Departure! The Neptune!

Swain stood at the bow, discussing something with Iceburg, when cries of alarm suddenly rose from the crowd below.

The shipwrights all stared at Swain as though they had seen some kind of monster.

Swain was utterly baffled by their looks!

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

"What are you doing?! Is that any way to treat a guest?!" Iceburg angrily rebuked them.

"Iceburg! Come take a look!"

Franky waved Iceburg over, leaving Iceburg equally confused!

When he picked up the wanted poster and looked at it, he was shocked as well, though not as dramatically as the other shipwrights.

Swain's photograph was printed on the paper.

Name: Rocks D. Swain.

Origin: South Blue.

Bounty: 1.6 billion Beli!

The Marines' efficiency had to be acknowledged. In just three days since Kuzan filed his report, they had thoroughly investigated Swain's origins and everything he had done.

The second wanted poster.

Hilary Norton: 300 million Beli!

However, Norton's wanted poster had been altered somewhat. His hair color and skin tone had been changed to look like those of an ordinary person.

Even his distinctive pair of wings had been removed.

When Swain saw the wanted posters in their hands, he understood why they were so shocked. The Marines must have issued bounties for him already!

He took one from Iceburg and looked it over.

Hmm, not bad!

Swain thought, resting his chin on his hand.

At that moment, they were not the only ones receiving this newspaper. People all over the world received the wanted posters and the news.

East Blue, Foosha Village.

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

The moment Dadan saw Ace's photograph, tears streamed down her face.

"That brat... he's alive and well!"

"Oh, Dadan, is that how you show you're happy?" Makino said, rubbing her forehead.

"Still, it looks like there are two new pirates too. They seem really strong!"

"What does that have to do with me?! As long as Ace is alright!" Ever since Luffy had set sail not long ago, she had become increasingly anxious.

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

"Ha, rookies these days are really something!"

"Yeah, Kuzan isn't someone so easily dealt with." Shanks took a couple of drinks.

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

Shanks seemed lost in thought as he continued drinking.

North Blue, the Vinsmoke Family.

"Father! Look at today's newspaper!" Yonji said anxiously.

"Why are you panicking?! Have some dignity!" he barked.

Yonji was so frightened that he did not dare make another sound.

After seeing the news reported in the paper, his mood also grew somewhat heavy.

He had long since redeemed Gray from the Marines, and he understood that the person who had disrupted his plans was Swain.

New World, Onigashima.

"My lord, look!" A lackey presented the newspaper to Kaido.

But Kaido was already roaring drunk, his snores rumbling like thunder!

King, standing guard at his side, read the report in the newspaper.

Then he threw it into the bonfire, where it instantly burst into a raging blaze.

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

"So cool!" Swain shouted.

He circled Norton, tapping here and fiddling there.

It made Norton rather embarrassed.

"Does this armor fit you?" Swain asked.

If armor did not fit properly, its wearer's strength would be greatly diminished!

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

"It fits perfectly!" Norton said.

Swain punched it once, leaving no mark behind. Its defensive power was quite good as well!

As for the armor's weight, it was completely insignificant to Norton!

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

Norton glanced at it before tossing it aside. "A few bottles of liquor would make me happier than this."

Swain: ...

So this guy had joined his ship just to find a place to drink?

Swain looked at Norton with a face full of black lines as Norton gulped down several more mouthfuls.

"We set sail tomorrow!" Swain decided.

He wanted to enter the New World as soon as possible! That was the true hellish training ground for honing one's strength!

"So soon? I'm not even ready yet!"

Hearing Norton say that made Swain feel a little relieved. At least this guy was thinking about preparing instead of drinking here.

Then Norton's next sentence slapped him squarely in the face.

"I haven't bought enough liquor yet! I need to hurry—" Before he could finish, Swain kicked him out.

The next morning.

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

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

"That's not my business. I can't read much." He tossed the question back to Swain.

After all, Swain was the captain!

Swain thought for a moment.

"Then we'll call it the Neptune!"

"The Sea God?" Norton found the name interesting as well.

An hour later.

Beneath the ship stood a man carrying a bundle, wearing round glasses, over two meters tall, and appearing to be in his thirties.

When Swain sensed someone's arrival, he jumped down from the bow.

He looked around and found that the man was alone.

"I thought there would be a lot of people. Looks like Iceburg's influence isn't all that great!" Swain complained.

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

In truth, he had wronged Iceburg.

Water 7 was an utterly commercialized island. Its residents did not lack money, and there was no war here, so naturally no one wanted to go out and seek adventure.

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

No matter how many people came, even if he was the only one.

Swain had to show his sincerity.

The middle-aged man froze in place, then said after a moment, "I am!"

Swain let out a breath of relief.

He had truly been afraid that this man would refuse. Otherwise, the Neptune might have to return for repairs before it even got very far, right?

After all, Swain was not someone who could stay out of trouble!

Once everything had been arranged.

Swain gave the order: "Raise the sails, set off!"

"Next stop, the Sabaody Archipelago, then the New World!"

The three of them stood at the bow as the sea breeze whipped up their clothes with a loud flutter!

Rumble!

The Neptune's engine roared to life.

They set off toward the Sabaody Archipelago.