Eldest Daughter

Like Ginny, Rocks also understood exactly what these people were like.

Just as Nereus had said during their earlier battle, they had no problem fighting battles they were sure to win, but when it came to a desperate fight to the death, there were few they could truly rely on.

Rocks did not say that it was his hometown or that his family was there. Instead, he used profit to guide them, just as before.

Besides, Rocks believed he was strong enough. As long as the other members of the Rocks Pirates went there together, the enemy would naturally find it difficult to divide their attention.

As long as he could draw away part of their focus, Rocks believed he could accomplish his goal.

This proposal was temporarily approved by everyone, though they all understood that when the time came, how much each person got would depend on their own abilities.

"According to the intelligence, these people will be sent to God Valley in two weeks. From here to God Valley... we have enough time."

After everyone agreed to the distribution plan, Charlotte Linlin explained the matter of timing.

Traveling from Beehive Island in the New World to God Valley in the West Blue by the usual route would require quite a detour, but they did not need to take that route.

They only had to head south and cross the Calm Belt to reach the West Blue smoothly.

As its name implied, the Calm Belt was a silent region without any wind.

Two vast Calm Belts divided the Grand Line, and together with the Red Line, formed the boundaries separating the Four Blues.

Aside from the lack of wind, which made it difficult for most wind-powered ships to move, the Calm Belt itself was also a nest for Sea Kings.

Countless Sea Kings lived beneath the Calm Belt, marine creatures even more dangerous than Sea Beasts.

For ordinary people, sailing into the Calm Belt was practically seeking death. But for the monsters of the Rocks Pirates, crossing it was no great difficulty.

If necessary, Shiki's Float-Float Fruit could even fly them directly across.

The brief meeting ended there, and the group began preparing the fresh water and food needed for departure. No matter how swift they were, the journey would still take some time.

Besides that, they needed to arrange other matters. The Rocks Pirates were essentially closer to the Rocks Grand Fleet than a single pirate crew, a complicated collective rather than one unified group.

There were loners like Kaido, as well as organized groups like John and Nereus, who had many trusted subordinates loyal only to themselves.

Nereus did not walk with Charlotte Linlin and Kaido. Even in a temporary alliance, there was nothing much to discuss. They could simply adapt when the time came.

He had quite a few matters to arrange himself. Nereus knew very well that the God Valley Incident meant the dissolution of the Rocks Pirates. After that, he probably would not return here.

Still, no matter how quickly they moved, they could not depart today. Nereus was not in much of a hurry, intending to arrange the specifics after everyone returned that evening.

Meanwhile, Nanamo, who had gone out earlier to play with the others, was walking through the urban district of Beehive Island.

Though it was a pirate island, the large number of people living there meant the island still had a certain degree of order. It simply was not very reliable, and violent incidents occurred often.

The most peaceful period had actually been when Shakky ran her own Rip-Off Bar on the island.

She had established a rule that anyone who came for her bar was forbidden from fighting anywhere on the island.

That made many pirates behave themselves, and even vicious pirates who crossed paths would not start fighting.

Nanamo was currently not in the center of the island, so the overall order here was fairly good. Even if pirates fought, the consequences were not too serious.

That was actually because the people here were not strong enough. There was a saying on Beehive Island: the farther inward one went, the more lunatics there were.

But that was only something said by jealous pirates. In truth, the farther inward one went, the stronger the people became, with Nereus being the exception.

Because of the Fish-Men and Merfolk Race, his territory was located on the outermost coast.

At that moment, a cloud about the same size as Nanamo floated in front of her.

Two pirates were fighting beside the street ahead, a very common sight on Beehive Island.

This only counted as a minor scuffle. When all sorts of things like tables and chairs came flying out, the cloud immediately rushed forward. Its body spread out like a barrier above Nanamo's head.

Though its body was made of Cloud, the flying objects did not pass through it. Instead, they struck it as if hitting an iron plate, clattering to the ground.

"Princess Nanamo, shall I..."

"Hermes, I'm just out here to have fun. Don't cause trouble for me."

"As you command, Princess Nanamo~"

The cloud named Hermes gave up on attacking. It simply escorted Nanamo across the street like a protective umbrella.

"You're really dependable, Hermes."

"What are you saying? I, Hermes, am the bravest of Homies. I will definitely keep Your Highness Princess safe."

That was right. This cloud was a Homie, a product of Charlotte Linlin's Soul-Soul Fruit.

Using her Fruit power, Charlotte Linlin could give life to many inanimate objects, or grant ordinary animals extraordinary intelligence.

She gave them all kinds of special abilities, and some even possessed considerable combat power.

These Homies had different personalities and unique ways of thinking. Even Charlotte Linlin could not determine what kind of personality a Homie she created would have.

It was not limited to ordinary objects. The elements of nature were no exception. For example, Prometheus at Charlotte Linlin's side was fire, while Zeus was a thundercloud.

Hermes was made from a composite of various clouds unique to Sky Island. That was why it had just been able to alter its body structure and use its cloud body defensively.

It was Iron Cloud from Sky Island, which had effects similar to metal.

Many of Charlotte Linlin's children had their own Homies to help them in daily life, but Nanamo's cloud was special. It had been created from a portion of Charlotte Linlin's own soul.

Like Prometheus and Zeus, it was among the strongest Homies.

After all, this was Charlotte Linlin's first daughter. Not long after her birth, Nanamo had displayed exceptional talent, so Charlotte Linlin gave this daughter a particularly special Homie.

With it following Nanamo, it served as an extra layer of protection. Although Charlotte Linlin's Homies were not as strong on their own as she was, they were not opponents ordinary people could handle.

"All right, hurry up. This ice cream is about to melt."

"As you command! Mother's residence is just ahead. Full speed forward!"

As it spoke, Hermes turned its body into the shape of a horse and crouched beside Nanamo, intending to let her ride it.

But Nanamo ignored it and continued hopping forward...