Chapter 21 - Captain's Crisis, I'm Done For!

Chapter 21 - Captain's Crisis, I'm Done For!

[Daily Renji]: [The Goro Goro no Mi is a solid choice, and we know its location. By the way, in your era, there shouldn't be a Goro Goro no Mi user, right? It's probably waiting to be reborn after the current user dies?]

After all, Enel's time was still a ways off.

If the Goro Goro no Mi user was still alive, then the fruit wouldn't be available on Birka for now.

[One Piece Renji]: [There isn't one right now. I'm definitely going to Birka. Otherwise, I'll die at God Valley for sure!]

No matter how uncertain he was, if he didn't go, he would definitely die at God Valley.

[Zombie Renji]: [God Valley is indeed dangerous. The God's Knights, Roger, Garp, and the Rocks Pirates—it's a mess. Later, God Valley was split in half, right? Silver Axe, Captain John, and others died there, and half of God Valley eventually became Thriller Bark? I don't want you to end up as a zombie years later!]

God Valley was extremely dangerous. Silver Axe and Captain John died there.

Years later, Moria found half of God Valley and discovered their bodies, using them to create his zombie army.

[Naruto Renji]: [Can't you just not go? What's your current situation in the Rocks Pirates?]

Everyone knew he was with the Rocks Pirates, but the specifics weren't clear.

[One Piece Renji]: [Let me explain briefly. The Rocks Pirates are more like a large fleet, similar to the Straw Hat Grand Fleet in the future. Rocks has his own crew, and the others joined later, like Shiki, Whitebeard, and Big Mom. I'm the same. Even though my strength is only at the level of a rear admiral, I joined early, so I have my own division!]

[Daily Renji]: [Damn, Rocks is pretty generous to you! A rear admiral-level strength and you already have your own division!]

Renji had essentially invested in Rocks, joining the Rocks Pirates with his own crew as soon as they started making moves.

The timing was awkward. Back then, he didn't have a system, so he needed to latch onto a powerful group.

The Marines' environment was harsh at the time, and Renji didn't want to be a dog for the Celestial Dragons, so he immediately ruled out joining the Marines.

As a transmigrator, if he just wanted stability, he could have stayed in the four seas as a lazy Marine. But he wasn't satisfied with that.

The Revolutionary Army didn't exist yet, so becoming a pirate was the only option.

Among the pirates, there were only two factions worth joining: the Roger Pirates and the Rocks Pirates.

The Roger Pirates had left the New World after being defeated by Rocks and were wandering the four seas. Finding them wasn't easy.

The Rocks Pirates, on the other hand, were based on Hachinosu in the New World. So Renji gritted his teeth and decided to join the Rocks Pirates.

[One Piece Renji]: [In a startup team, even if your strength isn't great, the boss will still give you a decent position. I'm probably like Burgess under Blackbeard, but with more potential. Initially, I was only at the level of a captain, but I've been training with Rocks, so my strength has improved!]

Renji's rapid improvement was largely due to training with Rocks.

He became a division captain not just because Rocks favored him, but also because he went from captain-level strength to rear admiral-level in just a week, and his strength continued to grow rapidly. Rocks saw potential in him.

Plus, Renji was the first to respond to Rocks' call, so naturally, Rocks took extra care of him.

[Naruto Renji]: [So, is your crew fully assembled now?]

He was curious. If the crew was complete, then God Valley was probably next, right?

[One Piece Renji]: [Not yet. Kaido hasn't joined yet. Currently, the first division captain is Whitebeard, the second is Shiki, the third is Charlotte Linlin, I'm the fourth division captain, the fifth is *John the Giant*, the sixth is Captain John, and the seventh is Silver Axe.]

In total, there were seven divisions, plus some subordinate pirates attached to each division. The structure of the Rocks Pirates was already well-established.

Even if Kaido joined later, he wouldn't become a division captain. Rocks had already made it clear: there would only be seven captains, and that wouldn't change.

[Demon Renji]: [That's not bad. Even if you're the weakest among the seven captains, it still looks pretty good!]

This was the Rocks Pirates, after all!

In this era, they were probably the strongest pirate crew. Even Roger and the others needed help from other forces to take them down, and even then, many of them escaped.

Among those who escaped, three became future Emperors, and two became legendary pirates on par with Roger. The Rocks Pirates were truly a gathering of talents.

[One Piece Renji]: [I thought the same at first, but Rocks gave us a month and said there'd be a captain challenge. Whoever wins can become a captain. I'm screwed!]

Damn it!

At first, he thought he could coast by, but now he realized that wasn't an option.

With the captain challenge coming up, his strength would definitely make him a target.

Guys like Whitebeard and the others probably wouldn't be challenged, but people like *John the Giant* and the rest would be. Most challengers would come for him.

This was why Renji was desperate to find the Goro Goro no Mi.

[Daily Renji]: [That's rough, but you can unlock the Mangekyō Sharingan, right?]

[One Piece Renji]: [I can unlock the Mangekyō, but my stamina can't keep up. Plus, I feel like the Goro Goro no Mi would give me the biggest boost right now. No matter what, I can't just sit around and wait. Rocks gave me this month, but if I don't measure up, he won't go easy on me!]

Rocks had been personally training him during this time. If he failed, that guidance would stop.

So Renji couldn't afford to sit still. In the world of One Piece, mentors were crucial. For example, "Teacher" Kaido taught Luffy a new ability with just one hit.

---

"Hey! I've been looking for you everywhere, Renji. Let's go drink!"

Just as Renji was discussing things in the chat group, Captain John grabbed him, clearly intending to drag him off to a party. "Stop thinking about training for now. I heard Rocks sent Whitebeard to bring back some talented kid!"

(End of Chapter)

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