Setting Sail

"Woohoo~"

On a large ship out at sea, Oshi ran back and forth along the edge of the deck like a husky returning to its rural hometown for the holidays, utterly excited.

Despite having lived two lives, this was her first time sailing out to sea. Before this, the most she had done was paddle one of those duck boats on a small lake in a park.

The boundless ocean lifted Oshi's spirits. Although the sea she had seen below from Kaido's Flame Cloud had also been spectacular, only from a normal perspective could she truly feel the ocean's rolling waves and vast grandeur.

"Oshi, stop running around like a child. So many people are watching. Could you at least act with some dignity?" Obe leaned casually against the railing beside her, holding a glass of juice as she quietly enjoyed the view of the sea.

She had changed clothes by now. Rather than her plain long dress, she wore a loose Deep Blue children's shirt and a pair of jet-black trousers, topped with a sleeveless white coat identical to the President's.

Oversized gold-rimmed sunglasses hung from her collar, giving her a casual yet fashionable look.

A sea breeze carrying a faint bluish scent blew in from behind her, causing her hair and the raised collar of her white coat to flutter together.

Her somewhat mature outfit, paired with her delicate face that had yet to lose its childishness, created a strange beauty amid the mismatch... undoubtedly a cinematic scene.

"I am a child right now. Why would I need dignity...? Besides, what are you doing over there, striking poses all by yourself?" Oshi had also changed into new clothes: a red T-shirt, white shorts, and a long white coat, making her look neat and crisp.

"I'm savoring this voyage." Obe gently swirled the juice in her hand, looking even more relaxed.

"Oh, please. Stop pretending. You were even more excited than me when we first boarded. The moment no one was paying attention, you ran off and disappeared. And now you've got the nerve to lecture me."

"I-I was merely curious about the ship's structure. It was an investigation conducted entirely from a researcher's perspective."

"Heh~"

"Hahahaha, alright, alright! Stop bickering, you two." Burufatt appeared at just the right moment, putting an end to their usual squabbling.

"What do you think of my ride—the Taurus? It's got more cannons than an ordinary Navy warship! And they're no less powerful, either."

Burufatt's ship, the Taurus, was one of the Beasts Pirates' only five large vessels.

The other four were Kaido's and King's personal ships, along with two large supply ships. Those were overseen by Burufatt and the captains of two combat squads under King.

As expected of a senior officer's vessel, the Taurus had an extremely distinctive appearance.

Its bow was carved into a lifelike bull, its two long horns serving as the pirate ship's ram and seemingly made of metal. The hull was decorated with fish-scale patterns on both sides, while the stern was shaped like a mermaid's tail.

A massive mainmast stood in the center of the ship. Its sail bore the distinctive skull emblem of the Beasts Pirates, and a small pirate flag fluttered atop the crow's nest.

"Can I fire a few cannons later too, Uncle Burufatt?" Oshi's eyes sparkled as she looked at the cannons aboard the ship.

"You little brat! So you know my name now? Call me that a few more times. If your uncle here feels good listening to it, I'll let you shoot until you're satisfied!"

"Really, Uncle?"

"Of course! Bambu, take this girl down below later and teach her how to aim and fire." Burufatt pointed at Oshi as he spoke to the captain of the cannon crew.

"Leave it to me, boss."

"Yay~ Thanks, Uncle Burufatt."

"Hahahaha, alright, go on." Burufatt laughed as he rubbed Oshi's little head, then remembered Obe.

"Oh, right. Blue-haired girl, do you want to fire a few rounds too?"

"No, thanks. I'm not interested in this kind of old-fashioned cannon."

Obe shook her head. To her, a relic like a smoothbore cannon was genuinely hard to find appealing. Compared to that, she was more interested in the laser gun she had seen with Zayn.

"Is that so? Then do as you like." Seeing that she had little interest, Burufatt said nothing more.

"By the way, where are we headed this time?" Obe asked.

"Fenrir Island, not far from here. While Captain Kaido and the others attack Hachinosu Island, we'll seize that island and several surrounding satellite islands when the opportunity arises."

"We don't seem to be moving very quickly. Is there no rush?" Obe noticed that the ship had only raised one main sail.

"That's right. Captain Kaido will first meet up with Golden Lion and the others in the Totland Sea, then land on Hachinosu Island together. It should take around two days.

We just need to reach the vicinity of Fenrir Island within those two days. Getting there too early would make us easy targets.

Once most of the people coming back to reinforce them have left, it'll be much easier for us to make our move. You two will be fighting as well. This is a rare opportunity, so it's time for you to see some blood."

Burufatt gave them a detailed explanation and informed Obe that she and Oshi would be taking action this time, letting them prepare themselves mentally.

"See blood?"

Obe lowered her head and looked at her hands. Her palms were small and fair, without a single flaw.

After all, they were figurines she had sculpted herself, then brought to life with Phantom God power. Naturally, every part of them was flawless.

Has the day finally come? It came sooner than I expected. I wonder whether Oshi can adapt.

Over the past few days, while eating in the mess hall, Obe had often heard members of the Pirate Crew talk about their past battles. From their words, it was clear that taking lives had long become commonplace to them.

She had silently listened to those conversations, imagining scenes of herself participating as well.

Obe understood that if she wanted to keep living in this world, her hands would eventually be stained with blood. She had already steeled herself for it.

She did not dwell on it for long before Oshi's shout caught her attention.

"Obe, Obe! Look, it's a cannonball! A real, honest-to-goodness round cannonball! I've only seen these in cartoons."

With her childlike nature, Oshi had already forgotten their earlier bickering. Hugging a cannonball larger than her head, she came up onto the deck.

"Uncle Burufatt, are these cannonballs solid?"

"Of course not. How much power could a solid cannonball possibly have? These are packed with gunpowder. The moment they hit an enemy ship, they explode."

"Oh? So they aren't solid lead shot?"

Hearing that their construction differed from what she had imagined, Obe became slightly interested. She took the cannonball from Oshi's arms and began examining it.

"Hmm~ Only the thin outer layer is metal, while the inside is completely filled with gunpowder... Does it detonate through impact?

But then, how do they prevent the barrel from bursting? Or is there some other special mechanism...?"

Obe tapped the cannonball in her arms and began muttering to herself.

"Uh... what's wrong with the blue-haired girl? Why is she holding a cannonball and chanting like a monk?"

"Don't mind her. Whenever she encounters something she can't figure out, she talks to herself like this. She'll be fine once she works it out.

By the way, I'm getting hungry. Uncle Burufatt, what are we having for lunch? Don't make us eat steak again. I'm getting sick of it~"

"You little brat, it's good enough that there's food to eat at sea, yet you're still being picky.

Do you know that even in countries allied with the World Government, plenty of people can't afford even wild vegetable roots? Especially after paying the yearly Tenryubito's Gold."

"Uh... what's Tenryubito's Gold?"

"It's protection money those Celestial Dragons squeeze out of allied nations. Forget it. Let's not mention those disgusting fat pigs and ruin our appetites. We won't eat sea beast meat for lunch today. We'll have fish."

"Yay! Ah, but not raw fish." Oshi immediately made her request.

"Fine. I'll have them make fish balls."

"Woohoo~ Thank you, Uncle Burufatt!"

Elsewhere, the Beasts Pirates' main force—a fleet of two large ships packed with fighters and several smaller ships—was sailing toward the Totland Sea.

Aside from the two large supply ships following Burufatt, which carried materials needed to build fortifications, nearly every other ship was loaded with combatants and cannonballs.

Kaido had not brought much in the way of supplies. He intended to storm Hachinosu Island in one push, then have his men load the treasure directly onto the ships and leave.

Of course, he would probably enjoy the battle for a while himself. Opportunities like this were rare.

But he would not need a ship to pick him up. Once the battle was over, he could simply fly back on his own.

"Buru buru buru~"

Kaido's Den Den Mushi began ringing.

"Mamamama~ Kaido, have you set out?"

The Den Den Mushi in his hand suddenly took on distinctly feminine features, with long eyelashes, purple eyeshadow, and vivid lipstick.

On the other end of the Den Den Mushi was none other than BIG MOM—Charlotte Linlin.

"Yeah, we've set out. We should arrive in two days. Can't wait, old hag?"

"You little brat, I've always treated you like a younger brother! Show your big sister some respect!"

"If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up."

"Mama~ Don't be so impatient." The anger on the Den Den Mushi's face faded, and her tone became calmer. "What do you think of this alliance?"

"What's there to think? Once we take the island, the alliance disbands. After that, everyone's enemies." Kaido sounded impatient.

"You bastard! I'm talking to you seriously.

Shiki's forces are bigger than either of ours. If we fight separately then, he'll definitely take the largest share, while we'll only get the scraps."

"So what are you saying?"

"Join forces with me, Kaido. Let's snatch the meat out of that lion's mouth together!"

BIG MOM proposed joining forces over the Den Den Mushi, but Kaido did not agree immediately.

"You care that much about the treasure? Your real goal should be the territory in the Totland Sea that belongs to John, shouldn't it?"

That was right. Like Kaido, BIG MOM was also targeting John's territory.

Apart from its main island, Cake Island, the Totland Sea had another thirty-four islands scattered around it.

For years, BIG MOM had continually expanded outward, hoping to claim all thirty-four islands as her territory and establish a "Whole Cake Island" that would accommodate every race.

Although John's forces were mainly based around Hachinosu Island, Hachinosu Island was not far from Totland. Therefore, nine of the thirty-four islands in the eastern part of the Totland Sea had always been occupied by John.

Several of the remaining islands were held by Silver Axe King Straight and others.

BIG MOM intended to seize all those islands in one stroke during this opportunity, then begin building the "Whole Cake Island" she envisioned.

"Mamamama~ While I really want those territories, I don't want to let go of Rocks' Treasure, either. Isn't greed the very nature of pirates?"

Even after her main purpose was exposed, BIG MOM did not care. After all, she really was extremely interested in Rocks' Treasure—or, more precisely, certain treasures of Rocks.

"So? Have you decided? Will you join forces with me?"

"Greedy old hag! Fine, I get it!" Kaido naturally had no reason to reject a proposal that benefited him as well.

"But listen to me, Linlin! This isn't the old days anymore. Anyone who tries to scheme against me will have their head twisted off!"

"Mamamama~ Then here's to a fruitful partnership!"

BIG MOM laughed and hung up the Den Den Mushi, paying no attention whatsoever to Kaido's threat.

"Mr. Kaido, that woman is being far too proactive. Could she be plotting something?" King was already certain that BIG MOM's motives were impure.

"No idea. She's probably after something in Rocks' Treasure. But it doesn't matter. We'll stick to our plan. Raise all the sails and pick up the pace."

Two days later, Totland Sea.

On the misty sea, more than a dozen ships from the BIG MOM Pirates were already waiting.

"Mamamama~ It's been a long time, Kaido."

Standing aboard the BIG MOM Pirates' flagship, the Queen's Anthem Mama, Charlotte Linlin, who stood nearly nine meters tall, greeted Kaido.

Compared to her days with Rocks, her figure had changed slightly, likely due to frequent childbirth. Still, she remained immensely alluring overall.

Standing behind BIG MOM were the Charlotte Family's eldest son, Charlotte Perospero, and second son, Charlotte Katakuri.

Both were nearing adulthood and had already become important combat forces within the Pirate Crew.

Katakuri in particular already possessed the strength of a senior officer. He was indeed a "minister" responsible for managing one of the BIG MOM Pirates' islands.

"Oh?! That one over there, could he be..." Almost immediately after greeting Kaido, BIG MOM fixed her gaze on King.

Ever since she had seen King's distinctive wings at Shiki's banquet, she had connected him to a nearly extinct race.

After returning and carefully gathering all available information about that race, BIG MOM had confirmed King's identity and fallen into wild delight.

"Hey! Kaido, give that boy to me! My Whole Cake Island can't do without him!"

BIG MOM stared at King with feverish eyes. If she had not been wary of Kaido's presence, she would likely have already tried to seize him by force.

"Do you want me to kill you here, Linlin?" Kaido met her gaze directly and rejected her without hesitation.

"Mama~ You've become completely unadorable!"

The blazing heat in BIG MOM's eyes faded slightly, but she continued staring at King.

"Hey! Boy, if you ever want to come over here, I'll welcome you anytime."

"I will never betray Captain Kaido. Give up." King rarely addressed Kaido as Captain.

"Tch..."

"Enough small talk. Where's Shiki? Hasn't he arrived yet?"

"Mama~ Perhaps he'll be here soon. Our agreed time is noon, and there's still some time before then."

But as soon as she finished speaking, BIG MOM looked up at the sky, and Kaido followed suit.

Above the clouds, dozens of pirate ships tore through the cloud layer as they sailed down toward them.

The once pristine white clouds seemed as though they had been ripped apart by a wild beast, becoming fragmented and scattered.

At the front of that enormous fleet was a gigantic pirate ship with a golden lion carved into its bow. The lion's mouth was wide open, as if roaring with the authority of a sovereign, while its sail bore the unmistakable emblem of the Flying Pirates.

This was Golden Lion Shiki's personal vessel—the flagship of the Flying Pirates!

Although the pirates below had all fought through the New World for many years and could be considered well-traveled, the sight before them still shook them deeply.

It was the natural oppression of the sky over the ground.

The dozens of pirate ships in the air were far beyond the range of cannon fire. An impassable gulf lay between them, as though beasts seated atop a mountain were freely surveying the prey below.

"Th-this is the legendary Flying Pirates?" Some pirates' legs had already begun trembling uncontrollably.

"T-too strong! A fleet this large is actually flying through the sky."

"This is Golden Lion Shiki, one of the New World's strongest powers!"

"Then just how strong are the Whitebeard Pirates, who stand alongside them?!"

Watching the fleet overhead, the pirates could not help but feel a trace of awe.

"Hahahahaha! I'm not late, am I?"

A wild laugh rang out from the high heavens, and then a figure slowly descended.

With twin swords at his waist, a cigar clenched between his teeth, and a mane of flamboyant golden hair, he was none other than the Flying Pirates' admiral—Golden Lion Shiki!

"Hey, Shiki! Bring your ships down. I don't like having to look up at people!"

BIG MOM's voice was not particularly domineering, yet the pirates below who had been panicking gradually calmed down.

"Don't be in such a hurry, Linlin." Golden Lion landed on the sea, then casually touched one of the ships floating on the water. The BIG MOM Pirates' ships and the Beasts Pirates' ships all began floating into the air as well.

"Let's fly straight over from the sky and give John a surprise! Hahahaha!"

"Don't touch my ships whenever you feel like it, Shiki!" Kaido was clearly displeased by Shiki's overbearing behavior.

"Shiki, do you want to start fighting right now?!" BIG MOM's face darkened as well.

"Don't worry about such trivial things. Let's set off already! I can't wait any longer!"

Shiki clearly paid no heed to either of their anger. He continued controlling the fleet upward on his own. Rather, taking control of their ships had been intentional. He wanted to suppress the two of them and seize the initiative.

With a wave of Shiki's hand, the fleet of dozens of ships, large and small, shot directly up to an altitude of ten thousand meters and rose above the clouds.

Thus, the largest fleet and strongest Pirate Alliance in the New World since Rocks' death headed from heights beyond sight toward the heartland of the former Rocks Pirates—Hachinosu Island.

The New World, which had never truly been peaceful since the God Valley Incident, would soon be swept up in another massive storm.

No one yet knew what effect this unprecedented pirate clash would have on the future balance of the seas, but one thing was certain: a new order was about to arise in the New World.

And a terrifying beast that had lain dormant for over a year would, for the first time, formally bare its greedy fangs at its "predecessors."