News of the Op-Op Fruit

Artificial Sky Island, Egghead Island, residential district, bedroom.

Dawn sat on the edge of the bed, his long golden hair draped casually over his shoulders and falling to his waist as he answered the Den Den Mushi.

Before the bed, Baccarat knelt on the soft carpet with her head lowered, cleaning his sword.

On the other side, Monet stood before Dawn, carefully straightening the front of his black shirt. Her nimble fingers fastened each button before folding down his collar with meticulous precision.

Dawn enjoyed the service of the two women as he listened to the Den Den Mushi's report, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

North Blue, Minion Island.

Snowflakes as large as mats drifted down from the leaden-gray sky, covering the entire island in a thick white blanket.

Dilapidated buildings emerged and vanished amid the wind and snow, their broken walls and crumbling ruins piled high with snow, like a forgotten icy graveyard.

Even in such terrible weather, quite a few figures wrapped in felt cloaks and carrying muskets and swords could still be seen patrolling through the ruins.

Their gazes were sharp and vigilant, constantly sweeping every corner without overlooking the slightest suspicious movement. Their steps were orderly and their discipline strict; these people carried a militarized air that ordinary pirates lacked.

In fact, they were no ordinary pirates.

Their leader, Diez Barrels, had once been an officer at Marine Headquarters. After leaving the Marines for reasons unknown, he used the training methods he had learned in the military to forge the desperadoes under his command into a semi-militarized force.

Though they were not large in number, no one in these waters dared underestimate them.

At the center of the ruins, several relatively intact buildings formed the pirates' temporary base.

Despite the howling wind and