Admirer

"Don't worry, everyone. I'm an expert at theft, eavesdropping, and communications. Two weeks ago, I leaked information about this island to the outside world. Someone should already know."

On God Valley, Ginny was encouraging the others. These slaves had gathered here and formed an escape group, including a shark Fish-Man.

He had just used his sharp teeth to bite through Ivankov's chains. Hearing Ginny's words, a question suddenly arose in his heart.

"Um... will Lord Nereus receive your message?"

"Nereus? Who's that? Some big shot?"

Ginny had become a slave at the age of four and was completely unfamiliar with that name. Just as the shark Fish-Man was about to explain, an older slave beside him took over.

"Nereus? Now that's a big shot."

The Pirate had just picked up a newspaper he found on the island and gathered some dry leaves to make himself a cigarette. Only after finishing did he realize he had no way to light it.

In the end, he simply leaned against a dead tree, holding the homemade cigarette between his lips and savoring the smell.

"I was captured and made a slave three years ago. Before that, I'd heard his name—the captain of the Fish-Man Pirates, a member of Rocks' grand fleet, a monster from the deep sea."

"Back when I was still free... his bounty was already an astronomical figure. I think it had passed three billion Beli."

"Hee-haw... that really was a big shot. Do you know him?"

Hearing the Pirate's summary, Ivankov looked toward the shark Fish-Man. He clearly hadn't expected there to be someone with connections among the slaves.

"How could any Fish-Man not know Lord Nereus! Everyone born on Fish-Man Island in recent years grew up listening to his stories! Though Lord Nereus probably doesn't know who I am..."

"Then what's the point of mentioning him? Will he definitely come save you if he gets the message?"

"Not definitely. You couldn't say for other Pirates, but Nereus might really come."

"Ever since he debuted, he's been attacking the World Government's slave ships. They say many slaves gained their freedom because of him."

"Among those freed people were musicians. I heard they even wrote a song for him. I heard it on a ship before. I think it went like this..."

[Cast aside the chains and shackles, weep no more until dawn

Hear the tide calling out, moonlight lights the way back home

Tears turn into blooming waves!

Until the dawn rises once more, everyone shall be set free!

Yo-ho-ho-ho~ Yo-ho-ho-ho~

Sing this song! Wave of Homecoming!]

The Pirate didn't seem to be good at singing. By the end, he had drifted into the tune of Binks' Sake. As the most widely circulated song among Pirates, it was the music they knew best.

"Sounds like a great man. We should pray that he got the message too. If he did, maybe a few more of us will survive."

"A good man? But I heard he killed countless Marines. Almost every fleet sent to surround and suppress him was wiped out, with pitifully few survivors..."

Although the World Government did not keep a particularly tight grip on propaganda, all sorts of news unfavorable to it often leaked out.

Still, the World Government remained the largest governing body on the seas. Most newspapers continued to promote it as the central authority.

Under such circumstances, even the best reputation a wanted person could have was mixed praise and criticism. More often, they were known for nothing but evil.

To many people, Nereus was a demon who killed without blinking. But Ivankov saw it differently.

"I take back what I said. If he killed that many Marines, then he must be a great hero! Hee-haw! But that has nothing to do with us right now. We should figure out how to save ourselves."

The Celestial Dragons had made him a slave, and the Marines helped the Celestial Dragons transport slaves. In Ivankov's eyes, it didn't matter how many such Marines died.

Still, he didn't place his hopes on that. He turned back to planning how to seize the Devil Fruit.

Meanwhile, in the waters near God Valley, more and more Pirate ships gradually came into view.

Following Nereus's orders, Sebastian and the others had hidden their ship on another distant island, where the crew remained on standby.

Nereus and Babel themselves had boarded a Rocks Pirates ship and were closing in on God Valley.

"Shakky can't split herself evenly!"

"Which idiot came up with that question? Obviously, Shakky should choose for herself! She'll definitely pick whoever steals the most treasure!"

"No! She'll choose the one who rescues her!"

The people aboard were still suffering from their sexual frustration. Even Babel had joined them; he was interested in Shakky too and wanted a taste of her charms.

But at that moment, a Pirate ship began drawing closer to the Rocks Pirates vessel.

The entire ship was streamlined, far narrower than most Pirate ships, and it was moving quickly. At its prow stood a man around two meters tall.

He wore a neat white suit and a monocle. Compared to a Pirate, he looked more like CP0.

"Excuse me! Is Mr. Nereus aboard this ship? My name is Valentine. I am currently the captain of the Valentine Pirates, with a bounty of 437 million Beli!"

"Hey! Hey! Nereus! Looks like someone's looking for you!"

Whitebeard, leaning near the railing, called out to the side, drawing the attention of the other Rocks Pirates as well.

Naturally, Nereus heard the shout and looked over too.

"So Mr. Nereus is involved in this matter after all. I heard of your great name long ago, and after becoming a Pirate and setting out to sea, I saw your name repeatedly in the newspapers."

"I have always followed in your footsteps. Today, I finally have the chance to meet you in person! As long as I kill you here, I can surpass you completely and make my name known across the seas with your head!"

Silence. The Rocks ship fell into a deathly hush. Even the terrifying sexual frustration Shakky had stirred up was shattered by Valentine's words. Only the howl of the sea wind and the crash of the waves continued.

The next moment, thunderous laughter erupted from the Rocks ship. Golden Lion laughed so hard that his cigar fell to the deck without him noticing. Buckin doubled over laughing, looking as though her stomach hurt.

Streusen was laughing so hard that he rolled around on the deck, as if he had heard the greatest joke in the world.

"Everyone, why are you mocking me like this? Once I take Mr. Nereus's head, won't you find this embarrassing?"

The mockery of the Rocks Pirates did not embarrass Valentine. Instead, he thought them ignorant and continued questioning them with perfect courtesy.

That made even Nereus interested in him...