Setting Sail

Yale returned to the Heaven-Piercing Tower, dragging a cartload of wine barrels.

"Where did you go again, Yale?"

The moment he stepped inside, Diumil's voice came from upstairs.

"Went to buy wine. You know me—I can't stand not having anything to drink."

As Yale answered, he instructed the Angel Legion soldiers to carry the barrels onto the ship.

"Get dressed already. You're coming with me to see Lord Annus."

Diumil came downstairs and shot Yale a glare.

"Damn it... I really don't want to wear clothes..."

Even so, Yale obediently put on his clothes and followed Diumil to Annus's studio.

Several easels stood in the studio, while gray-toned oil paintings hung from the surrounding walls. Most were portraits, though a few depicted the scenery of Hachinosu.

Lilith sat upright in a chair near the wall, dressed in an elaborate court gown and holding a kerosene lamp. The light it gave off illuminated the soft contours of her face.

"You're here."

Only after Diumil and Yale entered did Annus reluctantly put down his brush and palette. He took several steps back and examined Lilith's portrait.

"How are these colors? Do they look a little muddy?"

"How could they? Lord Annus, you always control the atmosphere of a painting perfectly. This piece combines the solid and the abstract, its colors are harmonious, its structural forms precise, and its details refined and convincing. It reproduces Lilith's beauty one-to-one..."

"No, it's even more beautiful than Lilith herself!"

Diumil's flattery pleased Annus greatly. He pushed the easel to the wall and compared the painting with Lilith, who was still sitting in the chair.

At last, he gave a light cough. "Ahem, Diumil, you're exaggerating. Lilith is still a little prettier. My painting skills still need improvement."

"How could that be! Look! How natural these contours are! How magnificent the features are! And these rich colors! The contrast between warm and cool tones is hidden so subtly..."

Beside them, Yale, who knew absolutely nothing about painting, was dumbfounded. Feeling that he could not join the conversation, he awkwardly scratched his head and stood there without knowing what to do.

By the time he finally came up with a few more professional-sounding compliments, the topic had already ended.

Annus hung the framed painting on the wall. Lilith rose and rubbed her sore shoulders, looking at Annus with a face full of admiration. Diumil cleaned the palette and brushes, returned them to their places, and even cleaned up the floor stained with paint.

"Alright, let's get to the point. Diumil, have all the arrangements been made?"

Annus held out his hand to Lilith.

Lilith gently wiped the paint from Annus's hand with a handkerchief.

"The food and fresh water supplies needed for the voyage, the Eternal Pose for Water 7, all the Dials and Processed Clouds—they have all been packed." Diumil lowered his head as he answered.

"What about the Angel Legion? Have they assembled?"

"All Angel Legion members who were carrying out missions have been recalled. They await your orders at any time, Lord Annus."

"Mm. Remember, after Rocks and the others set off with me, you are to lead the Angel Legion and my attendants to Water 7, where you will wait for the 'Doctor.'

Just as I said when I led you all down from the White Sea, we came to the Blue Sea to see a wider world and learn technologies that Sky Island did not possess...

Over these past seven years, we have absorbed nearly all the essence the Blue Sea has to offer. It is time to begin the next step of our plan and give back to our homeland.

Sky Island should not be divided."

Thinking back to when he had first arrived in the Blue Sea, he had been nothing more than an immature boy who could not even use Haki. In the blink of an eye, seven years had passed, yet everything about Sky Island remained vivid in his mind.

"Understood, Lord Annus." After hesitating for a moment, Diumil could not help asking, "But what about God Valley...?"

"You needn't worry about God Valley. I'll take Lilith and Yale with me. Your identity is sensitive, so stay behind the scenes."

As Annus spoke, he tried to pull his hand free from Lilith's grasp, but failed.

When he looked up, he found Lilith gazing at him pitifully.

"Lord Annus, I haven't finished wiping it clean yet..."

"Fine, keep going."

Diumil and Yale exchanged a glance, then silently left the studio together.

The next day.

The sky had only just begun to brighten when the Rocks Pirates' crew had already gathered at the harbor.

A refreshed Annus, Lilith, and Yale arrived late. By the time the three reached the harbor, everyone else was already prepared to set sail.

"Wororororo! You're taking too long, Annus! Get on the ship already!"

Rocks' Fury had already raised its sails. Annus and the other two sprang onto the deck.

Before they could steady themselves, Charlotte Linlin narrowed her eyes and approached them.

"Mamamama! Annus, I can smell a woman on you!"

"Mind your own business, Linlin. I wouldn't mind electrocuting you into charcoal."

"How scary."

Linlin chuckled as she took several steps back, then coldly scrutinized Lilith beside Annus.

"You did it, didn't you? Lilith. It smells just like you."

"Didn't you hear what Lord Annus said? I'm warning you, don't set your sights on Lord Annus!!"

Lilith's expression was icy. Though her legs were still weak, she carried herself with full force.

"Jihahaha! Alright, enough! Don't fight! We're going to save Shakuyaku now!"

Shiki clapped his hands and separated Linlin from Lilith.

At the thought of seeing Shakuyaku soon, Shiki could not contain his excitement. He had not slept at all the previous night.

But clearly, he was not the only one aboard who had stayed awake through the night.

The other officers all had dark circles under their eyes as well, having failed to sleep properly.

Treasure, Shakuyaku, Devil Fruits... They were like forbidden fruits hanging overhead in Eden, irresistible in their allure.

"Set sail, set sail, set sail!"

The sluggish speed of the ship made Shiki increasingly restless. He used his power to make the massive Rocks' Fury float, sending it toward the Calm Belt.

Time was pressing. If they wanted to reach the West Blue from the New World before everyone else, taking the usual route was impossible. The Calm Belt was their only option.

As its name implied, the Calm Belt was a deathly silent stretch of sea where no wind blew. It was also the nesting ground of Sea Kings.

For those lacking sufficient strength, the Calm Belt was a graveyard of death, a place to be avoided at all costs.

But to the Rocks Pirates, the Calm Belt was no different from an ordinary route. It was merely a sea that was somewhat more difficult to navigate.

Yet after the Rocks' Fervor had flown only a few nautical miles, Shiki stopped the ship back on the sea.

"I'm too tired! I need to rest! You guys steer the ship!"

Shiki suddenly remembered that everyone aboard was a potential competitor. If he exhausted his power controlling the ship, would he not already be at a disadvantage before reaching God Valley?

"You unreliable bastard..."

Just as the officers were about to complain, they suddenly noticed the sky darkening.

No, it was not the sky that had darkened. A ship as enormous as a mountain lay across the path ahead of the Rocks' Fervor.