Chapter 35: Sea Calendar Year 1481

Returning to Hachinosu.

Sharlo presented the head of the King of Golent to Rocks. Throughout the ordeal, Sharlo never learned the king's name. He watched as Rocks took the head, discarded it like trash without even a glance.

"Wa ha ha ha! Sharlo, you've done well! Is there anything you desire?" Rocks asked, looking at his trusted subordinate.

Sharlo hesitated, pondering what he wanted most. Reflecting on the fallen king's fate, he realized strength was paramount.

"I want all the knowledge on Haki and swordsman training," Sharlo replied, locking eyes with Rocks.

Given the opportunity, Sharlo wasn't about to squander it. Rocks paused before bursting into laughter.

"Wa ha ha! No problem! I'll have everything sent to you. Just wait!" Rocks nodded approvingly.

Once Rocks agreed, Sharlo turned and left the room, confident in Rocks' promise. Back on his ship, Sharlo lounged on a sofa in his quarters, staring at the ceiling. There, a pull ring concealed a hiding spot for his Devil Fruits. He had two in total: the Cold-Cold Fruit and the Bomb-Bomb Fruit, the latter famously used by a certain snot-flinging character in the anime.

Sharlo had been surprised to acquire the Bomb-Bomb Fruit and was intrigued by its potential. With his prior knowledge of bombs, he was confident he could harness its power effectively. Yet, he decided against consuming it, wary of the sea and Sea-Prism Stone's detrimental effects on Devil Fruit users. Better to keep the fruit for someone useful or as a collectible.

Time passed swiftly. The destruction of Golent Kingdom soon spread, and the bounty on Sharlo's head soared to 610 million Beli. Now, as a commander in the Rocks Pirates and captain of the eighth division, he was wanted for attacking Marine fleets, seizing heavenly tribute, and toppling multiple kingdoms. His bounty poster took its place above his bed.

The year 1480 had ended, filled with significant events. In May, Sharlo had been forced to join the Rocks Pirates, spending the subsequent months engaging in countless battles across the seas. The Rocks Pirates' notoriety had surged, but Sharlo wasn't thrilled by their growing infamy.

Over the past year, Sharlo witnessed the infighting and schemes among the crew. Two powerful factions emerged within the Rocks Pirates. One, led by Golden Lion Shiki's second division, boasted nearly 2,000 members. Shiki's Float-Float Fruit enabled his fleet to dominate the New World, with even the Marines wary of his aerial assaults. Shiki often ignored Rocks' orders but never openly defied him.

The second faction consisted of the pirate fleet led by John, Silver Axe, and Wang Zhi. Despite their combined strength, they couldn't match Shiki's prowess, often left to scavenge his leftovers. Even so, their fleet numbered around 1,500 pirates. Sharlo suspected Rocks had a hand in bolstering John's fleet; otherwise, how could John sustain such a large force?

Apart from these factions, other commanders turned a blind eye to the power struggle. Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, spent his days drinking, ignoring everyone except Rocks. With his immense strength, even Rocks treaded carefully around him. Meanwhile, Charlotte Linlin was either giving birth or recovering from childbirth. Her prolific maternity stunned Sharlo, who was equally shocked by her desire to have a child with him.

This proposal enraged Sharlo. "What do you take me for? I might be lecherous, but I don't climb onto every bus! No interest in being public transportation!" He outright rejected Linlin, leading to a fierce duel between them.

Though formidable, Linlin hadn't yet reached her future terrifying prowess. Her Haki and Devil Fruit abilities were still developing, though her physical strength posed a challenge for Sharlo. They fought for two days and nights, their clash nearly destroying Hachinosu, now renamed Beehive Island after Rocks gathered a horde of pirates there.

The battle ended with Linlin's hunger pangs flaring up. Sharlo knew he would have lost had the fight continued, a humbling reminder of the need to grow stronger. With just three years left until the Rocks Pirates' predicted downfall, Sharlo was determined to fortify himself.

In 1481, Sharlo spent nearly every day aboard his pirate ship, leading his crew in skirmishes against other pirates and the Marines. He was strategic, avoiding renowned future pirates and focusing on weaker targets.

Notably, Sharlo had a brush with the formidable Marine, Black Arm Zephyr. Recognizing Sharlo instantly, Zephyr pursued him relentlessly, vowing to capture him for Impel Down. Sharlo found Zephyr's youthful fervor amusing but daunting. Their brief clashes revealed Zephyr's overwhelming strength, particularly his Armament Haki, which could deflect Sharlo's strikes. This encounter earned Zephyr his moniker, "Black Arm," after being captured on film by News King Morgans.