Ganzi's Change of Heart

Golden Lion Shiki and Silver Axe Xiong were dispatched by Rocks to test the strength of the pirates landing on the island.

Anyone wishing to become an affiliate of the Rocks Pirates was required to possess formidable combat prowess.

The starting bounty was 200 million Beli.

Only those with immense strength, powerful Devil Fruit abilities, or limitless potential were qualified to join the main Rocks Pirates crew.

The Teleport-Teleport Fruit user that Houka had been searching for had yet to appear.

Even Kurozumi Higurashi and her brother had not been able to make contact with Golden Lion Shiki.

This left Houka somewhat speechless!

Was it really that difficult for him to obtain a fourth Devil Fruit ability?

Or perhaps even the God of Fate did not approve of Houka acquiring the life-saving abilities of teleportation and the Barrier.

For now, Houka could only continue to develop the Blood Shadow Movement technique of his Vampire Ability to achieve a pseudo-teleportation effect!

In the training grounds where Rocks was relentlessly beating Houka:

"Hey! Rocks, a smuggling pirate named Ganzi is looking for you, claiming he wants to become a supplier for Elysium Island."

Nautilus Babel arrived on the Chibaku Tensei Skull, accompanied by a small giant clad in golden armor.

Had Babel not heard Rocks and Houka mention this fellow Ganzi before, he certainly would not have brought him onto the main base.

At the very least, he would have made Ganzi fight Golden Lion Shiki and Silver Axe Xiong first.

"Who?"

"Ganzi?"

"Wahahaha! Houka, someone has actually delivered themselves to our doorstep!"

"This is much more convenient than hunting them down one by one!"

Rocks laughed heartily. Previously, tracking down those two flyers, Shiki and Charlotte Linlin, had wasted a significant amount of their time.

Especially Charlotte Linlin, who had been dodging the Rocks Pirates ever since Streusen started interfering.

It had caused the Rocks Pirates to spend months searching for her.

It had nearly made Rocks so angry he could breathe fire.

Now, at last, a potential cadre had come knocking!

"I hope you manage to subdue him successfully!"

Houka panted heavily, ending his high-pressure training session with Rocks; he couldn't be bothered with how Rocks intended to beat Ganzi into submission.

Having devoured so many powerful individuals and their blood, his body had completed its cellular transformation years ahead of schedule.

The theory that all cells in the body renew every seven years was irrelevant here.

Under the special rules and dense energy of this world, combined with his powerful Devil Fruit abilities, Houka had nearly completed his transformation in just three years since his transmigration.

Even his bones and internal organs had been enhanced to an incredible degree.

He could already feel that he possessed the talent to awaken Armament Haki and Observation Haki.

The kingly aptitude to awaken Conqueror's Haki would likely not be far behind.

"You've already offered your help to Sambel, Newgate, and Linlin."

"But I still prefer the way I beat Babel, Shiki, and Xiong—crushing them into submission with sheer force."

Rocks bared his white teeth, temporarily letting off the little bastard Houka, whose secret bounty had dared to surpass his own.

"Hey, hey, hey, Rocks, I'm still right here!"

Hearing Rocks boast about his glorious achievement of beating him into submission, Babel immediately shouted out.

Did he have no face to lose?

Meanwhile, Ganzi's pupils constricted. He had come prepared to discuss business with Rocks, not to join the Rocks Pirates.

"Ganzi, what business? What kind of supplier? Just join the Rocks Pirates!"

"I'll take you out to plunder directly!"

"But before you join, I still need to test your strength."

Rocks gave Ganzi no chance to speak. With a burst of violent Conqueror's Haki, he drew Xebec's Sword and slashed down.

This was his standard greeting for new members!

"Captain Rocks! I am a smuggling pirate; I came to talk business..."

Ganzi had not expected Rocks to disregard the unspoken rules of the pirate world, which forbade attacking smuggling pirates or news birds.

Rocks' terrifying strike forced Ganzi to defend with everything he had.

Yet, he was instantly blasted against the wall, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

"I know there are rules in the pirate world, but from now on, my rules are the only rules!"

"Speak! Are you joining the Rocks Pirates or not!"

Rocks shouldered his long blade, walking step by step toward the ruins. He stepped onto the rubble, looked down at the heavily wounded Ganzi, and grinned.

He had no time for the rules and sentimentality that Houka favored.

He preferred to let his strength do the talking!!

"You..."

"..."

"I submit..."

Ganzi desperately wanted to curse Rocks as a rule-breaking bastard, but upon seeing the murderous glint in Rocks' eyes, he chose to join with great "prudence."

He had no desire to be hacked to death by this madman.

"Wahahaha! Welcome to the Rocks Pirates!"

Rocks hauled Ganzi to his feet, a gesture meant to save some face for his new subordinate.

"Houka, look, how simple and efficient!"

Rocks looked triumphantly at Houka, as if showing off that his method was the best and fastest way.

"My apologies, Ganzi. Please forgive our reckless captain!"

"However, joining the Rocks Pirates is the most profitable deal you will ever make in your life."

"We shall hold a banquet for you tonight so you can properly experience what it feels like to be an officer of the world's strongest pirate crew."

Houka flew before Ganzi and flicked his fingers, causing the scattered rubble on the ground to float up and press back into the walls.

"I certainly hope so."

Ganzi let out a dry laugh, suppressing his inner anger and resentment, and forced a smile.

Although that bastard Rocks didn't follow the rules, the vice-captain, Houka, seemed quite reasonable.

Looking at Houka's stunning, otherworldly beauty and elegant temperament, Ganzi couldn't help but sigh in his heart; he was truly the Supreme Succubus with a 4 billion Beli bounty placed on his head by a female Celestial Dragon!

But once he remembered that Houka had personally killed the Pirate Patriarch Ochoku, Ganzi knew that this handsome, bewitching man was anything but simple.

"Rocks is cruel to his enemies, but he is quite good to his own people."

Houka levitated Ganzi and brought him toward the medical area.

Come to think of it, the Rocks Pirates didn't even have a single ship doctor.

Any injuries were handled entirely by self-healing.

However, the members of the Rocks Pirates were all monsters; as long as they weren't killed on the spot, they could basically recover.

"Is that so..."

Ganzi snuck a glance at Rocks. That bastard had started with a domineering slash that nearly slaughtered him on the spot.

What kind of test was that?

If he hadn't been able to withstand a single blow from Rocks, would he have just died, having no qualifications to join the Rocks Pirates at all?

"In the future, you will be responsible for the business on Elysium Island and the procurement for the various officers; you will be able to earn much more."

"You will also receive the protection of the Rocks Pirates."

Houka continued to counsel this smuggling pirate captain, lest he harbor too many grievances against Rocks.

As the grand strategist and vice-captain, he was truly doing his best to clean up after this reckless captain.

However, with Rocks and Houka playing the roles of the bad cop and the good cop, their efficiency was indeed extremely high.

These unruly, arrogant pirates had to be beaten into total submission by Rocks' supreme combat power.

Only then would they listen obediently to what Houka had to say.

At this moment, the explosive tremors atop the Chibaku Tensei Skull caused a stir among the pirates below.

"Was that Ganzi who just followed Lord Babel up there?"

"Heh heh, I wonder if Ganzi was finished off, or if he was subdued by Lord Rocks?"

The pirates chuckled with malicious intent, while Buckingham Stussy's expression turned somewhat grave.

If she took the initiative to join, would she also be slashed by Rocks?

With this kind of exaggerated commotion and destructive power, she definitely wouldn't be able to withstand it—she would surely die!