Sea Swallow Again

Jaya Island, eastern coast.

On the vast, mist-shrouded sea, the warm spring sun hung high in the azure sky... Today was a fine, breezy day.

"Set sail!"

"Yes, Captain Berg!"

The remaining nine men sprang into action... raising the anchor, untying the ropes, hoisting the sails, and so on. Their discipline was exceptionally tight; they were elites who had survived hardship and suffering!

Splash... Yet the newly raised mainsail no longer bore the emblem of a "skull and treasure chest."

Sitting at the bow with his arms crossed, Reg quietly gazed into the distance... Beyond the meeting point of sea and sky to the north flowed anticipation. Hope sang there, like the sweet call of mermaids from the depths, while shimmering blue waves reflected a long-awaited promise—blue-tinged winds stirred countless ripples in his life!

More than eighty months, over four hundred days, more than fifty-seven thousand six hundred hours, over a hundred million seconds of effort, endurance, and waiting... At last, in a few hours, he would take the most important step.

This was merely a beginning... not an end.

Reg believed that he would surely reach the legendary "Sky Island" spoken of by the world!

"Whew... whew... whew..."

Breathing deeply, Reg gradually calmed his racing heart... If he wanted to celebrate, he could wait until they reached the White Sea. What he needed now was composure.

Beneath the Knock Up Stream, even the slightest oversight... would mean failure.

If such a low-level mistake delayed this precious opportunity... Reg would never forgive himself.

In the great age of conflict that was soon to come... there truly would not be so many chances for him to make mistakes.

Standing behind Reg, Berg extended his left hand to feel the flow of the wind, though his gaze remained fixed on Reg's back.

His next destination was not far away... the renowned medical powerhouse, the Drum Kingdom, known as the "Winter Island" for having only winter.

"Build up a certain amount of influence, gather intelligence, befriend famous doctors... and collect any Devil Fruits that appear whenever possible?"

Recalling the task Reg had assigned yesterday, Berg was somewhat puzzled... but he still accepted it without hesitation.

Over the past few months, even without taking the initiative to attack... they had defeated quite a few pirate crews.

Combined with the treasure he had previously gathered... their total assets amounted to just under a hundred million Beri.

If Reg died atop the Knock Up Stream, all that Beri would belong to him.

If they successfully reached the legendary "Sky Island," then he would need to use that money as initial capital.

As for the nine subordinates behind them... while Reg was aboard, there was no need to question their loyalty.

On the boundless sea, only the strong... could make others willingly follow them.

Berg himself knew that Reg had stolen his "spotlight," yet he accepted it willingly... Hadn't he also been won over by Reg?

As long as Reg did not die, there would be no need to doubt the loyalty of the few of them for the next several years.

But once enough time had passed... Berg narrowed his eyes. They had made an agreement for a set number of years.

If that period passed without any news of Reg... he could regain the freedom he did not truly want.

A few hours later, their ship finally arrived at the area where the Knock Up Stream was about to form... Cumulate Clouds had already appeared in the distant sky.

"Follow the original plan and lower my boat... Once I confirm the location, you'll take the helm."

"Yes, young master."

"Do not make any mistakes."

After that final warning, Reg leaped from the bow... Though they had reached the Knock Up Stream's eruption zone, they still needed to confirm the exact location.

Once low-temperature water from the deep sea accumulated to a certain extent, waves flowing opposite to the current would appear beneath the surface during the early stages of the sea current... This signaled a Knock Up Stream in its brewing stage.

It took the form of a massive whirlpool, like the eye of a typhoon.

Splash... Reg's feet kicked rapidly beneath the water, and like a barracuda known as the "king fish," he swiftly dove into the depths at an astonishing speed.

The reason he could move at such speed was that Reg had drawn inspiration from Sanji's Blue Walk.

After Kuma sent Sanji flying to the Kamabakka Kingdom, Sanji spent two years on an island without a single woman, pursued by a group of fierce-looking okama. He not only developed Geppo, but also mastered Blue Walk, a swimming technique comparable to the speed of a fish-man.

The principle was not complicated... Shave combined with Geppo, along with a certain understanding of the sea, was enough to accomplish it.

Though he could not yet match Sanji's speed, Reg had already grasped its basic form... It would only take him a short time to survey the surrounding waters.

With the aid of Observation Haki, whenever he encountered waves flowing opposite to the current, that direction was certain to be where the whirlpool would form... Reg had done this too many times and already understood it perfectly.

"Captain Berg, the Cumulate Clouds are getting closer..."

"Captain Berg, the sea surface has begun to churn..."

"Captain Berg... please take the helm yourself!"

Amid the reports of all kinds of developments, Berg glanced at the sailboat that had already been lowered into the sea... It was because of that thing that he had suffered such a crushing setback back then.

"Wait a little longer. The young master hasn't returned yet."

Berg watched the sea with a serious expression... Until they could determine the final course, waiting in place was the best choice.

Splash... The instant Berg finished shouting, Reg's body leaped out of the sea. "One o'clock!"

"Boys, stay sharp!"

"I'll leave it to you, Fitch."

Back on the ship, Reg grabbed bearded Fitch and hurled him with all his strength.

"Young Master Gray, we'll be waiting for you!"

Fitch shouted as he flew through the air... He held no resentment toward the boy before him.

After all, the moment they surrendered, their lives no longer belonged to them... He had been prepared for that from the moment he became a pirate.

The fact that they had survived until now was, in no small part, because Reg's efforts had inspired them... That was the power of setting an example.

"Of course... You'd better listen to Captain Berg."

Waving his hand, Reg began checking the wings, canvas, and the floating air balloon apparatus... It had nothing to do with whether he trusted the pirates or not. They simply didn't have the nerve to tamper with it.

What Reg wanted was... for there to be no problems with the hardware, then to ride the Knock Up Stream with his own strength and reflexes.

Splash, splash... As the Cumulate Cloud drew closer, the sky darkened, and the waves suddenly grew larger.

On the uneven sea, Berg personally manned the helm, skillfully riding the waves as he headed toward the one o'clock direction without slowing down.

Chirp, chirp... In the approaching storm, the South Birds aboard Reg's ship began crying out—panic, fear, and struggle filled their calls.

Just as Reg was about to soothe them, he suddenly looked up... There was a streak of black lightning.

"Is that you...?"

Though it seemed absurd, Reg had that feeling... This seagull was the very same one he had seen several months ago.

That distinctive cry, like an echo rolling through the mountains, rang out across the sky once more... The swift seagull skimmed over the rolling waves and flashed past Reg.

Reg clearly saw the "flame" in the seagull's eyes... Brave, surging, resilient, never retreating!!