Chapter 85 - Advanced Conqueror's Haki, A World-Shaking Event!
After leaving Rocks, Renji felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders.
Perhaps, deep down, he had always carried a sense of guilt toward Rocks.
After all, his current mastery of Haki and partial development of his Devil Fruit powers were largely thanks to Rocks' guidance.
But in truth, he had always intended to leave the Rocks Pirates.
Now that he had made his position clear to Rocks, Renji felt like all the pressure he'd been carrying was suddenly gone. Surprisingly, his Conqueror's Haki even seemed to have grown stronger!
"Golden Lion, gather all the crew. Then get the ships airborne—we're flying there!"
"Jihahaha! So we're finally making our move?!"
After receiving Rocks' order, Golden Lion immediately mobilized all the pirates to board the ships.
This time, to avoid exposing their movements, they chose to travel through the sky.
Even the spies within the Rocks Pirates didn't know where exactly they were headed.
With the entire Rocks Pirates fleet departing, only some small-fry pirates were left on Hachinosu. The mass mobilization naturally drew the Navy's attention.
"What the hell is Rocks planning!!?"
At Marineford, Fleet Admiral Kong was frowning as he read the latest intel.
He had already caught wind of something big before Rocks made his move.
Now the New World, once chaotic but loosely structured, had been thoroughly stirred by Rocks. His call had caused countless infamous pirates to rally under him. And now, with his sudden disappearance, it was a clear sign that something massive was about to happen!
"Any clue which direction they're headed?"
Sengoku asked curiously.
He believed the most important thing now was to determine where Rocks was going.
"They're heading toward the Grand Line."
Based on the intel, they had left the New World—but whether they were heading toward the Four Seas or the first half of the Grand Line, Kong couldn't be certain.
More importantly, all the Navy's and World Government's key facilities were located in the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line.
"Enies Lobby? Marineford? Or Impel Down?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru lowered her head in thought, pondering what Rocks' objective might be.
"Could it be Mary Geoise?"
Sengoku didn't believe that Rocks was aiming for those three locations.
After all, would Rocks really gather so many pirates just to attack those three places?
From a benefit standpoint, other pirates wouldn't go along with that.
First, Enies Lobby was just a judicial outpost. While it represented the justice and dignity of the World Government, neither Rocks nor the other pirates had any real reason to destroy it. It would be thankless work.
As for Impel Down, although it held many powerful pirates, no one in Rocks' group had any pressing need to break in and rescue someone. Other pirates wouldn't risk it without gaining something.
Marineford? Unless the pirates had gone insane, why would they attack it?
They'd be risking their lives without any reward. In Sengoku's view, unless there was some huge benefit, there was no way so many pirates would band together like this.
But Mary Geoise—the Celestial Dragons' home—might actually be a viable target for Rocks.
"They're going after Mary Geoise?"
Garp munched on a rice cracker, frowning at Sengoku's speculation. "Really? I don't buy it!"
"Garp, you bastard, shut up already!"
Sengoku punched Garp square in the face—this old geezer was eating his rice crackers again!
He had never seen Garp buy his own snacks, yet he was always eating them. Even though Sengoku kept his stash locked, the old man somehow still got to them!
"It's hard to say, but if Rocks and the others are making a move, it must be for something huge."
Tsuru agreed more with Sengoku. Most likely, the other three places weren't the target—but she couldn't be sure. Maybe only Rocks and a few captains truly knew the plan.
The operation had come far too suddenly, leaving them all caught off guard.
"It's a shame we can't infiltrate them. We have no idea what they're planning—only the officers probably know!"
Kong felt frustrated. Not knowing what the enemy was up to made him feel like he was stuck reacting passively.
Buru Buru Buru Buru
Just as Kong was brooding, a special Den Den Mushi on the table rang.
Mary Geoise.
The Five Elders sat around a table, silently staring at the Den Den Mushi.
"One Admiral to Impel Down. One to Enies Lobby. The third stays at Marineford."
Saint Saturn relayed their agreed-upon orders to Kong.
Even their CP agents had no useful intel, so the Five Elders didn't expect the Navy to have anything better.
"What about the Holy Land?"
Kong was conflicted.
From earlier analysis, Rocks likely wasn't targeting those three places. Shouldn't an admiral be sent to Mary Geoise just in case?
"No need."
Whether it was the pride of the Celestial Dragons or their confidence that Rocks wouldn't dare attack, the Five Elders felt no need to send extra protection.
No one had dared cause trouble in the Holy Land in 800 years.
As far as the Five Elders were concerned, the Admirals only needed to protect those three facilities.
As for Mary Geoise, with them present, if Rocks and his crew dared show up, they'd never leave alive.
"Understood."
Since Mary Geoise didn't require additional reinforcements, Kong finally felt a bit of relief.
"Garp, where are you going?"
"Don't forget, I'm on vacation right now!"
He had spent the last while chasing after Roger, and his ship also needed repairs.
Taking the opportunity, Garp decided it was time for a break.
"Oi!!? You bastard, get back here!!"
Just as Kong shouted, there was a loud slam—Garp had already shut the door behind him, clearly ignoring him.
That damned geezer!
Running off right when the Navy was short-handed?!
"What the hell is Rocks planning?"
Saint Vochuli rubbed his forehead in frustration, staring at the world map. He couldn't make out any possible destination from it.
"He didn't gather all those pirates just to go plundering, right? And the Holy Land? He wouldn't really be dumb enough to go there and get himself killed?"
Saint Nasujuro wiped the hilt of his sword, his glasses glinting. Deep down, he was actually hoping Rocks would come.
That way, they could take the opportunity to wipe out the entire Rocks Pirates in one strike.
But before that, they'd make sure the Celestial Dragons evacuated. They'd intercept Rocks before he reached the Holy Land and destroy him there.
"But there's nowhere on the map that makes sense!"
If it were anyone else, it wouldn't matter—but this was Rocks. The Rocks Pirates!
"Has that place been exposed?"
Saint Saturn suddenly thought of a place, his gaze settling on a small island in the West Blue.
It was the place where the Celestial Dragons had always indulged in their hunting games.
This time, not only had members of the God Knights gone there, but quite a few Celestial Dragons with little combat strength had also traveled there.
If Rocks' destination was that island, it would be very bad news.
That place was quite a distance from both Marineford and Mary Geoise, and rushing reinforcements there would not be easy.
"Impossible. That place hasn't been discovered for centuries. Everyone who's ever set foot on that island has been silenced. The island of God Valley doesn't even appear on maps—how could Rocks and the others possibly know about it?!"
Saint Topman immediately interrupted Saint Saturn. It was completely unthinkable. That location was a top-level secret known only to the World Government's inner circle and the Navy's highest command. No one else knew.
Let alone the Rocks Pirates. That island appeared to be just an ordinary island under normal circumstances, and CP0 surveillance had been deployed around it to prevent any information from leaking out.
Moreover, being in the West Blue, which lacked strong pirates, any pirate who approached would be eliminated by CP0 without hesitation.
So it was impossible for outsiders to know of its existence.
"Then there's nowhere else they could be going."
Saint Saturn said coldly. If it wasn't God Valley, he couldn't think of any other place worthy of attracting Rocks' attention.
It couldn't really be Mary Geoise, could it?
"In any case, we'll stay here and wait. If Rocks and his crew really do come for the Holy Land, then we'll just wipe them out."
"Agreed."
The group quickly reached a decision. The other locations were covered by the Navy, and the Holy Land was guarded by them. Nothing unexpected should happen. A secret like God Valley would never be exposed to pirates. Now it was just a matter of seeing how Rocks made his move.
This was the Rocks Pirates' one and only chance. The crew was filled with ambitious individuals. There was no way they would remain united forever. Once this mission failed, the Rocks Pirates would crumble.
"Whatever happens next, Rocks must die."
"What about the others?"
"There's no need to deliberately kill them. If they can escape, let them. Let them return to the New World and tear each other apart."
What the World Government wanted was balance.
They had witnessed countless geniuses over the past 800 years.
And in the end?
Not one had ever shaken the rule of the World Government.
Everything happening now was within their design.
What they wanted was a chaotic New World, where great pirates constantly battled. Not a unified New World ruled by Rocks—because once it was unified, the next target would be them.
If there were no conflicts, they would create them. Otherwise, they would become the target.
And this world could not be peaceful.
If peace came, what purpose would the World Government serve?
If everything was calm, there would be no need for pirates.
Without pirates, the nations would no longer need the Navy's protection, nor would they feel compelled to join the World Government as member states. When all conflicts disappeared, the Heavenly Tribute would vanish too—and all anger would turn toward them.
So the world needed pirates—but not one pirate who could unite the others.
This world needed chaos. Chaos served their interests.
"Rocks isn't the real concern. The key is finding that Devil Fruit. If we locate that fruit, then no matter how the world descends into madness, as long as we control the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line, everything will remain under our grasp."
Saint Saturn spoke calmly. They didn't care what chaos the pirates stirred up. But there was one thing the World Government feared.
For 800 years, they had been searching for it—but it always seemed to evade them. It was something they could never find.
"That fruit has a will of its own... or maybe that's just how Zoan-types are."
Nika…
Even after 800 years, it had still not been found. It was truly unsettling.
But since Nika had lost once 800 years ago, even if it returned, they could defeat it again!
"Roger, what do you make of Rocks leaving Hachinosu?"
Roger Pirates.
Rayleigh's eyes gleamed as he reported the fresh intel on Rocks' movements.
"That bastard beat the hell out of me last time!"
Roger rubbed his chest, which still ached faintly.
During his previous voyage in the New World, he had encountered Rocks. After refusing an invitation from Rocks, they ended up in a fierce battle. If Garp hadn't arrived at the time—and if Rocks hadn't seen Roger as a man with potential and decided to give him more time to think—
Roger might've died there in the New World.
That battle made Roger realize he wasn't strong enough, so he left the New World for a time to sail through the Four Seas.
"What is that guy trying to do?"
Jabba mused aloud. Rocks' departure couldn't be something simple.
"Didn't we pick up a strange radio signal before?"
Roger smiled, recalling a mysterious transmission they had intercepted.
From that intel, they learned of a place in the West Blue called God Valley—a secret hunting ground of the Celestial Dragons.
There was also talk of a Devil Fruit being offered as a prize. Combined with the recent news that the World Government had stolen treasure from the Rocks Pirates, Roger guessed that the guy might be headed for God Valley.
"If it's them, that wouldn't be surprising at all."
Rayleigh adjusted his glasses and nodded in agreement.
Considering the disappearance of the Rocks Pirates, the earlier intel on God Valley now seemed quite accurate.
"So? Interested in heading there?"
Roger said with a grin, as a daring idea formed in his mind.
This might be his best chance to rid himself of the shadow that had weighed on his heart!
If he didn't take this chance to defeat Rocks, he might never get another.
So this time, he wanted to go to God Valley!
"What a reckless captain you are!"
"Let's go! I didn't get enough of a fight with that Golden Lion bastard last time!!"
Of course they were going!
Not just because Roger gave the order, but because they themselves wanted to settle the score with the Rocks Pirates. They'd taken a pretty bad loss last time.
And they knew Roger's true goal.
If Rocks wasn't eliminated, this rivalry would never end. Sooner or later, they would clash again.
Sure, it might look like they were kicking someone while they were down—but wasn't that the pirate way?
They never claimed to be saints!
(End of Chapter)
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