Hachinosu Island, Paradise of Pirates

Hachinosu Island, Paradise of Pirates

If one were to ask which pirate crew was the strongest in the world, probably ninety percent of people would give the same answer.

The Whitebeard Pirates.

The Whitebeard Pirates, led by the world's strongest man, Whitebeard Edward Newgate.

After the Roger Pirates vanished into thin air, there was no longer any pirate group in the Blue Sea that could stand alongside the Whitebeard Pirates.

Not even the BIG Pirates or the Beasts Pirates could do so.

And now, the world's strongest pirate crew was about to make its move.

The world's strongest man, Whitebeard Edward Newgate, sat in his enormous chair and turned to look at the son sitting cross-legged on the rail. "Marco?"

"Squard was killed by that brat. Of course we can't just sit by and do nothing."

The pineapple-haired man, the Whitebeard Pirates' First Division Captain, a great pirate renowned across the seas and known as Phoenix Marco, had lifeless fish eyes that gave him an overall lazy air. Yet there was not the slightest trace of carelessness in his words.

"Everyone on these seas knows what happens to those who hurt our family."

He said, "I'll bring those two brats back."

Marco looked toward a woman on the deck. He would collect some interest for Oden first.

The beautiful woman had green hair, though her frame was somewhat too thin. The flesh on her cheeks had sunken in, making her cheekbones stand out, but she did not look unattractive.

Beside her stood a little girl, just over ten years old. She had short hair and wore a T-shirt with shorts, two swords hanging at her waist. Though still young, her future beauty was already apparent.

The girl stepped forward and shouted, "Uncle Marco! I'm going too!"

"You're still too young, little sister Hiyori."

Vista, the crew's foremost swordsman and Fifth Division Captain, smiled as he spoke to the little girl. He had two small mustaches.

"But I want to avenge Father too!"

The little girl argued loudly.

She had not understood back then, but even now, she had never forgotten that night of roaring flames.

Her captured older brother, and that golden monster!

"Hiyori."

Her mother gently took her hand. Toki shook her head slightly. "Don't be willful. You'll only cause trouble for everyone if you go."

"..."

The little girl listened to her mother. Pouting unwillingly, she went back.

"Still, Marco."

Vista looked at Marco. "Do you really need to go personally?"

Marco was the pirate crew's second-in-command, their genuine second strongest fighter!

Did he really need to personally deal with two brats? Sending a few commanders should have been more than enough.

After all, Squard's strength was not outstanding even among the many affiliated captains, much less compared to the commanders.

How strong could the brat who defeated him possibly be?

"They're heading toward Hachinosu Island."

Marco said, "If that really is their destination, they might run into interference from Ochoku. And if it isn't, I'll have an easier time searching since I can fly."

It was perfectly logical.

Vista nodded lightly. Ochoku really was not an easy man to deal with. Marco truly had to go himself. It was not as though they could send Pops out, right?

"Wait! Marco!"

At that moment, someone spoke up. A man dressed as a geisha stepped forward. "I'm going with you!"

His name was Izou. Once a Kozuki retainer, he had followed Kozuki Oden to the Whitebeard Pirates. When Kozuki Oden switched to the Roger Pirates, he had stayed behind, remaining there to this day.

"That brat caused Lord Momonosuke's death. How can I turn a blind eye to him?"

Izou's reason was more than sufficient, and Marco could think of no reason to refuse.

"Pops."

He looked toward the father of everyone in their pirate crew.

"Then go, Marco."

Whitebeard nodded slightly. "Bring those two brats back! I'll have the Affiliated Pirate Crews near Hachinosu Island cooperate with you. If that idiot Ochoku has any objections, tell him to come find me!"

"Leave it to me."

Marco smiled confidently.

Izou, meanwhile, solemnly said to Toki, "Lady Toki, please rest assured. I'll bring those two criminals back."

Yet Toki looked somewhat worried. "You must be careful, Mr. Izou. That child is no ordinary person."

She still could not forget those brilliant flames.

"No matter how extraordinary they are, that doesn't give them the right to harm the Kozuki Family!"

Izou declared resolutely.

The Whitebeard Pirates began to move.

A few days later.

Upon the azure sea, the Golden Flying Dragon rode the wind and cleaved through the waves.

On deck, Ian and Yamato were sparring.

Yamato had started complaining about being bored again, and Ian could only reluctantly oblige her.

Yamato had already transformed into her Werewolf form, while Ian remained in human form.

However, Yamato did not use her freezing abilities. She merely fought Ian with martial arts and Haki.

Under such circumstances, the two could be said to be evenly matched, and their fight was extremely lively.

"So amazing!"

Jack, who was watching the fight, was practically boiling with excitement. "Brother Ian and Sister Yamato are both incredible!"

Neither of them was someone he could possibly contend with.

Black Maria beside him had an entirely different opinion.

"They're such a perfect match."

Black Maria watched the two fight nonstop with crackling impacts, and an odd smile involuntarily appeared at the corners of her lips.

Sure enough, no one was more suited to each other than them, right?

Their battle did not produce a winner.

Because Babanuki came running over in a hurry.

"Lord Ian! Miss Yamato! We're almost at Hachinosu Island!"

Yamato, who had been fighting Ian so enthusiastically just moments earlier, immediately turned around. "Really?"

Her sudden stop nearly made Ian unable to react in time, and he almost punched her. Fortunately, Ian had mastered Return to Life, and his control over his body was superb enough for him to stop his attack in time.

"Yes, Miss Yamato."

Babanuki said, "At most, we should arrive in another two hours."

"Awesome!"

Yamato cheered.

After several boring days at sea, they were finally about to reach their destination.

Hachinosu Island, the famous pirate island of the New World.

Since the era of Rocks, this island had been a gathering place for pirates. Countless pirates congregated here, obeying the order established by Rocks and treating this place as Paradise.

Although the Rocks Pirates had long since collapsed and Hachinosu Island had become Ochoku's territory, the rules had not changed. Ochoku did not reject the arrival of outside pirates. So long as they followed his rules, any pirate could land on Hachinosu Island.

The island's most striking feature was the skull-shaped building, dozens of stories tall and standing in the center of the island like a mountain peak.

When the Golden Flying Dragon approached the island, the first thing Ian saw was that building.

"We're finally here!"

Yamato beside him was already cheering.

Yamato had changed into a different outfit, also chosen by Black Maria: a fitted white shirt paired with black suit pants, a tie around her neck, and her hair braided. She looked valiant and sharp.

Ian felt that her appearance looked somewhat familiar, except her hair color was wrong, and those equally golden eyes were not ringed eyes.

Still, Ian thought Black Maria's reason for choosing that outfit was simple.

Because he was also wearing a white shirt and suit pants.

You've got a lot of little schemes, Maria.

But Lord Ian forgave her.

Gazing at the ever-closer island, Ian softly said, "Then let's go find someone."

Even on Hachinosu Island, a place teeming with pirates and ruled by Ochoku, the arrival of the Golden Flying Dragon caused an enormous sensation.

There was no helping it. The flag hanging from its mast was simply too famous.

"The Beasts Pirates' ship is here!!"

The news instantly spread across the entire island.

Meanwhile, someone inside the skull-shaped high-rise received a call at that moment.

"Kaido?"

Today I went to see Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In. I recommend it—the fights were incredibly intense, and the boss's moves made me want to laugh.