Joining! Mastering Advanced Armament Haki!

With a thunderous boom, Ochoku flew backward, slamming heavily into the ground.

He staggered to his feet, covered in dust and looking utterly disheveled.

Ochoku's face twisted, his heart churning with rage and humiliation.

As an executive of the Rocks Pirates, being injured to this extent by a newcomer who had just joined the ship was a disgrace he had never experienced in his life!

"Gahahahaha... This kid Luo Tian really is a monster! Even Ochoku got humbled; this is interesting!"

Among the executives, only Golden Lion Shiki laughed loudly without any attempt to hide it.

The other executives couldn't help but turn their heads away, chuckling, though not as brazenly as Shiki.

The sound of the mockery pierced his ears, and fire seemed to erupt from Ochoku's eyes as he stared fixedly at Luo Tian standing opposite him.

"You ignorant brat, today I'll make you see what real strength is!"

He threw his greatsword to the side, sank his legs, and tensed his muscles.

It was never his swordsmanship that he took pride in, but his physical combat skills.

Just as Ochoku was about to pounce—

"Enough."

Rocks, who had been watching the fight from the sidelines, suddenly raised his hand and pressed it gently toward Ochoku.

An invisible yet mountain-heavy pressure descended instantly.

Ochoku let out a muffled groan, his momentum collapsing in an instant as he dropped to one knee with a thud.

The ground beneath his knees shattered, sinking into a shallow crater.

Seeing this, Luo Tian was secretly shocked: What incredibly powerful Conqueror's Haki!

"Luo Tian is now a member of this ship; there is no need for a life-or-death struggle. This fight ends here."

Rocks said expressionlessly before withdrawing his Haki.

As the pressure vanished, Ochoku gritted his teeth and stood up, the killing intent in his eyes still lingering, but he could only glare fiercely at Luo Tian, not daring to move again.

Even Whitebeard and Golden Lion had to give the captain face, so how could he dare to defy him?

Rocks' strength was bottomless; if he truly angered him...

"Damn brat!" Ochoku was furious, but he could only vent his anger internally.

No matter how unwilling he was, in front of Rocks, he had no choice but to endure it.

Rocks turned to Luo Tian, his tone calm:

"Do you really want to become an executive right away?"

"Of course."

"Good, you have guts.

I have always appreciated those with both ambition and strength... Geniuses deserve special privileges."

A sharp glint flashed in Rocks' eyes.

"Today, I will make an exception.

Newcomer Luo Tian, from this moment on, is officially an executive of the Rocks Pirates!"

As his voice fell, the entire scene went deathly silent.

"Captain, isn't this too hasty?"

John, who had been silent until now, couldn't help but speak up, his eyes full of astonishment.

Ochoku, as the party involved, found it inconvenient to say much, but John had no such concerns.

Which of them, as executives, hadn't gone through countless battles and accumulated glorious achievements to earn their promotion?

This Luo Tian had been on the ship for less than a day, yet he was to ascend to the top in one step?

"John is right. He hasn't made a single contribution, yet he's promoted to executive... I'm afraid it will be hard to convince the others." Silver Axe, standing to the side, chimed in with a deep voice.

Whitebeard Newgate and Golden Lion Shiki remained indifferent, expressing no opinion.

However, several veteran crew members who were just below the rank of executive looked grim—

They had long coveted the position of executive, and now that it had been snatched away by a newcomer, even if they acknowledged Luo Tian's strength, they found it hard to accept.

Since the founding of the Rocks Pirates, there had never been such a precedent!

Rocks swept his gaze over the crowd, his tone flat but unquestionable:

"You have all seen Luo Tian's talent and strength with your own eyes.

Contribution is merely a matter of time; it will be no difficult task for him."

He paused slightly, his voice deepening, "If anyone is dissatisfied, you can come to me. If you don't dare to come to me—"

He looked at Luo Tian, a cold, sharp arc forming at the corner of his mouth:

"Then go find Luo Tian."

"Remember, in the Rocks Pirates, the only principle is... the weak are prey to the strong, and the winner takes all."

Ding! Congratulations, you have completed the mission: "Become an executive of the Rocks Pirates!"

Reward distributed: Congratulations, you have obtained Advanced Armament Haki!

A familiar mechanical voice rang out in his mind.

In an instant, a surge of energy flowed through his limbs and bones; it was the beginning of the manifestation of Armament Haki.

Luo Tian calmly experienced this newly acquired power.

But after hearing Rocks' statement, the corner of his mouth couldn't help but twitch slightly.

What a cunning old fox!

Rocks' words sounded fair on the surface, but in reality, he was roasting him over an open fire.

However, Luo Tian didn't care much about that.

Schemes and calculations often appear pale in the face of absolute strength.

Although he feared no one, he had no intention of immediately recruiting crew members or managing territory right now.

Having just arrived in this magnificent world of pirates, he preferred to travel around, experience different customs, and enjoy the taste of unbridled freedom.

As for forming his own fleet and dominating a region?

There would be plenty of time and opportunity for that in the future.

Thinking of this, Luo Tian's expression remained calm as he nodded at Rocks, accepting the arrangement.

On the other side, the executive John had originally wanted to speak up, but seeing Rocks' resolute attitude, he eventually swallowed the words that had reached his lips.

"This matter is settled." Rocks scanned the crowd, and wherever his gaze fell, the noise ceased instantly.

Immediately after, he raised his voice, his booming tone echoing across the plaza:

"Next--the banquet begins! To the addition of our new executive, and to the greater prosperity of the Rocks Pirates!"

Unexpectedly gaining a newcomer like Luo Tian, whose potential and combat power could both be called monstrous, clearly put him in an excellent mood.

A banquet is always the best way to celebrate and vent in the pirate world.

"Oh!! Let the banquet begin!"

"For the Rocks Pirates! For the new executive!"

The pirates erupted into thunderous cheers, and in the blink of an eye, they were busy at work.

They hauled out barrels of strong liquor, set up whole roasted sheep and Sea Kings, and lit bonfires; noise and heat instantly swept through the entire central area.

Then, under the complex gazes of many pirates—some envious, some jealous, some fearful, and some curious—Luo Tian was led into the most magnificent castle at the heart of the island.

The banquet here was naturally of a higher standard, with more exquisite wine and food, and only those at the executive level were permitted to take a seat.

"Hey, Luo Tian! Don't just stand there, come sit here and have a few drinks with me!"

Just as Luo Tian was looking for a spot on the edge to sit, he was grabbed by the sharp-eyed Golden Lion Shiki and pressed into the seat next to him.

Shiki seemed particularly interested in him, proactively handing over a huge wooden mug filled with amber-colored strong liquor.

After a few rounds of heavy drinking, the atmosphere became a little more lively.