Newgate had initially felt a little annoyed at the challenge from this new crewmate. This wasn't the kind of companion or family he wanted.
But after hearing Houka's words, he felt a little better.
At least there was someone here worth cherishing and befriending.
Listening to their conversation, Newgate began to understand the rules aboard this pirate crew.
The strong ruled!
As long as you were strong enough, you could even disregard Rocks.
"I accept your challenge, big fish-man!"
Newgate spoke calmly. This catfish fish-man was even bigger than him. He wanted to see how strong the guy was.
He no longer needed to worry about Uhale's feelings. He wanted to find out how far he could grow.
"Bwahahaha! Now that's what I'm talking about!"
Babel grinned and laughed, his opinion of Newgate improving considerably.
If you wanted a place on this ship, you had to fight your way there and prove yourself with your strength.
"Worahahaha! I welcome you to challenge me too. I'm itching for a fight!"
Rocks laughed recklessly, giving Houka a pointed look.
He had to make sure this little guy, who could see the future, truly understood the cruelty of the Ocean and the rule that strength came first.
Houka was always thinking about Devil Fruit abilities and things like feelings and bonds. He wouldn't get far in this world that way.
Strength was everything.
Sambel watched the big brothers, who seemed to be at odds with each other, and felt a little uneasy.
Among the official crew members here, he was the weakest.
If Chief of Staff Houka hadn't spoken up, he probably wouldn't have made it aboard.
Rocks had originally wanted to take him on as an apprentice crew member, but Big Brother Houka had gotten him a spot as a full-fledged crew member.
But if he wanted to become an officer like Boss Babel, he still needed to grow stronger, until Captain Rocks acknowledged him.
"If you're itching for a fight, go find Harald. Only a strong opponent on your level can make you stronger!"
"And later, try your Advanced Haki on one of those immortal monsters from the Holy Knights."
"Figure out how to use Advanced Conqueror's Haki Infusion to completely destroy their immortality!"
"Don't end up unable to take down even one Holy Knight or one of the Five Elders!"
Houka looked at Rocks, who thought he was above it all, and offered him a reminder.
If Rocks couldn't kill the Holy Knights or the Five Elders, there was even less chance he could take down Imu.
"Harald! That guy really is strong! I'm going to recruit him!"
"Immortal monsters? I don't believe they can't be killed!"
Rocks gave Houka a long look. This little guy loved talking back and putting him down.
It seemed like beating Houka up on a regular basis was the right thing to do.
But with Houka's warning, he would definitely grow stronger in the future. He could also avoid danger and turn things in his favor, until he finally took Imu down.
"What are the Holy Knights? And what do you mean by immortality?"
Listening to Rocks and Houka, Newgate was full of questions. Babel and Sambel looked just as confused.
They had seen the name of the Five Elders, the world's highest authority, in the newspapers.
"Then let me explain how the World Government's real power structure works."
"Above the Five Elders, the world's highest authority, there's a hidden King of the World pulling the strings. That person is also the absolute ruler of the Celestial Dragons."
"The Five Elders are nothing but that person's lackeys and slaves. They even kneel when they meet the King of the World."
"The Holy Knights are elites selected from among the Celestial Dragons. Every one of them is powerful."
"The leader of the Holy Knights is also a candidate for the Five Elders. If one of the Five Elders dies, the leader of the Holy Knights becomes a new Elder."
"Both the Five Elders and the Holy Knights were granted immortality through the King of the World's Devil Fruit ability."
"Only Advanced Conqueror's Haki Infusion can truly kill them!"
"Of course, there's a chance that sending them plunging into the Ocean could kill them too."
"That's the eight-hundred-year foundation behind the Celestial Dragons' rule over the World Government!"
"So, how do you feel after hearing about these immortal monsters? Are you a little scared?"
Houka finished with a mysterious air, then looked at the others with interest.
"So their immortality was granted by a Devil Fruit ability. I thought they really couldn't be killed!"
"Advanced Conqueror's Haki Infusion! Send them into the Ocean! As long as they can be killed, that's enough."
Newgate no longer seemed particularly wary. Sending people into the Ocean was something he was very good at.
Perhaps it was because Newgate's Tremor-Tremor Fruit let him unleash tsunamis at will that the Five Elders and the Holy Knights didn't want to provoke this future Emperor of the Sea.
"What's Advanced Conqueror's Haki Infusion?"
Babel had heard another unfamiliar term. He'd never heard of such a thing on Fish-Man Island.
He did know how to infuse things with Armament Haki.
Sure enough, you had to leave Fish-Man Island to learn just how vast and full of unknowns the world was.
"Worahahaha! Only people who have awakened Conqueror's Haki are qualified to learn Conqueror's Haki Infusion."
"Plenty of people with the qualities of a king go their entire lives without mastering Conqueror's Haki Infusion!"
"Once you've mastered it, you'll have the strongest combat power needed to take down a Marine Admiral."
"And Advanced Conqueror's Haki Infusion is a further level of mastery and development of Conqueror's Haki Infusion."
"So, right now, the gap between you and me is as wide as the Ocean!"
Rocks grinned and laughed. Even among the members of the Davy Clan, he was the only one who had mastered Conqueror's Haki Infusion.
He was the greatest genius the Davy Clan had seen in eight hundred years!
He'd not only awakened Conqueror's Haki and mastered Conqueror's Haki Infusion, but also trained it to an even higher level.
That was precisely what had given him the confidence to use the Reverie to reach the Holy Land of Mary Geoise and fight his way to Imu.
But he had still underestimated how terrifying that old monster's power was.
If he'd been strong enough to beat Imu, the world would have changed hands that day.
"You need to awaken Conqueror's Haki to master Conqueror's Haki Infusion?"
Babel's face darkened. He had none of the qualities of a king, which meant he had no chance of mastering this ultimate power.
That left only sending them plunging into the Ocean as a possible way to kill those Five Elders and Holy Knights.
"Conqueror's Haki..."
A glint flashed in Newgate's eyes. He had to master this power, or he'd never become a monster like Rocks.
"Worahahaha! Newgate has the qualities of a king. I can already feel his presence."
"Maybe all he needs is the right opportunity to awaken Conqueror's Haki."
Rocks thought highly of Newgate's talent and had already decided to make him his right-hand man.
"Damn it..."
Babel resented not having those qualities. Why was he born a step behind Rocks and Newgate?
"Hey, Babel, don't lose heart. Awakening Conqueror's Haki is a very subjective matter. What matters most is what you experience later in life."
"It's not that having the qualities of a king lets you awaken Conqueror's Haki. It's that once you've awakened Conqueror's Haki, you're said to have the qualities of a king."
"I know a way to increase your chances of awakening Conqueror's Haki. Anyone want to hear it?"
Seeing the frustration on Babel's face, Houka suddenly smiled and spoke up.
At that, not just Babel and Sambel, but even Newgate and Rocks all turned to look at Houka.
"Really, Chief of Staff?"
Babel asked excitedly, like a child who'd just grabbed hold of a lifeline. He was practically ready to call Houka the vice-captain.
Rocks, on the other hand, looked thoroughly unconvinced. Even the Davy Clan, with its thousand-year legacy, had never heard of such a method.