Chapter 957

The pair has yet to make a move, but their goals and intentions remain unclear, thus combatting them will be difficult. Information about the Rocks Pirates is still scarce. Sengoku likens the two Emperors as cat and dog, so their alliance is certainly surprising, and he comments how most Marines today don’t know who Rocks was. He then goes on to tell the Marines present in the room about Rocks. The Rocks Pirates, as they were called, formed when a group gathered on the Pirate Island Hachinosu.

They were a violent bunch who would kill each other regularly, even on the same ship. Kaidou, Big Mom and Whitebeard were members of this crew, along with many other pirates who made a name for themselves such as “The Golden Lion”, “Captain John”, “Silver Axe” and “Ochoku”. The Marines present are shocked that so many famous pirates are connected and so few people knew. Sengoku explains that one reason is due to the unfriendly relationship among the crew, not many lived to talk about it. Rocks wanted to be the King of the World, and he wielded his crew akin to a terrorist organization.

The other reason is that the World Government erased most of the crew’s acts from history. Their infamy reached people at the time, however. Events came to a head 38 years ago, on an island known as God Valley. News of the Rocks Pirates’ defeat spread world-wide. On that day, Monkey D.

Garp defeated the crew, earning him the title of “Hero of the Marines”. The Marines listening to Sengoku talk about how they never knew which of Garp’s heroic feats gave him that title. Sengoku adds that Garp tends to keep mum about the whole ordeal aside from the known historical facts. The scene changes briefly to Garp on his ship, ascending from Fish-Man Island, making a vague comment Big Mom and Kaidou’s alliance. The first reason Garp likes to keep quiet about the battle is one that never made it into the public record.

Garp had to fight alongside a pirate. The other reason is that Garp fought to protect the Celestial Dragons. The introduction of Celestial Dragons into the story and Garp’s secrecy about protecting them surprise and confuse the present Marines. Sengoku explains that Garp’s moral code does not allow him to protect Celestial Dragons. It’s also the reason he never accepted the rank of Admiral, because he would be directly under their control.

The true story of the event known as the “God Valley Incident” is that Garp and Gol D. Roger met there by chance, teamed up, and defeated the Rocks Pirates. This revelation surprises the Marines most of all. Sengoku goes on to say that God Valley is no longer found on any maps. In reality, the entire island disappeared without explanation as if it never existed.

Sengoku rephrased his description, saying that an island the World Government wanted to keep secret disappeared, and asked if they still wanted to ask questions. Sengoku caps the story off summarily by saying that once a man named Rocks wanted to be the King of the World. Rocks, who is no longer alive, stepped into some parts of history that he shouldn’t have, and as a result little to no information about the Rocks Pirates survives, save for the memories of some of the older Marines. The Marines are stunned to think that there was once a man who commanded three people who would later become Emperors. Sengoku goes on to talk about how Rocks was Roger’s first and possibly greatest enemy.

Everyone called him Captain Rocks, but his full name was Rocks D. Xebec, another pirate to bear the initial D. Sengoku ends his story as the Inspector General concludes that Big Mom and Kaidou as they are now far greater threats than they were under Rocks, and their alliance is far more dangerous than the Rocks Pirates. He then turns the floor over to Commodore Brannew as he asks for Kaidou and Big Mom’s current bounties. Brannew explains that the members of the recently dissolved Seven Warlords need new bounty figures.

He then turns everyone’s attention to the Four Emperors. Blackbeard became an Emperor about a year ago. His attack on Impel Down gave him powerful new subordinates and he is presently the de facto don of the Pirate Island Hachinosu. Boss of the Blackbeard Pirates, Admiral Marshall D. Teach, with a bounty of 2,247,600,000.

The next man became an Emperor about six years ago. He is the youngest of the group and has the trust of those under him. His executives, Lucky Roux, Yasopp, and Benn Beckman, are all famous in their own right. His crew has a high average bounty and Brannew considers this crew the most balanced of the four. Leader of the Red Hair Pirates, Captain “Red Hair” Shanks, with a bounty of 4,048,900,000.

Third on the docket, this pirate allegedly attacked Elbaph while still only a child. She doesn’t trust anyone she’s not related to. The 85 offspring serving under her created the country of Totto Land. Captain of the Big Mom Pirates, Charlotte Linlin, with a bounty of 4,388,000,000. Following Big Mom, the next pirate was but an apprentice during his time with the Rocks Pirates.

Using only his raw strength, he gained the admiration of many pirates, and in doing so, came to be an Emperor. The Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates, Kaidou “of the Beasts”, with a bounty of 4,611,100,000. The Marines are in shock from seeing so many high bounties. Brannew states that they can no longer rely on the Seven Warlords to keep the Four Emperors in check and whether or not it was a good idea will be decided later by the Special Science Group, or SSG. Brannew then puts up two more wanted posters as a means of comparison.

The Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, Edward Newgate, with a bounty of 5,046,000,000 and the Captain of the Roger Pirates, none other than Pirate King Gol D. Roger, with a bounty of 5,564,800,000. Brannew explains how Roger and Whitebeard have the two highest bounties in history but should an alliance between Kaidou and Big Mom happen, their combined bounties would surpass either Roger or Newgate’s alone, and that is exactly what is about to happen in Wano. Before Brannew can continue, he is interrupted by Sakazuki, who enters the briefing room. Sakazuki tells Brannew to leave Wano alone for now as they don’t have the resources to deal with two Emperors at once. He then addresses Sengoku, who has no intention of getting involved but was simply sharing his knowledge and wisdom with the younger generation, understanding relationships is key, and not knowing the past will lead to a dark future. Sengoku then recalls that Roger, Shanks, and Newgate all took a liking to a pirate from Wano. Sakazuki presumes Sengoku means Kouzuki Oden, who was a division commander in the Whitebeard Pirates. Sengoku reminds him that Oden was later recruited by Roger to go on his famed last voyage. The chapter ends with Sengoku asking Sakazuki why so many powerful individuals have ties to Wano.