearing on the spot!
This action instantly excited the surrounding pirates again!
The Conqueror's Haki clash had come to an end. The two masters must be about to decide the winner in another domain!
Rono's expression also turned grave, and he immediately focused all his attention, channeling his Observation Haki.
"This guy Whitebeard... he went..."
After sensing Whitebeard's aura, Rono suddenly relaxed.
Sure enough, a few seconds later, Whitebeard's towering figure reappeared in Mock Town.
But this time, he appeared with a 3-meter-tall wine gourd in each hand!
It turned out this guy had gone to his ship at the port to get wine.
"It's been a long time since I had such a hearty fight! This one's for you, catch!"
After speaking, Whitebeard tossed the 3-meter-tall wine gourd to Rono.
"A good fight should be accompanied by good wine!"
Rono caught it steadily, immediately understanding Whitebeard's intentions.
"Gurarara! You really get me, Rono!"
Whitebeard laughed heartily, suddenly feeling that Rono understood him very well.
He understood him even better than anyone else on Rocks's ship.
"Cheers!"
Whitebeard raised his wine gourd with one hand.
Rono also effortlessly lifted the 3-meter-tall wine gourd.
*Gulp gulp, gulp gulp~!*
The two of them sat right there on the ground and began to drink heartily!
This scene left the onlooking pirate lackeys completely bewildered!
What was wrong with these two?
They were fighting, and now they're drinking?
What kind of rule is this?
Shouldn't they take advantage of the other person drinking to suddenly attack and take them down?
At this moment, Whitebeard and Rono easily saw through the thoughts of these pirate lackeys.
They both just smiled.
How can a sparrow understand the ambitions of a swan?
A sneak attack? That's a tactic only lackeys would use.
Truly magnanimous powerhouses will always cherish each other!
*Gulp gulp, gulp gulp~*
The two drank facing each other in the street. In less than 5 minutes, the 3-meter-tall wine gourds were empty!
"Good tolerance!"
Whitebeard glanced at Rono and was shocked to find he was still standing soberly.
He's not even 20, and his Conqueror's Haki is on par with his own, fine.
But his alcohol tolerance is also this strong?
When he was Rono's age, he was still just a little brat.
Whitebeard grew more and more curious. What on earth did this guy eat growing up?
Immediately after, Whitebeard changed the subject, getting straight to the point.
"Gurarara! Rono, to tell you the truth, I've never met a guy so in tune with me!"
"Join my division! In my division, you can do whatever you want!"
Whitebeard stared at Rono and said with utmost sincerity.
Sincerity—truly the ultimate finishing move.
Combined with Whitebeard's personal charisma, which rivaled Roger's.
This forced Rono to narrow his eyes and think seriously.
Of course, Whitebeard's offer was extremely generous.
In his division, he would immediately be the Vice-Captain!
And he could do whatever he wanted. It could be said his status was completely equal to Whitebeard's.
Furthermore, Whitebeard was one of the few reliable captains on Rocks's ship.
In times of danger, one could safely entrust their back to Whitebeard.
However...
Rono also had his own dignity.
In fact, when Rono set out to sea, he had wanted to form his own pirate crew.
But on second thought, in the current era, the vast majority of powerhouses were in the Rocks Pirates.
The other potential seedlings were in the Roger Pirates.
Even if he formed his own crew, where would he find good crewmates?
That's why he prepared to join the Rocks Pirates.
"I can join the Rocks Pirates."
"However, I must be a captain."
After thinking for a long time, Rono finally answered Whitebeard.
The answer also slightly surprised Whitebeard.
But on second thought, with Rono's ability, staying in his division would indeed be a waste of talent.
With his strength, he was more than qualified to be a Division Captain of the Rocks Pirates!
Given his potential, if he grew for a few more years, he could probably even qualify for Vice-Ship Captain.
"You can tell Rocks, I won't join unless I have a captain's position."
Rono didn't know Whitebeard was thinking so much and continued.
"Don't worry. With your strength, becoming a captain is more than deserved. You don't even need to tell Rocks."
Whitebeard waved his large hand.
Although the Rocks Pirates often had internal conflicts, and crew members even killed each other from time to time, there was one advantage on this ship: strength reigned supreme!
Regardless of age or seniority.
Regardless of who joined first.
As long as your strength was sufficient, you were a deserving Division Captain!
Just based on Rono's Conqueror's Haki being on par with his own, even if he didn't ask, Rocks would have actively offered him a captain's position.
"Welcome to the Rocks Pirates!"
"Cheers!"
Even though Rono didn't become his Vice-Captain, Whitebeard was still happy about Rono joining.
This also meant that in the future, on this ship of Rocks's, he had finally found a reliable companion!
This made Whitebeard happier than anything else.
*Clang!*
The two clinked their gourds again and drank heartily.
But very quickly, Rono and Whitebeard suddenly looked at each other.
The next moment, they both saw a wary, wild glint in each other's eyes!
Someone... was rapidly approaching Jaya Island!
And this person's strength... was no weaker than either Whitebeard or Rono!
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