Pirate: I'm cracked, but my mutation talent is incredibly strong.

"What?!!"

Upon hearing Rocks officially announce that Fang Huo had become the vice-captain of the Rocks Pirates, Shiki the Golden Lion, Ganzi the smuggler, and Fierce the Silver Axe all shouted in unison.

Silver Axe Fierce, in particular, never expected that his suggestion to split up would actually prompt Rocks to change his mind and allow the Rocks Pirates to have a vice-captain.

That means that if Captain Rocks were to die, Fang Huo, the vice-captain, would be able to rightfully inherit everything from the Rocks Pirates.

"Hahaha! What? You don't approve of Fang Huo?"

"Then I'll give you the chance to challenge Fang Huo. Whoever defeats Fang Huo will replace him as the vice-captain of the Rocks Pirates!"

"This timeframe is indefinite!"

Rocks glanced around, then looked at Fang Huo and Shiki, and grinned wickedly.

This gave others hope, but also put Fang Huo under pressure.

If Fang Huo wants to secure his position as first mate, he must continue to grow stronger and outmaneuver Whitebeard Newgate and Golden Lion Shiki.

"In that case, it's acceptable!"

Shiki the Golden Lion muttered to himself, at least there was still hope, and he believed that his future would be even stronger.

"Captain, as you know, I have always firmly supported your decisions."

When Ganzi heard that there were additional conditions, he promptly flattered Locke, though some of his own thoughts still lingered.

"Fang Huo, wait for me, I will definitely challenge you in the future!"

Silver Axe was eager for battle and temporarily accepted this as the official first mate.

"You think you can challenge Fang Huo? You can't even get past me!"

Shiki the Golden Lion couldn't help but be sarcastic again, glancing disdainfully at Silver Axe.

"Shiki! I'm not done with you yet!"

Silver Axe cursed loudly, and the two resumed their usual fierce battle.

···

"Congratulations, Fang Huo!"

"But you'd better keep getting stronger, or I'll personally bring you down!"

Whitebeard Newgate grinned. He acknowledged the first mate, but there was no way he would call Fang Huo the first mate!

After all, he wouldn't even address Captain Rocks with any respect.

"Lox, you're putting me in a very difficult position."

"However, since you are so sincere in wanting me to be the first mate, then I will reluctantly accept this position."

Fang Huo, who had just been feeling cold, felt his mood instantly improve when he heard Lockes suddenly announce that he was the first mate.

He even inwardly gave a thumbs-up to the three men, Silver Axe and his companion, for changing Rocks's mind about not having a vice-captain.

What Fang Huo didn't know was that it was precisely his domineering warning and his heartfelt concern for the Rocks Pirates that made Rocks completely change his mind.

"Tch! You're just pretending!"

Rocks, Newgate, Shiki, and the others all rolled their eyes at Fang Huo.

This is a classic case of getting a good deal and then acting innocent; would they die if they didn't pretend?

"Newgate, are you trying to force me to become stronger?"

"To keep my position as first mate, it seems I have no choice but to get serious!"

Fang Huo only felt the immense pressure after taking over the position of vice captain.

You should know that Whitebeard and Golden Lion were legendary pirates who dominated an era.

It is indeed extremely challenging to always be stronger than them!

Especially the monster Newgate the Whitebeard, who will be hailed as the "world's strongest man" in the future!

"Getting serious?"

"So you're saying you weren't serious enough in your previous match? How about another round?"

Newgate flicked his impressive white beard and looked at Fang Huo, who exuded an aura of arrogance, with a fierce look.

"To be continued!"

"Let's discuss this now: who wants to go to the North Sea to find the Devil Fruit ahead of time?"

Fang Huo decisively ignored the white-bearded man's challenge invitation; he didn't want to fight this monster, nor was there any need to.

"I want to go back to Paradise Island!"

"Shiki, let's rob a few dozen pirate ships, build an air fleet, and bring supplies from the West Blue back to the New World. We'll split the spoils fifty-fifty."

Smuggler Ganzi quickly spoke up, his eyes filled with the desire to make money. As for going to Beihai to find the elusive and unverifiable Devil Fruit, he didn't want to waste his time.

After all, he was already a Devil Fruit user, and he didn't have the mind to find Devil Fruits for his subordinates.

Shiki the Golden Lion's attempt to find Devil Fruits in the North Blue was purely to cause trouble for Silver Axe.

You can't say that Shiki is starting to accumulate resources now in preparation for leaving the Rocks Pirates later.

"Hehehe! No problem!"

Shiki the Golden Lion readily agreed; it was a free lunch, and he figured he might as well make the money.

"Are you going too?"

Silver Axe looked at Boro Gram; there weren't many non-ability users on the ship.

Aside from the two mermen, Boro Gram posed the greatest threat to Silver Axe Fierce.

As for the two newcomers, Stussy and Malone, Silver Axe hasn't taken them seriously yet.

"I wasn't really keen on going, but your inexplicable fighting spirit has piqued my interest."

"Then I'll go to Beihai for a visit beforehand."

Boro Gram really had no intention of going to the North Sea to find Devil Fruits; he wanted to continue enjoying himself on the ship with Newgate, Fang Huo, and the others.

Without troublemakers like Shiki and Xiong, the atmosphere on the ship might be more harmonious.

"snort!!"

Silver Axe Fierce had a few more veins popping out on his forehead. Besides the two annoying guys, Shiki and Gil Basda, now even this pineapple-headed guy was becoming annoying.

"Hahaha! Stussy! Marlon! Neither of you have Devil Fruit abilities right now, why don't you go to the North Blue with them to find Devil Fruits?"

Seeing that four people had already decided to leave the team, Locke didn't care if a few more left.

Consider this a survival mission.

If someone gets killed by the World Government and the Navy, it just means they weren't strong enough or lucky enough.

"I'm going to follow First Vice Captain Fang Huo. He'll definitely help me find a suitable Devil Fruit."

Stussy decided to stick close to Fang Huo. If she followed those brutes, she figured no one would protect her, so it would be safer to stay with Fang Huo.

Most importantly, Fang Huo possesses the ability to predict the future!

As long as you can handle Fang Huo, you'll have no shortage of powerful Devil Fruits.

Why bother going to the North Sea with these brutes to search for those Devil Fruits with unclear information?

"I'll still help the captain find that Barolok Redfield in the West Sea. I still have some intelligence connections there."

Malone, the new leader of the West Sea Mafia, knew that his strength was not yet sufficient, and that it was not the right time for him to enter the New World or wander around the North Sea.

He needs to calm down and reflect!

Rocks then asked Babel and Sambel, two non-powered fish-men, and both of them chose to stay on the Sword of Gibbek.

"In that case, the four of you can leave the team for now!"

Lockes officially approved the requests of Shiki, Ganzi, Xiong, and Boro Gram to leave the team, confirming the plan to split up.

Shiki and his three companions immediately took the several airships they had stolen from Charity Island in the West Blue that were used to transport treasure, thus beginning their plundering and procurement journey.

They're going to steal a fleet and a shipment of goods to take back to the New World!

Although Silver Axe was very unhappy that this was another waste of time, since it was Golden Lion Shiki who possessed the Float-Float Fruit ability, he could only let Shiki and Ganzi continue to "do their own thing".

···