Chapter Three: The Cadres! A Feast with Roya (Please Save!)

Hachinosu is the headquarters of the Rocks Pirates and is recognized across the New World as the most dangerous island, a place that makes nearly everyone shudder at the mere mention of its name.

Although word of mouth paints the island as nothing short of a den of monsters, it is, in reality, a place of stunning scenery and pleasant climate. Its golden beaches are second to none, and with a perpetual summer, it could even be considered a premier tourist destination.

The only issue is that the people who gather at this "tourist destination" are all heinous, villainous pirates.

When the massive ship slowly descended from the sky, the pirates at the harbor erupted in excitement.

"Boss Shiki is back! Does that mean the Golden Pirates have been wiped out?"

"As expected of Boss Shiki! That’s the 'Golden Knight' with a bounty of eight hundred million berries!"

"Isn't that a given? Anyone who dares to oppose the Rocks Pirates only meets death!"

"Look at those amateurs—daring to try and run a pirate island just like Boss Rocks!"

Roa stood at the railing, a small child crossing his arms, looking down as he sighed, "Oh my, you’re so popular, Uncle Shiki. A real Hachinosu celebrity. Unlike me—I put in the work, but no one ever mentions it. How lamentable."

"Cut the chatter."

Shiki the Golden Lion was long past the age of being excited by the cheers of others. After mooring the ship at the harbor, he took to the air, saying, "Let's go. We have to see that guy, Rocks."

"Send my thralls back to the arena for me," Roa commanded, turning to the pirates on the deck.

"Yes, sir!"

The pirates bowed their heads in respectful haste, not daring a moment's hesitation, as if the smiling Roa were some man-eating beast.

"Wait for me, Uncle Shiki!"

In an instant, Roa transformed into a black tiger-man with wings sprouted from his back. He beat his dark, feathered wings and shot into the air like an arrow released from a bow, giving chase to the Golden Lion.

The heart of Hachinosu is the massive Skull Building, where the officers of the Rocks Pirates handle their business and where Rocks himself resides. However, Roa and Shiki did not find Rocks there.

"That bastard took Linlin and Kaido to hunt down Roger," said a massive man with flowing golden hair and a white crescent-shaped mustache, nursing a drink in the spacious office. "The nerve of him, leaving me behind to hold down the fort at Hachinosu."

"What? Roger?"

Uncle Shiki wore the same expression as the man before him. "Why didn't that bastard Rocks wait for me? You can't hunt Roger without me!"

Edward Newgate—Whitebeard, another high-ranking officer of the Rocks Pirates—angrily slammed his glass onto the table. "That scoundrel just wants to be the one to finish Roger off himself!"

Roa scratched the back of his head. "Haha, you uncles really do love Roger, don't you?"

Gol D. Roger—known as the "Pirate Succubus."

Hearing his voice, Whitebeard glanced down at him, his eyes filled with undisguised distaste. Roa wasn't surprised; among all the officers of the Rocks Pirates, this Uncle Whitebeard was one of the two who loathed him.

"Hey, hey, Newgate, that’s no way to treat a child." Shiki rested his left hand on the top of Roa’s head, exhaling a cloud of smoke as he said, "This kid was quite active this time, too."

"I have nothing to say to this vicious little brat," Whitebeard sneered.

"Haha." Roa gave a tactical, goofy laugh, his cute little face looking completely harmless.

Whitebeard, who considered himself a man of order among pirates, detested Roa, who fed upon the suffering of others.

"Jahahahaha!" The Golden Lion laughed heartily, ruffling Roa's hair, entirely unbothered.

This was a good thing. The Rocks Pirates would inevitably crumble one day, and when that time came, the allegiance of a kid with infinite potential like Roa would be crucial. Shiki felt that Newgate was the only one capable of competing with him for the boy's favor.

But Newgate hated Roa.

"And you, Shiki," Whitebeard’s gaze shifted to the Golden Lion’s face. "You went too far this time. Did you really destroy the entire island of Dotoria?"

"If I don't use thunderous methods, how am I supposed to keep those dogs in line? And besides, Newgate," Shiki didn't back down, his voice turning cold. "Do you have a problem with my methods?"

"Hmm?" Whitebeard frowned. "Are you looking for a fight?"

"Jahahahaha!" Accompanied by a lion's roar, black lightning began to crackle around him. "It seems you’re looking to trade blows with me, then?"

"If that’s how you want to interpret it, be my guest!" Whitebeard's mustache began to vibrate.

*BOOM!*

The Skull Building shuddered violently; though they couldn't see it, Roa estimated that the entire island of Hachinosu must be trembling.

"Whoa! Are you two uncles going to start a war?" Roa wisely stepped back.

This was a daily occurrence in the Rocks Pirates; the officers would come to blows at the slightest disagreement. After all, the defining feature of the world's strongest pirate crew was that its leaders were constantly at each other's throats.

And every time the officers clashed, it was what Roa looked forward to most.

Fight, the harder the better.

When two monsters clash on this island, how much more delicious will the dark energy released by the people on the island become?

Roa’s mouth watered. He had been forced to eat like a normal person on the trip back, and he was starving.

But just then—

"Newgate!" A woman's voice, sounding incredibly affected and artificial, rang out. "I baked you a cake! Come and have a taste!"

A woman pushed a trolley into the room, rushing forward with excitement. She was a beautiful woman with short blonde hair, exquisite features, and a lithe, alluring figure—undeniably gorgeous.

However, it was hard to be moved when such a woman had a strange flush on her face, a twisted, creepy grin, and a nosebleed running down her face.

*What a waste of a pretty face,* little Roa sighed to himself.

This woman was the second person, besides Whitebeard, who hated Roa. Because she was insanely obsessed with Whitebeard, she naturally disliked anyone Whitebeard didn't like.

At least there was still Stussy.

Whitebeard, who had been in a standoff with Uncle Shiki, couldn't even bother to continue their clash, immediately wearing an expression of extreme revulsion. "Stussy, what did you add to it this time?"

"Add?" The woman wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth, giggling strangely. "Nothing! Nothing at all! Quick, Newgate, come and try it!"

"That’s quite enough," another woman walked in. She was also a captivating beauty with long white hair, a long snake trailing at her side. "Newgate, it’s best if you don't eat it. This idiot Stussy put elephant-strength aphrodisiacs in the cake."

"Gloriosa!" screamed Buckingham Stussy—the future mother of Edward Weevil and the base for the clone Stussy—as she lunged at the newcomer. "You're asking for death!"

The woman named Gloriosa, the former Empress of Amazon Lily, rolled her eyes and nimbly dodged Stussy’s lunge. She even had the leisure to greet Roa, "Little Roa, you're back too?"

It seemed the fight wouldn't happen after all. Roa sighed—what a pity.

Though he sighed inwardly, the most polite "good child" of the Rocks Pirates responded earnestly, "Good afternoon, Auntie Gloriosa! You look super beautiful today!"

"Oh, what a sweet-talking, good boy!" Gloriosa dodged another attack from Stussy and even found time to pat Roa on the head. "Did you have fun on your trip?"

"I had a great time," Roa giggled.

It had been a long time since he’d tasted such delicious dark energy. Uncle Shiki was indeed a very good cook.

Seeing that Whitebeard no longer had any intent to fight, the Golden Lion clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Kid, I’m going to go eat. Coming?"

"No, thank you," Roa politely declined. "I’ll eat back at my place."

Shiki raised an eyebrow, then gave a strange smile. "It’s no wonder Newgate doesn't like you, kid."

"Hmph." Whitebeard let out a cold snort.

Roa scratched the back of his head with a tactical, goofy smile.

After bidding farewell to his much older colleagues, Roa returned to his residence on Hachinosu—a small arena located very close to the Skull Building.

Before he could even enter, a man hurried up to greet him. "Lord Roa! You’ve returned!"

"Oh! Dylan, I’m back! Sorry for the trouble of watching the house these past few days!" Roa waved at the man. Dylan was one of Roa’s followers.

The Rocks Pirates were that kind of organization—nominally a single crew, but internally a collection of fiefdoms, with the officers only a step away from tearing each other apart. Even Roa had his own small faction.

"The new thralls have been settled," Dylan reported meticulously, facing his master’s beaming smile. "Shall I prepare your meal?"

"Yes, please!" Roa’s cute little face was full of anticipation. "I’ve only been able to eat regular food for days; hurry up and bring me the feast!"

"Yes, sir."

A short while later, Roa had transformed back into a massive black tiger, lying in wait on the throne at the highest point of the arena's spectator stands.

In the arena below, the iron gates on both sides were raised with a boom, and two groups of anxious, uneasy people walked out from each side. They were mostly wounded and looked disheveled, but everyone held a sword or blade.

When they noticed the others, their faces turned even paler in an instant.

Beside the throne, Dylan raised his voice, "Now, begin the slaughter! Only the victors shall survive!"

Saliva dripped from the corner of Roa’s mouth.

*Hehehe, dinner time.*