With the arrival of Captain Rocks, the previously noisy banquet hall fell silent.
"Since neither of you can convince the other, Bob won't join either team!" Rocks declared.
Everyone was taken aback. Not joining? What did that mean?
"Now, I announce that Bob is the new commander of the Rocks Pirates and can form his own team!" Rocks continued after a pause.
Golden Lion and Whitebeard were stunned by this news. Although Bob was exceptionally talented, they hadn't expected Rocks to make such a decision.
Not just them, but everyone present found it hard to believe.
"Captain, this…" Captain John tried to speak up, but Rocks turned his head, his dominating gaze silencing him immediately.
"I don't like to repeat myself. You should know that," Rocks said coldly.
Captain John felt a chill run down his spine. "Yes, Captain!" he replied hastily.
The rest of the crew dared not defy Rocks' orders, though the atmosphere was undeniably tense.
Compared to the shock and disbelief of others, Bob himself was equally surprised. How had he suddenly become a commander?
"Captain, Bob has just become a crew member. Making him commander right away is absurd!" Wang Zhi voiced his concerns, his tone filled with shock and dissatisfaction. While John didn't dare speak out directly, Wang Zhi did.
"Indeed, commanders are supposed to have both strength and experience. Isn't this decision a bit…" Silver Axe chimed in, though he didn't finish his sentence.
Other officers nodded in agreement.
Rocks glanced around the room. Except for Edward, who seemed indifferent, everyone looked astonished.
Not only were the officers surprised, but even some of the veteran crew members found it hard to accept. They had coveted the commander's position for a long time and now a newcomer had taken it. No one felt good about it.
Moreover, the position of commander was something that had to be earned through years of trials and accumulated achievements. Edward, Golden Lion, Charlotte Linlin, Wang Zhi, John, and Silver Axe—all of them had been promoted to commander straight from being a newcomer. Even Kaido, who had fought for years in the pirate crew, hadn't been deemed worthy of the position. This showed just how difficult and arduous the path to becoming a commander was.
It was worth noting that the Rocks Pirates were known as the dominant force on the seas, symbols of both strength and status, each with bounties worth several hundred million. Edward and Golden Lion's bounties even exceeded a billion.
"You've all seen his talent—he defeated Kaido in one move! And you know how strong Kaido is," Rocks said calmly, looking around the room.
"Moreover, with his talent and strength, he will inevitably become a top-tier powerhouse. I'm just accelerating the process. Rather than having you all fight over it, it's better to let him lead as a commander" Rocks added.
As he finished speaking, an overwhelming aura erupted from him, shaking everyone in the room.
The meaning was already quite clear.
If anyone dared to speak out of turn, fists would do the talking next.
Wang Zhi and John, who were about to continue their attempts to dissuade, immediately fell silent upon seeing this. Although Golden Lion also felt it was somewhat inappropriate, he didn't show any obvious resistance.
Seeing that no one had any further objections—at least on the surface—Rocks walked over and patted Bob on the shoulder.
"I'm looking forward to your performance!"
"Come see me after the banquet."
With that, he left.
After a long while, the pirates who had been intimidated by the aura finally let out a deep breath. Their eyes were filled with envy and jealousy as they looked at Bob.
The older crew members didn't even bother to hide their hostility toward him. They couldn't do anything about Captain Rocks, but dealing with a newcomer? They had plenty of methods.
And so, because of Rocks' few words Bob had unknowingly made enemies of a whole group of people.
"Gurararara! Congratulations, Bob! You've become the youngest commander in the Rocks Pirates!"
Seeing that Rocks had left, Whitebeard raised his glass and approached Bob. Although Bob did not joined his division, Whitebeard was genuinely happy to see him become a commander.
"Who would have thought? In the blink of an eye, we're equals now! Quite surprising, isn't it?"
The Golden Lion also came over.
He knew Rocks' decisions were final. Though he was shocked internally, he maintained a composed demeanor on the surface. Since he couldn't win Bob over, at least he wouldn't make an enemy of him.
The other officers also stepped forward to offer their congratulations.
Though they all felt it was a bit premature, Rocks' earlier actions had forced them to take notice. It was rare for the captain to hold someone in such high regard, and it certainly wasn't without reason.
"I'm also surprised to have become a commander. I'll need everyone's support in the future!"
Bob raised his glass and downed it in one go, smiling as he spoke.
Such formalities were necessary, but as for actual support? He'd rather not have someone stab him in the back.
This little episode didn't disrupt the ongoing banquet. Under the organization of the various commanders, laughter filled the hall.
Amid the noise, Bob didn't linger at the banquet for long. After exchanging a few words with Whitebeard and the other commanders, he made his way to Rocks' room.