A few days later.
Although Rocks still hadn't officially raised the flag of the Rocks Pirates, he continued to fly the black sailcloth bearing his name.
The World Government had already recognized the formation of the Rocks Pirates in its latest wanted posters.
The new wanted posters listed Houka, Babel, Sambel, Newgate, Shiki, and Xiong as members of the Rocks Pirates.
Captain of the Rocks Pirates, [World's Worst Pirate] Rocks D. Zebek, bounty: 3,811,540,000 Beli.
Vice Captain and Chief Strategist of the Rocks Pirates, [Murder and Arson] Kozuki Houka, bounty: 380,000,000 Beli.
Combatant, [Silver Axe] Xiong, bounty: 300,000,000 Beli.
Swordsman, [Golden Lion] Shiki, bounty: 247,000,000 Beli.
Combatant, [Nautilus] Babel, bounty: 188,000,000 Beli.
Combatant, Edward Newgate, bounty: 146,000,000 Beli.
Helmsman, Sambel, bounty: 20,000,000 Beli.
"Wahahaha! Newgate, I told you you'd regret not showing off your skills!"
Rocks looked at Newgate's dark expression. The combatant they'd snatched from the Whale Pirates had not only been given no title, but his bounty was also far below Golden Lion Shiki's.
But in terms of actual strength, Newgate was stronger than both Silver Axe Xiong and Golden Lion Shiki.
"Hmph!"
Newgate merely snorted. He still didn't seem to care much, at least on the surface, but he decided he'd have to show off his strength next time.
Especially since Houka kept telling him that the female pirate Charlotte Linlin was only twelve or thirteen, yet already had a bounty of 500 million Beli.
They couldn't let themselves be outdone by a female pirate.
So they had to raise their bounties above 500 million Beli as soon as possible.
"And you, Sambel. I'm very dissatisfied with your bounty."
"If you can't get it up to 100 million Beli next time, then even if Houka tries to protect you, I'll still kick you out of the ranks of our official members.
"You're not even qualified to be a trainee aboard the Rocks Pirates!"
Rocks gave the honest Sambel a cold look. He had no need for a crewman like him.
"Yes, Captain! I'll do my best!"
Sambel was drenched in cold sweat, his heart pounding with anxiety. He really didn't want to leave the Rocks Pirates.
The Vice Captain Houka valued him, and Big Brother Babel and Newgate treated him well.
He had to prove himself, so the Vice Captain Houka wouldn't regret believing in him!
"Damn it! How can the World Government and Marine Headquarters call Houka the vice captain of the Rocks Pirates?!"
"It's all your fault! You're the ones who kept calling Houka the vice captain!"
Silver Axe Xiong looked at Babel and Sambel with some irritation. He refused to acknowledge Houka as the vice captain. Rocks had said there was no vice captain aboard the ship.
"Tch, what's it to you if we call him that?"
Babel wasn't afraid of Xiong. Even though Xiong's bounty was much higher than his, Babel didn't think he'd lose to him.
His bounty was low only because he hadn't been sailing the seas for very long.
Xiong, meanwhile, had spent several years in the New World and had made a name for himself.
"Want to fight?"
"Bring it on!"
Xiong and Babel glared each other down, neither willing to back off.
Rocks grinned recklessly. This kind of world, where the strong ruled, was exactly the atmosphere he liked.
"Wahahahaha! Since the World Government has already announced the existence of the Rocks Pirates, we'll officially form the crew today!"
"You six will be the founding members of the Rocks Pirates!"
"You two want to fight? Then put on a battle to celebrate the formation of the Rocks Pirates!"
Rocks burst out laughing and had Sambel raise the Rocks Pirates' flag, which had been prepared in advance.
He also sent Houka and Shiki to find a nearby island, where Babel and Xiong could have it out!
Houka and Shiki had no choice but to carry out Rocks's orders.
They soon found a small, deserted island to serve as a battlefield for the two hotheads.
"Newgate, your bounty really is nothing to brag about. It needs to be higher than Charlotte Linlin's 500 million Beli at the very least, or people will laugh at you."
"Our Rocks Pirates are going to become the World's Strongest pirate crew!"
Houka floated in the air, watching Babel and Xiong's fierce battle. He didn't forget to needle Newgate, who was being a little too laid-back.
"When we go after Murakumogiri this time, I'll show you all my full strength!"
Newgate brushed the short white mustache above his lip, his gaze turning a little sharper.
He didn't think he was any weaker than Silver Axe or Golden Lion, much less that woman, Charlotte Linlin!
Apart from Rocks, he acknowledged no one!
Not even Houka!
"Then I'll be waiting!"
Houka's lips curled into a slight smile as he turned back to the battlefield.
Babel had certainly taken Houka's words to heart. In just a few days, he'd learned to swing the Meteor Ship Anchor with impressive skill.
Babel the catfish Fish-Man was several times stronger than Silver Axe Xiong, who was himself famed for his strength.
Unable to gain an advantage in his own specialty, Xiong couldn't bring Babel down even after a long fight. He could only use his extensive combat experience and techniques to gain a slight edge.
But neither of them had enough strength to defeat the other!
The two fought for three whole days and nights before Rocks finally called an end to the pointless battle!
The Rocks Pirates set sail once more, heading straight for the New World's Kingdom of War, a place called the Ying Kingdom.
The kingdom's general was the one who wielded the Ying Kingdom's National Treasure, the Supreme Grade Sword Murakumogiri.
The Rocks Pirates were going to seize Murakumogiri—in other words, steal the weapon from the general of the Ying Kingdom!
That was no different from declaring war on the entire Ying Kingdom!
The big news about the Rocks Pirates spread rapidly across the world's seas.
Rocks, the World's Worst Pirate, had finally formed his own pirate crew. Five of its six members already had bounties over 100 million.
The crew's combined bounty had surpassed 5 billion Beli, a figure that already outstripped every other pirate crew in the New World.
The great pirate crews of the New World could all feel the pressure of an approaching storm.
Although Rocks himself accounted for the bulk of the total.
Who would dare provoke this "rookie" pirate crew, with a monster who could take down a Marine Admiral at its head?
The Rocks Pirates might have reached their peak right out of the gate!
In the waters near Elbaf.
Harald recognized the monstrous human he'd encountered in Mary Geoise when he saw Rocks in the newspaper.
"That man's recruited quite a few vicious pirates."
Harald was now actively seeking a peaceful way for his people to integrate with the world. He had no interest in these vicious pirates.
Unfortunately, his last visit to Mary Geoise hadn't gone well.
The World Government was entirely unwilling to accept Elbaf, and it was giving him a serious headache.
On Elysium Island in the New World.
Ochoku, known as the Pirate Patriarch, saw the Rocks Pirates burst onto the scene, and his face filled with apprehension.
He was the Pirate Patriarch, while Rocks was the World's Worst Pirate. It seemed a battle between them was inevitable.
Was Rocks really as powerful as the news claimed? He'd actually taken down a Marine Admiral!