At first, Newgate felt a twinge of irritation at this new companion's challenge; this wasn't the sort of partner or family he'd wanted.
But hearing Fang Huo's words gave him some comfort.
At least there was one guy worth cherishing and befriending here.
Listening to the exchange, Newgate finally understood the unspoken rule of this pirate crew.
Might makes right!
If you were strong enough, you could even look down on Rocks himself.
"I accept your challenge, big Fish-Man!"
Newgate spoke calmly. The catfish Fish-Man was even larger than him—it was time to see how much power the man had.
With no need to worry about Uharu's feelings anymore, he wanted to see how much he could grow.
"Bahahaha, now that's refreshing!"
Babel's grin widened; he liked Newgate's attitude a lot more now.
To earn status on this ship, one had to carve a bloody path and prove it with strength.
"Wohahaha, I welcome you punks to challenge me too—my fists are itching!"
Rocks laughed wildly, shooting Fang Huo a pointed look.
He had to make this future-seeing brat truly grasp how cruel the seas were and the iron rule of power.
Fang Huo kept obsessing over Devil Fruit powers and things like feelings and bonds—he wouldn't last in this world.
Only strength mattered.
Sunbell watched the big shots clashing with each other and felt a flutter of panic.
Among the full-fledged crew, he was the weakest.
If Chief Advisor Fang Huo hadn't spoken up, he probably wouldn't even be on board.
Originally, Rocks wanted him as an apprentice; it was Brother Fang Huo who made him a full member.
But to become an Executive like Captain Babel, he needed to keep getting stronger until Captain Rocks acknowledged him.
"If your fists are itching, go find Harald—only someone in your league can push you further!"
"And later, test your advanced Haki on those undead freaks from the God's Knights."
"Figure out a high-level Conqueror's Haki coating that can completely destroy their immortal bodies!"
"Don't end up unable to kill even a single God's Knight or one of the Five Elders!"
Fang Huo shot the arrogant Rocks a reminder.
If Rocks couldn't even kill the Knights or the Five Elders, he stood no chance against Imu.
"Harald! That guy is strong—I'll recruit him!"
"Undead freaks? I refuse to believe they can't be killed!"
Rocks gave Fang Huo a dark look; the little brat loved to talk back and take him down a peg.
Looks like regularly beating Fang Huo was the right call.
Still, with Fang Huo's warnings, he could grow stronger, avoid pitfalls, and eventually overthrow Imu.
"What are the God's Knights? What's this immortality?"
Newgate listened, eyes full of doubt; even Babel and Sunbell looked blank.
They'd only seen the term 'Five Elders' in newspaper headlines.
"Let me spell out the World Government's real power structure."
"Above the Five Elders stands a hidden King of the World, the absolute master of the Celestial Dragons."
"The Five Elders are merely His hunting hounds—they kneel when they see Him."
"The God's Knights are elites chosen from the Celestial Dragons—each one mighty."
"Their Supreme Commander is a candidate for the Five Elders; if one of the five dies, he becomes a new Elder."
"Both the Five Elders and the Knights have been granted immortality by the King's Devil Fruit power."
"Only advanced Conqueror's Haki Infusion can truly kill them!"
"Well, maybe drowning them in the sea could work too."
"That's the eight-hundred-year foundation the Celestial Dragons use to rule the World Government!"
"So, hearing about these undead monsters, do any of you feel a sliver of fear?"
Fang Huo finished, eyeing them with interest.
"So it's Devil Fruit immortality—I thought they were truly invincible."
"Advanced Coating, or drowning them—as long as they can die."
The worry faded from Newgate's eyes; dumping foes into the sea was his specialty.
Perhaps precisely because Newgate's Tremor-Tremor Fruit could summon tsunamis at will, the Five Elders and Knights would steer clear of the future Emperor.
"What is advanced Conqueror's Haki Infusion?"
Babel had never heard the term back on Fish-Man Island.
He could use Armament Haki coating just fine.
Sure enough, only after leaving Fish-Man Island did he realize how vast and unknown the world was.
"Wohahaha, only those who awaken Conqueror's Haki can learn Conqueror's Infusion."
"Plenty with the qualities of a king never master it in their entire lives!"
"Master Coating, and you gain the might to kill even an Admiral."
"Advanced Coating is the next level—greater control and development of that power."
"That's why you're all an ocean away from me!"
Rocks guffawed; even within the Davy Clan, he alone had mastered Coating.
He was the greatest genius the clan had produced in eight hundred years!
He'd awakened Conqueror's Haki, mastered Coating, and pushed it to a higher realm.
That confidence led him to crash the Levely, ascend to the Holy Land Mariejois, and confront Imu.
But he'd underestimated the monster's terrifying strength.
Had he won, the world would have seen a new ruler that day.
"You need to awaken Conqueror's Haki before you can even learn Coating?"
Babel's face darkened; he lacked the qualities of a king, so that supreme power was out of reach.
Sinking foes into the sea would be his only shot at killing the Five Elders or the Knights.
"Conqueror's Haki..."
A gleam flashed in Newgate's eyes; he had to master it or he'd never become a monster like Rocks.
"Wohahaha, Newgate has the makings of a king—I can already feel his spirit."
"He just needs a trigger, and he'll awaken Conqueror's Haki."
Rocks valued Newgate's talent, already counting him as his right-hand man.
"Damn it..."
Babel resented being born a step behind Rocks and Newgate.
"Hey, Babel, don't lose heart—awakening Conqueror's Haki is all about experience, not birth."
"It's not that the qualities of a king let you awaken it; awakening it is what proves you have the qualities of a king."
"I happen to have a way to raise the odds of awakening. Anyone want to hear it?"
Seeing Babel's frustration, Fang Huo suddenly grinned.
Instantly Babel, Sunbell, and even Newgate and Rocks turned to stare at him.
"Really, Chief Advisor?!"
Babel blurted out, overjoyed like a kid clutching at a lifeline, almost ready to call Fang Huo 'First Mate'.
Rocks, however, looked skeptical; their thousand-year-old Davy Clan had never heard of such a method.