Bonus Chapter for 100 Powerstones.
--
Ten ships I know well are lined up on the sea.
They should be friendly ships, yet now they feel frightening… and more than anything, incredibly annoying.
"Kuro…" I murmured, glancing at the man beside me.
"I didn't expect the New World," Kuro replied, leaning against the railing with a bored expression. "But… well, it was possible."
Even though he clearly helped the world, and even though the world now sees him as an enemy, the man shows no change in his face as he lazily watches the ships closing around us.
I looked around the empty expanse of water. "But still… where even are we…?"
My eyes fell on the object in his hand. "Kuro, that thing… is that an Eternal Pose?"
"Yeah," he said, tossing it lightly in the air and catching it. "Before I stuffed those guys hiding among the marines into barrels and threw them into the sea, I took all their things… and wow, I didn't know a place like this existed."
The large compass—something that looks almost like a big sandglass—should point straight at the island it was made for. But without any big shaking, the needle keeps trembling strangely.
Kuro tapped the glass. "This was probably an island. There used to be land here… but now it's gone."
A memory sparked in my mind. "…Could this be where Palmiery Island used to be?"
He glanced at me. "You know it?"
"A few years ago, a marine unit fought Whitebeard here," I explained, the rumor coming back to me. "And the island was said to have vanished during the battle."
"…I see," Kuro mused, looking at the trembling needle. "A place where they know the rough location, but almost no one visits. A perfect sea area for secret killings or covert work they want to hide."
— Pirate Silent Step! Release the marines you took hostage and surrender at once! I repeat!
I clenched my fists, trembling with indignation. "…! Shameful!"
"Calm down, Hina," Kuro said, his voice level. "They must say that, or the navy can't act publicly."
Even though they are trying to frame him with crimes he did not commit, this pirate acts like he expected it.
Kuro turns toward the marines he freed earlier, now lined up behind him.
"Will you come with me?" he asked simply.
The soldiers didn't hesitate. "Yes! Our order, given directly by Special Admiral Zephyr, is to escort you safely to the West Blue's Mopuchi Country. If problems appear, whatever they may be, we are to remove them and help you as much as possible."
"…Zephyr… All right," Kuro nodded, a faint smirk touching his lips. "Then as I said before—prepare it. Depending on the situation, it will help."
"Yes, sir."
All the marines who were trapped by the Cipher Pol surprise attack agree at once to follow this pirate's command.
And of course, so do I.
The soldiers who fought in the Holy Land—especially those from the West Blue who saw this pirate—trust him more than many of their own officers.
"Kuro, we found no ammunition. Most of the boxes and barrels were fakes."
"No problem, Captain Wire," Kuro dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand. "I never planned to fight with cannons. Put everyone on steering. We will not go fast, but I will ask for tight turns. Get ready."
"Understood."
This female captain, who fought well in the final battle of the Holy Land with Commodore Affen, is one of Zephyr's chosen soldiers, so her trust in Kuro stands out.
She salutes him cleanly—even though he is a young pirate—and she does not look down on him.
No… she probably sees him at the same level as Zephyr—the special Admiral.
A pirate whom Zephyr, the teacher of many marines, treats with respect.
That alone makes many marines trust Silent Step more than they should.
"Chief Petty Officer Lake," Kuro called out to another officer. "Keep leading the setup. We now have more empty boxes and barrels. Hurry and be exact."
"Yes, sir."
That is why, even in this strange place where enemies and allies are mixed together, we trust him. We want to trust him.
I stepped closer to him, lowering my voice. "Can we escape?"
"It's possible," Kuro answered, eyes scanning the horizon. "It depends on who the navy sent… but the special sea currents around where an island vanished will help us. The question is how strong their strongest fighter is—"
Just as Kuro begins to speak, the speaker giving the surrender warning breaks with static.
— Ahh~~ can you hear me, Kuro-kun?
The voice that replaces the shouting is one no marine could mistake.
"…?" Kuro frowned.
"No… it can't be…" I breathed, my face losing color.
The strongest symbol of the navy.
A Navy Headquarters Admiral.
— I would rather not fight you, you know… So won't you please give up quietly?
"Admiral Kizaru!?" I gasped, grabbing the pirate's clothes without thinking. "...Kuro!"
But even now, in this dangerous moment, the pirate only looks a little confused—not scared—and then…
"…We win."
He whispers it softly.
--
We win.
At least the Silent Step crew does.
The problem is I might die, hahaha! Even though I've made sure things will be fine if the others survive… I swear, God, I'm going to smack you soon, you useless fool!!
Well, if Borsalino himself came out, it means they want me alive—not killed, but taken. Captured.
So at least the worst outcome is gone.
It's really good they didn't put all their power in one place! They probably sent Sakazuki… maybe even Zephyr and some strong Vice Admirals after Daz and the others… but since they can't leave the Holy Land or Marineford empty, Kuzan must be staying behind! Good. Then we can manage!
My biggest fear was that they would focus all their top forces on one side.
Especially if they focused everything on the West Blue—where we have things we must protect—and by the time I noticed, Daz and the others would have been taken hostage. That would have been the worst.
That's why I still don't understand why Sengoku split the Admiral-level forces. What is he planning? Even if he wants to catch me, it's a small matter in the bigger picture. He shouldn't want to waste time…
I know he doesn't want to fight us seriously. But he is a man who can cut off his feelings.
And in any war, soldiers die.
Marines die. Pirates die.
That is why Sengoku and I cannot betray our own people.
And since he made peace with the Government as Fleet Admiral, he will follow their orders—at least on the surface.
...
On the surface.
Yes. On the surface.
If he has some plan under that…
…I won't be sure until I see the navy's force structure. But…
Either someone is limiting his movements, or he is laying stones for something bigger.
Well, whatever it is, first we get through this…
Ahh… this feeling is almost nostalgic.
It's been almost half a year—no, more than that—since our last real sea battle at the district base.
"All right," I announced, breaking my train of thought. "Once the setup is ready, start throwing them into the sea, one after another. Even if this is the Grand Line, the sea here used to be an island. From what I see, the waves aren't wild enough to throw things back. They should drift forward."
"Yes! All hands, throw them!!" Colonel Wired shouted.
She had rushed around helping us during the Holy Land defense and was exactly the kind of officer who holds everything together. If someone like her commands the marines, there will be no problem.
Even if it comes to close combat, Hina won't lose to some random fighter now.
Still, what worries me is how motivated the marines who board us will be.
It was good we crushed the Cipher Pol fighters first.
Even if the marines that come next follow the Government strongly, if they come at us face-to-face, we won't make the wrong move.
I turned to the helmsman. "When the enemy fleet starts moving again, sail straight forward. After that, any direction is fine. What matters is breaking through the encirclement."
"Understood."
"There is no need to fight," I added for the benefit of the soldiers. "We only need to stop the navy ships and their soldiers from moving."
— Heyyy, I would like it if you answered me, you know~? Borsalino's lazy voice drifted over the water again.
We are clearly throwing things into the sea—things that used to be fake barrels and boxes marked as ammo and food.
Normally, they should think we're lightening the ship to escape, and then fire a cannon or a Borsalino laser at us right away. But nothing happens.
They're delaying too… This is good for now, but it also means trouble later…
"If the plan works, we can slip away without fighting even once," I said to Hina. "As for the only real problem—Admiral Kizaru—"
"I will stop him."
--
"The navy is moving."
Just as the whole force had returned to Mopuchi Country and begun strengthening the fleet, a message came from Gild Tesoro, who was gathering supplies and mapping the nearby sea.
Daz read the contents aloud, his voice grim. "The number of patrols meant to watch the Mogwa Kingdom pirates has dropped sharply. They are using those ships to guard the navy's transport fleet instead."
Boa Hancock frowned, leaning over the map spread across the table. "…We haven't heard from the Captain since he left the Holy Land, so I had a bad feeling, but are they really going to attack? They haven't even formally returned the Mopuchi royal family yet."
"There is no mistake," Daz replied, tossing the report onto the table. "Right now, thanks to the supply plans we made with Tesoro, the West Blue has fewer pirate attacks and no risk of riots. So there is no reason for them to prepare something this big unless it's for war."
Daz Bones lets out a long sigh—not because he doubts it, but because he knew this day would come.
Hancock, who had been acting with the navy in Kuro's place, had the same grim look. "They will probably make some statement first—something like a surrender demand—and then strike. What do we do? Do we fight here?"
The one who looks amused is Mihawk, attending the meeting for the first time in a while, after giving the soldiers a rest. Sitting in a chair with elegant posture, he sips tea while Robin smacks his crossed legs with her hand.
"…It will be like the old Germa battle," Robin said. "If we fight the navy on the island, many civilians will be hurt."
Standing in Kuro's place as Vice Captain, Daz makes his decision immediately after checking the sea charts.
"The enemy will bring the Mogwa Kingdom fleet and probably headquarters forces too," Daz stated firmly. "We will plan a sea battle to intercept them."
The first one he looked at was Boa Hancock, commander of the First Fleet, which had earned great results since its formation. "You and your people will be the key, Hancock."
She flipped her hair back, eyes flashing. "Of course. Leave it to me, Vice Captain. If they use sneaky tricks, we will crush them before they can move."
"We're counting on you," Daz nodded. He turned his gaze to the swordsman. "And Mihawk, you will…"
The man who once fought the Silent Step crew, and even cut down their Captain Kuro, yet now trains their strongest fighters, is wearing formal clothes for once.
He adjusts his fancy black hat with feathers using his left hand, and with his right hand he pats the sulking Robin's head, smiling slightly.
"Will you fight?" Daz asked.
"Of course," Mihawk replied smoothly. "You don't need to ask."
As he lets go of Robin and rests his hand on the sword at his waist, Daz and the guard quietly feel relieved.
He may be a guest, but he is clearly their strongest force.
"You stand in for Kuro, Daz Bonez. So give your orders as he would."
"Horohorohoro! If it's too heavy, I can take your place anytime, Daz," Perona joked, floating near the ceiling.
Perona jokes, but without any malice, and the other officers nod. Even the newcomer Galdino.
Daz gave a small smile that only those close to him would notice.
"All right. First, the plan. We will use the Captain's anti-navy tactics and work out the details." He placed a marker on the map. "As the Captain always says, what matters most in a sea battle is the number of ships, the strength of the force, and—"
He looked up at his crew.
"—the distance."
--
200 Powerstones = 1 Bonus Chapter.