Movements on All Sides · Final Preparations

Five days after Roger left.

At the port of Hachinosu, a ship docked. The ship was small, with a Whitebeard symbol painted on its sail—two curved swords crossed below a skull. Standing at the bow was a young man with blue hair and a stubble-like head, a thin twig dangling from his mouth, his hands in his pockets, his posture as casual as a neighbor coming to visit.

Marco, First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.

He jumped off the ship and landed on the dock, glancing around. Hachinosu had changed a lot since his last visit—the port had been expanded, with several rows of warehouses added, and the wooden planks on the dock had been replaced with new ones that felt sturdier than before. In the distance, a flag had appeared on the roof of the Castle, its fluttering in the sea breeze.

Kaido sat on a wooden crate at the dock, holding a piece of meat in his hand, and looked up at him. "You've come again."

"I came last time to deliver a message, and I'm here again to deliver another message," Marco said, walking over. "The Pops says he agrees to your conditions, but with one additional condition."

What's additional?

"Whoever gets there first goes in," Marco said. "Pops said—first come, first served. He doesn't want to wait in line at the door."

"Aren't you afraid we'll go in first and take everything?"

Marco laughed, "Pops said you guys aren't those kinds of people. He said—you're a trustworthy person."

Lin Yuan walked out of the Castle: "That's all?"

"That's all," Marco said. "Also, Pops asked me to ask—how many ships are you taking with you?"

"One."

"One?" Marco raised an eyebrow. "You take one ship, Roger takes one, Pops takes one, Golden Lion takes one, and Rocks takes another—is there enough space to dock?"

"Who knows? We'll find out when we get there."

Marco didn't press further, but glanced at the surrounding Hachinosu again. "Your island is bigger than when I last came. Has it been expanded again?"

Several rows of warehouses were built.

"No wonder," Marco said. "You're building this place bigger and bigger. Are you planning to come back and continue building after you reach the Final Island?"

We'll talk about it when we get back.

Marco smiled. "Alright. I'll go back and report then." He turned and walked towards the ship, but after a few steps, he stopped, glanced back at Lin Yuan, and said, "Oh, right, Pops said something else."

What did you say?

He said, "If you die on the road, he'll collect your body."

"Thank him for me."

"He can't hear me. I'll pass on the message." Marco jumped onto the boat, waved towards the dock, and said, "Let's go."

The ship sailed away from the harbor, its sails billowing in the sea breeze, quickly becoming a tiny dot on the surface. Kaido tossed the meat bones he had finished eating into the sea. "Whitebeard, that guy, he really doesn't mince words."

"Haha, whatever." Lin Yuan turned and walked back to the Castle. "Prepare for the next group of guests."

That same afternoon, a ship appeared off the coast of Hachinosu. Its sails were black, and it had no markings. The ship remained anchored about three kilometers from the port, neither approaching nor docking. A man with binoculars stood at the bow, gazing towards Hachinosu for a long time.

Jin stood atop the mast, his Observation Haki spreading out. "Golden Lion's reconnaissance ship. Eight people on board, none of them are officers."

He's still observing.

Should we kick them out?

"No need," Lin Yuan said. "If he wants to see it, let him see it."

The Golden Lion's scout ship remained at sea for about two hours, changing position once, from the front of the harbor to the side, as if to observe the island from a different angle. No one disembarked, and no signals were sent. Two hours later, the ship turned and left at high speed, its sails billowing in the wind, disappearing from the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Ginny came out of the Intelligence Room: "They've left. Heading towards the Golden Lion's territory."

"He'll come," Lin Yuan said. "He's waiting for Roger and Whitebeard to make their move. Now that they've both, he won't have to wait long."

When do you think he'll arrive?

"He won't show up before the end of winter, but he'll bring the ship to the rendezvous point before departure."

Three more days passed. Slow Heartbeat arrived at Hachinosu for the third time.

This time he arrived during the day. He disembarked at the harbor, wearing a grey robe, and walked silently. He crossed the docks and walked through the streets, and no one stopped him—the people of Hachinosu already knew him. He walked to the Castle gate, pushed it open, placed a note on the table, then stepped back two paces and stood in the doorway like a statue.

Lin Yuan stood up from the table and picked up the note. It contained only one line of text, written very lightly, as if afraid of writing through the paper. "I will arrive at the end of winter. I will only bring one boat."

Lin Yuan put down the note. "That's all?"

That's all.

"What other requests does he have?"

Slow Heartbeat paused for a moment, then said, "He said—once we reach the rendezvous point, he won't board anyone's ship. Nor will he let anyone board his. Once we reach our Final Island, we'll each go our own way."

"What if he gets there first?"

"He's arrived; he'll be waiting at the door."

What if he arrives last?

Slow Heartbeat didn't answer the question. He looked into Lin Yuan's eyes, as if trying to figure out why he asked, "Do you want him to arrive last?"

"I don't want to," Lin Yuan said, "But I'm not afraid either."

Slow Heartbeat around and walked out of the Castle. His footsteps were very light and soon disappeared from sight. The note on the table was still there; Lin Yuan folded it and put it in the drawer.

Ginny poked her head out of the Intelligence Room: "What's Rocks' attitude?"

He will come, but he won't come with us.

So what do you plan to do?

"His arrival is enough. His arrival is a statement. His arrival is an acknowledgment of the existence of the Final Island." Lin Yuan closed the drawer. "As for what he plans to do after he arrives—we'll see when the time comes."

For the next two weeks, Hachinosu entered the final preparation stage before the end of winter.

The port was piled high with supplies: food, fresh water, ammunition, Wind Dial, medical supplies, replacement canvas— Ginny's list filled four pages, each item marked with quantity and location. Kaido's jerky occupied a separate box, with his name written in charcoal on the lid and a Dragon Head symbol drawn next to it.

Ginny stood beside the supply pile, holding a ledger and checking the list item by item. "Three hundred barrels of fresh water, enough food for two months, fifty boxes of ammunition, thirty Wind Dial — Kaido, I've already checked your box of jerky, don't put any more in."

Kaido was squatting next to the box, holding a piece of dried meat, when she caught him red-handed. "... I'm checking the quality."

"All inspected? Seal the box when you're done."

Kaido stuffed the jerky into his mouth, clapped his hands, and said, "Seal it."

Kuma was adjusting the helm in the cabin, turning it nimbly. Ember and Huijin were sparring in the Training Ground, golden and gray flames intertwining and swirling in the air, sometimes clashing, sometimes merging, like two rivers of different colors converging and then separating. Zephyr stood on the sidelines watching for a while, then turned and left without saying a word.

Bullet was practicing his punches on the deck. He'd already dented over a dozen metal plates, but he kept going, punch after punch, as if he wanted to smash through them. Moria walked by and glanced at him. "Are you planning to dismantle the ship?"

"Hahaha," Bullet said without turning his head, "This iron plate is harder than yours."

Moria didn't reply, and walked away with his neck hunched over.

Lin Yuan stood by the dock, watching everyone busy with their own tasks. Ginny walked over and stood next to him. "What are you doing standing here?"

"Look in."

What are you looking at?

"See what they still need."

Ginny followed his gaze and looked around. "We don't need anything. Everything that needs to be prepared is prepared. We'll deal with the rest once we get to sea."

The night before departure. At the port of Hachinosu, the Void was moored beside the pier, moonlight shining on its deck. The sea breeze was gentle, the water was calm, and the ship swayed gently.

Ginny went into the cabin and did one last check of the nautical chart. She spread it out on the table, marked a few locations with a pencil, then stepped back to make sure nothing was missed. The red line on the chart stretched from Hachinosu, across a large expanse of the New World, and stopped at a place marked with a circular marker.

Lin Yuan walked in. "Ready?"

"Almost there. The rendezvous point has been marked. Whitebeard, Roger, Golden Lion, Rocks —their course matches ours. We'll meet in this area." Ginny pointed to the dot on the chart. "This is the rendezvous point. They'll be waiting for us here until the end of winter."

What if someone doesn't come?

"Roger will come. Whitebeard will come. Golden Lion —most likely. Rocks— " Ginny paused, "He said he'd come, but he might not be there on time."

Lin Yuan didn't reply. He walked to the window and looked at the night view of the harbor. The moonlight paved a silvery-white path on the water, stretching into the darkness in the distance.

"What do you think the Final Island is?" Ginny asked.

"I don't know. You'll find out when you get there."

Aren't you afraid that there's nothing there?

"It can't be all for nothing," Lin Yuan said. "Roger has searched for so long; he won't have searched for nothing."

So what are you going to do once you find out?

We'll talk about it when we get there.

A late winter morning.

At the port of Hachinosu, the Void completed its final resupply. The sails were already raised, and the Sea Wind Dial hummed softly beneath the ship. Everyone was present.

Kaido stood at the bow, his Iron Club rod planted firmly on the deck. Bullet stood beside him, arms crossed, gazing at the sea. King stood atop the mast, golden flames dancing in the morning breeze. Huijin sat on the ship's railing, an old book resting on his lap, unopened, his gaze fixed on the distant water. Kuma stood behind the helm, his hands gripping it, expressionless.

Lin Yuan stood on the dock and took one last look at Hachinosu.

Zephyr walked over from the direction of the Training Ground and stood next to him. "Off we go?"

"Let's go."

If you don't come back—I'll guard this island for you.

Lin Yuan was silent for a moment, then said, "I will come back."

Zephyr didn't reply and took a step back.

Lin Yuan turned around and jumped onto the bow of the boat. "Untie the mooring lines."

Kaido released the mooring ropes, and the Void slowly sailed away from the port. The Sea Wind Dial quickened, and the ship cut through the sea, leaving a white trail. The morning light rose from the horizon, dyeing the sails golden, as if coated with a thin layer of fire.

Ginny stood on the dock, not waving, but watching the ship sail further and further away. The ship did not turn back.

Kaido stood at the bow of the ship, the wind ruffling his robes. "Let's set sail."

"Okay." Lin Yuan, holding his water glass, looked at the sea ahead. "Let's go."

(End of Chapter 98)