Akatsuki

This was the Sabaody Archipelago.

The entire archipelago was made up of seventy-nine enormous Yarukiman Mangroves. Each was numbered and divided into areas such as amusement parks, commercial districts, and Marine bases. The roots of every tree formed the ground, with towns and facilities built atop them. Together, these seventy-nine islands were known as the "Sabaody Archipelago."

As the only necessary route to the New World—though the Marines had another route, crossing over the top of the Red Line—it drew countless pirates, merchants, and bounty hunters. All kinds of people gathered here.

Area 76, Red Star Bar.

The bar was awash in colorful lights and overflowing with noise.

Birds of a feather flocked together. Most of the people here belonged to pirate crews from all over the world. Their conversations ranged from trivial things like food preferences to certain parts of women's bodies, even extending to world-changing policies and the balance of power. Once they got started, their words flowed like an endless river.

Crude and vulgar remarks only made like-minded people talk more enthusiastically. Pirates gathered here in droves, making it a lawless zone and one the Marines least liked to govern.

Only one table in a corner of the bar was piled high with fine wine and food. The three people seated there were so quiet that only the sound of chewing remained, as though they had truly come just to eat.

After wolfing down a bowl of noodles, Ye Qiong quickly finished the roasted lamb leg in his hand. The satisfaction of meat entering his stomach was something he had not felt in years.

At last, Ye Qiong rubbed his now-round belly. The feeling of being stuffed was incredibly comfortable and satisfying, almost like the exhilaration of a fierce battle.

He looked at White Snow and Crow King beside him, who were still buried in their food, his expression turning a little strange. Crow King was one thing, but he had not expected even White Snow, who looked so aloof and cool, to seem as though she had transformed into her Hell Wolf form, constantly stuffing food into her mouth with puffed cheeks as she devoured it ravenously.

Having eaten his fill, Ye Qiong leaned back in his chair, picked up his wineglass, and took a sip. The wine spread across his mouth and slid down his throat. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the dim, non-glaring lights overhead.

The feeling of being alive, the feeling of freedom—nothing could be better.

He had never been an ambitious person. Ye Qiong had no interest in Yonko or power. If possible, he would even have liked to live the most ordinary life with Robin on the tiny Ohara Island, which had been no larger than a palm when it first descended.

But as his abilities and enemies grew stronger, so did the desire for strength and ambition born from his need to survive and uphold his principles.

Wanting to live peacefully and freely in this world had always been the most ambitious wish of all.

"Brother Ye... what are we going to do next...?"

Crow King's mouth was full of meat, making his words muffled.

Ye Qiong slapped him on the head and said irritably, "Eat. Talk after you've finished."

Yet Ye Qiong began thinking about it himself.

Where should they go?

It really was a headache-inducing question. He had always had trouble making choices.

The world was so vast. He wanted to see strange sights like Water 7, Fish-Man Island, and Skypiea, and he also wanted to witness peerless powerhouses like Whitebeard and Red-Haired Shanks, whose presence could overwhelm the world.

But the urgent priority was to find Robin first. Otherwise, he would not be able to rest easy.

"Phew!"

Crow King let out a satisfied breath, his face full of delight. He finally looked full.

"I'm finally alive again!" He smacked his lips, savoring the lingering taste of the food, then used a napkin to wipe away the stains splashed onto his body.

White Snow also put down the bare bones in her hand, though she had been far more elegant than Crow King and had not gotten any grease on herself.

"Crow King, White Snow, what do you two want to do from now on?" Ye Qiong asked, gazing at them.

Crow King and White Snow exchanged a glance. White Snow remained cold and expressionless, while Crow King's face showed far more emotion—confusion, bewilderment, and fear.

"Brother Ye, you're not planning to abandon us, are you?"

Crow King was a little flustered, his resentment practically spilling from his face.

Ye Qiong was speechless. What was this supposed to mean?

"I never meant to chase you away. We finally escaped Impel Down. You should have things you want to do, like going home or something, right?" Ye Qiong explained.

Crow King shook his head blankly. "I don't have a home. I was an orphan from the start. Later, I ran around with a pirate crew. Seven years ago, I accidentally killed a Marine captain. I stayed behind to hold off the Marines and got captured, then sent to Impel Down."

"So that's how it was."

Ye Qiong nodded and turned his gaze to White Snow. "What about you, White Snow?"

White Snow lowered her head, seemingly lost in thought. Her silver eyes, always like solid ice, appeared to conceal complicated emotions that no one else could see through.

Ye Qiong fell silent as well. This girl, a few years older than him, had always been shrouded in layers of mist.

To survive in Impel Down, she had disguised herself as the Army Wolf Leader for an unknown number of years. To avoid being discovered, she had even remained in the beast form of a Hell Wolf the entire time.

When Ye Qiong first encountered White Snow in the snowy forest of Freezing Hell, he had completely mistaken her for a truly ferocious magical beast—brutal, wild, and chillingly cold.

Even after White Snow returned to human form, though she remained as icy as a thousand-year snow mountain, she displayed wisdom and elegance in certain ways that made her impossible to fathom.

"I'll listen to the leader."

White Snow glanced at Ye Qiong, dropped those words, then lowered her head and said nothing more.

"Then it's two against one. Brother Ye, you can't chase us away," Crow King said excitedly.

"I have no problem with you two following me, but I'm very good at attracting trouble. It's dangerous around me," Ye Qiong said helplessly, draining his glass of wine.

"What could be more troublesome or dangerous than escaping Impel Down?"

Crow King casually refilled Ye Qiong's glass. The red wine glimmered faintly in the dim light.

"Oh, right, Brother Ye." After thinking for a moment, Crow King hurriedly asked, "Are we going to become pirates? After escaping Impel Down, we definitely all have bounties on our heads."

"A pirate crew..." Ye Qiong pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "I'm not interested in becoming a pirate."

That was the truth.

He did not want to become a pirate. Although some pirates in this world loved freedom and adventure, did not plunder the wealth of farmers and merchants, and instead helped others and punished evil—kind people like Red-Haired Shanks and Straw Hat Luffy—

Pirates were the most active profession in this Great Pirate Era, but there was no denying that they were also a cancer upon this world. Most pirates were hated by people who longed for peace.

Though some Marine officers were corrupt, abused their authority, and pursued personal gain, there were also those who served their country and people, like Garp and Fujitora. Most people who joined the Marines fought for the justice in their hearts.

It would be a lie to say he held no resentment over Ohara Island being destroyed and his own imprisonment for five years.

But Ye Qiong would not blindly hate the Marines or this world from one side alone. After all, the real masterminds were the World Government and the Five Elders.

Whether it was the World Government, pirates, or the Revolutionary Army, Ye Qiong did not want to stand with any of them.

When the nation prospers, the people suffer. When the nation falls, the people suffer.

Those who could protect themselves and stand above ordinary people were the strong, while those who suffered were the powerless people yearning for peace and freedom.

This world lacked something greatly.

Ye Qiong suddenly smiled. "Let's create an organization."

"Brother Ye, what did you say?"

Crow King stared at him in shock. An organization?

Were they going to oppose the World Government?!

"That's right, an organization." Ye Qiong repeated himself, as though making up his own mind. "I want to create an organization and bring in like-minded people from across the world!"

"The nature of this organization will be this: gathering the strength of all its members and using the collective deterrence we create to protect everything the organization wishes to protect!"

"Our organization will not compete with the World Government or the Revolutionary Army for the world, nor will we compete with those pirates for the so-called One Piece."

"I want to create an organization that exists purely to protect!"

Crow King and White Snow were both left speechless by Ye Qiong's idea.

This was the Great Pirate Era. Countless conflicts came one after another, and no one could remain untouched.

To create an organization independent from the world amid such chaos would be like sailing against the current. It required the courage and strength to stand against enemies on all sides.

Crow King's mouth felt dry. He swallowed, overwhelmed by indescribable excitement, and hurriedly asked, "Then... what will this organization be called?"

Ye Qiong thought for a moment. His eyes brightened slightly as he grinned. "This organization will be called 'Akatsuki'!"