In early spring of Sea Circle Calendar 1516, the waters of the West Blue still carried winter's lingering chill. The warship Chang'an, flying Hua Country's Black Bird Flag, cut through the waves along the route to the West Blue Marine Headquarters at Tequila Wolf. At the bow, Chen Yu stood facing the wind, his black cloak snapping as he calmly watched the island growing clearer on the distant horizon, crouched like a steel behemoth. Beside him, Guo Jia lightly stroked his feather fan, his robes whiter than snow, his gaze profound, as though he had already seen through the layers of buildings and discerned the undercurrents deep within the fortress. This journey was not to pay tribute, but a crucial collision between two great powers on the threshold of a new era.
Tequila Wolf was less an island than a fully militarized fortress of steel. Towering coastal batteries resembled the fangs of a monstrous beast, densely packed warships lay moored in the deepwater harbor, and the Marine soldiers on the docks stood in immaculate order, their sharp eyes revealing the seasoned toughness of veterans. A distinctive blend of steel, gunpowder smoke, and discipline permeated the air, creating an overwhelming sense of pressure.
Guided by a pilot boat, the Chang'an slowly drew alongside a designated pier. The gangplank lowered, and Chen Yu stepped down first, his stride steady. Arceus's aura, all-encompassing like a creator god yet harboring supreme majesty, flowed naturally from him. Though he made no deliberate display of it, the welcoming Marine officers inwardly stiffened, their previously perfunctory gazes growing more serious. Guo Jia followed closely behind. Uxie's Power gave him a clear understanding of the countless pieces of information within his surroundings-the soldiers' vigilance, the officers' scrutiny, and the tactical intentions implicit in the buildings' layout. A faint,