Out to Sea (Please Follow)

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

"Where did you go again, Yale?"

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

"I 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 aboard the ship.

"Get dressed quickly and come with me to see Lord Annus."

Diumil came downstairs and shot Yale a glare.

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

Despite saying that, Yale obediently got dressed and followed Diumil to Annus's studio.

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

Lilith sat upright in a chair near the wall, dressed in an elaborate court gown and holding an oil lamp. Its light softly illuminated the delicate contours of her face.

"You're here."

Only after seeing Diumil and Yale enter did Annus reluctantly put down his brush and palette. He took a few steps back and examined Lilith's portrait.

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

"How could they? Lord Annus, you always control the atmosphere of your paintings perfectly. This piece balances solidity and emptiness, its colors are unified, its forms and structure are precise, and its details are refined and convincing. It has reproduced Lilith's beauty exactly as it is..."

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

Diumil's flattery pleased Annus greatly. He pushed the easel against the wall, then compared the painting with Lilith, who was still seated in the chair.

At last, he coughed lightly. "Ahem, Diumil, you're exaggerating. Lilith is still a little prettier. My painting skills need more improvement."

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

Yale, who knew absolutely nothing about painting, was already 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, gazing at Annus with worship in her eyes. Diumil washed the palette and brushes before returning them to their places, and even cleaned the floor stained with paint.

"Alright, let's get down to business. Diumil, has everything been arranged?"

Annus held out his hand toward Lilith.

Lilith gently used a handkerchief to wipe the paint from Annus's hand.

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

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

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

"Mm. Remember, after Rocks and I set out, you will lead the Angel Legion and my attendants to Water 7 and wait for the 'Doctor.'

"Just as I said when I led you 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 the past seven years, we have absorbed nearly all of the Blue Sea's essence. It is time to begin the next phase and give back to our homeland.

"Sky Island should not remain divided."

Thinking back to when he had first arrived in the Blue Sea, he had been nothing more than an immature youth 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 a pause, 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 realized Lilith was 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 gathered at the harbor.

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

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

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

Before they had even found their footing, Charlotte Linlin narrowed her eyes and sidled over.

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

"Mind your own business, Linlin. I wouldn't mind electrocuting you until you're charred."

"How scary."

Linlin chuckled and stepped back a few paces, her cold eyes assessing 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 get any ideas about Lord Annus!!"

Lilith's expression was icy. Though her legs were still weak, she put on a fully imposing air.

"Jihahaha! Alright! Stop fighting! We're going to rescue Shakuyaku now!"

Shiki clapped his hands and separated Linlin from Lilith.

At the thought of seeing Shakuyaku soon, Shiki could barely 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 all night.

The other officers also had dark circles under their eyes and had not slept well.

Treasure, Shakuyaku, Devil Fruits... they were like forbidden fruit hanging overhead in Eden, tempting everyone with desire.

"Let's go, let's go, let's go!"

The sluggish sailing speed made Shiki increasingly impatient, so under his control, the massive Rocks Fervor floated into the air and headed toward the Calm Belt.

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

As its name suggested, the Calm Belt was a dead-silent sea without even a trace of wind. It was also the nest of the Sea Kings.

For those lacking sufficient strength, the Calm Belt was a graveyard of death, a place to avoid 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 harder to navigate.

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

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

Shiki suddenly remembered that everyone aboard was a potential competitor. If he wasted his strength using his ability to move the ship, would he not be at a disadvantage before they even reached God Valley?

"You unreliable bastard..."

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

No, the sky had not darkened. A ship as enormous as a mountain had blocked the path of the Rocks Fervor.