Magnus never expected this.
On this trip, he had somehow created the Shichibukai system forty years ahead of time.
This was originally a special recruitment system that would only appear after the death of Pirate King Roger, when the world entered the Great Age of Pirates, and the Marines were unable to cope with the sudden surge in pirate forces.
The so-called Shichibukai were seven pirates to whom the government granted special authority and privileges. These seven pirates would suppress and intimidate common pirates and obey the government's summons in critical moments.
It could be expected that the pirates recruited by the World Government would not be weak. The minimum standard would likely be a pirate with a bounty of at least 200 million.
Although there weren't many pirates of that level on this sea, there were still a dozen or twenty.
For Magnus, that level of pirate posed no threat. But in numbers, they could have the same effect as Dorry and Brogy.
At the same time, another thing appeared—something that was supposed to come almost sixty years later: World Military Conscription.
Because of Rona's defection, the Marines had to fill the vacant Admiral position.
But training an Admiral-level powerhouse wasn't easy.
Originally, they thought Ortega, Rona, and Kong were still young and could hold on for at least another ten years. By then, newcomers would naturally rise to take over.
But in the blink of an eye, Rona was gone.
Now, the Marines had no new Admiral-level powerhouse to replace her.
Normally, that would have been fine.
Leave the position empty if necessary.
Better to have none than to lower standards.
But now, with the White Wolf Pirates, the Giant King, and Marine traitors all joining forces…
The three factions together formed a terrifying power capable of shaking the world.
In this situation, how could the Admiral position be left vacant?
When Magnus saw this news, he immediately laughed.
"Looks like after Rocks leaves, I won't have to worry about lacking opponents."
Before, he didn't know where those powerful pirates were hiding.
But now he did.
Of course, not everyone was as indifferent as Magnus to Rocks's departure. Someone like Newgate, who had always been close to Rocks, took it very hard.
He even fought Rocks over it.
"Big bro Rocks, why are you leaving the White Wolf Pirates?"
"Isn't it good to stay with the White Wolf Pirates?"
"As long as we're together, no matter what difficulties come, we can overcome them!"
In Newgate's heart, the White Wolf Pirates, without scheming and betrayal, where everyone helped each other, fought together, and grew together, felt just like a family.
So he couldn't understand why Rocks would leave.
"Shut up, Newgate!"
Rocks wasn't sure what he would become if he returned one day, or if he would end up an enemy to Magnus.
He didn't hate Newgate.
Precisely because he didn't hate him, he didn't want Newgate to hold back in the future if they stood on opposite sides.
"I never felt happy joining the White Wolf Pirates!"
That was half true, half false.
At first, when Magnus forced him into the crew, he really wasn't happy. But as Magnus trained him, as his strength grew, and after spending time with Ripley and Newgate, he no longer hated being part of the crew.
But because he no longer hated it, he needed to leave even more now.
He was afraid that if he didn't leave, one day he would no longer be able to.
And then he got punched.
"I don't believe it! I don't believe all those happy memories, like when you took me to Pleasure Street, were fake!"
On the street, before a crowd of onlookers, Newgate shouted at the top of his lungs.
Rocks's face immediately turned red like a monkey's ass.
"Idiot, shut up already!"
Their fight quickly ended in a decisive outcome.
With his Conqueror's Haki awakened and mastery over Life Return, Rocks was no opponent Newgate could defeat.
"If I stay here, I won't get stronger!"
"Is becoming stronger really that important?"
"Yes. It's very important!"
Rocks thought of Sabaody Archipelago, when a member of the God's Knights almost crushed Newgate's skull.
If he didn't grow stronger, then if something like that happened again, he would still be powerless.
"Then I'll prove it to you—"
Facing Rocks's departing back, Newgate struggled to his feet, roaring hoarsely.
"Even if I stay with the White Wolf Pirates, I'll still become strong!"
"Stronger than you!"
Without warning, Newgate's own Conqueror's Haki awakened.
How could the man who would one day be known as the Strongest Man in the World not possess Conqueror's Haki?
"As I thought, you too…"
Sensing Newgate's Haki, Rocks laughed.
"In that case, then try to stop me!"
With a backpack slung over his shoulder, Rocks turned away, leaving Newgate with only his back.
"In the future, I'll challenge the old man. If you want to prove you're right, then when that day comes…"
"Remember to defeat me!"
The hot-blooded passion and bonds of youth were what fueled their drive to move forward. This was also why Magnus always fought so fiercely.
Without that fighting spirit, one might mistake him for some old man past his prime.
"Old man, come see my masterpiece!"
A giant hand suddenly grabbed Magnus and stuffed him inside a collar.
If not for his tough body, Magnus might have been smothered to death by the giant woman's chest.
"Cough, Ripley, try to keep your dignity when we're outside."
"Don't you like kneading them at night?"
"That's at night…"
Even though Magnus considered himself thick-skinned, whenever he ran into Roya and Aide and saw their contemptuous expressions, he couldn't hold it in.
So what if he liked younger women?
Those two went to Pleasure Street every day, what right did they have to judge him?
Besides, Ripley wasn't much younger than him anyway.
And Ripley's so-called masterpiece revealed itself before Magnus's eyes.
In truth, Magnus had asked her to make it. Since Ripley's Devil Fruit hadn't awakened yet, Magnus didn't know what she was capable of.
But when the results were finally shown, he was still delighted.
Months had passed since they left Sabaody Archipelago and arrived at Sphinx.
Magnus had already prepared his next plan, but delayed acting because he was considering the reactions of the Marines and World Government.
Now, he had no more worries.
Before him appeared an island nearly a thousand meters wide. If one looked closely, one could see many miniature buildings on it.
Like children's toys.
The entire island had taken Ripley, dozens of giants, and thousands of craftsmen nearly half a year to construct.
Though only in its preliminary stage, it symbolized a solid step forward in his plan.
No natural defenses?
Then create them!
When the residents of Sphinx, using Ripley's ability, shrank down and entered the already-prepared island, everyone was ordered to close their eyes.
But many bold ones peeked.
And they were horrified to see…
A gigantic anglerfish, so massive it blocked out the sky.
It swallowed the entire island in one bite.
From that day on, the Marines could no longer find Sphinx's location.
Because it was inside the belly of the fish!
(End of Chapter)
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