Meanwhile, somewhere on the Grand Line, a pirate ship flying a blood-red axe flag lay across the sea.
The bustling island town ahead was shrouded in thick smoke and flames.
A burly man holding two enormous blood-red axes had one foot planted on the back of a sobbing civilian as he tipped his head back and gulped down stolen wine.
He was the pirate notorious throughout these waters, "Blood Axe" Baroque, whose bounty reached forty million Beli.
"Boss! We've confirmed it. The Marine patrol headed back three days ago, and the next patrol won't come for at least another week!" a pirate with a pointed mouth and pinched cheeks reported as he ran over.
"Three merchant convoys are passing through the trade route today. Their escorts aren't strong."
"Burp... good!" Baroque belched, kicked the civilian beneath his foot away, and sneered. "Those lazy Marine dogs are getting more useless by the day!"
"I'm Blood Axe Thorne, with forty million on my head! Who have I ever been afraid of?"
He licked his lips, greed glinting in his eyes.
"Boys, there's nothing left to squeeze out of this lousy island!"
"Pass on my orders! All hands, set sail! Our destination is the Golden Trade Route!"
"We're going to pull off a big one! Wahahaha!"
The pirates raised their blades and roared.
"Rob them blind!"
"Kill all the guards!"
"Burn the Marine flag!"
Three days had passed since the warship left Marineford.
Lorne's warship had officially been named the Fearless.
The warship's deck had been repaired, with a clear difference in color between the old wood and the new.
For those three days, aside from eating and sleeping, Lorne had spent all his time in the training room, pushing his body's limits like mad.
After witnessing Lorne's monstrous strength firsthand, the