Rocks Band: I have 48 Imperial Arms.

For Locke right now, money, fruits, and power are absolutely the most important things at any time. And everything else...?

Uh~~~

As for those things, Locke simply doesn't have the energy or the inclination to consider them all right now. Everything needs to be prioritized and arranged in a specific order, and that's something that absolutely needs to be addressed.

Therefore!

For Locke, this was more of a mission than a task for the MADS research team. As for his own thoughts? He'd deal with that later. It's unrealistic to expect to become an expert overnight, and he didn't have the time or energy to do so right now. What was more important for him was to grow step by step, which was crucial.

"Vegapunk."

"Caesar."

"Quinn."

"Gaji..."

"Hmm~"

Locke narrowed his eyes, a sharp killing intent flashing in them, and muttered to himself, "Judge! Vinsmoke Judge, a member of the Germa Kingdom in the North Sea, perfect! I'll deal with you this time, otherwise you'll be a nuisance. However! A research team can't only have four people, so these four should be the only ones who are relatively famous."

Locke pondered all of this in his heart. In his eyes, Judge was already a dead man. As long as Judge didn't leave, he would definitely kill Judge without hesitation.

only……

Unbeknownst to Locke, Judge had already received the news when Locke set sail for the MADS research team. Upon learning that the visitor was Locke, Judge turned around and ran without hesitation! Seriously? I'm not an idiot. Am I supposed to just wait here to die?

I'm running fast. Once I'm gone, once you're gone, I'll come back.

Judge ran away just like that, and as for where he went? Nobody knows.

Therefore……

Ten days later!

When Locke found the MADS research team's ship, only Vegapunk, Queen, and Caesar remained as the team. As Locke looked at these three, a glint flashed in his eyes.

“Vinsmoke Judge!” Locke roared menacingly. “Isn’t this guy here?”

"Yes!"

Vegapunk nodded and said very calmly, "Mr. Locke, Judge has left. He said that you would definitely choose to kill him if you came, so he left first."

"cut!"

Locke curled his lip and said, "This guy runs pretty fast, but! Never mind, I don't have time to look for him right now, so I'll just let him live for a while longer."

Locke had a slight suspicion that Judge had run away first, but it didn't really matter. He ran away, so what? It wasn't a big deal anyway.

Subsequently.

Locke turned his gaze to Vegapunk and asked, "Vegapunk, I don't like to waste words. Captain Locke asked me to ask you how your research is going. If it still can't succeed, then there might be some unexpected problems."

Locke's words were extremely harsh, but they were all too true. Everyone present was perfectly clear about what was going to happen next. Anyone who wasn't an idiot could figure out what would happen after a little thought.

Locks D. Gibek!

Since you've agreed to this man's request, then your research would be best off succeeding. Otherwise, if it fails, the consequences could be terrifying. Nobody knows what that terrifying man will do.

"Phew~~~"

Vegapunk exhaled a deep breath and said with a serious expression, "Three months! At most three months. The research will definitely succeed. There will absolutely be no problems."

"Three months?"

Locke nodded and casually said, "That would be for the best! Dr. Vegapunk, you should know very well that Captain Locke will not like being deceived! You said it's three months, so you need to be sure of the time and make sure there are no problems."

to be frank!

Locke really didn't know what Captain Rocks and Vegapunk were researching, mainly because he wasn't interested in it at the moment.

after all!

He knew that his next mission was extremely important, and Captain Rocks had offered a high price for it. If he completed it, he would receive three Devil Fruits in one go. Rocks was very interested in such a reward.

“No problem.” Vegapunk nodded his large head without hesitation and said very seriously, “Mr. Rock, you can tell Mr. Rocks that it can definitely be completed in three months! There won’t be any problems.”

Locke nodded and said, "No problem."

this matter!

And that was settled. Locke waved to Vegapunk, turned around, and left. He was content with knowing the news; he had obtained the specific number of three months, which was enough.

What will happen if it cannot be completed?

Hehehe~~~

That's hard to say!

and!

What Locke knew best was whether the Rocks Pirates could really hold out for another three months. This was actually a more important question! Given the current situation, whether the Rocks Pirates could survive for another three months was the most pressing issue to consider.

Therefore!

After Locke left, he probably felt that there wouldn't be much interaction for a while, and he also had other tasks to handle.

to be honest!

Time!

time!

Time is of the essence right now. I need to seize every second to accomplish everything I want to do, and that is the most important core. After all, anyone who isn't an idiot can see that the Rocks Pirates are now on the verge of going berserk.

And this kind of opportunity to go on a rampage is the best opportunity, because! As long as you complete all the tasks, you can get everything.

This opportunity ultimately led to Rocks becoming the King of the World.

Or……

Hehehe~~~

In short, everyone wants to see how things will turn out; that's everyone's thought.

PS: 4000-word long chapter! Four updates a day! This is the third update! Please subscribe! Please subscribe to your favorites! Please give flowers! Please vote with monthly tickets! Please tip! Please leave a review!!!

Chapter 76: The Stone Empire: The Horde Empire

Blue~~~

Blue~~~

"Captain Rocks, Vegapunk gave us three months. After three months, the research you asked us to do will definitely be successful."

“Oh hahahaha~~~”

"Three months?!"

"Not bad!"

"Locke, you know what your next task is."

"Ok!"

Blue~~~

The Den Den Mushi hung up again.

Locke casually tossed the Den Den Mushi aside, gazing into the distance, pondering to himself, "Captain Locke seems very interested in this research! But what kind of research is it?"

"It's really strange..."

Locke found it very strange, and he wasn't joking; it really did look very eerie and bizarre. This research must be very important, and it should have appeared in the original work.

but!

However, I couldn't quite remember.

"Your Highness," Leone said, approaching with the intelligence report, "The Stone Empire! The Horde Empire!"

"This is our mission objective this time."

"The Horde Empire!"

Locke took Leone's intelligence report, not dwelling on the situation of the MADS research team, nor having the mind to consider so much, but focusing mainly on the intelligence report itself.

That's right!

The Rocks Pirates have a total of six executives and 72 members. Excluding those who work together as a single entity, these same people who always act together, are now simultaneously attacking 48 countries!

These countries are scattered across the seas, along the Grand Line, and in all sorts of places in the New World.

and!

Locke was facing the Hode Empire, also known as the Stone Empire. This was an empire in the New World, famous for its stone production, which earned it a large amount of Berries. As a member state of the World Government, it was also very powerful.

This!

That was Locke's goal.

"Hmm~"

Locke rested his chin on his hand, looking at the intelligence report and pondering many things. This was no joke; it was a fact, no joke at all!

As for the other 223 cadres, Locke himself had no idea how they actually did it.