Aboard the Gibeck's Sword.
Rocks had just learned from Stussy's call that Fang Huo had shaken off the Gorosei's pursuit and entered the Grand Line via Reverse Mountain.
Only then did the atmosphere on deck lighten a fraction.
"worororo! I knew that bastard Fang Huo wouldn't go down so easily!"
"But those old geezers dared ambush my first mate!"
"I'll remember this debt!"
Rocks laughed wildly, his voice thick with bottomless rage.
He was already plotting how to retaliate against the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.
"Great! The first mate's safe!"
Sanbel and Kiel Bastard cheered; their idol hadn't been felled by the Gorosei.
"Phew, finally a breather!"
Maron rubbed his shoulders—he'd rowed until he was sick of it and could finally rest.
"Fang Huo's in the Grand Line now?"
"But alone, he's still in grave danger."
Newgate's face remained clouded; even the Gorosei had moved in person this time.
He doubted the World Government and Marine HQ would let the strayed Fang Huo off lightly.
"Right! After we rendezvous with Linlin and Stussy, we head straight into the Grand Line and find Fang Huo."
Babel didn't want Fang Huo in peril again.
"That punk Fang Huo even said not to rush—he wants to hunt Devil Fruits in the Grand Line."
Rocks sounded half exasperated; they worried while Fang Huo chased personal errands.
Ungrateful wretch!
"Did the first mate foresee some top-tier Devil Fruit again?"
Longing filled Maron's eyes; he still wanted Fang Huo to divine him a high-class fruit.
The two new Executives aboard listened in silence.
The pair of CP0 Agents were stunned—Lord Gorosei had failed?
Kozuki Fang Huo had escaped to the Grand Line?
And what was this about Prophecy?
Fang Huo could predict where Devil Fruits were?
This intel had to reach headquarters fast!
The two CP0 Agents exchanged glances and read each other's minds.
"Captain Rocks, you say your first mate can prophesy the locations of Devil Fruits? Truly?"
The CP0 Prodigy disguised as Patrick Redfield asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
Frankly, had the Rocks officers not discussed it so seriously, they'd never believe such an absurd power.
If even Devil Fruit locations could be foreseen…
Wasn't that outright cheating!
Should the World Government obtain this ability, every Devil Fruit on the seas would be theirs.
Hearing Redfield speak, Babel and Sanbel swiveled to him, their gazes meaningful.
first mate Fang Huo had already snatched the Mythical Zoan Vampire Fruit meant for Redfield.
They hoped Redfield wouldn't hold a grudge once he learned.
"You'll understand when you meet Fang Huo."
"He does possess some uncanny abilities."
Honestly, Rocks had studied Patrick Redfield for a long time and detected neither Haoshoku potential
nor any innate special Observation Haki.
It made him doubt whether he'd found the wrong man—or if Fang Huo's Prophecy had erred.
Thus Rocks didn't fully trust the two new officers.
Once Fang Huo saw them, he'd know if Patrick Redfield was the legendary genius foretold.
"Good! I look forward to meeting the first mate."
Rocks's reply already implied Kozuki Fang Huo might indeed predict Devil Fruits.
Recalling the intel, the two agents remembered Fang Huo feared no Sea Stone.
It only heightened their curiosity about this freak.
"Bahahaha, I hope you won't be angry when the day comes."
Babel guffawed at the young human.
"Why would I be angry?"
Patrick Redfield grew more bewildered by the Fishman's laughter.
Could something even weirder be waiting?
Surely the supreme great succubus Kozuki Fang Huo hadn't taken a fancy to this pretty boy, right?
"Shut it—let Fang Huo sort his own mess."
"I want to watch them fight it out."
A single glare from Rocks silenced the talkative Babel.
"You want me to clash with the first mate?"
The CP0 Prodigy, still disguised as Patrick Redfield, goggled; he hated these cryptic types.
The next instant his heart lurched and a chill ran down his spine.
Damn it!
Don't tell me Fang Huo and Patrick Redfield actually know each other?
Maybe even share some small grudge?
Then he'd likely be exposed the moment Fang Huo appeared.
We're done for!
The two CP0 Agents locked eyes, both reading the dread in the other's gaze.
But that made no sense!
Kozuki Fang Huo came from a minor kingdom in the Grand Line, and Red Line Island wasn't famous even in the West Blue.
How could Fang Huo ever meet Patrick Redfield?
Had Fang Huo known Redfield, Rocks wouldn't have bothered digging into the Barlorick Family on Ohara.
Clearly, the previous Rocks Pirates had never heard of Red Line Island.
Still, for their own safety, they had to relay this intel.
Kozuki Fang Huo must not be allowed back aboard the Gibeck's Sword; if he returned, their chance of exposure topped eighty percent.
They could only pray the World Government and Marine HQ would catch or kill Fang Huo before he came back.
They hoped Fang Huo would soon tell Rocks his next destination.
Then they could pass the word and have the World Government lie in wait.
—Two days later, Charlotte Linlin and Stussy, using endless transponder snail calls and life paper bearings, successfully rendezvoused with the Rocks Pirates.
Without a word they sailed straight for Reverse Mountain and into the Grand Line.
With Golden Lion Shiki and Fang Huo absent, they had to follow the normal route and couldn't leap the ten-thousand-meter Red Line.
Besides, the route would lead them straight to Fang Huo.
Meanwhile, Fang Huo had flown to the waters near Drum Island, disguised himself, and entered the renowned medical kingdom.
"Trouble… where do I even start?"
Bundled in winter gear, Fang Huo stared at bustling Drum Island, helpless.
Hunting one Devil Fruit on an island was next to impossible.
He'd have to start with the royal family—check if the Drum Kingdom's treasury held the fruit.
If the royals didn't have it, he'd have to scour the wilds bit by bit.
"If the Gulp-Gulp Fruit has a will of its own, please just land in front of me."
Fang Huo mocked himself, dissolved into a swarm of Blood Shadow Bats, and flew toward the five-thousand-meter pillar-like snowy peaks.
Drum Kingdom's royal palace was built atop those mountains.
Seems every kingdom with a bit of history knows some secret and loves to perch itself high up—
Drum Kingdom, Alabasta, Dressrosa…