Ailu Island

The island closest to Gravity Island is called Ailu Island. Viewed from above, the island is circular, with a massive, deep chasm running through nearly half of it. This chasm splits the eastern half of the island into a shape resembling the character for "person," and thanks to the constant erosion of the waves, it has become a sheltered harbor suitable for ships to dock near the shore.

For over a year now, merchant ships have been visiting the island with increasing frequency. In the past, merchant vessels would arrive at most once every six months, but times have changed; now, one is guaranteed to see ships laden with cargo within any given month or two.

Ever since the island acquired a sufficient amount of hard currency, the local residents have begun purchasing the velvet fabrics, linen clothes, and new farming tools stocked by visiting merchants.

Just half a month ago, the mayor of Ailu Village purchased a batch of rice seeds that were both easy to grow and high-yielding, distributing them to the villagers below and paying a significant amount of Beli for them.

Whether it was the local villagers or the merchants who had traveled thousands of miles, everyone beamed with joy whenever a deal was struck.

Yet, no one would have guessed that this land, which was neither particularly wealthy nor easily accessible, was only able to develop because of the arrival of a group of foreign pirates.

Talo the fisherman was a local through and through. He owned a small thatched cottage near the harbor, and compared to the other fishermen around him, he was quite outstanding. Whether it was making nets, catching fish, drying nets, or selling his catch to the island's fishmongers, he was young and his movements were far more nimble than his peers.

Because of this, he was entrusted with an important task as one of the few scouts on the island. If any strange strangers appeared on the shore, he had to drop his work immediately and report to the mayor.

If this had been a year ago, he would have been overcome with panic, worry, and deep fear at the mere sight of a pirate ship approaching. Now, however, he found himself looking forward to the arrival of that pirate ship with the red-nosed skull flag.

"They're here! They're here!" Talo watched as the black shadow in the distant sea mist gradually transformed into a pirate ship. A heartfelt smile bloomed on his face as he waved his hands continuously from the shore.

The pirate ship sailed into the harbor and dropped anchor. A dozen or so pirates stepped off, laughing and joking, with sturdy burlap sacks slung over their shoulders.

The sacks were filled with gold utensils, ornaments, and shimmering jewelry.

He knew that these pirates would later go to trade with the mayor, using this gold and jewelry to buy rice wine, fresh water, and food from the village. Any remaining surplus would be used to purchase other supplies on the island or to host a feast for the entire village to celebrate.

Since they arrived over a year ago, these pirates had never once raided their village. Every time, they spoke in a friendly and gentle manner, just like the elegant gentlemen in storybooks—at least, that was what Talo thought.

Not only that, but several pirates in their forties had also moved here with the mayor's consent. Their years of pirate life meant their physical strength was far greater than that of the island's farmers, and their skills in hunting wild beasts were far more proficient. Because of their arrival, last year's crop yields and the number of hunted beasts were more than fifty percent higher than in previous years.

"Being a pirate must be great..." Talo watched as the "new islanders" chatted easily with the crew of the Red Nose Pirates, feeling sincere envy. He also wanted to become a great pirate, sailing freely across the vast and magnificent ocean, only to return to the island when he was old to share stories of the sea's vastness and his adventures.

"Talo." An elderly fisherman beside him patted his shoulder and said jokingly, "These pirates are a group of one-of-a-kind pirates! You should go ask them; perhaps they'll take in a young, strong lad like you!"

Talo just smiled. He wasn't entirely sure if he dared to become a real pirate, but even if he couldn't achieve it, holding onto a dream made the future feel vibrant rather than stagnant.

Most of the young people on the island thought just like him; these foreign pirates had given them many beautiful fantasies... such as wealth and freedom.

Southwest of Ailu Island, a naval warship sailed slowly toward the island. As it passed through the thick sea mist, the faces of three naval officers standing on the deck were revealed.

The soldier standing to the left of the lead officer reported respectfully, "Colonel Nezumi, we will reach Ailu Island in another half hour."

"Squeak—" Colonel Nezumi let out a strange laugh, his expression looking quite pleased. "Is that so... According to intelligence from our informant, the Buggy Pirates have had deep dealings with Ailu Island for over a year now. If nothing goes wrong, they will appear on this island today as well. Tsk tsk, this group of heinous pirates has been in hiding for so long; it seems they want to retire. What a pity, though..."

He took out a bounty poster, glanced at it with disdain, then let go and trampled it under his feet, grinding it into the deck. "After committing so many evil deeds, they want to wash their hands of it? That's far too naive."

The sergeant standing to the right of Colonel Nezumi asked in a low, worried voice, "Colonel, the leader of the Buggy Pirates, Buggy, is a major pirate with a bounty of ten million Beli. Why are we provoking him..."

Colonel Nezumi squeaked with laughter. "Sergeant, it's a shame you've followed me for so many years, yet your brain hasn't grown at all."

"Colonel, I still don't quite understand..." He was Nezumi's confidant, having followed him all the way from the Grand Line to the East Blue. Under Nezumi's deliberate cultivation, he had been promoted from a grunt to a sergeant in just a few years.

"If you used your brain when you did things, I wouldn't have to go to Arlong myself to collect taxes every time. It seems I still need to teach you a few things." Colonel Nezumi let out an insidious chuckle. "It is precisely because he is a ten-million-Beli pirate that we need to take his head..."

His eyes, which resembled those of a mouse, narrowed slightly. "In truth, although I have tried my best to hide it, word always leaks out. Some clowns at headquarters have raised objections about me, but there is nothing to be done about that. Arlong has openly built a massive 'empire' within my jurisdiction, and even that White Hunter all the way in Loguetown knows about it and is very dissatisfied..."

"Of course, aside from the protection Arlong has due to his close relationship with one of the Seven Warlords, there are people above me helping to suppress this matter. But that alone is not enough. I must produce some visible military achievements to maintain my position. Catching ten, a hundred, or even a thousand small-time pirates won't make a difference..."

"Thinking about it that way..." Nezumi squeaked, "Isn't this Buggy Pirates crew, sitting there like a stationary target, a prey delivered right to my doorstep? If I bring back a head that far exceeds the East Blue's average bounty of three million, headquarters shouldn't have anything left to say."

"I understand..." The sergeant realized. "The Buggy Pirates are said to have fewer than fifty members. Even if their captain is a ten-million-Beli pirate, they can't possibly stand against the five hundred soldiers and superior equipment on our warship!"

"Squeak, our numbers... are ten times theirs!"