Edward Newgate

"Hey, Rocks, state the rules properly! Don't just start fighting right off the bat!"

At this moment, Houka spoke up. He remembered that in the original timeline, Rocks had recruited Edward Newgate eight years after the chaos at the Reverie.

But it was clear that Newgate had always held a deep resentment toward Rocks.

It was highly probable that when Rocks defeated Newgate's former captain, Uhale, he had been too heavy-handed, leaving Newgate with a grudge.

It wasn't until the Hachinosu era and the God Valley incident that Newgate truly began to acknowledge Rocks.

The current Newgate was merely a combatant for the Whale Pirates, and he didn't place much value on treasure.

He had always longed for a family, sending all the treasure and supplies he received from his share of the loot back to his home on Sphinx Island.

Even Captain Uhale had mocked Newgate for chasing after such ethereal concepts as family, claiming that treasure was far more reliable.

Now, with the appearance of Houka, the time for recruiting Newgate had been greatly accelerated, and Newgate's strength had not yet reached its peak.

Perhaps it was possible to make Newgate a true comrade.

At the very least, he could become a good partner to Houka.

After all, a guy like Rocks didn't value the bonds of companionship.

Otherwise, he couldn't just kill Edward Newgate to seize the Tremor-Tremor Fruit ability!

"Which pirate doesn't know about the Davy Back Fight in the pirate world?"

Rocks snorted softly, yet he still halted his advance toward Uhale.

He knew that if Houka said this, there must be a reason for it.

Perhaps Houka could see further into the future.

Uhale, Newgate, and the other pirates stared in disbelief, eyes wide, seeing that this little guy, Houka, could actually restrain the actions of a demonic pirate like Rocks.

Even Rocks had to listen to this brat's suggestions?

"Captain Uhale, Edward Newgate, our captain wishes to engage you in a Davy Back Fight. We hope you will abide by the rules."

"Otherwise, I won't be able to hold back our captain's actions. After all, he's the kind of man who dares to kill even a Marine Admiral!"

"Newgate, I believe you've already sensed the truth—we are indeed here for you!"

"Captain Uhale, we want to win Newgate. I hope that for his sake, you will bring out your strongest state and fight our captain with the resolve to die in battle."

Houka floated into the air, addressing Uhale and Newgate directly; as for the other pirates, they were completely ignored.

So it really was for me!

Newgate frowned. To be honest, he was quite content in the Whale Pirates, and he had no desire to leave.

He had joined the Whale Pirates when he was young, and he was a man of loyalty!

"You want Newgate?"

"I surrender! Newgate is yours!"

Uhale's expression changed instantly. As for fighting with the resolve to die, he knew he couldn't possibly beat Rocks.

He couldn't even defeat a Marine Vice Admiral, let alone Rocks, who had killed a Marine Admiral!

"Newgate, please, save me..."

"Newgate, your strength is so great, you've long since surpassed me. You should become a much more famous pirate."

Uhale pleaded in a low voice, hoping Newgate wouldn't provoke the monster that was Rocks.

Hearing his captain's desperate begging, Newgate felt a pang of pain in his heart. The pirate 'comrades' he had spent years with were, in the end, not true friends or family.

To think they would 'sell' him out so quickly!

"A Davy Back Fight is meant to be won clearly and lost fairly! We will never violate the rules of the game."

"If Captain Uhale wins, he could have a super-enforcer like Rocks!"

"Doesn't that tempt you?"

"Alright, the rules of the game have been stated. Let the game begin!"

"Newgate, do you have anything to add?"

To make Newgate more willing to submit, Houka had kept the hot-headed Rocks quiet for a long time.

If not for Houka, the 'prophet,' Rocks would have long since resolved everything in his own violent way.

Edward Newgate wanted to object to the game, but the pleading look in Uhale's eyes made him finally close his mouth and tacitly accept the rules.

Seeing that Newgate did not vehemently object, Uhale let out a deep sigh of relief.

"I'll choose the event!"

"I want to challenge Captain Rocks to a tug-of-war!!"

Uhale clearly knew the rules of the Davy Back Fight, and he was the first to propose an event.

To avoid any physical contact with the monster Rocks, he didn't even dare to suggest an arm-wrestling match, terrified that Rocks might snap his arm in half.

As for dangerous competitions like boxing, swordsmanship, or marksmanship, he was even less likely to propose those!

He certainly didn't want to be killed by Rocks!

"What! Tug-of-war?"

Rocks was extremely dissatisfied; he had wanted to have a proper go at Uhale.

And it ended up being a simple children's game like this?

"That's right!"

"If you win, you can take Newgate away, take my pirate flag, and even take me!"

"But if I win, I hope Captain Rocks will become my vice-captain!"

Uhale knew he couldn't win, but he still used a provocation, hoping Rocks would quickly agree to this tug-of-war match.

"Hmph! You want to beat me? Then come on!"

Rocks accepted Uhale's game; in any case, his goal from the start was just to snatch Edward Newgate away.

Soon, a serious game of tug-of-war began!

Even the two fish-men, Babel and Sambel, were very excited; they hadn't realized pirates played such games.

To get the strong men they wanted, they only needed to win in battle.

Newgate was not in a good mood!

He hated others controlling his destiny, and he was even more dissatisfied with his captain, Uhale, for treating him like an object.

"Newgate, there's no need to be like this. Perhaps leaving the Whale Pirates is how you'll find a better future."

"What is the point of a life spent robbing and splitting a bit of treasure every day?"

"The family you want is not in the Whale Pirates!"

"If you don't mind, you can call me brother. I'm 20 years old this year, two years older than you!"

At this moment, Houka floated to Edward Newgate's side and spoke to the young giant.

Newgate was already an adult, standing over six meters tall, nearly reaching his peak of 6.66 meters.

"Murder and Arson, Guyue Houka, with a bounty of 80 million berries. Did you really kill the king and generals of the Cang Kingdom, slaughter countless soldiers, and burn down the capital of the Cang Kingdom?"

Newgate glanced at Houka coldly; he didn't seem particularly impressed by him.

"I only killed the enemies who destroyed my village. As for the arson, that was Rocks's doing."

"I believe you also hate all the enemies who destroyed your hometown, Newgate."

Houka did not deny the fact that he had wiped out the Cang Kingdom's king and generals, and he even dragged the situation of Newgate's hometown into the conversation.

He wanted Newgate to recall the feeling of his home being destroyed.

"..."

Sure enough, the look in Newgate's eyes as he gazed at Houka changed instantly; they were both just pathetic people who had lost their families and had their hometowns destroyed.

Seeking revenge for one's family and hometown was not detestable.

Neither of them was wrong; the world was what was wrong!

This damned Heavenly Tribute system meant that non-member nations and weak countries didn't deserve peace, and the poor and commoners didn't deserve a stable life where they could eat their fill.

On the competition field, Rocks only needed one encounter; with a single tug of the rope, he pulled Uhale over, sending him flying backward until he crashed into the ground, creating a large crater.

"Wahahahaha! I won! I'm taking the Whale Pirates' Edward Newgate!"