Inside a hidden room of a tavern on Paradise Island.
"My lord, we've successfully bribed Wang Zhi!"
"Also, Black will rise to fame in the New World as a pirate under the alias 'Black Flag' Black!"
A CP0 squad reported the latest developments to the Den Den Mushi on the table.
"Then carry on! You must infiltrate the Rocks Pirates and report every move and target of theirs in a timely manner."
An aged voice came from the other side of the Den Den Mushi.
This time, they attacked on two fronts: bribing a Great Pirate while planting a CP0 agent undercover.
As long as Rocks set his sights on one of them, the World Government could slip a spy into the Rocks Pirates.
After that, the Rocks Pirates would cease to be a threat!
Several days later.
On the famous Paradise Island, a pirate named "Black Flag" Black defeated seven or eight pirate captains in succession, rising to sudden prominence.
"Black Flag" Black even challenged the island's master, "Pirate Patriarch" Wang Zhi.
The two clashed fiercely on Paradise Island and ended in a draw, with "Black Flag" Black leaving unscathed.
News of this much-talked-about battle quickly spread across the New World.
Yet another mighty Great Pirate had emerged.
On the strength of his even fight with "Pirate Patriarch" Wang Zhi, the World Government placed its first bounty on "Black Flag" Black: 444 million Berries.
The rookie instantly dominated the headlines of the newspapers.
Aboard the flying Saber of Xebec.
"Fang Huo! Another powerful rookie! Is this guy an Executive of the Rocks Pirates?"
"No matter! Whether he is or not, I'm gonna drag him aboard!"
Reading the latest news, Rocks wore a grin of certain victory.
He had meant to beat Wang Zhi into submission, but Fang Huo warned that Wang Zhi would betray them and leak intel forever.
So Rocks decided to kill Wang Zhi!
Since he couldn't subjugate this so-called "Pirate Patriarch," he'd slaughter him to build the Rocks Pirates' reputation.
Recruiting such a big name would have boosted their fame, but killing him would do the same and cement their status as Overlords of the New World.
Besides, with a perfect replacement suddenly appearing, Rocks would show even less mercy.
Little did Wang Zhi know that his deal with the World Government to raise his odds of joining would only hasten his death!
"'Black Flag' Black?"
Fang Huo studied the news of the Paradise Island fight and the face on "Black Flag" Black's wanted poster.
It was a visage he had never seen before.
Some background character never shown in the plot, probably dead somewhere.
"In the future I saw, this guy never existed!"
"Probably died somewhere."
"Of course, we can look into his background—might be a World Government mole."
Fang Huo spoke calmly; he knew the World Government and Marine Headquarters' tricks all too well.
Lately, he'd been tracking the World Pirates, a fast-rising rookie crew in the Grand Line.
This year, Byrnndi World, age twenty-three, had grown ever wilder after eating the More-More Fruit, even calling himself the "World Destroyer."
Even cockier than the future "Iron-Head" Captain Kid.
He wondered whether spies had already infiltrated the expanding World Pirates.
"A mole?"
Rocks's good mood cooled at once; Fang Huo had never seen "Black Flag" Black in the future.
Either the man died early, or the timeline had shifted and he'd popped up out of nowhere.
"Whatever—let's grab him first!"
"If he's undercover, I'll sniff him out. I trust you can spot the clues too, Fang Huo!"
Rocks refused to let a promising Great Pirate slip; any problems could be handled after the man was aboard.
"Suit yourself."
Fang Huo shrugged; in the original timeline, Rocks hadn't even noticed the traitor Wang Zhi.
Time after time, their plans were leaked ahead of Marine ambushes.
In the end, even the Hachinosu headquarters was compromised—Maron killed, and Hachinosu's "Flower," Shakky, captured.
Fang Huo suspected Rocks's all-hearing Observation Haki was flawed; it couldn't discern good from evil and only allowed mind-talk with the "D" Clan.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have asked only Roger and Garp to kill him, but Newgate and the others as well.
Perhaps most of the crew were malicious, so Rocks hadn't cared enough to single out Wang Zhi the traitor.
"Then it's settled! Kill 'Pirate Patriarch' Wang Zhi, and shanghai 'Black Flag' Black!"
Rocks made the call, trusting himself—and Fang Huo even more.
The Rocks Pirates would surely storm Mary Geoise!
"Rocks, when do we sail for the North Blue?"
"Silver Axe" Fierce was eager to hunt the Mag-Mag Fruit and the Glint-Glint Fruit in the North Blue, but Rocks now planned to find Charlotte Linlin, track the smuggler Gan Zhi, recruit "Black Flag" Black, and even visit the West Blue Mafia boss Maron—when would they ever have time for the North Blue?
Fierce didn't want to wait that long.
"Wait a year or two; we'll get there eventually."
Rocks answered offhandedly; after leaving the New World, he had to return to his hometown, God Valley in the West Blue, to stash treasure and supplies.
"Damn it!!"
"Silver Axe" Fierce felt a stab of irritation—so long a wait.
Watching the ever-stronger Shiki, the pressure mounted on him.
Shiki's talent outclassed his, backed by a fearsome Devil Fruit.
Soon he'd be left in Shiki's dust!
"Jihahaha! As Fang Huo says, luck is part of strength."
"Blame yourself for never finding a mighty Devil Fruit."
Shiki taunted with a grin, easily igniting Fierce's rage.
The two resumed their daily squabbles and scuffles.
The Rocks Pirates spent two and a half months scouring the seas before finally picking up the trail of Charlotte Linlin and Streusen.
The pair seemed to be deliberately evading them.
It reminded Rocks of the infuriating chase after Shiki and stoked his anger anew.
Moreover, the New Year had passed; a new year had begun.
Rocks had been away from home for more than a year.
"So they can fly too!!"
Aboard the flying battleship, Rocks spotted Charlotte Linlin riding a thundercloud.
Streusen urged her to flee faster when he saw the Rocks Pirates' skyship approaching.
They chased another two and a half days before finally forcing the fleeing duo to stop.
The moment they were intercepted, the hot-tempered Rocks showed them the fury of a demon.
The supposedly unbreakable "Iron Balloon" was battered and bloodied in an instant.
Never mind that Charlotte Linlin was only a thirteen-year-old girl pirate!