"Captain, what are you thinking about?"
The bear walked up to Roy and asked gently.
"Thinking about the future."
Roy didn't turn around, continuing to gaze at the starry sky.
"Bear, do you think we can change the world?"
The bear was silent for a moment, then slowly said,
"I have no idea.
But I know that if we do nothing, the world will never change.
At least, we're trying.
He paused, recalling the changes in the Sorbet Kingdom:
"Just like my hometown."
Without you, Captain, the walls might still be standing ten or twenty years from now.
The poor are still suffering.
But now, King Carl is implementing reforms, children are getting enough to eat, and the sick are receiving medical treatment..."
Xiong's voice was choked with emotion:
This makes me believe that change is possible.
Even if it's just a small kingdom.
Roy turned around and patted the bear on the shoulder:
"You're right.
Change is never achieved overnight; it requires a gradual process.
Hachinosu is our next step.
Roy gazed into the distance, his eyes gleaming with unwavering determination.
"Take over Hachinosu, establish a base, and expand our influence..."
Then, little by little, change and seize this world.
Just then, Stella rushed over.
"Captain, the outline of Hachinosu has been spotted ahead!"
Expected arrival at the target area in one hour!
Roy's eyes narrowed:
"Notify everyone to enter a state of combat readiness."
One hour later, the operation began.
"Yes!"
The Ark Maxim began to slow down, its optical camouflage system activated, and the entire ship gradually blended into the night.
On the sea below, the lights of Hachinosu became increasingly clear.
It was an archipelago consisting of more than a dozen islands, with the main island in the center, brightly lit, and the sounds of music and noise could be faintly heard.
This was the palace where Ochoku held his banquet.
Roy stood at the bow of the ship, his black clothes fluttering in the night wind.
Behind him, the members of the Roy Pirates were fully armed and ready to go.
Bullet cracked his knuckles, his eyes burning with fighting spirit;
Hawk Eyes gently wiped the Black Blade Yoru, its blade gleaming coldly in the moonlight;
Golden arcs of electricity crackled between Tesoro's fingers;
Crocodile, a cigar dangling from his lips, smoke curling into the night sky;
The bear clasped its hands together and prayed silently.
Kyros gripped the hilt of his sword tightly;
Savi, Enel, Pea, Charon, Yamato... everyone's eyes were firm and sharp.
Even the CP Five adopted a fighting stance.
After this period of training, their skills have improved significantly.
Although it is still far from reaching its peak level, at least it is no longer a burden.
Ten minutes left.
Roy's voice echoed throughout the ship via the communicator.
"Landing location confirmed: cliff on the back of the main island."
Remember your responsibilities, and act swiftly, accurately, and decisively.
But remember—we are conquerors, not butchers.
"Clear!"
Ten minutes later, the Ark Maxim silently landed on the edge of the cliff.
Just as the intelligence had indicated, the place was poorly guarded, with only two pirates dozing off.
Tesoro flashed past like lightning, and the two fell to the ground without even uttering a sound.
Log in!
At Roy's command, everyone rushed out of the cabin like arrows released from a bow, and split up to carry out their planned actions.
Roy, along with Bullet, Hawk Eyes, Tesoro, Crocodile, sped towards the palace.
The five men moved with incredible speed, moving like phantoms under the cover of night.
They encountered several patrolling groups of pirates along the way, but they were all dealt with instantly, without even being able to sound an alarm.
at this time,
Hachinosu, main island palace.
The banquet hall was brightly lit and filled with deafening noise.
The long table was laden with fine wine and delicacies, and dozens of pirates were drinking heartily, the atmosphere so lively it bordered on madness.
At the head of the table, a burly, rugged-looking middle-aged man was drinking heartily from a huge wine jar.
He had messy black hair and his face was marked by the passage of time.
But what's most striking are his unusually thick arms—even when relaxed, his arm circumference is comparable to a normal person's waist.
Ochoku.
A former officer of the Rocks Pirates, Devil Fruit User.
"Drink! Drink it all!"
Ochoku smashed the empty wine jar on the ground and let out a wild laugh.
"Today is my feast day! Nobody's leaving until dawn!"
" Ochoku!"
"Boss is awesome!"
"Cheers!"
His subordinates raised their glasses one after another, showering him with flattery.
Ochoku leaned back in the spacious chair with satisfaction, squinting his eyes as he enjoyed it all.
He had been living this kind of life for several years—fine wine, gourmet food, beautiful women, and power.
The battles and conquests of the Rocks era are now distant memories.
All he wants now is to stay in this peaceful haven and spend the rest of his life there.
"Boss."
A thin man with sinister eyes walked up to Ochoku and whispered,
"The patrol teams on the outskirts have reported some unusual activity in the nearby waters in recent days."
Several ships of unknown origin were seen spying from a distance, but quickly left.
The speaker was " Poison Scorpion " Thatch, Ochoku's deputy.
Ochoku waved his hand impatiently:
"What are you afraid of? They're probably just small fry trying to grab territory."
"I've been running Hachinosu for years, who dares to come and die?"
"But..."
"There's no 'but' about it!"
Ochoku interrupted him and took another big gulp of wine.
" Thatch, you're just too cautious."
In this New World, besides those old guys like Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom, who dares to mess with me?
"And those old guys are busy keeping each other in check, they don't have time to bother me."
Thatch hesitated, but seeing Ochoku's drunken state, he knew that saying anything more would be pointless.
He sighed and stepped aside, but his unease grew stronger.
As a former pirate who had fought on the seas, Thatch's intuition told him that a storm was coming.
But Ochoku had completely lost his vigilance.
The comfortable life he had enjoyed over the years had eroded his will and numbed his senses.
He was completely unaware that an invisible spaceship had silently landed on Hachinosu.
"The palace guards are indeed lax."
" Bullet, it's yours now."
Roy said in a low voice.
Bullet grinned maliciously and vanished in a flash.
Four muffled thuds sounded almost simultaneously, and the four guards fell to the ground without uttering a sound.
"Too weak."
Bullet flicked his hand, looking disdainful.
Roy and his five companions stealthily infiltrated the palace.
The clamor from the depths of the banquet hall seemed to guide the way.
They moved quickly along the corridor, taking care of several patrolling guards along the way.
Each strike was fatal, and no one was alerted.
Finally, the four of them arrived at the entrance to the banquet hall.
Through the crack in the door, one could see the scene of revelry inside.
Ochoku was embracing two dancers, laughing and talking loudly, completely unaware of the approaching danger.
"As planned, Bullet will go first."
Roy whispered, "Let's test Ochoku's limits."
Bullet's eyes burned with fighting spirit. He took a deep breath, and his muscles began to bulge.