114. Rocks Pirate

Yamato wants to go to sea.

She dreams of seeing the world as Kozuki Oden wrote in her diary, travelling around the world.

Wano doesn't need her now.

The Crocodile of the Cross Union is far more capable of governing than she is. In just a few days, the people of Wano have shown a completely different spirit compared to Kaido's rule.

And after being convinced by Crocodile, Yamato fully regarded Crocodile as Wano's saviour.

So, when it comes to Wano, she can no longer compete with Crocodile.

What she wants now is to go out to sea and witness this great world.

Of course, this isn't just about finding any pirate group to join.

The Straw Hat Pirates are her choice after much deliberation. Their strength and Luffy's dream of becoming the Pirate King align with what Kozuki Oden recorded.

She wants to join the Pirate King's crew and conquer the entire Grand Line.

"Please let me join you."

Yamato bowed deeply.

Luffy didn't speak; they just looked at her quietly.

Zoro yawned, and Sanji silently lit a cigarette.

The crew never intervened in decisions about bringing new members on board; only the captain made such decisions.

Luffy just looked at Yamato quietly, with a peaceful smile on his face. Before bringing new members on board, Sanji and the others were often confused.

Just like with Robin and Brook, Robin was still an enemy, and Brook was a skeleton.

But Luffy quickly invited them aboard.

Now, facing Yamato, Luffy was unusually calm.

Luffy seemed to be able to see something essential about a person that others couldn't.

"Do you want to go to sea? Or is it Kozuki Oden who wants to go to sea?" Luffy asked loudly.

"I am Kozuki Oden," Yamato said firmly.

"No, you're not Kozuki Oden, you're just Yamato. So, is it Kozuki Oden who wants to get on the ship, or is it Yamato who wants to go to sea?" Luffy continued asking.

At this moment, Zoro's expression turned serious, while Sanji looked thoughtful.

Yamato didn't speak anymore; she was seriously thinking about this problem.

"Going to sea is an adventure, a life-threatening voyage. Have you really made up your mind? Do you dare to stake your life on this voyage, Yamato?" Luffy yelled loudly.

It was Yamato he could bring aboard, not Kozuki Oden.

Even though Kozuki Oden was once a member of the Roger Pirates, Luffy is not Roger. He is Monkey D. Luffy, destined to become the Pirate King.

He couldn't let someone who didn't even dare to bear their own name and past on board, just like wearing a mask.

Yamato and Robin were different.

Robin boarded the ship with a mask on, and Luffy agreed.

But Yamato couldn't. Now, she was just an empty shell, an empty shell full of escapes instead of dreams. Not only the name but even life and dreams were all in the name of Kozuki Oden.

Such a person was not well aware.

Yamato was silent for a long time.

She thought a lot, she thought of the diary.

Was she yearning for Kozuki Oden's dreams and adventures, or did she simply want to be Kozuki Oden?

It was the former.

She had always been regarded as a combat tool by her father, Kaido, and she longed for a life as a person, not a tool.

Like a person who dreams of freedom, takes risks, and sees the world.

Instead of being used as a fighting tool by Kaido.

"I," Yamato clenched her fist and the mace tightly. "I want to see the world. My name is Yamato."

After Yamato finished speaking, an outstretched hand reached directly in front of her.

Two days of banquet and fighting were enough for Luffy to get to know Yamato, a simple, single-minded person.

The last worry was nothing more than her awareness of going to sea.

The moment she came to her senses, the ticket for the Straw Hat Pirates had been delivered to her.

"Come on board, partner, let's set sail."

Yamato looked up and saw Luffy's bright and sunny smile.

In an instant, she suddenly felt like she was reborn, experiencing emotions she had never felt in the past twenty years.

"Um," Yamato nodded vigorously and took Luffy's hand.

"Guys, set sail."

Luffy's high-pitched shouts sounded from the Sunny.

The next moment, the Sunny crossed the turbulent current and flew out from the high Wano inland sea.

"Hahaha," Luffy's loud laughter intertwined with the sound of panic from the crew.

This was the most free voice on the sea.

"That guy might really become the Pirate King."

Looking at the scene in the distance, even Gekko Moria couldn't help but say in a daze.

He had that kind of free spirit at the beginning, but after the death of his partners, it all disappeared.

"Shanks, is this the new era you want to see? I might understand you a little bit."

With sharp eyes, Mihawk looked at the Sunny and the Straw Hat Pirates disappearing in the distance and turned to leave.

"He is a character like Captain Roger. I can't be mistaken. Captain Roger's will extends in this man."

Bullet's expression was a little dazed and downcast: "Is this what you meant, never to die, Captain Roger?"

"Straw Hat Boy, become the Pirate King. After all, you are the man I approve of."

Bullet said in a low voice. He was definitely not mistaken; the back of the Straw Hat Boy overlapped with Captain Roger.

This kind of person, when you look at them, makes you feel that in the whole sea, except for him who can become the Pirate King, who else is worthy of that position?

"One by one, humph."

Crocodile looked at the performance of the members of the Cross Union around him and couldn't help but snort coldly.

"What a fun kid. This new era is something even that Whitebeard recognized. This sea is going to be interesting," World sneered. "That bastard Shiki, he'll definitely meet him, as well as the Marines and the World Government. With monsters like these, all possessing the aptitude of kings, they're in for a tough time.

Go, Straw Hat Boy, and turn this world upside down."

World's face was extremely gloomy and dangerous.

Compared to a combat lunatic like Bullet, World genuinely wants to destroy the Marines, the World Government, and even the world itself.

Wano Outer Seas, aboard the Sunny.

Marco was holding a newspaper in his hand.

Luffy and the others don't have the habit of reading newspapers much, and their voyage has been pretty secluded recently, so they haven't received any papers from Newsbird.

"A lot has happened recently," Marco remarked, sitting on the deck turf of the Sunny, flipping through the newspaper.

"This is?" Marco's eyes widened.

"What's wrong, Marco?" Nami walked over, leaning in to look at the newspaper Marco was holding, and then her pupils shrank in shock.

"No way."

"What? Let me see." Luffy's head stretched instantly, wrapping around Nami like a snake to peer at the newspaper in Marco's hand.

"Isn't this BIG MOM? Who are the other two guys?" Luffy looked puzzled.

"It's Kaido and The Golden Lion Shiki," Marco said solemnly. "They've formed an alliance with BIG MOM."

"Kaido? Shiki?" Everyone showed shocked expressions.

"Who is the Golden Lion Shiki?" Luffy asked curiously.

He knew Kaido because they had just left Wano, and Kaido was one of the Four Emperors who once ruled there. But he didn't know anything about Shiki.

"Hey, Luffy, haven't you heard of him? He's a super famous legendary pirate," Usopp said, cold sweat on his face.

"Indeed, I heard he's a very powerful swordsman," Zoro added seriously.

"He's a super legendary pirate as famous as Whitebeard and Pirate King Gol D. Roger. Before The Battle of Edd War, Shiki had more hope of becoming the Pirate King than Roger," Franky explained.

After all, he's from Water 7, a place with many travellers.

"But hasn't this legendary pirate disappeared long ago?" Sanji asked with some doubt.

"No, he never disappeared. Twenty years ago, Golden Lion Shiki rushed to Naval Headquarters alone because he didn't believe in Roger's death. The battle lasted for three days and three nights. Finally, Shiki was captured and sent to Impel Down, and Marineford was half destroyed," Marco explained. "A few days later, Golden Lion successfully escaped from the so-called iron-walled prison and has since disappeared."

"Yes, that's what we know," Sanji said.

"Actually, after Shiki escaped from Impel Down, he came to find Dad. He seemed to be preparing a huge plan, a plan that could overturn the world," Marco continued. "For this reason, he has been dormant for twenty years, and now, this legendary pirate has undoubtedly completed his plan and has come to take revenge on the world."

Marco's voice was heavy. He is from that era and knows the power of the Golden Lion Shiki better than others.

A heroic father, a single ship Roger who pursued adventure, and the Golden Lion is a real careerist and conspirator. The plan he has prepared for twenty years is absolutely extraordinary.

Back then, the Golden Lion was so powerful that he completely suppressed Roger. He was originally a hero who aimed to annex the world like a lion.

"And now, the Golden Lion has teamed up with Four Emperors Kaido and BIG MOM, making it even more challenging," Marco said solemnly.

"A legendary pirate alongside Whitebeard and Roger, and two Four Emperors. These three shouldn't join forces, really," Jinbei said solemnly.

"You're wrong, Jinbei. Only they have the basis to join forces. The others, on the contrary, can't," Marco looked at Jinbei. "Because the three of them were once companions on a boat."

"Eh?" Everyone's mouths dropped open in shock.

"Four Emperors Kaido, Four Emperors BIG MOM, and the legendary pirate Golden Lion Shiki?" Nami looked shocked, covering her mouth.

"A shipmate?" Sanji couldn't keep calm.

"Hey, Marco, are you kidding me?" Usopp asked directly in shock.

Ace, hearing this secret for the first time, was equally stunned.

"I'm not joking. I heard about this from my dad. When I first heard it, my expression was just like yours," Marco said with a smile. "However, Kaido and BIG MOM weren't as strong as they are now. They hadn't become Four Emperors yet, so the shock wasn't as big as it is now."

"What really struck me was something else."

"What?" Everyone's curiosity was piqued.

Those who go to sea love hearing the secrets of legendary pirates and feeling the surge of legends.

"Dad used to be partners with the Golden Lion on the same boat. After getting off the boat, he created the Whitebeard Pirates," Marco said with a nostalgic smile.

"Eh?" Another bombshell dropped.

Everyone was blown away.

The news coming out of Marco's mouth was truly shocking.

"Golden Lion Shiki, Whitebeard, Kaido, and BIG MOM were all on the same boat? It's shocking to the extreme," Sanji said in a daze.

"What kind of pirates are they?" 

"What kind of pirate group could attract such strong members? It's said that two top legends of the Pirate Era, three of the Four Emperors of the Great Pirate Era, are members of this pirate group," Nami wondered aloud.

"Rocks Pirates," Marco revealed.

With a sense of inexplicable gravity, Marco spoke the name of the pirate group. "It was a pirate group created by a great pirate named Rocks D. Xebec. Rocks was once a super legendary pirate who almost swept the whole world. My father, Shiki, BIG MOM, and Kaido were all members of that pirate group."

"At that time, Kaido was still an apprentice crew member of Rocks."

"So, what happened? Where did this pirate group go? Why is there no information left?" Robin asked. Even as an archaeologist, she was unfamiliar with such a secretive pirate group.

"They were crushed," Marco replied.

"Crushed?" Everyone was surprised. Could such a powerful pirate group be defeated?

"Was it the Marines?"

"Half right. It was a cooperation between the Marines and pirates. Marine hero Garp and the Roger Pirates teamed up to defeat the Rocks Pirates on the Island of God Valley. This battle solidified Garp's title as a Marine hero and made Roger's reputation resound across the sea."

"So, Luffy's grandfather got the title of Marine hero from this battle. I always thought it was because he pushed the Pirate King Roger into danger several times," Nami remarked, stunned.

"Me too," Usopp added. "I've read a lot of pirate and marine legends, and it clearly states that Garp earned the title of Marine hero by forcing Roger into dangerous situations multiple times."

"What the World Government preaches is like that. If it weren't for my dad, I wouldn't know so many secrets. The Rocks Pirates were buried in history by the government because they were too dangerous," Marco explained. "Let's not talk about you. Even Jinbei and I, who are in our forties, have rarely heard of the famous Rocks."

"Not only the Rocks, but even the Island of God Valley, where Garp and Roger teamed up to fight against the Rocks, has disappeared. It's now completely impossible to find on any map."

"Eh? Why?" Luffy asked.

"I don't know. My father doesn't know much about it either, or he doesn't want to tell us much. But he did say that the World Government isn't that simple. They possess the ability to erase people or things from history. That's how the island seems to have been erased," Marco explained.

"The ability to erase people and things from history," Usopp and Chopper couldn't help but swallow. The very thought of such an ability was terrifying.

"Coupled with the 800-year history of World Government rule, the shadow of this behemoth that has always ruled history is even more terrifying," Marco continued.

"It's history again," Robin's face was heavy with contemplation. "With that so-called ability, the World Government could erase entire parts of history."

Everyone fell silent, pondering the implications of what Marco had revealed. The Rocks Pirates, the Island of God Valley, and the hidden history hinted at a far more complex and dangerous world than any of them had previously imagined.

----------

You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion