"Yohohoho, that's truly exciting. From now on, the celestial tribute will all be ours!"
After John heard about the celestial tribute, his eyes immediately lit up.
Even though he plundered a lot of treasure this time, for John, who loves money like his life, no amount of treasure is enough!
Two months later, many Executive Officers of the Rocks Pirates arrived as scheduled.
Rocks didn't say much more. Just like last time, each of them received their respective sea charts.
Then they formed three teams and went to plunder the celestial tribute in the New World separately.
However, this time, due to the World Government's vigilance and changes, the many Executive Officers of the Rocks Pirates only managed to plunder a total of 12 portions.
For the Rocks Pirates, they felt it was a great pity.
But for the World Government, it was a huge matter.
It was one thing for the Rocks Pirates to catch them by surprise and have an insider last time, but this time, even after the World Government had made ample preparations...12 portions of the celestial tribute were still intercepted. This was simply a great humiliation.
However, the World Government was merely angry and didn't do anything irrational.
After all, the power of the Rocks Pirates was too terrifying. Eradicating them completely in a short time was simply impossible.
On the Rocks Pirates' side, after plundering the celestial tribute, many Executive Officers left Beehive Island one after another.
Having obtained a large amount of treasure, they frantically expanded their influence and strengthened their power.
As their influence and power continuously grew, the ambition in their hearts also steadily expanded.
Before, they feared Rocks' strength. Even when Rocks displayed the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit and killed Fleet Admiral Black.
But none of this could suppress the continuously swelling hearts of the Executive Officers. Who among them wasn't a monster?
Who wasn't ambitious? And who wasn't full of confidence in themselves?
What's more, they all knew that Rocks' strength had reached its peak, and Rocks was already old.
Even now, with the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit, it was already impressive for Rocks to maintain his strength without it regressing with the passage of time.
Rocks was no longer an insurmountable mountain, but a mountain range whose peak one could already see.
The mountain range that was once shrouded in clouds had now cleared the mist, just waiting for them to climb and surmount!
Rocks himself was most aware of the thoughts of the Executive Officers under his command.
But he didn't stop or suppress them; instead, he let them develop naturally.
Because he clearly knew that all of this was the result of his own indulgence, or rather, he was completely unafraid of the Executive Officers' ambitions.
As long as they would come to help him fight when he, Rocks, gave the order.
"Let me see what these Devil Fruits are!"
Nox put all the Devil Fruits he had obtained during this period together.
He didn't identify these Devil Fruits at first but waited until after intercepting the celestial tribute to identify them all together.
This was like opening a blind box, giving a feeling of great anticipation.
"Paramecia: Mirror-Mirror Fruit!"
"Paramecia: Spicy-Spicy Fruit!"
"Paramecia: Eyebrow-Eyebrow Fruit!"
"Paramecia: Press-Press Fruit!"
'Paramecia: Tongue-Tongue Fruit!'
"Standard Zoan: Pig-Pig Fruit, Sawtooth Boar Form!!"
"Standard Zoan: Duck-Duck Fruit, Long-Beaked Duck Form!!"
"Standard Zoan: Horse-Horse Fruit, Striped Horse Form!!"
After identifying all eight Devil Fruits, Nox had a speechless expression. Except for the Mirror-Mirror Fruit, the other Devil Fruits were almost useless.
"Mirror-Mirror Fruit, I didn't expect this Devil Fruit to fall into my hands. This is a strategic-level Devil Fruit."
"Even if the other Devil Fruits are trash, as long as I obtained this Devil Fruit, everything is worth it."
Nox also didn't expect that he had directly snatched the Devil Fruit that Charlotte Linlin obtained in the original story.
After putting away all the other Devil Fruits, Nox took this Mirror-Mirror Fruit and found Shakky.
"Shakky, this is the Paramecia: Mirror-Mirror Fruit. It's very suitable for you."
"The Mirror-Mirror Fruit can create mirrors and also create a space for a Mirror World, connecting all the mirrors."
"The user themselves can enter the Mirror World and, through different mirrors, teleport from the location of one mirror to another in the real world."
"Furthermore, since others cannot freely pass through unless the user agrees or doesn't touch the mirror, it can be used to blockade enemies."
"It's worth noting that appearing in front of a mirror in the Mirror World will be seen by people on the other side of the mirror, and mirrors also don't block sound, so the same mirror can be used for communication."
"Besides these auxiliary functions, the mirror in hand can also be used as a shield to defend against enemy attacks, and can even reflect enemy attacks."
"The user can also project a person they have shone a mirror on onto an animal or themselves, thereby imitating their appearance and actions."
Nox explained all the abilities of the Mirror-Mirror Fruit.
He believed that this was very suitable for Shakky, who was an intelligence agent.
As long as she had this Devil Fruit and was careful, Shakky wouldn't be in much danger.
After all, the Mirror-Mirror Fruit's escape ability is first-class.
"Nox, thank you. This Devil Fruit is indeed very suitable for me!"
Shakky heard Nox's introduction and understood that this was the Devil Fruit Nox had specially chosen for her.
Saying that, Shakky ate the Mirror-Mirror Fruit.
"Mirror Creation!"
After eating the Devil Fruit, Shakky began to create a massive mirror and also created a huge Mirror World space within the mirror.
"Nox, let's go in and take a look!!"
Shakky joyfully led Nox into the Mirror World space she had created.
However, the Mirror World space was currently very monotonous, and there was only one mirror.
"Shakky, shouldn't we properly develop such a good place?"
After speaking, Nox hugged Shakky, and his hands began to become restless.
In such a closed Mirror World space, wouldn't it be a great pity if they couldn't properly develop their hobbies here?
"Don't, don't be so impatient, I'll create a mirror bed!"
Seeing Nox's impatient look, Shakky, with a flushed face, used her ability to create a sturdy bed made of mirrors.
She also created many mirrors around them, allowing them to see each other from all directions.
Even when they were moving, looking at the mirrors was like watching a live sports broadcast.
This unique kind of fun made Nox feel very novel.
Another year passed, and it was now Sea Calendar 1484:
In Beehive Island, it had been a long time since the Rocks Pirates Executive Officers had come, and Rocks had also left Beehive Island during this time, whereabouts unknown.
But precisely when both Rocks and many Executive Officers were absent, on Beehive Island, Rocks' treasure vault was stolen!
Yes, Rocks' things were stolen!!
"Bastard, who exactly stole my things!!!"
When Rocks returned and saw that the most important items in his treasure vault had been stolen, his furious Haoshoku Haki surged up into the sky. Many innocent Pirates on Beehive Island were directly caught in the crossfire, knocked unconscious by the Haoshoku Haki.
"Investigate for me! If I find out who did it, I'll kill everyone in their entire country!!"
After calming down, Rocks immediately ordered his intelligence department subordinates to thoroughly investigate this matter.
But because it was too embarrassing, Rocks didn't announce it ostentatiously but investigated in secret. Besides a few people, no one knew that Rocks' treasure vault had been stolen.
Holy Land Mary Geoise:
"The triennial grand ceremony has begun. Has the location been decided?"
Warcury Saint, God of War of Law asked.
"It has been decided. It will be held at God Valley in the West Blue."
"That name insults the name of God. Let's use it as the location for this grand ceremony."
Environment God Mas Saint said.
"I heard that the Celestial Dragons have brought out several top-tier Devil Fruits as rewards."
Finance War God Nasujuro Saint said.
Although they are the Gorosei and also Celestial Dragons, they belong to the World Government faction. Therefore, some things about the grand ceremony hosted by the Celestial Dragons were only known to them later.
"Yes, what is currently known is the Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Azure Dragon Form."
"There is also a Paramecia: Paw-Paw Fruit, which possesses the teleportation ability to repel people equivalent to instant movement. Others haven't been revealed yet."
Agriculture Military God Peter Saint said.
"Mythical Zoan Azure Dragon? I wonder when they collected such a superb Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit."
Scientific Defense Warrior God Saturn Saint said in surprise.
"Let's not talk about these for now. Let's dispatch the Marine to God Valley in advance to station there. The grand ceremony is about to begin."
"Each grand ceremony is not just a simple competition. The ratio of various resource allocations is also determined by the results of this competition."
Agriculture Military God Peter Saint said.
The grand ceremony held by the Celestial Dragons is not just about eliminating a non-World Government Allied Nation and turning it into World Government territory.
This competition is merely a way of dividing the cake, where the outcome of the competition determines the proportion of the cake distribution.
After all, even among the Celestial Dragons, there are various factions, and they also face the struggle for resource allocation.
Therefore, after each competition, the cake distribution must be done on the spot. This is the most important thing.
In other words, at God Valley, there are not only the few top-tier Devil Fruits presented openly.
There are also many treasures, famous swords, Devil Fruits other than the top-tier ones, and other valuable items.
Therefore, each time the Celestial Dragon grand ceremony is held, nearly two hundred Celestial Dragons are present.
These Celestial Dragons are not all Celestial Dragons participating in this competition. There are also Celestial Dragons hosting the competition, Celestial Dragons as spectators, and powerful Celestial Dragons from the God knights protecting the Celestial Dragons.
The Roger Pirates, who were in the West Blue, also learned about the Celestial Dragons holding a grand ceremony through secret channels.
"Rayleigh, let's also participate in this grand ceremony!"
Roger said excitedly.
"I say, Roger, have you lost your mind? That's the Celestial Dragons' grand ceremony, what would we go there for?"
"What's more, those are Celestial Dragons! If we accidentally kill one, wouldn't we be hunted by the Marine and the World Government every day?"
Rayleigh couldn't understand what was going on in Roger's head right now.
Are Celestial Dragons something that they, as Pirates, can touch?
"Hahaha, Rayleigh, I have a premonition this time that Rocks will definitely come to the West Blue. At that time, it will be our chance to deal with Rocks."
Roger laughed heartily.
"Even if Rocks comes, what then? He'll definitely bring his Executive Officers with him, and we can't beat them."
Rayleigh said speechlessly.
"Hahaha, the Marine and the Celestial Dragons will deal with Rocks' Executive Officers. We just need to deal with Rocks."
Roger laughed heartily.
Who are the Celestial Dragons?
They are the rulers of the World Government, and also the object of loyalty for the Marine.
If the Rocks Pirates come, they will definitely be the primary target of the World Government and the Marine. At that time, they just need to ally with the Marine to deal with Rocks.
Who made Rocks push their Roger Pirates too hard these past few years, forcing them to use the Marine's hand to eliminate Rocks?
"Alright, you're the Captain, you call the shots."
Rayleigh also agreed. After all, he had also had enough of this frustrating life of being forced back to the West Blue.
As long as Rocks is not eliminated, their Roger Pirates will have no hope of returning to the New World.
For some reason, the news of the Celestial Dragons' internal grand ceremony was leaked, and the news of the Azure Dragon Fruit also spread.
Soon, Rocks' intelligence personnel relayed the news to Rocks' ears.
"Bastard, it was those damned Celestial Dragons who stole my Devil Fruit!!"
"Wahahahaha, Celestial Dragons, are you the true rulers of this World?"
"Then let me, Rocks, put an end to you! If you dare to steal my, Rocks', things, even a god shall fall!"
Afterward, Rocks began to laugh maniacally, and then summoned all the Executive Officers to Beehive Island.
This time, he was going to launch a god-slaying war!
"Oh? Has it finally come to this time?"
Nox also learned from Shakky about Rocks' treasure vault being stolen, and then Rocks attacking God Valley in the West Blue.
For the past two years, he had been preparing for this day. It had finally arrived, and his hard training during this time was not in vain!
During these two years, Nox's biggest gain was mastering the advanced application of Haoshoku Haki, the method of imbuing Haoshoku onto his sword to enhance its attack power.