The Treasure of Hachinosu.
Since York joined the Rocks Pirates, he had actually been investigating it in secret.
According to the intelligence he gathered in his previous life, this treasure was very likely the top-tier Devil Fruits found in the six treasure chests of the Celestial Dragons during the God Valley Incident.
Although York himself had already eaten the equally top-tier Happy-Happy Fruit, there was no rule saying he couldn't eat a second Devil Fruit!
If natural talent wasn't enough, then ascend through technology!
As long as he could control Vegapunk before the World Government did, this theoretical future was very likely to be realized.
But York never expected that the legendary Treasure of Hachinosu would turn out to be a woman!!
Although Shakky was indeed beautiful, regarding her as the treasure that anchored the island seemed excessive in York's view.
Countless historical lessons from his previous life taught him that it was fine to like beautiful women, but one must not be obsessed with them; otherwise, it was easy to become a negative example in history textbooks.
Of course, York wouldn't pass final judgment on Rocks just yet.
Because although Shakky was just a woman, her influence on the entire pirate community was undeniable.
Rocks designating her as the Treasure of Hachinosu might be a move to use her influence to unite the core members of the pirate crew who disliked each other, and additionally to attract and recruit other elite pirates wandering outside.
Thinking from the position of a ruler or leader, Rocks' intention was very likely this.
However, ultimately, it depended on what Rocks would do in the future.
Whether he would become purely obsessed with lust like a textbook cautionary tale, or utilize Shakky's influence as York envisioned, would determine York's final evaluation of Rocks.
...
After finishing a glass of whiskey opened by John and a fruit platter freshly cut by the Golden Lion, York was the first to leave Shakky's Rip-Off Bar without any lingering attachment.
As the first person to leave, his behavior naturally attracted the attention of everyone in the tavern.
Golden Lion, John, Ochoku (Wang Zhi), and others looked indifferent, merely glancing at him once before withdrawing their gaze, considering it a good opportunity with one less competitor.
Whitebeard, Wang Zhi, and Charlotte Linlin looked understanding, knowing that York was going off to train.
As the person with the most bizarre ability in the entire Rocks Pirates, York was also the most disciplined and diligent member of the crew.
Aside from playing with Gloriosa at night, eating, going on missions, or dealing with incidents on the island, York basically spent all his time training.
This led to York's current strength—even without considering his Devil Fruit ability—faintly approaching the first tier of the Rocks Pirates.
Kaido looked left and right, quickly finished the food in front of him, and also walked out following York.
Although he also liked Shakky, his head was relatively clearer than the others. He knew that strength was the foundation of everything, and women were merely icing on the cake.
Watching the retreating figures of York and Kaido leaving one after another, a strange glint clearly flashed in the eyes of Shakky, the bar owner.
Being moved by her beauty yet able to completely control themselves—until now, she had only seen this in Rayleigh.
She hadn't expected that in the infamous Rocks Pirates, who were theoretically all supposed to be hungry ghosts for lust, there would be more such people than in the Roger Pirates.
Back to York.
After leaving Shakky's Rip-Off Bar, he went directly to the back of the skull mountain on Hachinosu.
The frozen giant research institute plundered from Punk Hazard was placed here.
Later, several steel battleships seized from the Marines during multiple skirmishes were also all placed here.
York took off his shirt, revealing his lean muscles, and walked up to a warship whose bow was already somewhat dented.
After doing a few simple sets of warm-up exercises to loosen his muscles and joints, Kaido happened to walk over at this time.
"Yo! Kaido! Why did you come too? Didn't stay at Shakky's for a few more drinks?"
"You came, so why can't I?"
Like York, Kaido took off his shirt and began to warm up.
*Bang!*
Having finished warming up first, York stood in front of the warship, assumed a horse stance, and threw a straight punch at the dented bow.
Kaido, who was warming up, looked up at York.
"Is this training method of yours really useful?!"
"Of course!"
York answered Kaido while punching the warship.
"You know Garp, right! This is how he trains his fists! No Haki! No Devil Fruit ability! Purely relying on the most basic physical strength!"
"Garp?!"
Kaido found it a bit strange. How would York know Garp's training method?
But he was too lazy to delve deeper.
After warming up, he began to punch the warship sandbag just like York.
"By the way, Kaido, have you thought about the future?"
"The future? I want to get a powerful Devil Fruit like Newgate's."
"And after getting the fruit? Continue staying in the Rocks Pirates? Haven't you thought about leaving here?"
Kaido answered York while continuing to punch.
"Never thought about that kind of thing. I think this life right now is pretty good."
"The Rocks Pirates will disband, within 5 years!"
"5 years?"
Kaido didn't quite believe it.
Although the Rocks Pirates had daily infighting and fights, and tripped each other up during missions, in Kaido's view, this was closer to a kind of horseplay between partners, not really trying to kill anyone.
So Kaido still had some sense of belonging to the Rocks Pirates.
Plus, Rocks wanted to take down the Celestial Dragons, which aligned with Kaido's inner wish.
"I've heard your story, Kaido."
"Because of your extraordinary talent since childhood, you became the kingdom's strongest warrior at only 10 years old, and then repeatedly achieved merits for the kingdom."
"But when you were 13, you were betrayed by the kingdom. The king wanted to sell you to the World Government to gain the right to join the Levely."
"After that, you destroyed the prison ship that captured you and escaped to become a pirate."
York paused slightly.
"Do you have no hatred at all for those high-and-mighty nobles who don't treat people as humans?"
Kaido remained silent.
Hatred?
Of course there was hatred. He wished he could kill his way back to the Vodka Kingdom right now and smash the king's head into watermelon juice.
Then charge up to Mary Geoise and smash all those so-called Celestial Dragons to death with his kanabō.
It was just that he couldn't do it now, and Rocks wouldn't possibly help him destroy the Vodka Kingdom.
The reason Kaido hadn't thought about what would happen after the Rocks Pirates disbanded was also because, deep down, he didn't want this team to disband.
As the only pirate crew that explicitly stated they wanted to take down the Celestial Dragons, if Kaido didn't join here, where else could he go?