Cover kills any remaining argument on the 2nd strongest and the vice captain.
Oda couldn't make clearer than that: a cover where he drew only these few characters among the hundreds of the series, and these few characters only have a single thing in common... being the strongest after the leader and stronger than anyone else in the crew/group.
Note as there is King but no Queen, Zoro but not Sanji, Rayleigh but not Scopper Gaban... loooool, bye bye Simpji cucks! Can't wait for your denial.