Arriving in the New World

"Princess Shirahoshi is the Poseidon of this generation, isn't she?" Yake said calmly.

Yake was met with a long silence.

"Sigh, you already knew. That's right, my daughter Shirahoshi truly is Poseidon. It's just that Shirahoshi's power is still dormant, and we have been waiting for the one promised in the prophecy..."

"I firmly believe in it," Neptune declared solemnly.

Poseidon's power was indeed terrifying. In this world ruled by the sea, one could never know how enormous the Sea Kings lurking in the ocean depths were. Poseidon was born as the ruler of those Giant Sea Kings, with the power to command them at will.

"Protect Shirahoshi well. Having power is not a mistake; what matters is how it is used." Yake gave Neptune a deep look.

Robin had also made rubbings of the Poneglyphs' contents. It was time to leave.

"King Neptune, we won't stay any longer. Let's go, everyone."

Yake led the women away from the Sea Forest.

"Shirahoshi, you must become strong in the future. You carry an important mission and cannot cry whenever you please, understand?" Yake gave Shirahoshi his final farewell before leaving.

Shirahoshi held herself back from crying out loud. Tears kept welling in her eyes, yet they still did not fall.

"Mm-hmm, I definitely will. Goodbye, Lord Yake."

Under Princess Shirahoshi and Neptune's watchful gazes, Yake's group left Fish-Man Island. Yake held a small lock of Shirahoshi's hair in his hand, intending to make it into a Vivre Card so he could clearly keep track of her condition.

"Captain, Fish-Man Island is so beautiful. Why don't we stay a few more days?" Anna gazed reluctantly at Fish-Man Island as it grew farther away.

"Little Anna, we have more important things to do. The captain has his own considerations." Robin stroked Anna's head.

"Oh, okay..."

"Captain, there's a white whirlpool ahead. It looks like... like a White Dragon!" Perona, standing watch, noticed something unusual.

"Charge into it. We can enter the New World faster! Everyone, hold on tight!" Yake's eyes lit up as he used his ability to steer the ship toward the whirlpool.

"What? Nooooo!"

"Are you insane?"

"We're all going to die!"

Of course Yake was not insane. In the original story, the Straw Hat Pirates had ridden this whirlpool known as the "White Dragon" into the New World, eventually arriving at Punk Hazard. Yake had a reason he had to go there.

"Don't worry, we'll be fine. Trust me!"

The Eternal Truth was swiftly sucked into the whirlpool. Its hull spun relentlessly, carried who knew where by the currents, but the ship was also rapidly rising.

The ship finally stabilized. Everyone on board was sprawled in every direction, and Anna had even fainted outright. Yake did not feel much better himself, but only relaxed after looking around and confirming no one was missing.

"Haha, we're alive!"

Yake laughed carelessly.

"Drop dead, you bastard captain!"

"Dos Fleur: Giro!"

"Stop! My waist is going to break... I'm your captain!"

Yake had incurred everyone's wrath and was beaten up by the group. During it, he encountered quite a few ping-pong balls, little buns, volleyballs...

Reiju smiled as she watched the lively scene. It was starting to feel more and more like a home.

After the roughhousing, everyone lay panting on the deck, watching the sea surface draw ever closer, their hearts filled with countless emotions.

"Everyone, we've arrived in the New World! Cheer!"

"Yeahhh!"

At such an important moment, Yake remembered that he still had several lottery draws. The time, place, and people were all right, so he decided to try a ten-pull and test his luck.

Activate ten-pull.

"Congratulations, you have obtained: 1 billion Beli (total), Beauty Pill x5, Devil Fruit Prototype, Ship Upgrade Card, Thank You for Your Patronage x5"

Yake: There was nothing to say. Superstition was forever supreme!

Devil Fruit Prototype: A Devil Fruit without an ability. It can collect dispersed Devil Fruit energy and transform into the corresponding Devil Fruit.

Ship Upgrade Card: Upgrade your ship, making it larger, faster, and stronger!

There was nothing much to say about the Beauty Pills. He had originally been torn over who should get the last one, but now there was no need to hesitate. One pill for each person was enough. The Devil Fruit Prototype was what Yake valued most. With it, Yake could choose whatever ability he wanted, as long as he killed the corresponding Devil Fruit user.

Because only upon death would a Devil Fruit ability disperse...

Today's haul could be called abundant. Yake was in an excellent mood. He truly was one chosen by heaven.

Looking through his storage inventory, he already had a Devil Fruit Fusion Card, a Devil Fruit Enhancement Card, and a Devil Fruit Prototype. Now, as long as he went to Punk Hazard and obtained that imitation Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Azure Dragon Form, he could begin his ability upgrade plan.

"Captain, what are you so happy about?" Robin could not help asking when she saw the smile on Yake's face.

"Haha, come over here, everyone. I have gifts for you."

"Huh, gifts? Is it Kumashi?" Perona immediately floated over.

Yake: You're still thinking about that goofy doll?

"Yay! Captain, what kind of gift, meow?" Anna hurried over as well.

Seeing that all the crew members had gathered around with interest, Yake took out four Beauty Pills.

"Want to know the secret behind my handsomeness? It's this! It can take your beauty to the next level!" Yake's words were full of temptation.

"What is this?" Robin picked one up and examined it in her palm.

"A Beauty Pill. As far as I know, it can at least make your skin smoother and remove scars, among other effects. Anyway, your captain definitely won't harm you. One each, and don't eat too many!"

Watching each of them swallow one, Yake nodded in satisfaction. Now his pirate crew was, at the very least, the most attractive pirate crew in the world.

After taking the pills, the women all hurried back to their rooms to observe their changes, instantly leaving Yake all alone...

Yake shook his head helplessly. Women...

"Use the Ship Upgrade Card."

Yet nothing happened. Yake was full of question marks.

Then the Eternal Truth began shaking violently, as if it were about to collapse. The women in their rooms hurriedly ran out to see what was happening.

"Captain, what's going on?"

"I'm not sure either. Maybe the ship has grown up and learned how to become stronger on its own?" Yake could not explain the real reason to them, so he could only quietly wait for the ship's transformation.

The ship grew larger and wider at a visible rate, gradually becoming covered in layers of metal. A few minutes later, the entire ship had been completely renewed.

The overall style remained medieval, but most of it had been replaced with a metallic texture. It had also gained an electric propulsion system, allowing Yake to feed it electrical current and sail rapidly across the sea. With favorable winds, the combined power of wind and electricity could make the Eternal Truth fast enough to leave Marine fleets far behind.

The ship's interior was even more similar to the Thousand Sunny's later design. Not only did it have grass, it also had all kinds of entertainment facilities.

"This? This is the Eternal Truth? We didn't change ships, did we?" Robin, who had been with Yake from the start, said in disbelief.

After all, the Eternal Truth had originally been nothing more than a pirate ship Yake had seized. Now, there was no trace of its former appearance left.