In the first half of the Grand Line, a small boat sailed steadily onward. The tattered sail aboard it showed just how old the little vessel truly was. Ten elementary school students sat on its deck, chattering away as though they had run into something incredibly exciting.
Ace stood at the bow, his face brimming with excitement. "Keep going! We'll reach the hot springs soon." A clever-looking little redhead beside him spoke up instead. "Ai Mazi, you were the one who called us out here. If anything happens, you'll be responsible—especially if we get whipped. You'll take the punishment."
Hearing Nock call him "Ai Mazi" again, Ace immediately looked displeased. "You ambush maniac, you sure talk a lot. Hot Spring Island is so close to the Flame Dragon Empire, and it's within the empire's territory anyway." Nock looked unhappy at that and shouted, "Ai Mazi, didn't you say we were coming out to fight pirates? What are we going to Hot Spring Island for?"
Noah, standing nearby with a serious expression, also had his objections. "If we're going to Hot Spring Island, we should have told our families first. It'll be bad if they start worrying." Nock, looking as sharp as ever, said to Noah, "Don't worry, Big Brother! I already told them we were going out to sea to fight pirates."
Bonney held a huge pile of snacks in both hands, sitting leisurely on the deck as she happily ate away. Hearing Noah and the others, she said directly, "I already told them school hadn't let out yet." Then she opened another bag of donuts and desperately stuffed chips and donuts into her mouth with both hands.
Tenoch stood on the deck railing, gazing at the pale blue seawater with longing in his heart. "The sea is so beautiful.