Dimon stowed the five fruits for now and headed downstairs.
Only Abel was in the bar. Seeing Dimon come down, he sprang to his feet.
"Lord Dimon, a bunch of people suddenly appeared in the second-floor storeroom just now."
"Where are they?"
"They left. Should I go after them?"
"No need. Let them go."
Dimon's job had been to get Ginny and the others out of God Valley. What they did afterward wasn't his concern. After warning Abel that no one was to enter the second-floor bedroom, Dimon stepped out of Eternal Bar with an easy gait.
Before long, at Shakky's bar—
Shakky poured him a Margarita with a smile. "Weren't you all headed to God Valley? Back so soon?"
"I came back alone. The others are still tearing it up over there."
Dimon wondered how the battle was going. God Valley was crawling with enemies; even Harald had been dragged into it. Could the Rocks Pirates actually win? Thinking it through—probably not.
More than ten Holy Knights, Elder Saturn, the Giant King Harald, Vice Admiral Garp…
Even that lineup was nasty. If things tipped the wrong way, the other four Elders could join anytime. Heck, Imu might descend personally.
"What's on God Valley that made you mobilize everyone?" Shakky blinked.
"Six top-tier Devil Fruits."
Dimon hesitated, then added, "That's the surface story. Rocks went there to find something else."
"What something?"
"This is just my guess—treat it like a campfire tale."
The keystone was Saturn. "Saint Saturn" of the Five Elders held the title "Warrior God of Science Defense." Elders rarely acted in person. If he was there, something important—scientific—had to be hidden on God Valley. Something Imu would care about.
Which all but spelled out the answer.
"Ever heard of the Ancient Weapons?"
"Ancient Weapons?" Shakky propped her cheek on her palm, intrigued. "The legendary super-weapons said to be able to destroy the world."
"My guess is one of the three—the Heavenly King—is hidden on God Valley. That's why the Celestial Dragons host their 'hunting game' there."
Dimon swirled his glass and smiled. "Once they've wiped out the natives, they can take their time finding it."
"Why not Poseidon or Pluton?" Shakky asked, puzzled.
Because he knew where the other two were. Poseidon was the mermaid princess Shirahoshi—still unborn. Pluton slept in Wano, a super-warship.
Dimon thought for a moment, then said, "Shakky, the Rocks Pirates might splinter after this. This island's about to get dangerous. You might consider cutting out early."
"Eh?" Shakky blinked, taken aback.
—
A bombshell soon shook Hive Island, splashed across the World Economy News and spread worldwide:
The once-invincible Rocks Pirates had been defeated at God Valley, their members scattered.
The papers said "Marine Hero" Garp joined forces with the legendary Roger Pirates to crush the Rocks Pirates.
"Rocks Pirates… disbanded?"
"You're kidding! All those monsters—beaten?"
"No way. Impossible. I literally saw Lord Dimon in the red-light district yesterday!"
"Probably infighting, right? Those guys' teamwork is like, zero…"
"Uh—what's that up there— a dragon? A Azure Dragon!!"
Hive Island's pirates could hardly accept the news. Amid the chaos, a blue-scaled dragon swept in from the sky, drawing countless eyes.
At Shakky's bar—
Not business as usual. The bar was closed today.
Dimon pushed in the door, scanned the bar, and arched a brow.
"Only you lot made it back?"
Charlotte Linlin took a swig and glanced at Dimon, sounding a little helpless.
"There was a traitor."
"Who?"
Dimon counted heads: Kaido, Golden Lion, Whitebeard, Stussy, Gloriosa, and Streusen, plus Charlotte Linlin.
"And Rocks?"
"Captured," Whitebeard said, nursing his drink. "That idiot got blindsided while fighting Harald, then dog-piled. Lost in the end."
"The traitor was 'Silver Axe'," Golden Lion said with a sour face.
"Silver Axe" Hun.
Dimon hadn't dealt much with him, but the impression stuck—the fruit that guy traded him had been worth 800 demon points.
"Silver Axe was government from the start… He joined Rocks just to infiltrate," Gloriosa explained.
Dimon sat down. "Where are the others?"
"Who knows. Either they ran, or got taken down on the island," Kaido said, arms folded. "I ate the Azure Dragon Fruit and got these few out."
"One Margarita," Dimon said, then asked, "So what now? Break him out of prison?"
At that, a few looks turned… funny.
Stussy tittered behind her hand. "Dimon, you're so kind."
Golden Lion curled his lip. "Who'd save that idiot? He can rot in jail. Keh-hahaha."
He stood first. "Rocks Pirates ends here. I'm founding my own crew. Anyone coming with me?"
Silence.
Golden Lion looked to Dimon. "Dimon, you'll come with me, right?"
"Bon voyage."
Golden Lion's mouth twitched. "At least gimme a contact. I'll need your Eternal Wine again."
Business was business; Dimon slid a number over. Satisfied, Golden Lion swaggered out, looking refreshed.
Charlotte Linlin clapped Kaido's shoulder and grinned wide. "I'm building a nation where every race can live as equals. Kaido, you're helping me."
"I don't want to," Kaido said flatly.
"You owe me, brat! Who do you think handed you that Azure Dragon Fruit?" Linlin snapped.
"I'll repay the favor—but I'm not joining your crew."
Linlin scowled, then turned to Dimon. "Dimon, come with me. We'll have a child—inherit your brewing talent!"
A chill ran up Dimon's spine. He waved both hands. "Spare me. I concede."
He flicked her a slip of paper. "Here's my number. Safe travels."
"Heartless man!" Linlin huffed out. Streusen left with her without a word. The BIG MOM Pirates had been founded by those two before Rocks beat them and they joined him. With Rocks shattered, it was time to revive their own flag.
Watching them go, Gloriosa glanced at Shakky.
"Since our lovesickness is cured, why don't we visit Amazon Lily? We kind of dumped the Kuja Pirates on Toretoma. I feel bad."
"True. Without Rocks' protection, Hive Island isn't safe," Shakky nodded. She winked at Dimon. "I'll hunt Devil Fruits and trade for Eternal Wine—give me your contact too."
Dimon slid another paper across. He'd been prepared—he'd suspected three days ago that the Rocks Pirates would fold. And here they were.
Not that it mattered much to him—he'd gotten through the early growth spurt. Out on the seas, he was a power in his own right now.
"Gurararara. One last drink, then I'm off," Whitebeard said, clinking glasses with the remaining few. Rising, he added, "Can't stand that idiot Rocks. My crew's gonna be a family. Dimon, you—"
Before he could invite, Dimon declined first.
Whitebeard laughed. "Wasn't inviting you anyway—you're a walking headache!"
Three days ago Dimon had come back early—how he'd done that was its own secret. Whitebeard couldn't be bothered to pry. His time in the Rocks Pirates had been a not-so-happy chapter.
He took Murakumogiri and left the bar.
Soon, there were hardly any people left.
Dimon looked to Stussy. "And you?"
"Oh my, concerned about me?" She smiled lightly. "I got an invite from MADS a while back. I'm thinking of going. They're researching something… very grand."
MADS—the "Peace Research Institute." Its head: the genius Vegapunk.
"Good luck."
Stussy pulled out a paper slip, planted a kiss on it, and handed it over.
"My Vivre Card. It's yours. Come see me sometime, hmm? Bye for now, Dimon~"
Dimon eyed the card in his hand, a little helpless. When had she started acting like this around him? Seemed like two years ago—after the Roger Pirates visited. Stussy had fancied Whitebeard at first, but he wasn't interested—then she'd set her sights on him?
He pocketed the card and clapped Kaido's shoulder with a grin.
"Hey, Kaizo—feel like helping me steal a country?"
"Steal… a country? Which one?"
"Wano."
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