Chapter 119: Valley of the Gods (Prelude)

With Rocks' summons, all the officers returned to Hachinosu Island.

"Ze hahaha, Li Yuan, do you know why Rocks has called us this time?"

Upon arriving at Hachinosu, the Golden Lion laughed and asked.

As his Float-Float Fruit abilities developed, his power grew, to the point where he no longer addressed Rocks as captain but by name.

"I'm not Rocks; how would I know what he wants?"

Li Yuan replied, puzzled by the Golden Lion's question.

"Whitebeard, do you know?"

The Golden Lion then turned to Whitebeard, who was approaching.

"Shiki, did you take the wrong medicine today?"

Whitebeard gave the Golden Lion a sidelong glance.

Originally, Whitebeard hadn't planned to come, as he had found many sons over the past two years.

Having adopted many sons, Whitebeard had found what he initially sought.

But these sons were still too young and weak to survive in the harsh seas without his protection.

So, upon hearing Rocks' summons, he instinctively wanted to refuse.

"This will be the last time I help Rocks. After this, I'll leave the Rocks Pirates!"

This was Whitebeard's current thought.

"Whitebeard, I can tell you don't want to stay with the Rocks Pirates anymore."

The Golden Lion said with a smile.

"So what?"

Whitebeard didn't deny it.

"Ze hahaha, remember what we said before?"

"When we think the time is right, we'll leave the Rocks Pirates together."

"You, me, Li Yuan, and maybe even bring Charlotte Linlin along."

Like Whitebeard, the Golden Lion couldn't stand working under Rocks anymore; he wanted to be the captain himself!

"Mamamama, Shiki, I think I heard you calling me."

Coincidentally, Charlotte Linlin arrived.

"Ze hahaha, Charlotte Linlin, you're just in time."

The Golden Lion repeated what he had just said.

"Golden Lion, your proposal is tempting. The four of us together, even Rocks wouldn't be a threat!"

Li Yuan said with a smile.

Over the years, the four of them had significantly improved their strength, giving them absolute confidence.

"Ze hahaha, shall we use this officer meeting to formally express our intent to leave the Rocks Pirates?"

The Golden Lion asked confidently.

"Mamamama, I think it's a good idea."

Charlotte Linlin agreed, needing a stable territory for her many children.

She wanted to seize the territory she had her eyes on from Rocks.

"I'm in!"

Whitebeard agreed.

"Ze hahaha, then it's settled."

The Golden Lion said happily.

The four of them made their way to the meeting room on Hachinosu Island.

They were the last to arrive.

As they entered, the other six officers watched them.

These six officers were perceptive, sensing something from the four of them.

At that moment, Rocks emerged from the back of the meeting room.

"Ze hahaha, Captain Rocks, this will be the last time I call you captain."

"From today, the four of us wish to formally leave the Rocks Pirates. Please approve it!"

For once, the Golden Lion spoke with rare courtesy, believing he was being polite.

"What!!!"

John and the other six officers were stunned, staring at the four of them.

They never expected the four of them to collectively want to leave the Rocks Pirates.

If they left, the Rocks Pirates' overall strength would be reduced by a third!

"Wa hahaha, Shiki, are you sure you want this?"

Even though Rocks had foreseen this eventuality long ago, his anger was still hard to suppress when it finally happened!

As he spoke, Rocks unleashed his Conqueror's Haki at full force towards the four of them.

"Captain Rocks, we've thought it through. Thank you for your care these past three years."

Li Yuan also unleashed his Conqueror's Haki.

Then, the Golden Lion, Whitebeard, and Charlotte Linlin joined in, their combined Haki meeting Rocks' equally.

Previously, Rocks' Haki could suppress all the officers'.

But now, it couldn't even suppress the four of them.

Rocks hadn't weakened; his Haki was stronger than before.

But the four of them had grown so rapidly that their combined strength matched Rocks'.

"Wa hahaha, we'll discuss this later; I have something more important to address."

"And this concerns your interests as well."

"If you want to leave the Rocks Pirates, do it after this operation!"

Seeing that his Haki couldn't suppress them, Rocks calmed his anger.

He hadn't expected their growth to be so fast, but he needed them for the upcoming operation, so he didn't press the issue.

"In that case, let's hear what this meeting is about."

With Rocks providing a way out, the four of them wouldn't be ungrateful.

Moreover, if they could leave peacefully, they preferred not to conflict with Rocks.

"Is that all?"

John and the other officers couldn't believe it.

Rocks was a captain who always had his way; no one challenged him and left unscathed.

But now, they saw Rocks compromise.

"If they can leave, maybe we can too?"

Rocks' compromise planted a seed in the other officers' minds.

They, too, didn't want to be under Rocks forever; they wanted to be captains themselves!

"Hmph, after this operation, once I have what I want, I'll deal with you!"

Rocks suppressed his anger.

But for those who betrayed him, if he didn't kill them, how could he vent his anger and maintain his authority?

According to reliable information, the Celestial Dragons' ceremony wasn't just about his stolen Devil Fruits but included others the Celestial Dragons brought themselves.

Besides Devil Fruits, there were treasures, famous swords, and other valuable items.

Most importantly, there was a rumored life-extension formula!

For Rocks, this was irresistibly enticing.

Facing the threat of aging, the life-extension formula could restore him to his peak and perhaps even further.

He was confident he'd suppress all dissenters then!

"Reliable sources say the Celestial Dragons are holding a kingdom massacre competition in the West Blue."

"There are about 100,000 people in the kingdom, the Celestial Dragons' targets."

"Of course, we're not interested in their competition but in the rewards."

"The Celestial Dragons have offered many treasures and Devil Fruits as rewards."

"The estimated value of the treasure is at least 200 billion Berries, with confirmed Devil Fruits like the Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Azure Dragon Form."

"There are at least five other Devil Fruits comparable to the Azure Dragon Fruit!"

"And over a hundred other Devil Fruits."

"Our target is the treasures and Devil Fruits in the Valley of the Gods."

Having calmed down, Rocks explained the purpose of the meeting.

"Mythical Zoan Azure Dragon Fruit?"

"200 billion Berries' worth of treasure?"

"Over a hundred Devil Fruits?"

Hearing Rocks' words, the officers' eyes turned red with greed. Such treasures redefined their concept of wealth!

When were Devil Fruits counted in the hundreds?

How could so many Mythical Zoan Devil Fruits appear at once?

In the Rocks Pirates, only John had a Mythical Zoan, given by Rocks.

"Captain, give the order, and we'll seize all those treasures!"

Unable to contain himself, John stood up.

"Wa hahaha, Shiki, use your ability to take us across the Calm Belt to the Valley of the Gods in the West Blue and plunder the Celestial Dragons' treasures!"

Seeing the greed in his officers' eyes, Rocks laughed heartily.

"Ze hahaha, no problem, leave it to me!"

The Golden Lion didn't refuse this lucrative opportunity.

It was the West Blue, the Celestial Dragons' territory; without the entire Rocks Pirates, it was impossible to take anything from the Celestial Dragons.

Everyone knew this, which was why the Golden Lion agreed.

With so much at stake, who would pass it up, especially with Mythical Zoan Devil Fruits?

Even Whitebeard wouldn't refuse to seize a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit.

"Wa hahaha, then gather your men and prepare to set off!"

Rocks said.

Holy Land Mariejois:

"The Rocks Pirates have gathered their officers again, and a large fleet has departed from Hachinosu."

Legal God Vauquere Saint reported.

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