Next Target

Oak had no way to solve Linlin's soul problem in the short term, so he temporarily set it aside. Time passed like this until one day, Rocks gathered everyone again.

"Hey, Rocks, what are you calling us together for this time?!"

Inside the building beneath the massive mountain rock, every member of the crew had arrived. Shiki floated beneath the ceiling, looking down at Rocks at the front as he shouted, seemingly dissatisfied with being summoned again.

"Wororororo! Of course we're heading out to sea!"

"This time, Linlin has provided us with a new target. I heard there's a huge amount of treasure there, so we're going to bring every last bit of it back."

Rocks spread his arms and laughed wildly. Shiki's expression changed in an instant, and he floated straight over to Rocks's side, rubbing his hands together as he asked greedily,

"What target is it exactly? How much treasure is there?"

Linlin answered that question. Skilled at gathering intelligence, she possessed a vast information network, with enormous amounts of intelligence arriving every day. She picked out targets worth plundering from it and shared them with everyone.

"Mamamama, our target this time is Putekoloni, the International Alliance Charity Monastery!

Those people gathered a huge amount of treasure under the banner of charity. They claimed they were going to donate it to homeless children across the seas, but they secretly kept it all for themselves. So this time, we're going to make a fortune!"

Linlin was extremely excited as she spoke of this target, which showed just how considerable the treasure there must be.

That instantly hooked everyone's interest.

"Gahahaha, looks like we're getting rich again. Same as last time—whoever grabs the treasure gets to keep it!"

Captain John let out a drunken burp and grinned wickedly. He never went anywhere without alcohol, always carrying a bottle in his hand no matter the occasion.

Thinking back on the hauls from their previous raids made him happy. Every time, they had returned loaded down.

"Not a chance!"

However, his proposal immediately drew several angry shouts, including from Shiki, Ochoku, Linlin, Ganzui, Gill Bastar, and the others.

"If you dare use your ability to suck away the treasure we've already gotten again, don't blame us for getting rough!"

Shiki warned coldly.

During the previous raids, John had always sneakily hung back until everyone had gotten their hands on the treasure. Only then did he act, using the Magnet-Magnet Fruit to draw in every piece of metal-containing treasure before running off in a flash.

Because of that, they had no idea how many battles had broken out among themselves.

This time, he clearly wanted to pull the same trick again. Naturally, Shiki and the others would not agree.

"Then we'll see who's more capable!"

Facing Shiki's warning and everyone's furious glares, John looked utterly unconcerned. He merely cast them a provocative look and raised his middle finger at Shiki.

"I'll cripple you first!"

Shiki flew into a rage. Not caring that they were still inside their own building, he sent a soaring slash of sword energy flying at John, intending to cripple the bastard before the operation even began and make him unable to participate.

But John was no pushover either.

"Clang, clang, clang~"

Purple magnetism swirled around him as countless pieces of metal were pulled before him and violently hurled at Shiki.

"Rumble—"

The building could not withstand their battle and collapsed with a thunderous crash.

"Cough, cough, cough~"

Amid the clouds of dust, Oak pressed a hand against the Seven Star Sword to keep it from being pulled away. With a whoosh, he spread his wings, smashed through the roof above him, and escaped the area.

The others also used their own methods to get out.

"These two idiots!"

Outside the ruined building, everyone watched the two men facing off, their expressions dark with displeasure.

"Both of you, cut it out!!"

In the end, Rocks stepped in. With one hand, he drew Erosion and blocked Shiki's blade; with the other, he pressed down on John's shoulder. Haki erupted violently, scattering the aftershocks of both their attacks.

Damn, that's fierce!

Oak watched Rocks restrain one man with each hand, imagining when he, too, might possess such power—enough to hold down two top-tier powerhouses with one hand each.

He could not help picturing himself holding Newgate in his left hand, pressing down Kaido's head with his right, and riding Linlin beneath him.

And all three of them were at the peak of their strength. Just thinking about it thrilled him beyond measure. His gaze unconsciously drifted toward the three beside him, and the moment Newgate and Linlin noticed and gave him puzzled looks, he guiltily shifted his eyes away.

"What are you looking at?"

Only when facing Kaido did he have complete confidence.

"What if I am?"

With his hands on his hips, he glared furiously at Kaido.

"Keep looking... Well, go ahead and look!"

Kaido had originally wanted to act tough, but the moment he saw Oak's hand resting on the Seven Star Sword, his tough words immediately softened. He surrendered without hesitation.

Hmph, he only knows how to bully me!

Why doesn't he dare pick a fight with Newgate instead?

Having backed down, Kaido only dared to inwardly scorn Oak for picking on the weak while fearing the strong. He did not dare fight Newgate, so he only knew how to bully him.

But thinking about that made him miserable again. Being a damn apprentice was awful. He had no status at all. Even Oak, another apprentice, could bully him, and because he could not beat Oak, he could not even say a single tough word.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He simply stopped talking, determined to be mute for the rest of the trip!

Meanwhile, under Rocks's intervention, Shiki and John finally quieted down.

Rocks then made the distribution arrangement as captain.

"After this operation, all treasure will be gathered together and divided equally by head. Anyone who has a problem with that can get the hell out right now. Those without objections, prepare to depart."

Under his intimidating gaze, even those who still had objections could only obediently agree. No one dared cause trouble again.

"Is everyone here? Prepare to set sail!"

At the shore, a pirate ship bearing Rocks's emblem was about to depart when a figure suddenly leaped aboard from afar in a single bound.

"Kyokyokyo, I'm late!"

The person who jumped aboard was Ochoku, his tongue sticking out.

"Where did you go?"

Rocks looked at him in confusion. He clearly remembered that this guy had set out early, so why was he the last one to arrive?

"I took care of an important matter in life on the way!"

Ochoku patted his stomach and gave a reasonable explanation, saying that people had urgent needs and he had gone to empty his bowels.

Rocks did not ask any further after hearing that. With a wave of his hand, he ordered the sailors to raise the sails and depart.

No one else thought much of it. Only Oak swept his gaze over Ochoku and noticed a sinister smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Something's not right!

Knowing that Ochoku was a traitor, Oak did not believe that explanation. Just as he thought that, Ochoku seemed to notice his gaze and looked over.

"Got a problem?"

The sinister curve at the corner of his mouth instantly returned to normal as Ochoku looked at him amiably.

"No!"

Oak decisively shook his head, then looked away.