Pippi Fish, Use Surf!

He strode to the rail and hopped lightly onto it.

Whoosh—

Massive flying fish over three meters long streaked past him one after another, whipping up gales that slapped against his face.

The captain of the Flying Fish cried out in alarm behind him.

"What are you doing?! It's dangerous! Get down!"

"Even if you like flying fish, you can't get that close!! (Don't let flying fish get a bad name for hurting people!!)"

At that speed, a flying fish could smash someone into pieces!

The surrounding passengers also shouted, urging their wealthy benefactor not to do anything rash.

"Life is still beautiful!"

"Don't give up!"

"Go get a job!"

Jogo ignored them.

Trait switch!

[...

Conqueror's Haki (Awakened)

Trait equipped: "Otherworldly Soul (Silver)" "Fishing Master (Silver)"

...]

[Trait effect: Causes Conqueror's Haki to emit the aura of an angler and enhances its power over marine creatures. Marine creatures intimidated by it have a low chance of submitting.]

Conqueror's Haki release: 1%

Frequency: 10 times/second

A second later, an extremely weak, muddled consciousness extended into his mind. It circled around his consciousness, gentle and obedient.

"Looks like fate is on my side!"

Jogo smiled faintly, drew a deep breath, and leaped off the rail before everyone's horrified eyes!

Almost at the same moment, a massive flying fish burst from the sea, spread its huge translucent fins, and caught Jogo steadily in midair as though performing an acrobatic stunt!

The deck fell silent.

The next second—

Woooooooh!!!!!!!

Deafening cheers erupted!

"Flying Fish Rider!!!" xN

A notification sounded in his mind.

[Obtained Trait: Flying Fish Rider (White)]

[Trait effect (Observation Haki): When Observation Haki is activated, you can understand flying fish.]

[Trait effect (Conqueror's Haki): Flying fish that sense your Conqueror's Haki will be encouraged, displaying greater endurance and speed.]

"This can earn me a Trait too?"

Jogo felt as if he had grasped another pattern for obtaining Traits.

But there was no time to think about that now.

He wrapped both arms around the flying fish with all his strength, even driving his palms into its scales and gripping them tightly.

Trait switch:

[...

Conqueror's Haki (Awakened)

Trait equipped: "Otherworldly Soul (Silver)" "Flying Fish Rider (White)"

...]

Conqueror's Haki release: 1%

He kicked the large blue flying fish beneath him with his heel.

"Pippi Fish, use Surf!"

It was as though an inexplicable power rose from within his heart.

Amid the shrieking wind, the flying fish's eyes reddened as it carried Jogo away in a glide.

The Flying Fish was instantly left far behind.

The tourists leaned over the rails, craning their necks and cheering toward the direction Jogo had vanished in!

The captain of the Flying Fish was sprawled over the bow, one arm stretched out and half his body hanging over the rail, tears streaming down his face.

"Why him?"

"I'm the one who loves you the most!"

"Take me with you!!!"

"I want to ride a flying fish too!!!!"

Splash splash splash splash splash!

For a moment, the school of flying fish soared into the air like a curtain of pearls, bewildering everyone's vision.

Time passed quickly.

The World Economy News Paper compiled the story even faster than Hina had imagined.

About three hours later, a News Coo delivered the first edition to an island on the edge of the West Blue.

It was already nighttime. People preparing for bed stared blankly at the News Coo that had suddenly brought an extra edition, but once they realized what had happened, they immediately pulled out money to buy it.

Hehehe, did some huge news break again? Let me take a look!

Oh? It's related to the West Blue again?

Nice!

What happened?

The Marines... the Happo Navy... the new leader... huh?

What do you mean the Happo Navy's new leader, Sai, was arrested?

That night, countless people sat upright in bed, their eyes shining.

Holy shit!

Weren't they still fighting not long ago?

How long has it been? The new leader has already been arrested?

Oh-ho~

Is the Happo Navy really that weak?

Does that mean other forces can get a piece of the maritime business from now on?

The night erupted into frenzy as electromagnetic waves from countless Den Den Mushi leaped toward distant islands.

Dendrobium Island, underworld, Capone Family contact point.

Inside a low-key yet luxurious room.

Vito pushed aside the documents covering the desk, leaned back in his chair, and stuck out a curled, lizard-like tongue. His huge palms covered his eyes as he felt, for a moment, that life held no meaning.

Recently, the Marines had gone mad, shutting down Capone Family assets everywhere.

The already unstable family had been thrown into even greater turmoil.

He had originally been a guard and assistant meant to remain at Lord Bege's side, but he had been sent to this contact point.

On one hand, it was to ensure information could flow smoothly.

After all, this important external contact point received an enormous volume of information from lower-level gangs every day.

On the other hand, it was to handle assorted trivial matters in advance and filter out what truly mattered, so Lord Bege's energy would not be wasted.

But who was going to care about his mental state?

Every day, all sorts of terrible news came from across the West Blue, grinding away at his nerves bit by bit like a file.

Vito felt like he was already suffering from neurasthenia!

The two enormous pistols at his waist hung heavily through the gaps in the chair, pulling his lower back so hard it had gone stiff.

He reached down and removed them.

The people in the family called him "Monster Gun."

He had once been a master evenly matched with Gotti, but he had not drawn his guns in a long time.

"It's not like there's no good news."

He forced himself to sound relaxed as he encouraged himself.

"The Happo Navy's leader personally took action. That damned Jogo is finally dead."

"In that case, Lord Bege's position as family head should be a little more secure for now!"

"The problem is, why hasn't the Happo Navy contacted Lord Bege yet? When will they send over that head?"

Just as he was thinking this, the door suddenly opened. A familiar figure rushed in, drenched in sweat and pale-faced, clutching a newspaper fax.

"This is bad, Lord Vito!"

He handed the fax to Vito and unfolded the front page.

"Take a look!"

Vito's heart tightened as he hurriedly looked at the front page.

The next second, he shot up from his chair, his eyes going wide!

—<Current Happo Navy Leader Arrested; Marines Win a Major Victory!>

Arrested...

Who was arrested...

Happo Navy... leader...

Sai!!!

"Sai was arrested!!!"

As though a basin of icy water had been poured over him from head to toe, Vito shuddered violently.

The first thing that surfaced in his mind was the cold threat that had come through Lord Bege's Den Den Mushi that day.

"You'd better start praying now that I don't find you!"

Jogo!

Was Jogo still alive!

Vito shivered, then shivered several more times in succession.

Although the situation was still unclear, no one knew whether Sai had been arrested after killing Jogo, or whether... he had simply been defeated by Jogo!

But his instincts were already telling him that the latter was very likely!

"No wonder he dared threaten Lord Bege even in that situation!"

"No, that isn't what matters!"

Vito suddenly came to his senses.

"If Jogo had already defeated Sai on the day of that call, that means... this news is already from four days ago!"

"Four whole days!!"

"What has Jogo been doing... these past four days?"

Overwhelming terror rose in his heart.

"We have to notify Lord Bege immediately!"

Vito hurried toward the door, but just as he was about to reach it, he abruptly stopped.

He lowered his head and looked at the waterlogged footprints on the floor.

Only then did he slowly realize that something was wrong.

"Why... are there so many wet footprints beneath your feet?" he asked hesitantly.

A young voice came from behind him.

"To deliver the news as quickly as possible, I ran a long way and sweated a lot."

Vito fell silent for a moment.

"Why do you smell like fish?"

"Do I? Maybe I've been eating too much fish lately?"

Vito looked down at his trembling hands, slowly closed his eyes, swallowed, and asked his final question in a shaking voice.

"Then why... do I feel like you're familiar, but I just can't remember who you are?"

"Isn't that simple? It means our fate hasn't ended yet!"

Behind him, Jogo sat in the chair, pale-faced and soaked through. With one leg crossed over the other, he removed the fake beard from his face and casually tossed it onto the desk, watching Vito's back.

"Aren't you going to turn around and look?"