Have You Decided to Share the Treasure?

"Shut up!"

Rocks shot to his feet from the skull throne, his blazing gaze fixed on Streusen.

"Let the cowards stay on this island!"

"The rest follow the usual rules. Split the treasure equally. Our destination—God Valley in the West Blue!"

"Yeah!"

"Zehahahaha! If I rescue Shakky, do you think she'll marry me?"

"Kill all those Celestial Dragon pigs!"

With Rocks making the final decision, the officers freely shouted their grand declarations, utterly unconcerned about facing the World Government.

In a corner, John watched Rocks, his eyes flickering constantly.

He did not talk about the bonds of companionship, nor did he reveal that the people he truly wanted to save were his wife and children. He simply used the benefit of "splitting the treasure equally" to drive the pirates forward.

That man was truly clear-headed. He had never been deceived by the illusion of harmony.

Even knowing that his wife, children, and clansmen were in grave danger, he calmly understood that he needed to bring a group of powerful pirates along as cover rather than recklessly charging in after losing his mind.

Compared to future figures like Luffy and Kid, this man was so outstanding he practically dazzled the eye.

What a pity. Fate...

"Then I can only find a way to keep Rocks from meeting Saturn."

John had an idea.

Rocks died only because Imu possessed Saturn and used Black Transference to control him.

So long as he did not encounter Saint Saturn of the Five Elders, Rocks would not fall victim to Black Transference.

"Or I could prepare for both possibilities and find a way to break Black Transference."

John recalled the fate he knew. Black Transference had absolutely no effect on Luffy or Loki.

As for why it did not work...

John guessed that the principle might be similar to the Paramecia Love-Love Fruit: if someone was not lustful, they would not be turned to stone.

Therefore, Black Transference was likely ineffective against simple-minded "idiots"!

But was Rocks an idiot?

Obviously not!

It was impossible to hope for direct immunity. He could only focus on quickly removing Black Transference after someone had been afflicted.

Those controlled by Black Transference would be freed from its control and restored to an uninjured state if they suffered a fatal wound.

But this was Rocks. Other than Imu, who could defeat him without getting hurt or exhausting all their Haki and stamina?

They could only end up like in the predetermined fate, all collapsing from exhaustion and becoming lambs for the slaughter.

That path would not work!

"Or perhaps, like that Chopper guy?"

John furrowed his brows deeply as he thought of Chopper.

After transforming by eating a Rumble Ball, Chopper had easily freed those under control from Black Transference with a single slap.

But what was the principle behind it?

Awakening the Human-Human Fruit: Ordinary Person Form?

The ability to slap someone into becoming an ordinary person?

"That's just a joke. There isn't any basis for it."

Thinking of that, John let out a helpless sigh.

The only thing with any basis was that Rumble Ball.

But only Chopper himself knew the formula, and he had improved and updated it multiple times over the years.

The original version of the Rumble Ball from when Chopper had first gone to sea might not even work.

"There are no other methods. The only option is to stop Rocks from meeting Saturn!"

As the officers' meeting ended, newspapers delivered by Morgans, president of the World Economic News, were distributed among the pirates of Hachinosu.

"Shakky... she's alive!"

"Is this true? Waaaaah! That's wonderful!"

"Sha—kky—!"

Whether for the woman they adored or for treasure and Devil Fruits, the pirates went completely mad.

A dense forest of sails rose as the ships followed the flagship out of the harbor.

On the flagship's deck.

John leaned against the railing with a cigar between his lips, inhaling deeply with every puff, his mind heavy with worries.

He was weighing whether he should reveal all his strength after entering God Valley.

As the infamous "Captain John," possessing vast treasure and able to claim a place among countless pirates, he had strength to support that reputation.

At the very least, he had awakened all three types of Haki and mastered Conqueror's Haki infusion!

And none of that was a secret among the pirates of Hachinosu, or even across the entire sea.

The only thing nobody knew was his Devil Fruit ability.

Because of his appearance as an outsider, the Paramecia Magnet-Magnet Fruit had become the Logia Rumble-Rumble Fruit.

The boost to his strength was immense!

But!

What kind of place was God Valley? It was packed with monsters, bloodlines, and destiny. Conqueror's Haki was sprayed around as casually as piss.

John was at the pinnacle among ordinary people, but in God Valley, before all those bloodline monsters and immortal contracts, he was just like a growing Kaido...

Just another stray by the roadside!

He was even worse off than Kaido. He was not nearly as tough.

"I'll play it by ear. If I don't have to expose my Logia powers, I won't."

John exhaled smoke and decided to keep a card up his sleeve.

If Rocks still died, he could at least preserve the surprise of elementalization. It might save his life when fate arrived in the future.

"John, are you afraid?"

Accompanied by the rich scent of cigars, a hand clad in a kimono settled on John's shoulder.

Among the officers of the Rocks Pirates, only Shiki and Kyo wore kimonos. Judging by their personalities, John knew who had come without even turning around.

"Shiki, do you want my treasure?"

"Huh?" Shiki's eyes flickered with guilt.

He had not expected John to speak so bluntly.

But was that not obvious? Everyone knew that "Captain John" was obsessed with treasure and had plundered vast riches, hiding them all over the world.

"I'm asking you. Do you want my treasure or not!"

John turned, his burning gaze fixed on Shiki's face, which had gone somewhat blank as he struggled to find the right words.

Shiki bit down on his cigar and narrowed his eyes as he met John's gaze.

"What, have you finally come to your senses? Have you decided to share all that hidden treasure?"

He had always thought John was not quite right in the head. He had accumulated so much treasure, yet instead of taking it out to enjoy it, he secretly hid it away.

Treasure could only truly be called treasure once it was spent and enjoyed.

Otherwise, what difference was there between it and a pile of useless rocks?

If he died one day with money he had not spent, that would be life's greatest tragedy!

"After God Valley, we'll talk."

John shook off the hand on his shoulder and gave Shiki a meaningful wink.

If Rocks survived the God Valley Battle, he would pretend he had never said those words.

But if Rocks still could not overcome fate and died...

Then John would have to consider relying on outside help such as Shiki, Kaido, and Linlin to protect himself.

Shiki in particular was someone John valued greatly because of the "S.I.Q" he would research in the future.

"S.I.Q" was created after the scientist Dr. Indigo spent twenty years improving the DNA of the "IQ" plant that grew on Merveille Island.

This substance caused injected animals to grow gigantic and become abnormally violent and aggressive.

At the same time, it allowed injected animals to adapt rapidly to their environment, achieving super evolution in a short period of time!