"Princess Shirahoshi is this generation's Poseidon, the Sea King, 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, the Sea King. It's just that Shirahoshi's power is still slumbering, and we have been waiting for the person promised in the prophecy..."
"I firmly believe in it," Neptune said solemnly.
Poseidon's power was indeed terrifying. In this world centered around the sea, one could never know how enormous the Sea Kings lurking in the depths might be. Poseidon, the Sea King, was born as the ruler of those Giant Sea Kings and possessed the power to command them at will.
"Protect Shirahoshi well. Having power is not a mistake. What matters is how you use it." Yake gave Neptune a deep look.
Robin had also made rubbings of the Poneglyphs' contents. It was time to leave.
"King Neptune, then we won't stay any longer. Let's go, everyone."
Yake led the women away from the Sea Forest.
"Shirahoshi, you must become strong from now on. You bear an important mission and cannot cry whenever you please, understand?" Yake said his final farewell to Shirahoshi before leaving.
Shirahoshi fought hard not to cry out loud. Tears kept welling in her eyes, yet they still did not fall.
"Mhm, mhm, I definitely will. Goodbye, Lord Yake."
Under Princess Shirahoshi and Neptune's watchful gazes, Yake and his group left Fish-Man Island. He held a small lock of Shirahoshi's hair in his hand, intending to make it into a Vivre Card so he could clearly understand Shirahoshi's condition.
"Captain, Fish-Man Island is so beautiful. Why aren't we staying a few more days?" Anna looked 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, a white whirlpool has appeared ahead! It looks like... like a White Dragon!" Perona, the lookout, spotted something unusual.
"Charge into it. We'll be able to enter the New World faster! Hold on tight, everyone!" Yake's eyes lit up as he used his ability to steer the ship toward the whirlpool.
"What? Noooo!"
"Are you crazy?"
"We're all going to die!"
Of course Yake was not crazy. In the original story, the Straw Hat Pirates had entered the New World by riding this whirlpool called the White Dragon. They would then reach Punk Hazard, and Yake had his reasons for needing to go there.
"Don't worry. It'll be fine. Trust me!"
The Eternal Truth was swiftly sucked into the whirlpool. The hull spun continuously, and no one knew where the current was carrying them, but the ship was rapidly rising as well.
The ship finally stabilized. Everyone aboard was sprawled in every direction, and Anna had fainted outright. Yake did not feel very well either. Only after looking around and confirming that no one was missing did he relax.
"Hahaha, we're alive!"
Yake laughed heartlessly.
"Die, 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 the process, 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 horseplay, everyone lay panting on the deck, watching the sea surface draw closer and feeling countless emotions well up within them.
"Everyone, we've arrived in the New World! Cheer!"
"OOOOOH!"
At such an important moment, Yake remembered that he still had some lottery draws. With the right time, place, and people all in place, 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 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 bigger, faster, and stronger!
Yake: Nothing more to say. Superstition is forever the greatest!
There was nothing much to say about the Beauty Pills. He had originally been troubled over who should get the last one, but now there was no need to worry. One for each person would do. The Devil Fruit Prototype was what Yake valued the most. With it, he could choose the ability he wanted, so long as he killed the corresponding Devil Fruit user.
Because only after death would a Devil Fruit's power disperse...
Today's gains could be called abundant. Yake was in an excellent mood. He truly was the chosen one.
After checking his storage inventory, he found that 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's got you so happy?" Robin asked when she saw the grin on Yake's face.
"Haha, everyone, come over. I have gifts for you."
"Ah, gifts? Is it Kumashi?" Perona hurriedly floated over.
Yake: You're still thinking about that silly doll of yours!
"Yay! Captain, what gifts, meow?" Anna hurried over as well upon hearing this.
Seeing all the crew members gather around with great interest, Yake took out four Beauty Pills.
"Want to know the secret behind my handsome looks? It's this! This 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.
"Beauty Pills. As far as I know, they can at least make your skin smoother and remove scars, among other effects. In any case, your captain definitely won't harm you. One each, and don't eat too many!"
Watching everyone swallow one, Yake nodded in satisfaction. Now his pirate crew was at least the most attractive pirate crew in the world.
After eating them, the women hurried back to their rooms to observe the changes in themselves, instantly leaving Yake all alone...
Yake shook his head helplessly. Women.
"Use Ship Upgrade Card."
Yet nothing happened, leaving Yake full of question marks.
Then the Eternal Truth began to shake violently, as though it were about to collapse. The women in their rooms hurriedly ran out to see what was happening.
"Captain, what happened?"
"I'm not sure either. Maybe the ship has grown up and learned 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 became larger and wider at a visible pace, 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 by metallic textures. It also gained an electric propulsion system, allowing Yake to feed in electricity and sail rapidly across the sea. If the wind was favorable, then with the combined power of wind and electricity, the Eternal Truth's speed could leave even a Marine fleet far behind.
The ship's interior decor was even more similar to the Thousand Sunny's later style. Not only did it have grass, but it also had all kinds of entertainment facilities.
"This... this is the Eternal Truth? We didn't switch ships, did we?" Robin, who had been with Yake the longest, said in disbelief.
Back then, the Eternal Truth had merely been a pirate ship Yake stole. Now, there was completely no trace of what it had once looked like.