Deep in the New World, on Prince Island, John had brought the survivors of his squad and several senior officers willing to follow him after the Rocks Pirates disbanded, making it the new base of the John Pirate Crew.
His squad members had originally believed that, as Rocks's trusted confidant, John would surely get his hands on a fortune after Rocks died, letting them live comfortably and lavishly for a while.
That was why so many had chosen to follow John when the crew split up, allowing his forces to suddenly surpass those of Ochoku and Silver Axe, who had always been evenly matched with him.
If John had held any interest in the barren wasteland that was Hachinosu, Ochoku would never have gotten the chance to claim it.
Under those circumstances, things had been fine when they first arrived on Prince Island. John's old prestige still carried weight, and they were busy fighting other pirate crews for territory.
The officers under John had not paid much attention to their relatively "impoverished" lifestyle.
But once things settled down, the motley pack of villains under him inevitably began entertaining all sorts of thoughts, such as whether John had actually obtained Rocks's treasure.
Why hadn't any of us heard anything? Was John planning to keep it all for himself?
Although John had some awareness of his subordinates' complicated thoughts, he did not pay them much mind. Wasn't that just how pirates were?
Thus, when people from the World Government secretly contacted his officers, John neither grew suspicious nor took precautions.
Then, during another adventure, the John Pirate Crew found a sizable treasure, and John tried to keep it all for himself.
The resentment that had built up finally erupted.
Pirates willing to follow a boss like John naturally shared his temperament. Every