The Rocks Pirates' latest bounty posters once again sent shockwaves through the world; a combined bounty of nearly ten billion Berries for the entire crew was truly terrifying.
Factor in Fang Huo's under-the-table bounty and the figure becomes even more staggering.
Any one of the four king-level Executives under Rocks could dominate a sea region as a Great Pirate in their own right.
Even the senior officers ranked just below them are formidable Great Pirates capable of standing on their own.
The explosive expansion of the Rocks Pirates has plunged citizens worldwide into panic and thrown the Great Pirates of the New World into greater disarray.
They're wondering whether to sail to Paradise Island to signal their goodwill.
If push comes to shove, bowing their heads and becoming a subordinate crew of the Rocks Pirates isn't out of the question.
Perhaps by following the Rocks Pirates they could even smash Marineford—or the World Government itself… The Gorosei and the God's Knights have never felt pressure like this.
The Rocks Pirates are unquestionably the most threatening pirate crew to appear in centuries.
Even Imu is paying close attention to Rocks and Kozuki Fang Huo.
Here at Marine Headquarters, Marineford—the frontline of justice against piracy—the pressure is greatest.
Within the past year or two they promoted another Admiral to fill the vacant seat.
"If we can't crush the Rocks Pirates' arrogance, the people of the world will sink into despair!"
Admiral Kong, every muscle in his body knotted, burned with outrage, his eyes blazing for battle.
Of the two Admirals who had served alongside him, one was slain by Rocks at Holy Land Mary Geoise, the other gravely wounded during the Omaha Sea Battle—both incidents still cast a shadow.
Right now the spirit of Marineford feels as if Rocks has snapped its spine; gloom hangs over every Marine.
"Kong! Everyone wants the Rocks Pirates wiped out!"
"But their flying battleship appears and vanishes like a ghost; our main fleets simply can't surround them."
The current Fleet Admiral looked decades older, helplessness written across his face.
He wished he could order Marineford to cooperate with the World Government and crush the Rocks Pirates in one blow.
But reality wouldn't allow it.
The inconclusive meeting ended in heavy silence.
Back in his office, Kong found the three outstanding subordinates he valued most—Sengoku, Garp, and Tsuru.
Sengoku possessed the Mythical Zoan Type Daibutsu fruit; Garp's raw physical talent surpassed even Kong himself, while Tsuru's keen intellect made her a rare strategist among Marines.
"Boss Kong! When do we go after the Rocks Pirates?"
At only twenty-three, Monkey D. Garp had already risen to Rear Admiral, his strength so great that most Vice Admirals couldn't match him.
Kong placed even higher hopes in Garp than in Sengoku.
He knew Garp had the makings of an Admiral.
In sheer power he outshone even the Mythical-Zoan-wielding Sengoku.
"The Fleet Admiral won't allow a single Admiral to pursue the Rocks Pirates!"
"The Copper-Skin Admiral who was badly injured by Rocks… well… sigh—"
"As for the newly promoted Iron Hand Admiral, his strength still needs consolidation…"
Kong sighed; only with all three Admirals acting together did they stand a chance of cornering the Rocks Pirates, and consensus was impossible right now.
"Consolidate my ass! My Iron Fist fears no Iron Hand Admiral!"
Garp had zero respect for the other two Admirals; give him a few more years and his fists would out-harden any iron hand.
"Could you act your age, Garp!!"
"Your child has already been born."
Tsuru shot Garp a resentful glance; she, Sengoku, and Garp had enlisted together, and long acquaintance had bred something deeper than camaraderie.
Yet Garp, whose brain was all muscle, remained oblivious to the delicate triangle.
Last year he'd taken leave, gone home, and—out of nowhere—married through an arranged match; this year his son was born.
The subtle feelings Tsuru had for Garp were shattered, yet she felt no spark for the afro-headed Sengoku either.
Equally brilliant minds, she and Sengoku shared the faint mutual aversion clever people often feel.
She preferred honest, straightforward men.
She knew a strategist like Sengoku would sacrifice much for the greater good, forever caught between darkness and justice.
She had no idea where her own happiness might lie.
Perhaps she would settle for an ordinary man, marry, and raise children.
"Congratulations, Garp! I hope you study hard and become a good father."
A rare smile cracked through Kong's gloom; he prized Garp and wished their iron brand of justice to carry on.
"Huh? Th-thanks…"
Garp scratched his head; tiger-like eyes that usually held only fighting spirit now flickered with soft emotion.
Truthfully, he didn't know how he'd acquired a wife and child so fast; under his parents' lightning-speed arrangements he'd married the girl in no time.
His parents whispered that his new wife was a D Clan member living incognito.
He couldn't fathom why they were so fixated on him marrying a girl from the D Clan.
Between their loving fists and loving clubs, he'd had no choice but to wed in haste.
After his father got him drunk, he'd gained a wife and consummated the marriage in one night.
He was the classic case of marrying first, falling in love after.
Things had turned out well: his wife was gentle, understanding, and supportive.
His parents had chosen wisely—his son Dragon was born with remarkable potential.
Could intermarriage within the D Clan produce even stronger offspring?
Garp's mother, too, had apparently been a D Clan member in hiding.
Sengoku glanced at the simple-minded Garp, then at the quietly resentful Tsuru, and sighed inwardly.
He buried his budding feelings for Tsuru, resolving to treat her only as comrade and sister.
He would devote his life to making the Marines supreme—romance could wait.
He would give everything to the Navy!
Neither the World Government nor Marine HQ dispatched top fighters to the West Blue to crush the Rocks Pirates, leaving the people of the West Blue—and the world—deeply disappointed.
Was there truly no one who could bring the Rocks Pirates to heel?
Aboard the gibecks sword…
Fang Huo skimmed the newspaper's slander and sighed; the World Government still controlled the voice of public opinion.
The world knew nothing of the filthy crimes committed by those monks and priests; all they heard was that the Rocks Pirates had annihilated a charitable branch representing kindness and light.
And the demon Fang Huo had slaughtered so many "good" people!
Fang Huo missed the fearless reporter Morgans of the future, the man who would print anything.
But the news-king who ignored the World Government hadn't even been born yet.
'I need a news agency of my own; being smeared nonstop by the World Government can't go on.'
Fang Huo set the paper aside, acutely aware of how vital image and narrative were.
Peace-seeking powerhouses like Harald would only grow more disgusted with the Rocks Pirates.