Northbound, Southbound

Bikahi Island.

In front of the Port Tax Office residence, the Golden Coffee Tree Flag of the Ekmondo Kingdom and the pirate flag of the Whitebeard Pirates flew high together in the wind.

Aleus stood beneath the flagpole.

He gazed up at the skull flag with its iconic crescent mustache.

"We're a World Government Member State, yet we have to fly a pirate flag. Fran, don't you think that's a little strange?"

Suddenly,

Aleus broke the silence beside him.

"Your Highness, if you still haven't had enough sleep, you can catch up once we're aboard." The girl with long, dazzling crimson hair stood beside Aleus. Her scarlet eyes held a cool, indifferent glint. Her black-and-white traditional Maid Outfit concealed her graceful figure, leaving only the black round-toed shoes beneath her skirt visible.

"Still... one flag would actually be enough here," Aleus murmured.

"It's the middle of the day! Please don't talk in your sleep. It's embarrassing."

"...Fran, are you picking a fight with me?"

Aleus glanced sidelong at his personal maid.

The red-haired girl's name was Fran. She had no surname and had been born an orphan. At seventeen, she was the personal maid Aleus's mother had trained for him. She wasn't merely there to warm Aleus's bed; at a critical moment, she could also serve as the last shield at his side.

After round upon round of rigorous and brutal eliminations, Fran was the only one of nearly a hundred candidates to emerge victorious.

So,

As long as she didn't cross any major lines, even her little habit of making sarcastic remarks was something he could tolerate with an open mind.

Besides, to be honest, Aleus didn't dislike that little habit of Fran's. Compared with the other timid little maids in the Royal Palace, who wouldn't even fight back when cornered, Fran's personality was more interesting. Teasing her was much more fun.

"How could I? I'm only a maid. What maid would pick a fight with her master?" Fran replied with a perfectly straight face.

"You wouldn't?"

Aleus glared at her, then quickly settled down again. "Then let's say you wouldn't. I'll get you back sooner or later." He put particular emphasis on the word "later." The girl, who had been so composed a moment earlier, immediately gritted her teeth. Blushing, she shot Aleus a fierce glare but didn't needle him again.

Someone was coming.

Two men approached, one tall and one short. Dressed in identical black suits, they hurried toward the flagpole.

"Dick, Eschbach, is everything ready?"

When the two men reached him, Aleus asked.

"The eight warships are assembled. We've checked all the supplies and ammunition, and nothing is missing. The sailors are aboard every ship. We're ready to set sail at any time." The shorter man on the left spoke. He was called short, but at 222 centimeters, he still stood well above Aleus.

It was only because the giant on the right stood a full 350 centimeters tall that he really counted as short.

"Well done, Dick, Eschbach."

Aleus praised them.

The shorter man was Dick, and the giant was Eschbach. Both were Aleus's attendants. Like Fran, his personal maid, they had been at his side since childhood and had received an elite education. As long as they survived, they would be among the candidates for the kingdom's next ministers once Aleus ascended the throne.

Bamund Foy, the Ekmondo Kingdom's current Minister of the Navy, had once been Burwell's attendant.

"Your Highness, shall we depart now?"

Eschbach lowered his head and asked in a low voice.

The 350-centimeter giant looked imposing, but when he spoke, his tone was calm and unhurried. His gray-brown eyes showed no sign of impatience or impulsiveness, the exact opposite of Dick, who was eager to get going.

"What about Dillon and Casper?"

Aleus asked about his other two attendants.

"They're aboard, overseeing things," Eschbach replied.

"Since everyone's ready, let's go!"

Aleus looked up at the two flags overhead.

Then he turned and headed out of the Port Tax Office residence.

Fran followed close behind, never leaving his side, while Dick and Eschbach also set off after them.

Soon,

The eight warships docked at the port sailed out, heading full speed north under the navigators' guidance.

The North.

The Toothed Whale Sea Area.

This sea was the northern gateway to the Ekmondo Kingdom. Unless an enemy could fly, anyone invading the kingdom from the north would have to pass through these waters. Whale Head, Whale Belly, and Whale Tail were three gates barring the way.

Whale Head Island and Whale Belly Island had already fallen to the invaders from the Amento Kingdom.

Only Whale Tail Island remained in Ekmondo Kingdom hands.

Across the vast, rolling sea, a fleet of fifty large warships plowed through the waves, racing south toward Whale Tail Island.

"Whoosh!"

The Amento Kingdom's flag fluttered in the wind.

And yet,

Amento Kingdom's King, Nebri IV, stood on the deck, gazing up at the familiar flag with despair and hopelessness in his eyes.

It was over.

Everything was over.

The Amento Kingdom, with its 120-year history, was destined to escape this calamity no more. No matter who won between King of Maritime Transport Umit and the Ekmondo Kingdom, the Amento Kingdom would meet a grim fate. If he hadn't been determined to preserve a single thread of hope for the Nebri Family, he would have given up on life long ago.

For the sake of his youngest son, whom Umit had taken captive, he could only grit his teeth and cooperate with Umit's actions at any cost.

Of course,

He couldn't help harboring the dark desire to drag someone else down with him.

If the kingdom of the Nebri Family was doomed, why should the Sokachio Clan still get to throw its weight around in the Ekmondo Kingdom? The two kingdoms had long been at odds, and the Nebri Family and the Sokachio Clan had fought each other plenty over the years. Almost every time, the Nebri Family had been ground into the dirt.

Getting revenge on an old rival before he died would at least make it worthwhile.

And if the Sokachio Clan's bastards could make that bastard Umit suffer a little, all the better. What he wanted most was for both sides to suffer.

"Buru, buru."

The Den Den Mushi rang.

Nebri IV shifted his eyes toward the black-haired man reclining nearby, surrounded by women on both sides. It was Venkura, the "Ghost Sword," a pirate with a bounty of 105 million. Nebri IV couldn't help letting hatred show in his eyes.

This was the man who had pretended to be tired of a pirate's drifting life and claimed he wanted to serve the Amento Kingdom. He had tricked his way past the kingdom's defenses and silently seized control of the entire nation.

In truth,

This notorious Great Pirate, who had made quite a name for himself in recent years, was one of King of Maritime Transport Umit's hidden subordinates.

"Lord Umit."

Venkura pushed away the women beside him and respectfully held up the Den Den Mushi as he reported, "We're almost at Whale Tail Island. If nothing goes wrong, we'll arrive before dusk. Rest assured, I'll bring you good news before you go to sleep."

"Venkura~ I'm counting on your good news. Don't disappoint me~~~!!"

His words were loaded with meaning.

The Den Den Mushi even reproduced the King of Maritime Transport's piercing gaze to perfection.

Venkura bowed his head deeply.

"Lord Umit, I won't disappoint you."