Chapter 190: The Number One Person Under Rocks Is...
As time passed, Hachinosu remained the Pirate Island. After the powerhouses of the past departed, Ochoku became the ruler of Hachinosu, holding actual control over the island.
As a pirate island, it wasn't strange for a large number of pirates to gather here, but there usually wouldn't be this many on an ordinary day.
Even during the Rocks Era, it was only after Shakky opened her bar on the island that more and more pirates were attracted to the place.
Since there was no news of a second Shakky appearing on the sea, this kind of behavior was undoubtedly abnormal.
"Report this to Captain Nereus. With so many pirates gathered here, it just doesn't feel like a good thing."
The title of "Captain" was almost exclusively used by the veterans from the old days. Luna was the youngest among them, as she was an apprentice from the final generation on the ship.
Report anything amiss immediately; if your strength is insufficient, do not risk your life. These were common sayings on Delta Island. Therefore, Luna didn't lead her team into any risky endeavors; she merely reported the anomaly here back to Fish-man Island.
Meanwhile, on Hachinosu, many pirates were gathered inside a tavern, discussing something.
Among these people were quite a few renowned captains of the New World. At a glance, there were also many pirates with bounties exceeding a hundred million.
"Everyone, you must all know why we are gathered here today. Fish-man Island... has really gone too far."
Once the crowd was mostly assembled, a gloomy-looking pirate leading the group stood up and addressed the others: "Charging a toll in the deep sea is one thing—after all, that is his territory—but that bastard is meddling way too much!
"What does the slave trade have to do with him? Because of that bastard, how much money have all of you sitting here lost?!"
"Pirate" wasn't a profession. The vast majority of pirates were merely a chaotic collective—villains who ignored all rules for the sake of profit and desire.
Back then, people had been thoroughly terrified by Nereus's slaughter. But as time passed, many forgot the terror of the past.
That humanity cannot learn from history is the only lesson history teaches humanity.
If there were any veteran pirates present, they would have noticed that not a single pirate in this room had been out at sea for more than four years.
Even if they had ventured into the New World for a few years and learned of its cruelty, they still lacked a true understanding of the world.
After all, Nereus had been in a semi-retired state these past few years. Since that war that annihilated a nation back then, he hadn't made any major moves.
"No, if you ask me, charging a toll is also going too far. We're just passing through. Did Fish-man Island carve out that path? Why the hell should we give him money?! If it weren't at the bottom of the sea, I wouldn't pay him a single dime."
There were quite a few who felt resentful about this. They usually didn't dare to act out, but now that someone was taking the lead, their courage swelled.
"So, what are you trying to do by gathering everyone? Go fight that guy to the death?"
Listening to the other pirates turning this into a grievance meeting, a massive brute interrupted their grumbling and directly asked for the instigator's objective.
"That guy is currently the King of an affiliated nation. If we attack him, won't the Marines come to wipe us out?"
Compared to Nereus, some pirates actually feared the Marines more. But at this moment, the gloomy pirate leader waved his hand and said with full confidence:
"Don't worry, everyone! This is Hachinosu! Who is the master of Hachinosu? It's none other than Lord Ochoku, the one known as the Godfather of Pirates!
"Titles like Whitebeard, Golden Lion, and Roger might be loud, but Lord Ochoku is a pirate from the exact same era as them!
"All he lacks is an opportunity to make a name for himself!
"As long as we join Lord Ochoku's command, do we still need to fear them? Using this incident as a banner, Lord Ochoku will definitely become the true ruler of pirates!"
Many pirates in the New World had fans, some even bordering on the level of mindless zealots. They felt there were benefits to doing this, completely ignoring the thoughts of the person in question.
"Everyone, I have some information. Think about it. Ten years ago, the ruler here was Rocks. Why was it that after that, the person who succeeded Rocks was Lord Ochoku, while everyone else left?"
Under the World Government's concealment and cover-ups, the name Rocks was no longer as resounding. This pirate had only dug up fragments of information and, adding his own wild imagination, birthed his current understanding:
Ochoku was the true number one person beneath Rocks. He hadn't done nothing all these years; he was merely accumulating strength.
The reason the others left Hachinosu wasn't out of disinterest, but because they simply couldn't defeat Ochoku.
"But... why would Lord Ochoku accept us?"
"That's exactly why we need a token of allegiance! That guy Nereus has already shaken up our profits. If we can take his head and present it to Lord Ochoku, wouldn't that be enough to prove our capabilities?!
"Once we have Lord Ochoku's protection, would the Marines really fight us to the death over a dead man?!"
Under his deceptive persuasion, the pirates on the island seemingly truly bought into his rhetoric. In the name of revenge, they formed a pirate fleet, intending to launch a crusade against Fish-man Island.
Although Hachinosu was the Pirate Island, the pirates on the island didn't all belong to a single faction. Many pirates were merely stopping by temporarily to rest.
As the massive fleet formed by these pirates set sail with great fanfare, someone curiously asked what they were setting out to do.
Upon hearing that these people were going to deal with Nereus, an elderly pirate was startled out of his wits and hurriedly sprinted toward the Skull Dome.
"Lord Ochoku! Let me see Lord Ochoku! I have crucial intelligence!!"
"Let him in."
Inside the Skull Dome, Ochoku had been sunbathing in a rocking chair. Hearing the shouts outside, he didn't drive the person away, but instead waved to signal the guards to let him in.
The pirates of Hachinosu could always bring him some interesting news from time to time, some of which held considerable significance for Ochoku.
"Speak. What is your intelligence?"
Ochoku's snake-like tongue hung out the side of his mouth. Judging from his look, if this intelligence proved worthless, the consequences would be severe.
Then, he elegantly picked up a bottle of wine from the side and began to savor it carefully.
"R-Report to Lord Ochoku! Just now, a group of pirates... flying your banner... went... went to deal with Nereus..."
The elderly pirate gasped for air; the long run here had taken quite a toll on him.
"Pfft!!!"
Upon hearing the name "Nereus", Ochoku nearly spat out a mouthful of old wine. At this moment, only one thought remained in his mind:
How do I make Nereus believe that this has absolutely nothing to do with me?!
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