It was quite a coincidence that as Loki carried Roa back to the castle, Rocks also happened to be walking out with Whitebeard.
"Let's go, kid." The captain's voice was as cold as ever.
"Huh? Already, Captain?" Roa asked, surprised. "It took us over a week to get here!" They'd only been here for two hours; were they really leaving already? He hadn't even had a sip of water.
"Things are settled. I don't have time to waste here." Rocks said coldly, "Do you think I'm very free?" Indeed, with having to retrieve stolen treasures and preparing for the ultimate battle against the World Government, the Captain certainly had a lot on his plate.
"Oh, well, that's too bad," Roa jumped down from Loki's shoulder, then looked back up at the giant with regret. "Looks like I have to say goodbye early. Don't forget me! And don't you dare refuse when I ask for your help in the future!"
"Huh?" Loki looked bewildered, subconsciously nodding. "Oh..."
"Good then, goodbye, friend." Roa nodded, satisfied. A man's friendship, it just came that simply.
"Let's go, Captain." Having said his goodbyes, Roa walked calmly towards the captain. The three of them headed straight for the pirate ship nearby.
Watching their retreating figures, Loki felt something was off.
"Wait!" Loki exclaimed in alarm. "I haven't joined the Rocks Pirates yet! Take me with you, you scoundrel!"
"Oh? What's wrong, my friend?" Roa turned back, surprised. "Do you want a passionate hug? Oh, you greedy little cat, alright, I'll indulge you." He opened his arms enthusiastically. "Come here!"
"What are you talking about?!" Loki was furious. "Didn't you say you'd tell me the secret to joining the Rocks Pirates?"
"Oh! That's right!" Roa suddenly realized. "Hahaha, I almost forgot!"
Rocks stopped, turning his head to look at the back of Roa's head with interest. This kid...
"It's very simple, my friend," Roa said, his small face serious. "You just need to do one thing."
"What thing?" Loki asked expectantly.
"Wait! Just wait!" Roa said, "When I become the captain of the Rocks Pirates later, I'll come and recruit you immediately!"
"Huh?" Loki froze for a moment, then instantly erupted in rage. "You damn brat, are you playing with me?!" Without any thought, the giant iron club swung down mercilessly towards Roa.
"This is the only way, isn't it? After all," Black wings instantly unfurled behind Roa, and the horn-like patterns on his head spread. "The current you is too weak."
Whoosh! A sudden gust of wind! The howling hurricane condensed into blades of wind, slashing continuously at Loki, who couldn't dodge.
Hiss! Blood splattered in an instant.
"Waaah!" With a scream, Loki bled from all over his body and collapsed limply. Without Armament Haki, even the robust body of an Ancient Giant bloodline wasn't particularly tough. Even Whitebeard's body couldn't withstand musket fire.
"Anyway, goodbye, Loki." Roa smiled and dispelled his ability. "Get stronger next time we meet, or I won't let you join the ship either."
"You... you scoundrel..." This time, Loki truly had no strength to get back up. He could only barely raise his head, gazing with difficulty at Roa's retreating figure. Didn't he say he wouldn't bully the injured? Just you wait! You scoundrel, next time we meet, I'll definitely kill you!!
"Take care, Garna." The pirate ship sailed onto the Rainbow Bridge again, and the Rocks Pirates began their journey home.
It wasn't until they landed back on the Blue Sea that Roa seemed to wake from a dream. "Damn it! I forgot to tell Loki my name! What if he mistakes me for someone else next time we meet?" Didn't novels often have plots like that? A bunch of melodramatic stories resulting from mistaking a savior.
Whitebeard sneered, "You're probably overthinking it, kid. That brat hates you to the bone. Even if you turn to ashes, he won't forget you."
"Huh? Are you mistaken, Uncle Newgate?" Roa asked, surprised. "Loki and I are friends! Isn't it normal for friends to roughhouse?"
Whitebeard continued to sneer.
"That kid does have some talent, but he was born too late," Captain Rocks remarked sharply. "This world no longer has a stage for him to display his valor."
Is that what the Captain thinks? Because he believes he's about to end everything, about to seize the world from the Celestial Dragons, so future stars like Loki are completely unnecessary. After all, the Captain's envisioned final battle is close at hand. How arrogant, Captain. Opening the champagne at halftime never ends well. That's why uncovering the truth of the Void Century is so important, to at least find out what cards the World Government holds, right?
But the Captain wouldn't know that the sudden battle of God Valley would be the end of his ambition.
The return journey took as long as the journey there. Over a week later, the pirate ship finally docked at Hachinosu Island's port again. Roa couldn't wait to disembark. After more than a week of ordinary food, he was eager for a grand meal.
But.
Gloriosa greeted them at the port, the beautiful woman saying, "Captain! You've returned just in time! Today, the Den Den Mushi suddenly received a strange audio recording!"
"Audio recording?" Rocks raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, it says that on an island called God Valley in the West Blue, the Celestial Dragons will be holding a hunting event!"
Roa's pupils contracted. It's here?
Later, in the Skull Building's conference room. All the executive officers of the Rocks Pirates had gathered.
"My treasure was indeed stolen by those scoundrels from the World Government!" Rocks roared in anger. "Those damned scum! How dare they! They actually dared to snatch food from a tiger's mouth!"
"But Captain, you secretly found the Mythical Zoan Azure Dragon Fruit without telling us. Were you planning to keep it all to yourself?" Wang Zhi(Ochoku), wearing a hat, asked with interest.
"After we get it back, how about that fruit for me, Rocks!" Kaido eagerly said. "Ugh-loh-loh-loh! That fruit is perfect for me!"
"That's my thing!" Rocks glared at them fiercely. It was one of the strongest Devil Fruits in the series, a most precious treasure even for Rocks.
"It's not just the Azure Dragon Fruit; in two weeks, there will be more treasures in God Valley, such as the Paramecia Paw-Paw Fruit," Charlotte Linlin's eyes were filled with greed. "That's also a truly versatile Devil Fruit!"
"And a huge amount of treasure that even the Celestial Dragons would be moved by!" Captain John stopped drinking his sake, his eyes also burning. "Heh, Rocks, are we going to miss this grand event?"
"But based on just an audio recording, how much credibility does it have?" Gloriosa asked. "We don't even know who transmitted this audio."
It was Ginny. Though young, she was a tragic girl exceptionally skilled in intelligence and communication. Who would have thought? The root of everything was a few small slaves no one had ever paid attention to. Roa thought quietly.
The God Valley incident was really about to begin. If he remembered correctly, Ginny had transmitted the message two weeks before the hunt began.
"Investigate!" Rocks' voice was cold and sharp. "A large number of Celestial Dragons traveling means the Marines will certainly dispatch a large fleet for escort. As soon as we see the Marines gathering forces towards the West Blue, we will depart immediately!"
"Gyahahaha! A group of Celestial Dragons, huh? Even if it's not for treasure, it's definitely worth going! Let's make a big ruckus!"
"Gurara-rarara! Human hunting, that's exactly the kind of thing those scumbags would do. This time, we'll teach them a lesson!"
"Mama-mama-ma!"
"Ugh-loh-loh-loh-loh!"
Here we go again. Or else.
"Jie-jie-jie-jie-jie!"