Tracking

As Xia Qiu swam, the scent in the seawater grew increasingly potent. The impulse that seeped into his bones was impossible to suppress.

Xia Qiu sensed that something was wrong. This impulse surpassed even his hunger and had begun to control his body.

That put Xia Qiu on alert.

What was more, fish around him were swimming in that direction.

Something had to be drawing both him and the other fish in.

And this substance was widely used on fish.

Why were they doing this?

Fishing?

At that moment, Xia Qiu noticed something strange about the fish being drawn in. Most had sharp teeth and large bodies, at least seventy centimeters long. They were all carnivorous fish.

Most of the smaller fish, as well as fish that fed on planktonic crustaceans, stayed behind.

Among all the fish, some of the larger ones lingered in place hesitantly.

Most of the sharp-toothed fish were drawn in, the smaller fish remained, and some fish hesitated.

So this scent targeted certain kinds of fish. It first excluded small fish, which meant it definitely contained something that worked on large fish.

And since some fish were drawn in while others hesitated, there had to be some component that only affected certain fish.

So this scent was specifically aimed at a certain kind of sea fish, one that at least excluded small fish by size.

It was like they were trying to catch something.

What exactly were they doing?

And it was in the direction of Naruto Village. Were the people of Naruto Village doing this?

Xia Qiu instinctively sensed something ominous. He slowed down and crept closer, then surfaced and looked into the distance.

That was...

Xia Qiu spotted a massive Marine warship in the distant waters. The fish were gathering not far from it.

The Marines. The Marines were doing this.

They were luring sea fish here.

And they had not set up nets to catch them, which meant they were not fishing.

They were looking for a specific fish.

Xia Qiu recalled how, two months ago, he had attacked a Marine, after which a Marine warship had lingered in these waters for a long time.

Were they here to catch him?

That possibility could not be ruled out.

Whether that was the case or not, now that he knew the Marines had placed these things here, there was no point in getting any closer.

Eat the sea fish lured here?

Who knew whether there was anything strange mixed into that scent?

With that thought, Xia Qiu turned and swam into the distance, intending to leave this stretch of sea.

But he did not notice a seagull circling constantly in the sky directly above him.

"Captain, a seagull is circling over there, tracing a figure eight. It may have found prey."

Kurume watched through his binoculars for a while before speaking to Colonel Lido.

"Has it come?"

Colonel Lido picked up his binoculars and looked toward the sky. The released seagull kept circling overhead. It was specially bred by the Marines.

Like News Coos and Den Den Mushi, it was a creature unique to the world of One Piece. These seagulls could be used to detect enemies.

Pirate ships, sea fish, Sea Kings.

They traced different patterns depending on their target, and the target could be identified from those patterns.

Judging by this pattern, it was a large sea fish, at least ten meters long.

Judging by the altitude, it was not a sea beast or a Sea King.

"It should be, but why is it moving away?"

Colonel Lido looked at the seagull's flight path in the distance, unable to understand.

It should have been approaching here. Why was it getting farther and farther away?

"Colonel Lido, could it have discovered the trap?" Kurume could not help asking.

"How could that be?"

Colonel Lido said it reflexively, but then he frowned. "I remember that when you tried to catch it, it not only avoided the trap, but also dodged the cannon fire?"

Avoiding a trap was one thing, but if it could even evade cannon fire, then it was far too intelligent.

Kurume nodded. "That's right. It dodged the cannon fire and even sealed off the surface of the sea, preventing Lieutenant Colonel Berio from swimming up for air."

"Then it is indeed possible that it discovered our trap."

Lido nodded. "Its departure only confirms that it is the one. Set sail. Pursue that sea fish."

At Lido's command, the sailors began raising the sails and setting off.

The Marine warship moved toward Xia Qiu, pursuing him.

Xia Qiu swam into the distance, but he did not flee from the Marine warship in a straight line. That would take him too far into the open ocean.

He planned to take a detour around the side of the island. As long as he avoided the Marine warship, that would be enough.

After swimming some distance, Xia Qiu suddenly felt that something was wrong.

The movement of the seawater.

Xia Qiu had an excellent sense of smell and sight, as well as a Lateral Line Nervous System—nerve endings around his body that could sense the flow of water.

He felt the current moving behind him.

He quickly turned to look back. Through the water, he could see a massive Marine warship not far away.

It had come after him?

Xia Qiu was slightly startled at the sight. Was it a coincidence, or had they discovered him?

Xia Qiu immediately dove down, turned, and swam in another direction.

"They didn't follow?"

After swimming some distance, Xia Qiu saw that the Marine warship had not followed and relaxed.

"Turn the helm."

The next moment, the Marine warship changed direction and pursued Xia Qiu again.

"They're chasing me."

Xia Qiu did not know how they had discovered him or why they were pursuing him.

But if he was their target, Xia Qiu had no intention of waiting helplessly.

He did not choose to flee. Instead, he swam toward the Marine warship.

If he suddenly accelerated away, the Marines might open fire. The Marine warship's cannons were powerful, and Xia Qiu did not want to take them head-on.

More importantly, Xia Qiu had another thought.

If he fled beyond the range of their cannons, would someone stronger come down from the Marine warship and enter the water to hunt him?

He needed to eat powerful humans to strengthen himself.

Even a Marine officer like the one from last time could help make him stronger.

Even if they were stronger than him, he was no longer the same as before.

In nearly two months, he had grown from seven meters to eighteen meters and evolved some organs that could help him fight underwater.

What was more, after eating that Marine and the pirate, he had undergone two enhancements, and his body had become stronger.

Bigger, stronger.

If he faced that Marine again, Xia Qiu felt that the other man would not even be able to hurt him.

Xia Qiu believed that even against someone a level stronger than that Marine, he had more than enough chance of winning.

And in the sea, a human's combat strength would be greatly reduced. What did he have to fear?

With that in mind, Xia Qiu swam toward the Marine warship, using it to conceal himself as he waited silently.

"Colonel Lido, it's that Black Fish! It's charging toward the warship!"

Kurume saw the dark shape rushing toward them and immediately shouted.

"Why is it coming over on its own? Could it be trying to ram the warship?"

Colonel Lido frowned, unable to understand the dark shape's actions.

Kurume said, "Could it have been drawn in by the Capture Agent left on the hull? It was far away just now, but now that it is closer, it came here."

"Possible."

Colonel Lido nodded. "It's here, so prepare to kill it. Bring me my weapon and equipment."

As soon as he spoke, Lido stripped off his clothes, revealing his muscular chest.

Then a sailor beside him handed over a long spear with a sharp tip, a pair of goggles, and a round fruit.

Lido took the spear, put on the goggles, then drew in a deep breath and stuffed the fruit into his mouth.

Then he leaped into the seawater and pounced toward Black Fish.

"Shark Hunter Lido."

Watching Colonel Lido jump into the sea, Kurume could not help saying, "Colonel Lido's Shark Spear has killed countless sharks. This sea fish can only go this far."