Two days later.
South Blue.
The sky was a flawless blue, sunlight spilling unobstructed across the vast waves. The sea was as calm as smooth blue silk, and only when the breeze passed did it stir diamond-like glimmers across the surface.
Beneath that tranquility, an incongruous white streak tore through the sky at a terrifying speed.
The violent screech of air friction abruptly stopped at the edge of the clouds. Dawn suddenly halted in midair, standing motionless high above as he unfolded his map.
His fingers lightly traced across it, correcting any slight deviation in his course caused by his high speed.
Just as he finished checking his route and prepared to set off again, a World Government fleet came into view beyond the horizon.
The massive flagship resembled a moving fortress at sea, followed by four slightly smaller yet equally imposing escort vessels.
Their hulls reflected a cold, hard gleam beneath the sunlight, while World Government flags snapped in the sea breeze, proclaiming their inviolable authority.
Dawn narrowed his eyes slightly, a glint of interest flashing through them.
"I never expected to run into a fleet transporting the Heavenly Tribute here..."
According to the intelligence he had gathered, a fleet with such lavish defenses had almost certainly been assembled specifically to transport the Heavenly Tribute.
To Dawn, a pirate, this was nothing less than a slab of fat, fragrant meat delivering itself right to his mouth.
To be safe, he activated Observation Haki and scanned the entire transport fleet. After confirming that no one aboard was stronger than him, he put away the map, moved, and dove rapidly toward the fleet below.
The flagship's deck was packed with Marines holding flintlocks, as well as CP agents with even sharper, colder presences.
Two key figures stood at the bow. The