After That, Even Rayleigh and Gaban Would Be Snatched Away

"Houka, what are you looking over there for? That's East Blue. Are there any powerful people over there?"

Rocks's eyes lit up, sensing that Houka was hiding some information from him.

"I heard there's a member of the D Clan in East Blue who became a Marine. That guy is very powerful! He'll be one of your future enemies."

"Forget it, let's head to the New World first!"

"In the New World and West Blue, we'll recruit your future subordinates!"

Houka had no plans to head to Skypiea to look for the Rumble-Rumble Fruit for the time being. After all, Rocks would not let him keep wasting time solely pursuing benefits for himself.

He should wait until Rocks could see the benefits first.

Besides, aside from the Seven-Star Sword, there was another item with a clear location: the Mythical Zoan Vampire Fruit on Slepy Island.

Those were all Houka's targets!

He wanted to stay forever young!

Even Captain John's Magnet-Magnet Fruit ability was one of his targets.

He would have to find an opportunity and an excuse to kill him!

If he could not get the Rumble-Rumble Fruit for now, the Magnet-Magnet Fruit ability would do as well.

"A member of the D Clan, a Marine, a future enemy?"

Seeing the seriousness in Houka's eyes, Rocks frowned as well.

How could a member of the D Clan become a dog for the Celestial Dragons?

Had he fought a fierce battle against that D Clan Marine?

"Forget it, forget it. Why think so much about it!!"

"Charge, charge, charge! Let's get the Rocks Pirates established sooner!"

"I can serve as vice-captain and help you give those unruly officers a proper ideological lesson, guiding them toward the same goal."

Houka licked his lips, his ambitions surging. If the Rocks Pirates were united, could they possibly take down Imu?

Just thinking about it was a little exciting!

And once the Roger Pirates took shape, Houka would specifically bring Rocks to snatch members from the Roger Pirates.

He would even forcibly drag Roger aboard.

Whether they submitted willingly or not, he would snatch them first and talk later.

Rayleigh, Gaban, all of them would be snatched away.

As for timelines and the butterfly effect on the future, Houka did not give a damn. If things got messed up, then so be it.

"You weakling want to be vice-captain? Awaken your Three-Color Haki first!"

Rocks slapped Houka on the shoulder, instantly twisting Houka's expression in pain.

That brute was too barbaric. He had no sense of decency at all.

"I was originally going to tell you some information about the Great Kingdom and the Road Poneglyphs."

"But that slap wounded my fiery red heart!"

Houka activated his Gravity Ability and quickly flew up onto the mast. Seeing the bloody handprint on his shoulder, he immediately started cursing.

"Wororororo, don't be so petty, Houka. I was reminding you of the importance of physique and Three-Color Haki."

"Stop thinking only about playing with bugs and stealing Devil Fruit abilities!"

Rocks laughed loudly, as though he had heard another important piece of information.

He knew the secret of the Road Poneglyphs, but he had no idea where those things were scattered throughout the world.

Could Houka have foreseen the locations of those Road Poneglyphs as well?

Road Poneglyphs, the Three Ancient Weapons...

The more Rocks thought about it, the more excited he became.

Houka really was a treasure trove!

In that case, if Houka wanted to kill someone and steal their Devil Fruit ability, then he could do as he pleased.

"There's a Road Poneglyph on Fish-Man Island, along with an apology letter from Joy Boy. When we enter the New World, we should take a look around Fish-Man Island."

"Also, one of your future subordinates is a catfish fish-man named Babel. You can recruit him in advance!"

Houka spoke irritably. Rocks had indeed been doing his best to help him grow stronger these past few days.

Of course, Rocks was also afraid that Houka, this weak prophet, would be killed by someone in the future.

"Wororororo! A Road Poneglyph? A catfish fish-man? Looks like my second officer is about to come aboard."

Rocks raised his brows and laughed. His plans were finally beginning to get on track.

"What a pain. If my Observation Haki isn't strong enough, I won't be able to sense meteors in space and pull them down."

Houka also wanted to awaken his Three-Color Haki, but his physical growth was countless times slower than the strengthening of his soul.

I heard that it only takes seven years for a person to replace every cell in their body. I wonder if that's true.

After living in this world for seven years, would all the new cells in my body completely possess this world's power?

Houka had lived in this world for two or three years. His physique had indeed been steadily growing stronger, but he was still far from attaining the monstrous physique of this world.

"Gravity Gu, start with five times gravity."

Houka had begun using gravity for training.

Thinking of the monster officers who would soon come aboard, he had to become stronger.

Otherwise, those vicious bastards could accidentally injure or kill him at any moment.

For people like Golden Lion Shiki, throwing bombs around as a joke was perfectly ordinary.

If he could not even withstand bombs, what qualifications would he have to become a high-ranking officer?

Most importantly, Imu, that thousand-year-old immortal, was practically cheating.

He possessed teleportation, possession, immortality, slave conversion... all kinds of Devil Fruit abilities, as well as powerful Conqueror's Haki.

Even Rocks, Roger, Garp, Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Kaido of the Beasts working together could not kill him.

That kind of final boss was far too terrifying.

Houka had to become stronger as quickly as possible. At the very least, he needed the strongest strategic retreat ability.

"Hey, Houka, you already have two Paramecia abilities. You still want the Magnet-Magnet Fruit ability?"

"Your physique just won't do."

"I suggest you get yourself a Mythical Zoan ability first!"

Watching Houka train hard under gravity, Rocks finally offered a suggestion.

"Captain, you're so smart. After we enter the New World, come help me find a Mythical Zoan Fruit!"

Houka immediately latched onto Rocks's words.

He had his eye on the Magnet-Magnet Fruit ability, but he had already decided that his next ability would be the Mythical Zoan Vampire Ability.

After all, Slepy Island was in the first half of the New World!

"You bastard, you're using me again. Why are you always thinking only about your own affairs?"

"Fine, fine. I'll help you one more time!"

"But you'd better hide your bugs. Otherwise, I'm afraid someone will kill you."

Rocks spoke irritably. This brat Houka truly had no manners, always seeking benefits for himself. First it had been the Seven Star Sword, and now it was a Mythical Zoan Fruit.

However, thinking about Houka's weak physique, Rocks still planned to help him find a Mythical Zoan ability first to keep him alive.

"Hehe, thank you, Captain Rocks."

"I'll definitely work hard to turn the World Government upside down!"

Houka grinned. He had boarded Rocks's ship precisely to make use of Rocks's immense strength, have him do things for him, and help him get through his weak early stage.

Once Houka developed enough, he would snatch whatever abilities he wanted himself!

"Then tell me about the Three Ancient Weapons..."

Seeing that Houka was in a good mood, Rocks casually asked, hoping to obtain the important intelligence Houka had foreseen.

"Uranus is in the hands of the World Government, but because it lacks energy, it most likely cannot be activated at present."

"Poseidon is a mermaid princess from some future era. She has not been born yet."

"As for Pluton, well... the time isn't right yet."

Houka suddenly stopped speaking. He raised his brows at Rocks and revealed a meaningful smile.

"What time? I think you want me to do something for you again so you can profit from it, you bastard!"

Rocks wanted nothing more than to slap Houka flat. He hated bastards who only said half of what they meant.

"Hey, hey, hey, don't put it like that. This is a fair trade between us."

"But Pluton is a super battleship. You don't expect the two of us to operate it, do you?"

"At the very least, we need to strengthen the Rocks Pirates first."

"Otherwise, wouldn't we just be helping the World Government find the Pluton battleship?"

"Do you think we can protect the Pluton battleship?"

"And to operate that enormous Pluton battleship, it would be best to gain the Giants' assistance."

"Legend says that the Pluton battleship was built jointly by the Giants and shipwrights from Water 7..."

Houka spread his hands and hurriedly soothed the hot-tempered Rocks, afraid that this brute would give him a slash.