Several days later, off the coast of Beehive Island.
The Rocks Pirates' flag snapped in the sea breeze.
Luo Tian stood at the bow, watching the island grow closer in the distance. It was the Rocks Pirates' headquarters—and one of the most dangerous places in the New World.
"Finally, we're back." Golden Lion's voice came from beside him. "That trip turned out to be quite a haul."
Whitebeard nodded. "Gurararara! It sure did.
"We tested the Roger Pirates' strength and made a name for Luo Tian.
"That trip was worth it."
As they spoke, a large ship flying the Rocks Pirates' flag slowly approached them.
Through Spatial Perception, Luo Tian sensed a piercing gaze from aboard the ship, fixed firmly on him.
It was full of scrutiny, provocation, and jealousy.
Luo Tian looked up.
A tall figure stood at the bow—bare-chested, wielding a massive kanabo, with long purple hair and a pair of red horns growing from his forehead.
Kaido.
One of the Four Emperors who would one day rule the New World, the monster known as the World's Strongest Creature.
But Kaido was only a captain under Charlotte Linlin for now, nowhere near the heights he would reach in the future.
Luo Tian glanced at Kaido, then calmly looked away.
Kaido wasn't interesting enough to hold his attention.
He was too weak. Kaido had yet to obtain the Devil Fruit that would change his life—the Zoan Mythical Type, Fish-Fish Fruit, Azure Dragon Form.
Even the monstrous physique granted by his Oni Race bloodline wasn't enough to impress Luo Tian.
"Gurararara! That's Kaido, one of Linlin's men!" Whitebeard recognized him and called out with a laugh.
But Kaido ignored Whitebeard.
His eyes stayed fixed on Luo Tian.
The two ships drew closer and finally stopped side by side on the water.
Kaido leaped onto Luo Tian's ship.
"So you're Luo Tian?"
His gruff voice carried undisguised challenge.
Luo Tian raised an eyebrow and looked up at Kaido.
Their gazes met.
"I'm Luo Tian," he replied evenly.
Kaido looked him up and down, then bared his teeth in a menacing grin. "I heard Captain Rocks named you an officer?"
"So what?"
"Hmph!" Kaido's grin turned cold. "I don't get what Captain Rocks sees in a brat like you.
"You haven't even grown your first whiskers. What makes you think you can rank above me?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a terrifying aura burst from Kaido!
It wasn't Conqueror's Haki, but pure, beastlike savagery!
The other pirates on deck were overwhelmed by the pressure and instinctively took several steps back.
But Luo Tian stood perfectly still.
"And?" Luo Tian asked calmly. "What are you trying to say?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Kaido's eyes, quickly replaced by even greater fury.
He'd been ignored!
"I'm gonna fight you!" Kaido raised his kanabo and pointed it at Luo Tian.
"Let's see what you've got that earned you a spot as an officer!"
The atmosphere turned instantly tense.
Whitebeard and Golden Lion exchanged a glance but made no move to interfere.
They wanted to see how Luo Tian would handle Kaido's provocation.
Luo Tian slowly raised his right hand and spread his fingers.
"Spatial Imprisonment!"
The space around Kaido instantly solidified, freezing him in place and leaving him unable to move!
"Spatial Cage!"
Luo Tian raised his hand, and transparent walls of space rose around Kaido, completely isolating the space within from the outside!
"Get... down on your knees!"
As soon as Luo Tian spoke, powerful gravity pressed down on Kaido, forcing his knees to buckle until he was kneeling before Luo Tian.
"Pathetic clown!" Luo Tian sneered, then used Spatial Displacement to transport Kaido into the air.
And so, Kaido ended up kneeling in midair.
His face twisted in fury as his body trembled violently. He was using all his strength to resist the crushing gravity.
With Luo Tian's multiple restraints in place, Kaido had no chance of breaking free unless one of the core officers intervened.
Newgate and Shiki wouldn't step in, and Rocks wouldn't bother with such a trivial matter. That left Kaido with no choice but to wait for his superior, Charlotte Linlin.
Even if Charlotte Linlin showed up, she'd probably have to work hard to break the multiple restraints on Kaido.
Kaido was being publicly humiliated. After all, this was the coast near Beehive Island, where passing ships could all see him kneeling in midair.
"Hey, have you heard? Lord Luo Tian fought 'Dark King' Rayleigh of the Roger Pirates!"
"That's not all! A brother who came back with Lord Shiki's fleet told me they fought head-on! Sounds like Rayleigh even got the worst of it!"
"No way! That's 'Dark King' Rayleigh, Roger's right-hand man! Wasn't Lord Luo Tian only just recognized as an officer?"
"It's true! They say Rayleigh got his clothes beaten right off him and fell into the sea wearing nothing but red briefs!"
"Damn... He's that strong?!"
Even after Luo Tian had defeated Ochoku, many veteran pirates in the crew still resented Captain Rocks naming him an officer outright.
They thought the young man might have extraordinary talent and gotten lucky with a powerful Devil Fruit.
But in terms of overall strength, experience, and prestige, he was nowhere near the level of the veteran officers who had fought alongside Captain Rocks for years.
However, rumors that he had faced 'Dark King' Rayleigh and gained the upper hand instantly crushed all doubts.
The Roger Pirates' vice captain was renowned throughout the New World.
He was one of the true powerhouses at the very top of the sea.
Before long, many in the crew had fundamentally changed their opinion of Luo Tian.
In the Rocks Pirates, where the law of the jungle reigned, only real achievements and overwhelming strength could earn respect.
Luo Tian had proved as much in the shortest time possible.
At the harbor, Rocks stood on high ground and called out:
"Enough chatter, you lot! We've got a major operation coming up. Get ready!"
"Yeahhh!!!"
"Treasures! Treasures!"
"Heh heh heh, finally time to go all out!"
The pirates roared with excitement.
For most pirates, the pursuit of wealth and pleasure was an eternal driving force.
In the castle's council hall.
Luo Tian saw Shiki and Whitebeard seated on either side near the head of the table, then picked a seat at random.
Several officers had already gathered in the hall.
Everyone waited in silence for Rocks to arrive.
Luo Tian turned to Shiki, who was puffing on a cigar beside him.
"Shiki, Captain Rocks suddenly summoned all the officers. Is he handing out a mission? Judging by the mood, this doesn't seem like an ordinary raid."
Shiki laughed. "You've got a good sense for this, Luo Tian.
"If I had to guess, this won't be a small skirmish.
"Captain Rocks summoned every officer himself... We'll probably be going head-to-head with the Navy's main forces, or even their top fighters."
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