Set Out! The Neptune!

Swain was standing at the bow, talking with Iceburg about something, when he suddenly heard the crowd below cry out in alarm.

The shipwrights then stared at Swain as if they had seen some kind of monster.

Swain was utterly baffled by their stares!

He jumped off the ship to see what was going on, but wherever he went, the shipwrights avoided him.

"What are you doing?! Is this how you treat a guest?" Iceburg shouted angrily.

"Iceburg! Come over here and take a look!"

Franky waved to Iceburg, leaving Iceburg just as confused!

Iceburg picked up the wanted poster and was astonished as well, though not as exaggeratedly as the shipwrights.

The paper bore a picture of Swain.

Name: Rocks D. Swain.

Origin: South Blue.

Bounty: 1.6 billion Beli!

The Marines' efficiency had to be praised. After Kuzan reported everything, they had investigated Swain's origins and deeds thoroughly in just three days.

The second wanted poster.

Hilary Norton: 300 million Beli!

However, Norton's wanted poster had been altered somewhat. His hair and skin had been changed to look ordinary.

Even his distinctive wings behind him were gone.

After seeing the wanted posters they were holding, Swain guessed why they were so shocked. The Marines had obviously issued a bounty for him!

He took one of the posters from Iceburg and looked it over.

Hmm, not bad!

Swain stroked his chin thoughtfully.

At that moment, it was not only them who received the newspaper. People all over the world received the wanted posters and news as well.

East Blue, Foosha Village.

"Look! It's Ace! He looks so handsome now!" Makino said in the tavern.

The moment Dadan saw Ace's picture, she burst into tears.

"T-That brat... he's alive and well!"

"Oh, all right, Dadan! Is this how you're supposed to act when you're happy?" Makino said, rubbing her forehead.

"But it looks like there are two new pirates as well. They're incredibly strong!"

"What does that have to do with me? As long as Ace is all right, that's all that matters!" Ever since Luffy had gone to sea not long ago, she had become increasingly anxious.

West Blue, on a snow-covered island, Red-Haired Shanks was drinking with his companions. Beckman held up a newspaper for Shanks to see.

"Ha, the rookies these days are truly formidable!"

"Yeah, Kuzan isn't someone you can deal with easily," Shanks said, taking two sips of wine.

"But this Swain's surname... it's rather unusual."

Shanks continued drinking, lost in thought.

North Blue, the Vinsmoke Family.

"Father! You need to look at today's newspaper!" Yonji said urgently.

"What are you panicking for? Have you no sense of decorum?" he scolded.

Yonji was so frightened that he dared not make another sound.

After seeing the news reported in the paper, his mood sank somewhat as well.

He had already paid to ransom Gray from the Marines, and he understood that the one who had disrupted his plans was Swain.

New World, Onigashima.

"Sir, look at this!" A lackey presented the newspaper to Kaido.

However, Kaido had already drunk himself into a stupor and was snoring like thunder!

King, who was standing beside him, read the report in the newspaper.

Then he threw it into the fire, and the flames roared even higher.

When Norton returned that afternoon, Swain stared at Norton's new outfit with stars in his eyes!

"That's so cool!" Swain shouted.

He circled Norton, knocking here and fiddling there.

It made Norton feel rather embarrassed.

"Does the armor fit you?" Swain asked.

If the armor did not fit, the wearer's strength would be greatly reduced!

Norton pressed a hand against the back of his head, and his face was revealed.

"It fits perfectly!" Norton said.

Swain punched him, but the armor did not even leave a mark. Its defensive power was pretty good as well!

As for the armor's weight, it made no difference to Norton whatsoever!

Then Swain tossed the new wanted poster in front of him.

Norton glanced at it and tossed it aside, saying disdainfully, "It would be more enjoyable to give me a few bottles of liquor."

Swain: ...

So this guy boarded my ship just to find somewhere to drink?

Swain stared at Norton with a face full of black lines. Norton had already gulped down several mouthfuls.

"We're setting sail tomorrow!" Swain decided.

He wanted to enter the New World as soon as possible! That place was the true proving ground, a battlefield for tempering one's strength!

"So soon? I haven't even prepared yet!"

Swain felt somewhat relieved when he heard Norton say that. At least the guy was thinking about making preparations instead of just drinking here.

But the next sentence immediately slapped him in the face.

"I haven't bought enough good liquor yet! I need to hurry..." Before he could finish, Swain kicked him off the ship.

The next morning.

Swain and Norton waited aboard the ship for the shipwright Iceburg had found for him.

"Norton, what do you think we should name this ship?"

"That's not my problem. I don't know many characters." Norton threw the question back to Swain.

After all, Swain was the captain!

Swain thought for a moment.

"Then we'll call it the Neptune!"

"The Neptune?" Norton found the name interesting as well.

An hour later.

A man stood below the ship. He carried a bundle on his back, wore a pair of round glasses, stood over two meters tall, and looked to be in his thirties.

When Swain sensed that someone had arrived, he jumped down from the bow.

He looked around and saw that the man was alone.

"I thought there would be a lot of people. Looks like Iceburg's ability to rally people isn't much," Swain remarked.

He had originally planned to choose from among them and select the best!

In truth, Iceburg had been wrongly blamed.

Water 7 was an entirely commercialized island. Its residents were not lacking in money, and since there was no war here, naturally no one would go out and take risks.

"Are you willing to join my ship?" Swain still invited him sincerely.

No matter how many people came—even if only one person had shown up—

he had to show his sincerity.

The middle-aged man stood there in a daze. After a moment, he said, "I'm willing!"

Swain let out a sigh of relief.

He had truly been afraid the man would refuse. If that happened, the Neptune probably would not get far before having to turn back for repairs.

After all, Swain was hardly the type to stay out of trouble!

Once everything had been arranged.

Swain gave the order. "Raise the sails! Set sail!"

"Next stop, Sabaody Archipelago! We're heading to the New World!"

The three of them stood at the bow as the sea wind blowing toward them whipped their clothes and made them snap loudly!

Rumble, rumble!

The Neptune roared to life.

They set off toward the Sabaody Archipelago.