"It wasn't just news about the Roger Pirates. There was also news about Captain Rocks, and Ares's bounty has gone up as well."
"But..."
"There's also some bad news."
Ochoku was visibly excited. These pieces of news were all good news for them, after all. The only thing worrying him was the bad news.
"Is that so?"
Golden Lion's gloomy expression softened considerably. He exhaled a cloud of white smoke and asked, "Tell me about it. What good news is there?"
"The good news is that Captain Rocks has already conquered a kingdom. Not only has our territory increased, but our manpower, wealth, and armed forces have all grown stronger as well," Ochoku said excitedly.
This meant that the Rocks Pirates had grown even stronger. Possessing a kingdom would greatly increase the Rocks Pirates' strength in terms of supplies and manpower.
Golden Lion lowered his eyes and smiled. "It seems Captain Rocks planned everything long ago... While we were drawing the Navy's attention, he launched a surprise attack and seized a massive territory."
"I'm really looking forward to the day this entire sea is plunged into war!"
With Captain Rocks's ambitions, he would eventually clash with the colossal World Government. Perhaps he would accomplish the feat that no one had managed in more than seven hundred years!
Ochoku continued, "As for the news about Ares, the Navy has raised his bounty to 220 million Berries."
His expression was filled with emotion as he sighed, "He's been a pirate for only a little over a month, yet his bounty is already higher than mine!"
He had wandered the seas for so many years and followed Captain Rocks for so long, yet his bounty was still only 180 million Berries.
He had been surpassed by Ares, who had joined the Rocks Pirates