With Shiki, Ganzi, Fierce, and Bolo Gram leaving the crew…
The gibecks sword was instantly quieter and far more harmonious without the bickering odd-couple of Shiki and Fierce.
"Luckily Shiki's Float-Float Fruit power is permanent; otherwise I'd have to waste stamina keeping us in the air."
Fang Huo lay on a deck-chair, savoring Long Bread's cooking while the beauty Stussy fed him by hand—pure bliss.
"Fang Huo, you've only just been made first mate and already you're slacking off!"
"Watch me have Newgate kick you out of the post and take first mate himself."
Rocks glared at the 'degenerate' Fang Huo, eyes blazing with disappointment.
Fang Huo himself had admitted their current strength was no match for those monsters like Imu.
Yet here he was, first to slack—practically begging for a beating.
"With those two loudmouths gone, the ship's finally peaceful; can't we rest one day?"
"Long Bread, Stussy—keep the food and the feeding coming."
Fang Huo ignored Rocks' threat and kept enjoying himself.
Having officially become first mate, if he couldn't kick back now and then…
what was the point of the promotion?
"Rocks! Fang Huo's right—training needs balance; hidden injuries are no joke."
Whitebeard Newgate reclined likewise, popping open a drink. With the pests Shiki and Fierce gone, the whole atmosphere aboard had flipped.
"Fine, fine!"
Rocks stormed off, not to join the leisure but to take the local snake Maron and the ghost-gunslinger Kiel Bastard to hunt intel on Patrick Redfield.
If they could find Redfield fast, they could leave the West Blue early and swing through the North Blue.
—"Fang Huo, I really want to visit Ohara~"
Stussy cooed, begging to leave the ship with him for Ohara.
Partly she longed to read its tech tomes…
but mainly she wanted alone-time, hoping familiarity would spark flames and let her snare this Supreme Great Succubus.
"Then let's go."
Still sprawled and eyes shut, Fang Huo suddenly recalled the tree of knowledge was a colossal info-bank.
Scholars from every sea gathered there…
perhaps someone knew the Barlorick Family, speeding the search.
After all, clans with surnames were known on every isle.
In this world, the surname-less masses were the norm.
"Really? Let's request leave together!"
Stussy's eyes sparkled—she would bag this mighty first mate and Supreme Great Succubus.
"You two want off? No way—I'm coming!"
Charlotte Linlin had been eavesdropping; even Thunder Cloud Zeus hovered nearby, spying for her.
"You're leaving too, Fang Huo?"
Newgate turned; Babel and Sanbel looked over—none wanted separation from their Prophet first mate.
…
Stussy was speechless; her romantic getaway was ruined.
"We're going together. Ohara's scholars hail from everywhere; someone's bound to know the Barloricks—beats blind searching."
Eyes still closed, Fang Huo tapped a lazy rhythm on Stussy's thigh.
—Meanwhile, in the Captain's cabin…
Rocks pored over reports, hunting any clue to Patrick Redfield.
Kiel Bastard and the unlucky Maron sorted newspapers and bought intel, faces long with misery.
Just as they groaned, Maron's den den mushi rang.
"What? A Mad Samurai trashed every casino and Pleasure Street on Amazon Lily and left dozens of our lads dead?"
Maron erupted; though now a Rocks Pirate, he hadn't forgotten his turf.
"What—he even cut down our flag?"
"The lunatic doesn't know the Rocks Pirates?"
Maron shouted again, face darkening.
Rocks slowly lifted his head. Someone had dared burn the crew's colors?
Wasn't that a declaration of war?
"Where's that island?"
"I'll see who's brave enough to strike my flag!"
Rocks tossed the papers aside, shelving the hunt for Redfield to confront this brazen challenger.
"Captain's heading to Amazon Lily?"
Maron's eyes lit—whatever the madman's game, death was certain.
"He chopped my flag—why stand here yapping?"
"Guide us—set sail!"
Rocks shot Maron an icy glare.
Fang Huo had just sought Rocks to suggest Ohara, but the Captain barked orders for Amazon Lily to avenge their pride.
After Maron's briefing, the crew learned what had happened.
"Anyone who burns our colors deserves a lesson,"
Whitebeard Newgate agreed; crushing provocateurs was pirate creed.
"Mad Samurai?"
"Got a name?"
Fang Huo marveled that someone in these seas didn't know the Rocks Pirates and still dared cut their flag.
Wasn't that suicide?
"No idea. No such figure in West Blue—some wandering swordsmaster."
My boys say his flying slash split my casino and a dozen buildings clean."
Maron added that the mad bladesman might be a powerful sword-adept—perhaps even a Great Swordsman.
He was stunned: since when did West Blue harbor such a monster?
"Samurai swordsman, huh?"
"Wonder how he stacks up against Shiki?"
Rocks licked his lips, intrigued.
If the fellow was strong, perhaps he could be recruited.
"Fang Huo, any prophecy on this samurai?"
Rocks asked.
"No name, never seen him—how would I know more?"
Fang Huo shrugged; the world brimmed with countless characters.
Sudden Admirals like Fujitora Issho or Aramaki wouldn't be surprising.
"worororo—then Amazon Lily it is!"
Rocks slammed the decision. Fang Huo's Ohara detour could wait until after they'd settled the score on Amazon Lily.
Even Fang Huo grew curious about this mad bladesman.
From Maron's description the man wasn't ordinary—likely an elite or even Great Swordsman.
That was big news.