Whispering Voices

Although Marine warships were sunk in droves during every major incident,

the Marines, as the World Government's most powerful instrument of force, had stood firm across the seas for more than eight hundred years.

Likewise, warships, as the Marines' standard vessels, had undergone eight hundred years of updates and improvements.

Over those eight centuries, the Marines had experienced every kind of natural disaster the seas could throw at them. Their warships had also incorporated the accumulated shipbuilding expertise of those years, making them exceptionally resilient against natural disasters.

Warships—especially those used by Vice Admirals—were vastly superior to the sailing ships of ninety-nine percent of pirate crews on the seas.

Even Blackbeard would later want a higher-grade warship, offering Bonney, whose identity was special, in exchange.

But unfortunately for him, the Marine officer sent to negotiate was Sakazuki.

In the end, Blackbeard could only slink away empty-handed.

Louis's current demands weren't high. He'd be satisfied with a warship that came standard with a branch's Captain Officer.

On the calm waters of the East Sea, a warship capable of carrying hundreds of Marines and a Captain Officer would be more than enough to meet all three of their needs during their voyage.

Later, if they invited more companions to join them, they could simply switch to a bigger ship.

They could buy a brand-new vessel at great expense, or pick up a secondhand warship from the Marines.

Yelena and Uta had no particular objections. In their eyes, getting hold of a warship wasn't especially difficult.

With the strength of Louis and Yelena, they could practically sweep across the East Sea.

Why "practically"?

Because every now and then, a guy wearing a dog-head hat would show up in the East Sea.

One day later, in the waters near Asca Island.

Louis and the others hadn't stopped training just because they were at sea. All of them were at an age when their bodies were developing rapidly, and they knew that they couldn't afford to slack off if they wanted to grow stronger.

Even Uta, whose physique was the least suited to training, understood this. Even without Louis and Yelena inviting her to join them, she gritted her teeth, picked up a relatively light one-handed sword, and joined their training.

She'd changed into light clothes suitable for exercise, along with shorts. Her two-toned hair was tied up, and her sweat-drenched face bore an intensely focused expression in her purple eyes.

Just as she'd said, she truly wanted to play the role of a dependable companion, like one of Shanks's crew.

Beside her was Yelena, undergoing an extremely intense training regimen.

After leaving the harsh environment of the Highland, Yelena's skin was no longer sallow, cracked, and rough as it had been before.

Her features were deep-set and delicate, her facial lines soft and defined. Her skin was as white as snow, almost entirely flawless.

Her red eyes, like perfect rubies set in their sockets, reflected her resolute nature.

The sports bra she wore accentuated her full, graceful figure, its distinct curves radiating feminine elegance and charm.

Her smooth, lustrous white hair was tied into a high ponytail, swaying naturally as she moved with vigorous intensity.

Yelena felt that her illness had cost her too much time at the age best suited for training. To catch up with the strongest people on the seas, she had to push herself with a regimen many times more intense than an ordinary person's.

As she moved vigorously, beads of sweat slid down her face and along her neck, disappearing into the deep curve framed by her sports bra.

She was drenched in sweat. Under the glow of the setting sun, it shimmered gold, and her perfect curves appeared and disappeared beneath the light.

"Haah... Hah..."

"Hyah..."

Their strenuous training left Uta and Yelena panting in turn, their bodies utterly exhausted.

"That's enough for today!"

"We can already see the next island ahead." Louis was the first to stop training. He gently lowered the barbell, which was as big as a small hill, onto the Island Cloud.

Yelena set down her own barbell right after him and let out a long breath.

She swept the disheveled white hair from her forehead behind her ears, then shook the murky sweat from its ends.

"Okay, I'll go prepare dinner..."

As the oldest among them, Yelena had naturally taken on cooking and all the other tasks involved in looking after the other two.

Louis and Uta had suggested taking turns with the chores, but Yelena had always refused.

Though she was usually gentle, she seemed to enjoy taking care of the two of them. It appeared to give her a special kind of pleasure.

Louis didn't understand it, but in the end, he reluctantly accepted.

Watching her white ponytail sway as she walked away, Louis conjured a ball of golden light in his palm and tossed it toward her back.

In an instant, a soft glow enveloped her, quickly washing away her fatigue.

Yelena paused, then turned and smiled at Louis. "Go wash up first. Dinner will be ready soon."

Louis nodded. "Okay!"

Uta stopped training as well and collapsed onto the Island Cloud without a care for her appearance.

Her clothes were soaked with sweat, her hair was a mess, and her eyes were full of exhaustion.

Louis shook his head and stepped forward to help her up. Then he slowly channeled a ball of Life Energy into her body, healing the wear and tear caused by training and easing most of her fatigue.

Uta felt as though she were soaking in a hot spring. Warmth spread through her body, and she gradually began to feel lighter.

Back to full strength, a cheerful smile bloomed on her face once more. "Thanks, Louis!"

With that, she walked toward the Cloud Cave with light steps, humming an unfamiliar tune as she went to wash the sweat from her body.

As for Louis, after the two of them had entered the Cloud Cave, he slowly made his way to the edge of Abente Heim.

He gazed silently at the island in the distance, growing larger and larger in his field of vision.

"That ominous aura is so intense..." Confusion flickered in Louis's eyes. He murmured into the wind, "What exactly is that thing..."

Through his Observation Haki, Louis sensed something deep within the distant island. It radiated a crimson glow, and faint whispers drifted from it.

"Come here..."

"Hold me in your hand... I'll give you... limitless power..."

"Give me power?" Louis scoffed. "You should be begging me to give you power!"

If it had limitless power, why did it need Louis to hold it in his hand? Why not go on a rampage by itself?

Louis figured that this feeble temptation could only sway someone weak-willed or driven into a desperate corner.

Just then, Uta's voice rang out from deep within the Cloud Cave. "Louis, dinner's ready!"

Louis took one last look at the approaching island, then turned and left.

Those whispers had given him an idea of what the thing might be.

In this world, there was only one thing that gave off an ominous aura and could bewitch people.

"A Cursed Blade!"