Steel Bone Kong shook his head. He didn't need to guess who was calling him! Reaching out, he picked up the Den Den Mushi resting in his hand. Almost immediately, the snail-like device seemed to jolt as if shocked by electricity. Its angry tone and grotesque face all clearly reflected the rage coming from the other end of the call. That's the primary function of the Den Den Mushi—it doesn't merely transmit voices it flawlessly captures the expressions and tones of the speaker during the call. Steel Bone Kong furrowed his brows.
What an utterly lousy feature.
The one on the other line was none other than the supreme authority of the World Government: the Five Elders.
"What is Marine Headquarters even doing?"
"Bob finally separated from the Rocks Pirates, and yet you let him slip away!"
"Hurry and figure out a way to capture Bob! We cannot allow him to continue growing!"
"Bob has already made a name for himself—this is a disgrace to the World Government and to the Marines alike!"
"A man arrogant enough to kill a Celestial Dragon is not someone we can continue to let roam alive!"
"And as for the Rocks Pirates, why haven't you taken any action against them yet? They're running completely unopposed along the sea routes!"
The Five Elders' voices roared like a machine gun, barking order after order without even a pause long enough for Steel Bone Kong to get a word in. They were completely indifferent to how exhausting it was to be on the receiving end of such tirades.
After a while, the fury on the other end seemed to simmer down slightly.
"Compile a full report on the recent battle between Bob and Zephyr. We expect it immediately!"
"Yes," Steel Bone Kong responded quickly. "Understood!"
After a brief and minimalist report on the matter, Steel Bone Kong hung up the call. Internally, he couldn't help but grumble.
"With the current strength of the Rocks Pirates, even the entire Marine Headquarters couldn't take them down! It's easy for your lips to move and toss commands when you're not the one dealing with this!"
This required a more measured, long-term strategy. Suddenly, inspiration struck Steel Bone Kong. If Marine Headquarters alone wasn't enough to take down the Rocks Pirates, then perhaps collaborating with other forces might do the trick.
.....
Somewhere in an unknown section of the vast seas. A massive pirate ship drifted steadily forward. The emblem on its sails made it instantly recognizable. To every pirate crew that caught sight of it, just a glimpse was enough to send them scurrying away in terror. This was the infamous ship of the Rocks Pirates.
Inside one of the cabins on the Rocks D. Xebec, Wang Zhi and Silver Axe were seated, enjoying some drinks and chatting casually.
"John and Bob headed out together this time. Who knows when they'll be back?" Silver Axe said, lifting the jug on the table and pouring himself a full cup.
"Back? What do you think John took Bob out for this time?" Wang Zhi said, sipping leisurely from his own cup. "Knowing John and his obsession with money, I guarantee he's up to something underhanded!"
"Hahaha! Without a doubt!"
"With how he gets along with Bob, he dragged Bob out with him and left the two of us behind? There's only one possible reason: money!"
"I bet he's milking Bob for all he's worth. No way he's letting a fat cash cow like him go so easily!"
Wang Zhi put his cup down, stroked his long beard, and laughed heartily.
"Hahahaha!"
"John just can't resist when it comes to money! Always eyeing what's in his bowl yet craving what's in the pot!"
"But honestly, it might be for the best. Bob's been hogging the spotlight lately—he needs to suffer a little. Dim the edge off his arrogance."
"After all, young hotheads shouldn't get too over themselves!" Silver Axe downed his drink in one gulp and slammed the cup onto the table with a hearty laugh. Grabbing the massive battle axe propped beside him, he began heading for the door. Just as he was about to step out, there was a knock. Opening it, he found a member of Wang Zhi squad standing outside.
"Commander Silver Axe! Commander Wang Zhi!"
"The latest news—Commander Bob fought Vice Admiral Zephyr and came out victorious!"
The crewman seemed utterly thrilled as he delivered the news, looking as if he was the protagonist of the story.
"What?!"
Both Wang Zhi and Silver Axe exclaimed in shock. Bob fought Vice Admiral Zephyr? And even won?!
"Quickly, tell us everything you know!" Wang Zhi demanded eagerly.
Before long, word of the incident had spread across the Rocks Pirate Ship. On the main deck, a group of Bob young admirers had gathered, passionately discussing the rumors.
"Did you hear? Commander Bob took down Vice Admiral Zephyr! The fight was fierce—absolutely brutal! People say it went on for hours!"
"No, no, that's not right! I heard Captain Bob was totally unfazed, finished the fight in under an hour, and had Zephyr unable to even stand!"
"An hour? That's too long. My sources say Commander Bob only needed three moves, and Zephyr was coughing up blood left and right!"
"Bullshit! All of you are wrong! My information comes directly from the source—Commander Bob ended the battle with a single punch! Knocked Zephyr into a crater he couldn't climb out of!"
The lively chatter of the crew reached the stern of the ship, where Shiki and Whitebeard were standing.
"The power of rumors really is terrifying!" Shiki muttered, puffing on his cigar and shaking his head.
"It's clearly exaggerated." Whitebeard quietly agreed, which was rare. "We both know Zephyr capabilities better than most."
"True enough, but what do you think of the situation?"
Whitebeard paused thoughtfully at Shiki question.
"The rumors are exaggerated, but the event probably happened. Still, it's shocking in its own right."
"First, Bob defeats you, and now he's beaten Vice Admiral Zephyr."
"Gurararara! Once again, Bob has managed to surprise me!" Whitebeard let loose a boisterous laugh.
Shiki, however, found the laugh irritating.
"Why do you keep bringing me up when we're talking about Bob?!"
"And it's just Zephyr—not a big deal! If it were me, I'd pin him to the ground just as easily!" Shiki retorted indignantly.
Whitebeard glanced at Shiki—just a simple, wordless look. But the meaning behind it was clear.
"You? Don't kid yourself."
Shiki bristled. Just as he was about to snap back, his attention was caught by the commotion on the deck.
"Look! Isn't that Commander Bob returning?!"
"Commander Bob and Commander John are coming back together!"
Shiki and Whitebeard followed the excited gazes of the pirates. A luxurious rescue boat was speeding toward the Rocks Pirate Ship.
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