North Blue, Xilukesi Island.
The members of the Heart Pirates were resting here.
"Captain, here."
Bepo, a polar bear Mink dressed in orange work clothes, handed a grilled fish to the captain of the Heart Pirates, Trafalgar Law.
"Mm."
Law answered softly, took the grilled fish, and began tearing into it.
"Captain, when are we heading into the Grand Line?" Penguin, wearing a penguin hat, came over with a half-eaten grilled fish. "There aren't many pirates left in the North Blue who can take us on, right?"
Law gave him an indifferent glance, then suddenly scowled as though something had occurred to him.
Just as Penguin was wondering whether he had said something wrong, Law spoke in a low voice, his expression utterly grave. "It's not time yet. We're not strong enough. Going to the Grand Line now would be suicide."
"I-is the Grand Line that scary? Then maybe we shouldn't go..." Bepo curled into a ball.
"Didn't you come from the Grand Line yourself?!" the Heart Pirates shouted at Bepo in unison.
"Oh, right!" Realization dawned on Bepo, but he remained curled into a ball. "But it's still really scary, so maybe we shouldn't go."
Watching his crew clown around, Law looked up at the sky helplessly. Defeating Doflamingo with these unreliable guys seemed like a long, hard road ahead...
"Hm?"
As Law looked up, his gaze suddenly sharpened. Two tiny black dots seemed to be flying toward them at incredible speed from the distant sky.
"Hey! Stop arguing! Look up!" Law hurriedly called to his crew. "Everyone, stay on guard! It could be an attack!"
Someone who could fly through the sky... Law involuntarily thought of a certain childhood companion.
But those two black dots seemed to be moving a little faster.
Just as all the Heart Pirates