"Golden Lion" Shiki and "Silver Axe" were sent by Rocks to assess the strength of the pirates landing on the island.
Any crew wishing to become an affiliate of the Rocks Pirates had to possess formidable combat power.
Their bounties had to start at 200 million Berries.
Only pirates with great strength, powerful Devil Fruit abilities, or limitless potential were qualified to join the main Rocks Pirates crew.
Fang Huo had been searching for a user of the Warp-Warp Fruit, but none had appeared.
Even the Kurozumi siblings and "Golden Lion" Shiki hadn't encountered one.
That left Fang Huo speechless!
Do I really have to struggle so hard to obtain a fourth Devil Fruit power?
Or perhaps even the God of Fate disapproved of Fang Huo gaining both teleportation and barrier powers—the two ultimate life-saving abilities.
Now, Fang Huo could only continue developing the Vampire Fruit's "Blood Shadow" move to achieve a pseudo-teleportation effect!
In the training ground where Rocks had brutally beaten Fang Huo.
"Hey! Rocks, a smuggler pirate named Ganzi is looking for you. He says he wants to become a supplier for Paradise Island."
"Deep Sea Titan" Babel, accompanied by a small giant clad in golden armor, entered the Planetary Devastation skull.
If Babel hadn't heard Rocks and Fang Huo mention Ganzi, he certainly wouldn't have brought him to the base.
At the very least, Ganzi should have been made to fight "Golden Lion" Shiki and "Silver Axe."
"Who?"
"Ganzi?"
"Worororo! Fang Huo, someone actually came knocking on the door!"
"That's much easier than hunting them down one by one!"
Rocks laughed heartily; previously, he had wasted a lot of time searching for Shiki and Charlotte Linlin, the two flying types.
Especially Charlotte Linlin, who had kept evading the Rocks Pirates thanks to Streusen's interference.
It took the Rocks Pirates months to track her down.
He had gotten so angry he almost started spewing flames.
Now, finally, there was a proactive Executive!
"Hope you can subdue him smoothly!"
Panting, Fang Huo finished the high-intensity training with Rocks and didn't bother to watch how Rocks would capture Ganzi.
Having devoured so many strong opponents and their blood, his body had completed its cellular metamorphosis years ahead of schedule.
Normally, it took seven years for all cells to renew.
Under this world's unique rules and dense energy, plus his powerful Devil Fruit ability, Fang Huo only needed three years since his arrival to almost finish the transformation.
Even his bones and organs received incredible enhancements.
He already felt the innate talent for awakening Armament Haki and Observation Haki.
He likely also possessed the kingly qualities required for awakening Conqueror's Haki.
"Sunbell, Newgate, Linlin—you've all lent a hand."
"But I still prefer beating Babel, Shiki, and Fierce like that—subduing them forcefully."
Rocks flashed a white grin, temporarily sparing the cheeky pirate who dared to talk back.
"Hey, hey, hey, Rocks, I'm still here!"
Babel, hearing Rocks brag about his glorious conquest, shouted at once.
He had no pride left!
Ganzi's pupils narrowed; he was there to negotiate business with Rocks, not to join the Rocks Pirates.
"Ganzi, what business? What supplier? Just join the Rocks Pirates!"
"I'll take you straight to the loot!"
"But before you join, I still need to test your strength."
Rocks gave Ganzi no chance to speak, unleashing a ferocious burst of Conqueror's Haki, drawing his blade, and slashing forward.
It was his standard welcome gift for new members!
"Captain Rocks! I'm a smuggler pirate, here to discuss business..."
Ganzi didn't expect Rocks to truly ignore the pirate world's unwritten rules—one didn't attack smuggler pirates or News Coos.
Rocks's terrifying strike forced Ganzi to fight with all his might.
But he was instantly blasted into the wall, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"I know there are some rules in the pirate world, but now, my rule is the rule!"
"Speak up—will you join the Rocks Pirates or not?!"
Rocks, bearing his long sword, stepped toward the ruins, planting a foot on the rubble and looking down at the gravely wounded Ganzi with a grin.
He had no time for the rule-talk and sentimentality that Fang Huo enjoyed.
He preferred to let strength do the talking!!
"You..."
"..."
"I'm convinced..."
Ganzi wanted to curse Rocks, the rule-breaking bastard, but seeing Rocks's murderous gaze, he sincerely chose to join.
He certainly didn't want to be sliced dead by this madman.
"Worororo! Welcome to the Rocks Pirates!"
Rocks grabbed Ganzi with one hand, giving the new member some face.
"Fang Huo, look how simple and swift that was!"
Rocks looked at Fang Huo smugly, as if flaunting that his method was the best and fastest.
"Sorry, Ganzi, please forgive this reckless Captain!"
"But joining the Rocks Pirates is the most profitable deal you'll ever make in your life."
"Tonight we'll hold a feast for you, so you can truly feel what it's like to be a top Executive of the world's strongest pirate crew."
Fang Huo flew to Ganzi's side, waved his finger, and lifted the scattered rubble, pressing it back against the wall.
"Hopefully, it will be so."
Ganzi forced a laugh, suppressing his anger and annoyance, and showed a smile.
Even though Rocks was a rule-breaker, Fang Huo, the First Mate, seemed fairly easy to talk to.
Ganzi stared at Fang Huo's stunning looks and elegant aura, marveling that this was indeed the "Supreme Great Succubus" coveted by a female Celestial Dragon's four-billion-Berry bounty!
But thinking that Fang Huo had personally eliminated "Pirate Patriarch" Wang Zhi, Ganzi realized this handsome, otherworldly man was far from ordinary.
"Rocks is ruthless to enemies, but quite decent to his own people."
Fang Huo floated Ganzi up, carrying him to the healing area.
Speaking of which, the Rocks Pirates currently didn't even have a ship doctor.
All injuries were self-healed.
However, members of the Rocks Pirates were all monsters; as long as they weren't killed on the spot, they basically recovered.
"Is that so..."
Ganzi glanced at Rocks; the bastard had opened with a domineering slash that almost cut him down on the spot.
What kind of test was this?
If you couldn't withstand Rocks's slash, you died outright and had no right to join the Rocks Pirates.
"From now on, you'll handle Paradise Island's business and the procurement for all the Executives; you'll earn even more."
"You'll also receive the protection of the Rocks Pirates."
Fang Huo continued to counsel the smuggler pirate so his heart wouldn't fill with resentment toward Rocks.
As Chief Strategist and First Mate, I truly am doing my utmost to clean up after this reckless Captain.
But with Rocks and Fang Huo—one playing the "bad cop" and the other the "good cop"—they were incredibly efficient together.
These unruly Great Pirates needed Rocks's supreme power to break them until they lost all temper.
Only then would they obediently listen to Fang Huo.
At this moment, the explosion and shockwave from the Planetary Devastation skull caused the pirates below to start debating again.
"The person who just followed Lord Babel up there was Ganzi, right?"
"Hehe, I wonder if Ganzi was taken out or if Lord Rocks already subdued him?"
Pirates chuckled, while Baccarat Stussy's expression grew solemn.
If I voluntarily joined, would I also get sliced by Rocks?
With such exaggerated commotion and destructive power, she definitely couldn't endure it—she'd die!