bookbashuk Chapter 176 Rocks was surprised, but the white-bearded man remained as steady as a mountain.
Chapter 176 Rocks was surprised, but the white-bearded man remained as steady as a mountain.
Chapter 176 Rocks was surprised, but the white-bearded man remained as steady as a mountain.
When his confidant hurriedly reported to him that Brian had returned seriously injured, Lockes instantly shifted his attention from the nautical chart. His burly body trembled violently, and a rare hint of anxiety flashed in his unruly eyes.
"Brian is seriously injured?" Rocks' voice was deep and powerful, carrying an undeniable authority, but there was a subtle undercurrent of emotion in his tone.
"Yes, Captain! We're not sure how Brian got so badly injured yet, but we're pretty sure it's related to the Roger Pirates, to the big battle on Skypiea a few days ago."
"According to the intelligence we have received, Lord Brian did defeat the Roger Pirates, but was ultimately thwarted by Marine Garp, which prevented him from killing Roger."
"So, how is Brian doing right now?"
"The specific situation is still uncertain. All we can see is that Lord Brian is seriously injured and was helped off the ship by his monster girl. His injuries look very serious."
"In addition, several of Lord Brian's monster girls are also seriously injured." The confidant reported, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He knew what this news meant for Lox's strategic deployment.
Very few forces across the entire sea knew about the terrifying battle Brian had previously waged against the Roger Pirates on Skypiea.
Besides the World Government and the Marine Headquarters, which witnessed the battle firsthand, Rocks also received intelligence about the war, but not much, and there were still many uncertainties about the specific details, which led to this report.
5
Lox jumped to his feet and paced around the room, his anxious expression making the atmosphere somewhat tense. But soon, Lox's expression turned to excitement; he clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles cracking.
"Good, very good! Knowing Brian's personality, he wouldn't have returned to Beehive Island so badly injured if he hadn't gained something from this trip. He must have won."
"Even though he's seriously injured right now, it's enough to prove his potential is limitless! This kid is even more destructive than Whitebeard and Shiki were back then. It's no wonder I value him so much!"
Lox's lips curled into a bloodthirsty grin.
What he needs is not a subordinate who is always healthy and invincible, but a powerful weapon that can be used by him and is easy for him to control.
Brian's serious injury, unknowingly, just happened to satisfy his unknown yet morbid need for balance.
He suddenly waved his hand, shattering the wine glass on the table.
"Immediately! Send the ship's doctor, John, with the best medicines and medical team from Beehive Island to Brian's residence! Treat him at all costs!"
"Beast, he's a high-ranking officer in my Rocks Pirates crew. He's returned victorious; we can't afford any mistakes!"
"Yes, Captain Rocks."
The other person nodded and quickly ran downstairs, leaving Locke alone in the room once again.
Lox's breathing became heavy as he stared intently at Maryjoia's location on the chart, his eyes burning with a destructive rage.
"Roger, you piece of trash! You ran away to the first half of the Grand Line, did you ever imagine that one day you would fall at the hands of my subordinates? How laughable."
"As a fellow member of the D clan, I'm way ahead of you. You piece of trash, it turns out only my ideology is correct."
"However, if Roger really fails, the Navy will definitely take action, which means the World Government will definitely take even bigger actions. It seems that I don't have much time left."
"Do you really think I haven't noticed the enormous, almost imperceptible changes in the New World and even the entire Grand Line in the past six months? Hmph, you want to make a move against me? Let's see if you can choke to death then."
"No, I need to prepare even faster. With the current chaos in the New World, the best time to take action against the World Government will come soon."
Rocks' ambition is like a volcanic eruption. Brian's serious injury is just a minor episode. As long as he can be healed, it will not affect the overall situation.
What he needs is for Brian to return to his peak form in six months, becoming his strongest spearhead in his quest for the world championship.
Once you can achieve this, everything else will be fine.
Meanwhile, in the luxurious courtyard on the other side of the castle, Edward Newgate, one of the four senior executives, sat quietly at a table, savoring the unique spirits of Beehive Island.
He listened silently to the discussions of his captains. His resolute face showed little emotion, but his hawk-like eyes gleamed with deep contemplation.
"Dad, Brian the Beast is injured. Looks like those guys from the Navy or the World Government are really going all out," a captain said in a low voice, his tone tinged with schadenfreude.
Without knowing the specifics, Rocks had not yet shared detailed information with the other officers on Beehive Island, leading everyone to believe that Brian's serious injury was caused by the World Government or the Navy.
After all, Brian had indeed stirred up a lot of hatred towards the Navy and the World Government.
"He deserves it! Who told him to be so arrogant! His monster girls have taken up a lot of our ship's supplies!" another captain complained.
Newgate simply put down his glass with a dull thud, interrupting their conversation.
"Brian, you little bastard—" he muttered the name under his breath, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Alright, stop talking nonsense about the high-ranking officers of the pirate crew. Your strength is not enough to justify your opinions on Brian."
Newgate's voice carried a hint of recognition for the strong. As a fellow high-ranking officer, he knew how petty Brian was. If these words got out, his sons would be in trouble.
Especially his monster girl army, none of them will listen to reason.
At this moment, Stussy, Newgate's "leader" in the Rocks Pirates, walked over. She was dressed in a smart cheongsam, holding a long pipe in her hand, and her eyes showed a hint of worry, but more importantly, insight.
"Newgate, Brian's return will once again disrupt the balance of Beehive Island. We need to prepare as soon as possible."
"His serious injury is undoubtedly the best catalyst for those disgruntled executives. I'm worried that someone might take advantage of the situation; the Rocks Pirates are not a monolithic entity."
Stussy whispered a reminder, her sharp gaze revealing the undercurrents within the pirate crew more clearly than anyone else's.
Clearly, Stusi's target was several other officers on the island, such as Silver Axe.