The port of Hachinosu Island was bustling with activity.
Busy pirates hurriedly moved all sorts of supplies onto the ships.
This was no simple task, as there were simply too many ships. The port was crammed with large pirate vessels, and even beyond the port, the waters near Hachinosu Island were filled with ships, dense and seemingly endless.
"So we have this many people in our pirate crew?"
Roa stood on the roof of a house outside the port, shading his eyes with his right hand as he gazed at the sea, looking astonished. "It's incredible, is that a hundred ships, or two hundred?"
"It's been a long time since we've had an operation of this scale! It's really exhilarating!"
Beside him, Katakuri was incredibly excited. "Mom said that Captain Rocks has gathered sixty to seventy percent of the pirate crew's strength this time! Besides the forces from this island, seventy to eighty subordinate pirate crews have been conscripted!"
"The other pirates on the island will probably follow suit!"
After receiving guidance from his understanding big brother, Katakuri remained as cheerful as ever.
"Oh! So we're actually that amazing?"
Roa clicked his tongue in wonder. "Haha! As expected of the pirate crew belonging to the world's most formidable seven-year-old boy!"
Thirty-six years later, the Whitebeard Pirates would have forty-three allied pirate crews, with a total of five hundred thousand members. This was already incredibly exaggerated, making them the largest pirate crew of that era.
However, compared to the current Rocks Pirates, they were truly insignificant.
In this single operation alone, the number of pirates Rocks had gathered was in the hundreds of thousands. Moreover, pirate groups qualified to affiliate with the Rocks Pirates generally had some real skill; they were definitely not mere cannon fodder.
This was the strength of the New World's overlord, truly possessing power capable of shaking the world.
"You really know how to flatter yourself,"
Katakuri looked quite unwilling. "But, I also want to hunt Celestial Dragons! Damn it, Roa! I envy you!"
He yearned so much to upgrade pirate hunting to Celestial Dragon hunting.
"It's not impossible,"
Roa said leisurely. "How about it, Katakuri, if you beg me, I can take you along."
Although they were pirates, the Rocks Pirates' intelligence capabilities were not weak. They quickly confirmed that a large-scale Marine force was indeed gathering in the West Blue.
There was nothing more to say. Rocks immediately assembled a large fleet, preparing for a large-scale live-fire exercise before the final war began.
"Forget it,"
Katakuri, however, deflated, saying dejectedly, "Mom said that's not a battlefield I should be on right now."
"Yeah~ Aunt Linlin's assessment of you is quite accurate, actually."
Roa grinned.
"Don't get too carried away, Roa!"
His good friend snorted. "I've been training desperately under Mom's guidance recently, getting stronger every day! I'll catch up to you sooner or later!"
"Eh! That's really something!"
Roa feigned shock. "You're actually that hardworking! Won't I, who just leisurely enjoys delicacies every day, be surpassed by you very soon?"
"Hmph!"
Katakuri raised his chin proudly. "You know it!"
Roa smiled silently.
My good friend is actually so competitive. Thankfully, I can get stronger just by enjoying delicacies.
"Just you wait, Roa. When you return from the West Blue, I'll make you look at me differently!" Katakuri vowed confidently.
"Is that so?"
Roa yawned, seemingly disinterested yet with a deeper meaning. "I'm starting to look forward to it, next time we meet."
Katakuri looked up, gazing at the bustling port. "By then, I'll also be a member of the Rocks Pirates! We'll conquer the seas together!"
Roa smiled without speaking.
What a pity, my friend.
The loading of supplies was quickly completed, and that same evening, the Rocks Pirates officially set sail. Their destination: the West Blue, God Valley!
A super-large fleet of over two hundred pirate ships, just sailing across the sea, their sails looked like a dark cloud.
The tumultuous waves of the New World were crushed to foam; it seemed there was nothing in the world that could impede their existence.
The world's strongest pirate crew embarked on their final voyage.
That night, on Rocks' flagship, which was also the flagship of the entire grand fleet.
A lively grand banquet was underway.
Attending the banquet were not only the major executives of the Rocks Pirates but also the captains of numerous affiliated pirate crews.
"Gentlemen,"
Rocks raised his goblet high. "Before the final war begins, let's have a warm-up!"
"Oh!!"
The cheers of the pirate captains almost pierced through the clouds in the sky.
"Ugyaaargh! I haven't killed any Celestial Dragons yet!"
Kaido, guzzling sake like a thirsty ghost, roared with laughter. "I wonder how those who call themselves gods will react before they die!"
"That's right, that's right!"
Although Roa didn't drink or eat, he provided emotional value in full, immediately echoing with anticipation, "It's truly exciting! What kind of deliciousness will they be able to contribute?"
Never having experienced any pain or setbacks, always being people who stood in the heavens, if they were to be trampled into the mud and subjected to unprecedented torment, how delicious would the black mist they released be?
Just thinking about it, Roa unconsciously licked his lips.
Celestial Dragons are good, Celestial Dragons must be killed!
"Mamamama! Little Roa, are you already drooling?"
Aunt Linlin, sitting opposite him, laughed heartily. "Don't rush, deliciousness is something that, with waiting, can actually gain more flavor!"
"Mm!"
Roa kept his smiling face, nodding solemnly.
This is the principle of delayed gratification!
"You'll have plenty to eat this time, kid,"
Senior Golden Lion took a sip of sake and a puff of smoke, incredibly happy. "Gahahahaha, even I haven't done something as crazy as massacring an entire country!"
"Doesn't matter if it's a Celestial Dragon or whatever,"
Silver Axe, who, like his nickname, wielded a massive silver axe, laughed loudly. "Anyone who tries to stop me from taking the treasures piled up in God Valley, I'll cleave them in half with my axe!"
"Don't be careless,"
Whitebeard put down his goblet. "If the Celestial Dragons are moving in large numbers, the Holy Knights will definitely be deployed too!"
"The Holy Knights, you say?"
Gloriosa sounded a bit worried. "The World Government's most mysterious organization. It's said that all their members are Celestial Dragons, and no one knows what kind of power they possess."
"Doesn't matter!"
Captain Rocks' voice was bold and unrestrained. "No matter the opponent, just crush them! Before us, there are no enemies!!"
"Oh!!!"
The pirates on deck cheered with wild fervor again.
"After this warm-up, it will be an all-out war with the World Government!"
Rocks loudly declared, "The era of World Government rule is about to end! A new world, a new order, all will be established by me!"
"Oh! Long live Boss Rocks!!"
The pirates' cheers were almost fanatical.
Who would doubt that Boss Rocks couldn't achieve what he said?
The Rocks Pirates had never been defeated.
This time, it would be the same.
Even the major executives were equally excited; Whitebeard's face was flushed.
Only Roa smiled innocently.
Sorry, Captain, but I prefer chaos over a new order.
After all, a gourmet, of course, wishes the world to be full of delicacies.