Chapter 957: Ultimate

---

Who are the Rock Pirates?

To say this chapter is the greatest One Piece chapter is certainly a stretch, but it feels like its true. The chapter begins with Admiral Sakazuki and Admiral Fujitora discussing the abolishing of the Shichibukai system. Sakazuki wanted it to remain, but Fujitora was against it. Fujitora tells him to have faith in the SSG (Special Science Group), a newly established project lead by Vegapunk. The conversation pivots to the new alliance between Big Mom and Kiado. Fujitora mentions how their forming the “new Rocks” to which Sakazuki responds “don’t be so dramatic.” Elsewhere, Brannew and Sengoku are briefing the Marines about the alliance. Sengoku comments that most marines aren’t familiar with the story of the Rock Pirates.

Led by Rocks D. Xebec, they formed when they gathered on the pirate island Hachinosu. They were so violent that they often murdered each other, even while on the same ship. Big Mom, Kiado, Whitebeard, Shiki the Golden Lion, Captain John, Silver Axe and Ochoku were members. Due to the unfriendly nature among the crew, many didn’t survive to tell the world about their exploits. Rocks use his crew like a terrorists organization, hoping that he would one day become the Pirate King. Of course the World Government erased the acts from history. Despite this, their actions did reach the generally public. They were defeat 38 years ago, on an island called God Valley.

---

Monkey D. Garp and Gol D. Roger defeat the Rock Pirates

Garp has been known as the “Hero of the Marines,” for some time now. Having performed heroic acts for decades. One such act was the defeat of the Rock Pirates. He refuses to talk about the accomplishment though. Sengoku notes that there’s two reasons he won’t talk about the feat. First, he had to partner with Gol D. Roger to do it. Second, he was fighting to protect the Celestial Dragons. Normally, the Marines are expected to protect the Celestial Dragons. However, Garp’s morals prevent him from protecting the Celestial Dragons. It’s the primary reason he refused to become an Admiral, as it will put him under their direct control. This event may be the main reason that Gol D. Roger trusted Garp with the protection of his son, Ace.

---

The bounties of the Yonko

Commodore Brannew explains that Kiado and Big Mom are much bigger threats now than when they were with the Rock Pirates. He then reports the bounties of the Yonko. After a year as a Yonko, Blackbeard has amassed a bounty of 2,247,600,00 billion. The youngest Yonko, with highly regarded executives, Lucky Roo, Usopp’s father Yasopp and Benn Beckman, Shanks has a bounty of 4,048,900,000 billion. Big Mom bounty has reached, 4,388,000,000 billion, with Kiado rounding it out at 4,611,100,000 billion. For comparison, Brannew notes that Whitebeard and Gol D. Roger both had bounties over 5 billion. Expecting both Big Mom and Kiado to create more havoc at Wano, he believes that they both will surpass the bounties of Whitebeard and Roger.

Bounties in One Piece are actually an inaccurate measure of power. They are given based on “perceived level of threat to the world.” The combat abilities of the pirate do matter, but so do number of criminal acts, inciting other to commit crimes and having possession of illegal knowledge like Nico Robin. Finally, Sengoku notes that legendary pirates like Shanks, Roger and Whitebeard all liked Kozuki Oden. Once a division commander in the Whitebeard Pirates, he later became a member of Rogers crew. Sengoku wonders why, “so many powerful individuals have ties to Wano.”