The Beginning of the Great Battle

Robin added from the side, "I heard Major Ener has three capable Marines under him. They could be ignored before, but now... it seems we'll have to take them seriously."

Crocodile raised an eyebrow. "Then send Mr. 3 and his partner, Miss Goldenweek, with them as well. Make sure you bring back those three billion."

Three billion Beli was no small sum to anyone.

Even Crocodile was tempted, so this time, he had sent out his strongest lineup.

He believed they would definitely take down Ener!

Meanwhile, after Ener gave Smoker the two swords and the compensatory Beli to deliver to the weapon shop owner, he set out again.

His destination was the first half of the Grand Line.

Gin steered the ship while Nami helped out. Lina and Zoro, meanwhile, had their eyes fixed on Ener's waist.

After all, Ener currently had four swords at his waist.

They were Ice Demon, Flame Dragon, Sandai Kitetsu, and Yubashiri.

Ener first removed Ice Demon and Flame Dragon, handing them to Lina. "These are your family's swords... and now, you're worthy of wielding them."

"I hope that in the days ahead, you'll make their names known across the entire world."

Lina accepted them with a face full of excitement. "I will! I'll definitely make their names known across the entire world..."

Then, without caring that others were present, she leaped into Ener's arms and kissed him.

Ener patted her pert backside, signaling for her to get down first.

He then handed Yubashiri to Zoro. "I promised you I'd replace your swords with Famed Blades. This is the first one... Later, I'll find another for you, so you can complete your set of three Famed Blades."

Zoro was equally excited. To a swordsman, Famed Blades held a deadly allure.

Especially when the Famed Blades in his hands had not yet formed a complete set.

Ener said, "Yubashiri, one of the Fifty Skillful Blades."

Zoro took a deep breath, his expression utterly sincere. "Thank you..."

Ener patted him on the shoulder. "From the moment you joined me, we became companions who could entrust our backs to one another. So there's no need to thank me."

"Entrust our backs to one another?"

Zoro carefully pondered those words. Not just him—Gin, Lina, and Nami beside him did as well.

Then they looked at one another and smiled together.

With that smile, their relationship took another step forward. At that moment, their small group truly became one.

Three days later, Ener's group arrived at the first island on the Grand Line, Cactus Island.

Whiskey Peak was located on Cactus Island. It was a small town with thriving wine production and music, and it was extremely hospitable.

It was also the only town, spread along both sides of a river on the island.

In truth, the town was home to a group of bounty hunters and served as one of Baroque Works' bases. Quite a few young, inexperienced pirates had become prey for those bounty hunters.

That was one of the reasons Ener had come here.

Because they had hunted down many pirates one by one, they had accumulated a great deal of Beli. On top of that, the town's wine production was no small source of income.

Second, Cactus Island was the first island upon entering the Grand Line. If he took it over and managed it properly, it would definitely become an excellent source of wealth...

After all, any trade with the Four Seas had to pass through here. Just collecting tolls would be enough to make his hands cramp.

Third, he had promised to help Zoro gather three Famed Blades.

If his guess was correct, many Baroque Works members had already gathered here, and Mr. 11 should be among them.

As long as he was here, Kashu in Mr. 11's hands would naturally become Ener's as well.

But the moment Ener's group entered the town, they saw a group of people approaching them, making no attempt to hide themselves.

A man and a woman led the group.

The man was tall and heavily muscled. He had a monk-like shaved head, a scar running from below his hairline to his cheekbone on the right side of his face, thin connected eyebrows, and thick lips.

He wore an ascetic monk-style outfit, with snake patterns on either side of the chest and the character "one" tattooed across his chest.

The woman had an afro, a curvaceous figure, and swayed coyly as she walked.

To their left stood a sturdy okama wearing bizarre heavy makeup and a swan ballet costume.

To their right stood two people, one large and one small. The larger one had a number 3 atop his head, while the smaller one carried a brush and palette.

Finally, there were Miss Merry Christmas, Mr. 5, Ms. Valentine, and a crowd of Baroque Works agents who had fought Ener before.

Ener could not help frowning.

Mr. 1 Daz Bonez, Miss Doublefinger, Mr. 2 Bon Clay, Mr. 3 Galdino, Miss Goldenweek, Mr. 4, Miss Merry Christmas, Mr. 5, Ms. Valentine... Mr. 11.

Good grief.

Aside from Crocodile and Robin at the top, had everyone from Baroque Works gathered here?

Wait...

Who was that behind them again?

She had waist-length, light-blue wavy hair.

She was beautiful and shapely, with two strands of hair hanging from either side of her forehead past her shoulders. She usually tied the rest of her hair back in a ponytail.

Princess Vivi?

Ener truly had not expected even her to be here.

Ener turned to Zoro, Gin, and Lina beside him. "Just knock out the blue-haired one at the very back. Don't hit her too hard. Her identity is unusual, and she'll be very useful later."

"Her identity is unusual?"

Zoro, Gin, and Lina were startled at first, then could not help feeling curious. Anyone Ener described as having an unusual identity had to be truly extraordinary.

So they nodded together, understanding.

Ener added, "I've already explained the appearances and abilities of the Baroque Works members to you in detail. You know what to expect when facing them now, right?"

Zoro, Gin, and Lina nodded in unison. "Don't worry..."

Their gazes then fell on Mr. 2 Bon Clay, Mr. 3 Galdino, and Miss Goldenweek. Aside from the leader, Mr. 1 Daz Bonez, only those three could pose a threat to them.

But Mr. 1 Daz Bonez would naturally be handled by Ener, so they had nothing to worry about.

Mr. 1 and the others were also sizing up Ener, Zoro, Gin, and Lina.

Mr. 1 said, "Ener is mine. Mr. 2, take Miss Doublefinger and Miss Merry Christmas to deal with Zoro. Mr. 3 Galdino and Miss Goldenweek will deal with Gin. Everyone else will handle Lina."

It had to be said that Baroque Works truly lived up to its name. They had already learned Ener's side inside and out.

"They really aren't taking us seriously at all! Not only are they openly blocking our path, they aren't even bothering with Whiskey Peak's underhanded schemes."

"And now they've directly divided us up... Zoro, Gin, Lina, today is your first battle on the Grand Line, and it will also be the battle that makes your names known."

"Make the entire world acknowledge your strength!"

Shave!