Merman Babel and Sambel

Ten thousand meters beneath the sea lay Fish-Man Island.

On the dim streets of the Fish-Man District.

Amidst the dilapidated alleyways, Rocks punched his way through, knocking down a multitude of powerful fish-men with single blows.

The boss of the Fish-Man District in this era was none other than the catfish fish-man, Babel.

His hair surged upward like flickering flames.

Under the overwhelming might of Rocks, Babel was thoroughly subdued and forced to join the Rocks Pirates.

At this moment, Houka was floating just outside the battlefield, all his Soul Insects having returned to his soul.

The Moonlight Gu had transformed into a pale blue crescent moon mark on Houka's forehead.

The Gravity Gu had become a purple tiger-shaped tattoo on his arm.

Furthermore, under the power of the Moon-Moon Fruit, Houka's black hair could shift into a head of silver.

With this silver hair and the crescent mark, he carried a hint of Sesshomaru's cold, detached air.

Houka hovered in the air, watching Rocks display his terrifying power, before his gaze finally settled on a young fish-man figure.

Doesn't he look a bit like Sambel, that fish-man from the Roger Pirates?

To become an elite crew member of the Roger Pirates, his strength shouldn't be too shabby!

Babel, Sambel—interesting, very interesting.

Recruitment starts now!

"Hey, is your name Sambel? Any interest in following your boss Babel, heading to the surface, and basking in the real sunlight?"

"See that? That guy is the worst pirate in history, with a bounty of 3,811,540,000 Beli. He's the strongest pirate in the world, and he even took down a Marine Admiral not long ago!"

Houka pulled out Rocks's wanted poster, using it directly as his primary recruitment billboard.

"What! 3.8 billion Beli?"

"He took down a Marine Admiral?"

As Houka shouted, the Fish-Man District erupted into a clamor of heated discussion.

Back in the Ryugu Kingdom, the King and Prince Neptune heard that the worst pirate, Rocks, had entered Fish-Man Island, but they were held back in the palace by their ministers and forbidden from stepping out.

Houka hoisting the banner of Rocks had an immediate effect.

A significant number of fish-men, yearning for sunlight and freedom, wanted to join the Rocks Pirates.

However, aside from Babel, Rocks didn't have his eyes on those weaklings.

Even Sambel, whom Houka had personally scouted, seemed a bit too weak in Rocks's eyes to qualify for a spot on the ship.

But ultimately, at Houka's insistence, Rocks permitted Sambel to join.

And just like that, Babel and Sambel of the Fish-Man District officially became members under Rocks.

Led by the two, Houka and Rocks arrived at the Sea Forest and laid eyes on the two Poneglyphs—one red and one grey.

"Houka, are we really taking this red Poneglyph? Isn't a rubbing enough?"

Hearing that Houka intended to take the red Poneglyph with them, Rocks complained that it was in the way.

He had no desire to keep this massive rock aboard the Sword of Xebec.

"..."

"Fine, fine. If we aren't taking it, we aren't taking it. Let's just make a few extra rubbings!"

Since the captain wasn't willing to haul it, Houka had to set the idea aside for now.

Once he acquired the ability of the Castle-Castle Fruit in the future, he would come back to retrieve it.

Rocks and Houka, neither of whom lacked money, spent a few days living it up on Fish-Man Island with the two penniless wretches from the Fish-Man District, throwing their wealth around recklessly.

Only then did they leave Fish-Man Island with lingering reluctance.

Amidst the cheers of countless fish-men thugs in the Fish-Man District, the Rocks Pirates departed the deep sea and headed for the New World.

Not long after, as the Sword of Xebec breached the surface of the ocean.

The first to cheer was the young fish-man Sambel; it was truly his first time leaving Fish-Man Island.

Babel, the boss of the Fish-Man District, had at least snuck out to the Sabaody Archipelago once before.

"I will definitely make a name for myself! I'll become a great pirate that makes the World Government tremble with fear!"

Babel roared in excitement; he, too, wanted to become a big shot like Rocks.

If he couldn't take down a Marine Admiral, he at least wanted to be able to trade dozens of blows with one!

"Wahahahaha! That's a decent start!"

"Houka, where are we heading next?"

"Let's see which of these guys is closest to recruit first!"

Rocks began to leaf through a thick stack of wanted posters, checking which fated cadres were currently scraping by in the first half of the New World.

"Can Vice-Captain Houka really see the future?"

Under Houka's smooth-talking, Sambel had truly begun calling him Vice-Captain.

"Sambel, I've said it before: Houka is not the Vice-Captain. There are no vice-captains on my ship. Whoever has the strength gets the bigger share of the loot."

Rocks glared at the cunning Houka, annoyed that he had the nerve to bamboozle a newcomer.

"Captain Rocks, but even you have been asking for Houka's opinion."

Although Babel didn't call Houka Vice-Captain, seeing Rocks's attitude, wasn't Houka effectively the ship's second-in-command?

Besides, the ability to predict the future was so powerful! So mysterious!

"Hmph! Regardless, there is no vice-captain on this ship!"

Rocks gave a soft huff, though he didn't deny Houka's importance.

"Heh heh, Vice-Captain or not, just call me the Grand Strategist!"

Houka gave Sambel a look of satisfaction; authority was the kind of thing one could establish through subtle influence.

"Next, we go find that so-called Whale Pirates crew! Edward Newgate is a guy that Whale Uhale can't handle."

"It just so happens they're hanging around the first half of the New World!"

"Of course, we also need to gather intelligence on Sleepy Town."

"Captain Rocks, the plan is set. Please issue your orders!"

Houka spoke with a casual air, yet he still made sure to give Rocks enough face as the captain.

"Wahahaha! Then let's charge! Time to snatch our next crewmate!"

Rocks roared with excitement, and the rest of the crew cheered along.

Under the immense power of Rocks, the harsh weather of the New World was no problem at all.

If they didn't have an Eternal Pose, they would just steal one!

If they lacked information, they would go to the Underground Dark World to buy it!

With a clear goal in mind, the Rocks Pirates soon located the White Whale Pirates, who were busy plundering treasure in the first half of the New World.

"Wahahahaha! Whale Uhale, let's have a Davy Back Fight between pirates!"

The moment the two pirate crews met, Rocks sensed the powerful aura of Edward Newgate.

This guy was definitely stronger than the captain, Whale Uhale.

At eighteen years old, Edward Newgate hadn't yet grown his signature white beard.

He wore a headscarf over his blonde hair and a simple vest that revealed his knotted muscles.

Feeling the terrifying aura radiating from Rocks, he was equally shocked.

He had never encountered such a powerful monster before!

"The Worst Pirate! Rocks!!"

The moment Uhale saw who it was, he was so terrified he nearly wet himself.

What had he done to deserve a visit from the strongest pirate in the world, a man with a bounty of 3,811,540,000 Beli?

"Lord Rocks, whether you want our treasure, our pirate flag, or even me—take it all, just please don't kill me!"

Whale Uhale, dressed in his captain's regalia, surrendered instantly, not daring to even consider fighting Rocks.

Besides, if he could join Rocks's crew, that didn't seem like such a bad deal.

"Wahahahaha! You think you're worthy of being my subordinate? You're too weak!"

"What I want, I take for myself!"

Rocks flicked his tongue across his lips, his gaze locking onto the strongest pirate on the Whale Pirates' ship: Edward Newgate!

Newgate was startled by the burning intensity in Rocks's eyes.

Could it be that this Worst Pirate, who had even taken down a Marine Admiral, was targeting him?