In the year 1484 of the Sea Calendar,
Rocks had always wanted Roger, but perhaps the world itself kept the Rocks Pirates and Roger Pirates apart. Without Rocks, the others couldn't take down Roger.
"Hahahahaha, who would have thought Rhett's first confession would be to Charlotte Linlin? Compared to Charlotte Linlin, little Rhett is just a tiny bean. A giant paired with a tiny bean, hehehehe," Gaban laughed until his stomach hurt.
This time, Rhett didn't refute. His brother Gaban knew giants.
Days passed, the delivery seagulls collecting bounty posters one by one.
Rocks became a pirate-subduing master. Today, he subdued Kaido.
Tomorrow, he crushed a pirate's dojo. All signs pointed to the imminent great battle of God Valley.
Whether Rocks won or Garp won, it didn't matter. People would say Rocks would become king, and the world would descend into chaos.
When the target of rebellion was no longer the lofty "gods" but a pirate, the eight-hundred-year-old ideology of the inviolability of the "gods" would collapse. Why could they do it, but he couldn't? At least it gave the world a gap to rebel, even though the Navy now maintained justice on the seas. The Navy was the Navy, the Celestial Dragons were the Celestial Dragons. The fewer Celestial Dragons, the better.
Just as Rocks was gathering pirates, Garp sought out Roger.
A lookout shouted from the crow's nest: "Navy warship ahead! It's Garp's dog-head ship!"
Roger grinned, his eyes sparkling under the straw hat: "Kuhahaha! Our old rival has come!"
Rhett narrowed his eyes, watching the approaching warship. Garp stood at the bow, under the iconic dog-head cap, his usually grinning face now unusually serious.
"Prepare for battle!" Gaban shouted, and the crew went into combat readiness.
They wouldn't fight, but the formalities couldn't be skipped.
But to everyone's surprise, Garp's warship stopped a hundred meters away. Stranger still, all its cannons were pointed downward, clearly a signal for a truce.
"What the hell?" Rhett muttered, blood mist unconsciously swirling around him.
He seemed to guess what Garp was here for.
Garp suddenly leaped forward, Moon Steps creating several air waves as he landed steadily on the Oro Jackson's deck.
This move made everyone tense up. Rhett's fingers were already on Shusui's hilt.
If Garp was really here for that matter, Rhett wouldn't hesitate to draw his sword. Letting them protect those beasts was out of the question.
"Relax, kid," Garp glanced at Rhett, then walked straight to Roger. "I have something to say."
Roger laughed and spread his arms: "Kuhahaha! Garp, when did you learn to be so polite?"
Garp ignored Roger's teasing, his voice low and unusually grave: "Rocks is coming to God Valley."
The deck fell silent. Rayleigh's glasses gleamed coldly, Gaban's axe unconsciously lowered, and even Roger, always jovial, lost his smile.
So, what? Why was Navy even here?
Rhett didn't even call him Garp.
Garp's sharp gaze turned to Rhett, those eyes seeming to see through everything: "Kid, do you know what God Valley is for?"
Rhett's body stiffened imperceptibly, but he nodded.
Roger, Rayleigh, and Gaban quietly moved beside Rhett. They knew Rhett could foresee the future. His unusual reaction, even though they had a good relationship with Garp, and even if Rhett didn't know the future, they would always stand behind Rhett.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Get off our ship," Rhett swung Shusui.
Garp blocked Shusui, then took two steps back, jumping out of Rhett's attack range.
"Don't play dumb. I trust my instincts," Garp pulled out a crumpled paper from his pocket and threw it on the deck. "Take a look."
Rhett bent down to pick up the paper, finding it was a slave list. Under the "Special Exhibits" column, it clearly stated: "Total slaves approximately 100,000, children account for about 16%."
Rhett's hands began to tremble, the paper rustling softly in his grip.
"Garp..." Roger's voice lowered, "What exactly are you trying to say?"
Garp took a deep breath: "Rocks wants to steal the Celestial Dragons' treasures and Devil Fruits, but those beasts..." he pointed towards God Valley,
Garp didn't continue, unsure if he meant Rocks or the Celestial Dragons.
Rayleigh suddenly spoke: "So you're here to save the slaves? I thought you should be setting up a ten-nautical-mile Navy perimeter, not letting slaves escape, letting you Celestial Dragons have a good laugh."
"Bullshit!" Garp punched the ship's railing, the wood cracking, "I'm here to kill Rocks! But those children..." his voice showed a rare hint of hesitation, "They shouldn't die."
The deck fell silent. The sea breeze carried distant screams, like a blunt knife grinding on everyone's hearts.
Rhett suddenly sneered: "What a touching speech. But how do you guarantee this isn't a trap? Let us be cannon fodder while the Navy reaps the benefits? Besides, aren't those slaves also products of your protection?"
Garp didn't answer immediately. Instead, he walked up to Rhett, close enough to smell the blood on him. He lowered his voice, speaking only for Rhett to hear: "The third cave under the western cliff, the guards are 'asleep'."
Rhett's pupils constricted sharply.
"You..." Rhett's voice caught in his throat.
Garp stepped back, resuming his carefree expression: "So Roger? Want to team up for something big?"
Roger stroked his chin, his gaze shifting between Garp and Rhett. Suddenly, he laughed: "Kuhahaha! Interesting! Rayleigh, what do you think?"
Rayleigh pushed his glasses up: "From a strategic standpoint, temporary cooperation is indeed the best option. But..." he looked meaningfully at Garp, "We need some guarantees."
Garp grinned, pulling out a map densely marked with notes from his pocket and tossing it to Rayleigh: "This is the Navy's defense map of God Valley, the Celestial Dragons' locations, and potential hiding spots in case of danger. I surveyed it when purging God Valley. Enough sincerity?"
Rhett stared at the map, the scales in his heart tipping.
I don't want to protect those Celestial Dragons, not really. But I can't ignore the children's cries. What's worse is that Garp seems to be hinting at something, and I don't like it.
"Rhett," Roger suddenly put a hand on his shoulder, "What do you think?"
Everyone looked at Rhett.
Rhett slowly explained: "The Celestial Dragons use God Valley as a 'hunting arena,' capturing slaves (including humans, fish-men, giants, etc.) and banishing them to the island, hunting them with weapons or beasts for amusement. Celestial Dragons who perform exceptionally in the hunt are even commended by the Five Elders, showcasing their so-called noble bloodline and combat prowess."
After speaking, Rhett closed his eyes.
Roger remained silent for a long time.
"We can help you fight Rocks," Roger finally said. "Garp, I trust you, but I don't trust the Navy. We'll decide when to act."
Garp laughed heartily: "That's enough, Roger."
He turned and walked toward the railing, glancing back at Rhett before leaving, "Remember, if the mist is thick enough, even the 'gods' can't see the truth."