Sabaody Archipelago, Tree Island 9.
Not far away, a pirate ship was slowly sailing toward the shore.
At the bow, a man wearing a captain's hat and gripping a drawn long sword stared grimly at the shore drawing closer and closer.
Even though there wasn't a single person in sight onshore, the man, who appeared to be the captain of the pirate crew, remained on high alert.
The other crew members on deck were the same, as though guarding against a terrifying enemy who could appear at any moment.
More accurately, they were guarding against the lethal Ghost Bullet that could come flying from any direction at any time.
As the ship successfully reached the shore, the pirates on deck exchanged silent glances. The only sound was their heavy breathing, wave after wave.
The atmosphere grew strange for a moment.
"Drop anchor."
A moment later, the man at the bow waved his long sword, breaking the almost eerie silence on deck.
At the order, two crew members cautiously dropped the heavy anchor into the seawater.
With a muffled splash, the surface of the sea churned up a spray of water.
After dropping anchor, the suspicious-looking crew members turned straight toward their captain.
The captain let out a long breath and cursed viciously, "Which brainless bastard made the Ghost Gun and the gatekeeper of the New World sound so terrifying? Now I have to be this careful just to go ashore."
"Exactly!"
The crew members all relaxed.
Their taut nerves had only just loosened when an urgent voice came from the lookout platform.
"Oh no! Captain Gurid, a group of Marines is coming from the south, heading straight for us!!!"
"What? Isn't this an outlaw zone?! Why would the Marines come here?!"
The man addressed as Captain Gurid changed expression dramatically,