A few days later.
New World · Paradise Island!
Golden Lion Shiki's flying fleet was the first to arrive back at Paradise Island.
Smuggler Ganzi handed over a huge haul of North Blue cargo to his men, making another killing.
"At last I can drink with Newgate again!"
Bolo Gram was in high spirits; he went to check on the Bolo Pirates first.
Learning that Captain Gram had returned from the North Blue, the Bolo Pirates—who'd been adventuring all over the New World—had already come back to Paradise Island to wait for him.
A sub-crew like the Bolo Pirates, sailing under the Rocks Pirates flag, could walk sideways wherever they went in the New World.
No other pirate crew dared provoke them.
Their only enemies were the Marines and the New World's extreme weather.
"This North Blue trip was a total loss!!"
Golden Lion Shiki bit down on his cigar, cursing up a storm.
He'd planned to slip away from the Rocks Pirates and secretly power up so he could wow everyone later.
Instead, the gap between him, Fang Huo, and Newgate kept widening.
If he'd known the North Blue would just waste his time, he never would've left!
"Even Babel's bounty's passed mine!"
Ganzi was indignant—so what if the guy fought in the World Government–Marineford siege and the destruction of Enies Lobby?
They'd also been cornered by Kong's Admiral-led fleet.
Why did Babel and the rest get such huge bounty hikes?
"Newgate says that under Captain Rocks and Vice Captain Fang Huo's training, Babel and the others are crazy strong now!"
Bolo Gram talked with Newgate often; he knew the Rocks main crew had been hunted for half a year, then trained nine months on Sky Island, and before that another month-plus on Small Garden… all of that had made them grow far faster than drifting aimlessly around the North Blue.
Plus, Newgate kept telling him Fang Huo's Devil Fruit training regimes were insanely effective at boosting combat power.
Newgate kind of regretted talking Gram into hunting for Devil Fruits in the North Blue.
If he hadn't gone, Gram would definitely be stronger now—maybe even stronger than Babel and Ganzi.
Newgate knew Gram's martial-arts talent was off the charts; even without a Devil Fruit he'd never been weaker than the other Executives.
"Hmph! Once I buckle down and train, I'll surpass them in no time!"
Golden Lion Shiki's eyes blazed with defiance; during a transponder snail call the whole Rocks crew had actually agreed he couldn't beat Charlotte Linlin right now.
That really grated on Shiki.
How could that still-underage Big Fatty Girl compare to his majestic Golden Lion self?
He might avoid a direct clash with Fang Huo or Newgate,
but he absolutely refused to be the weakest of the Four King Executives!
—Before long, Paradise Island erupted in cheers even louder
than when Golden Lion Shiki's fleet had returned.
"Lord Fang Huo's back!!"
"Lord Fang Huo, I love you!!"
"I've been on Paradise Island for months and finally get to see Lord Fang Huo!"
—As the gibecks sword flagship slowly appeared in the sky, the whole island went wild, especially the female pirates who'd come chasing their idol!
Paradise Island had already become the most prosperous pirate island in the New World.
Bar none!
Hachinosu Island, the so-called Hive Island where the World Government and its nations dumped countless villains and criminals,
hadn't yet had its underground gold veins discovered; it was still just a barren penal isle that pirates avoided.
Only the most desperate crews ever swung by Hachinosu to recruit near-feral criminals.
No pirate stayed on Hachinosu.
There was no liquor, no food, no money—only brutes butchering each other over scraps.
So many years as a dumping ground had stripped the island of trees; even the wood to build escape boats was gone—utterly desolate.
—Aboard the gibecks sword.
"Ahahaha, the Vice Captain's popular as ever!"
Kiel Bastard and Babel looked down at the frenzied crowd and exclaimed.
"The love letters in Skull Castle must have filled the Vice Captain's room by now."
Sanbel said seriously; once Fang Huo's personal mail-handler, he knew how insane those women could get.
"Hmph! Fang Huo is my man!"
Stussy hugged Fang Huo's arm tight, staking her claim before those rabid women.
With Shimotsuki Furiko and Linlin already eyeing her on board,
she didn't want Fang Huo meeting any more females!
"This is madness!"
Maron bit his cigar, a hint of envy in his eyes at the screaming female pirates on Paradise Island.
His Mafia underlings had never shown such fanaticism.
"These people are cheering Lord Fang Huo?"
Shimotsuki Furiko had never seen such fervor—even General Kozuki of Wano Country didn't get this kind of adoration.
"Tch, they're lusting after Fang Huo's looks!"
Charlotte Linlin glared at the female pirates like a guarding beast.
"I hear Lord Fang Huo's underworld bounty has hit 5 billion berries!"
Fūgetsu Kisaburō and Shimotsuki Kōzaburō finally understood the reach of the Supreme Great Succubus's charm.
"Damn it!"
"Why does Fang Huo get all the love!!"
"I'm the Captain of the Rocks Pirates!"
Rocks' tone was sour; he hadn't heard a single cheer for him.
All the shouting was for Fang Huo!
"gurarara! With your hedgehog hair and wonky eyes, you'll never pull those women!"
Newgate took a swig from his gourd; women didn't interest him—he was off to drink with Pineapple Head Gram.
—Fang Huo's lips curled: what a repressed era!
If not now, when to show off!
Fang Huo flicked Stussy aside and flew out.
A huge lunar disc appeared; he entered his silver-haired Moon God form, radiating divinity.
A mighty thunder dragon coiled beneath his feet.
"It's him! Lord Fang Huo!!"
"Lord Fang Huo, I love you!!"
Fang Huo's dragon ride detonated Paradise Island.
"Damn that show-off!"
"When can I strut like that!!"
Golden Lion Shiki and Ganzi on Paradise Island cursed under their breath.
They hated Fang Huo—and desperately wanted to be him!
"My turn to shine!"
Kiel Bastard excitedly summoned his full-moon specter, following Fang Huo like a sidekick.
Even as a supporting role, he'd be a golden, godlike supporting role.
Following Fang Huo could multiply his fame dozens of times—throw in ten more wives, villas, and luxury ships and he'd take it!
"Damn it, Kiel beat me to it!"
Golden Lion Shiki reacted instantly, levitating his golden disc and soaring skyward!
"Long time no see, my brother Fang Huo!!"
Golden Lion Shiki shouted, posing as if he were a god of equal stature, trying to steal a sliver of Fang Huo's spotlight.
Even snagging a fraction of the attention would put him in the limelight!
At the very least more popular than Rocks and Newgate!