"Phew… we're finally safe."
On the battered merchant ship, a sailor collapsed on the deck, gasping for breath. Around him, a few others lay sprawled out in exhaustion, their faces pale and drenched in sweat.
"I wonder what that island was," one of them muttered, still catching his breath. "I swear I heard those pirates shouting One Piece."
"Yeah, I heard it too," another chimed in eagerly.
"So… does that mean we—"
"Mean nothing!" a third sailor snapped, cutting him off. "We didn't hear a thing, we didn't see a thing." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "Are you crazy? We don't even have guns! Those were bloodthirsty pirates how could we even think about going after some One Piece?"
The first sailor grumbled under his breath, "But it's the greatest treasure—"
"Something's wrong!" another lookout suddenly shouted.
The crew froze.
"Not again," someone groaned. "Don't tell me more pirates are coming after us!"
Despite their complaints, the sailors scrambled to their feet. They might have been exhausted, but no one wanted to die lying down. Yet before they could even peer into the distance, a massive shadow fell across their ship.
The sunlight dimmed.
When they looked up, a luxurious vessel ten times the size of their merchant ship loomed overhead, the flag of the World Government fluttering proudly in the wind.
A golden staircase unfurled from the grand ship, and from it descended a small entourage. Leading them was a young man with striking silver-gray eyes Blake. At his side were Stella, Aramaki, and two Cipher Pol agents in crisp black suits.
"T–That's… a Celestial Dragon?!"
"Impossible! What would a Celestial Dragon be doing in the West Blue?!"
"Get down! Are you insane? Kneel before you're executed!"
As the panicked whispers spread among the sailors, Blake chuckled softly, glancing at Stella with a faint smirk.
"The World Government's propaganda is really something," he said. "Even these simple sailors can recognize a Celestial Dragon on sight."
Stella lowered her gaze respectfully, replying in her calm, melodic voice, "Your Highness, it's your noble bearing that leaves them trembling in awe."
Blake blinked, slightly amused. Then, with a small laugh, he reached out and gently ruffled her golden hair. "You really know how to boost my mood, don't you?"
That right there was what Blake liked most about Stella.
She had a remarkable talent for adapting. Whether faced with luxury or danger, she always found her balance. She could be obedient without being dull, graceful without losing warmth.
But now wasn't the time to tease her. Blake had someone or something far more interesting to deal with below deck.
He strode confidently through the ship's narrow corridors, moving as though he already knew the layout by heart. When he stopped before a small storeroom, Aramaki wordlessly stepped forward, pushed the door open, and stood protectively in front of Blake.
"Relax," Blake said, patting him on the shoulder. "You're more tense than a guard dog."
"Yes, Your Highness," Aramaki replied, though his eyes remained sharp as ever.
Blake entered the storeroom. It was sparse most of the real tools and supplies were stored elsewhere. He knelt down and tapped on the floorboards until a hollow sound echoed.
Then, with a swift motion, he pried up a section of the floor and shouted, "Boo!"
A terrified shriek followed immediately.
When Blake stepped back onto the deck a few minutes later, he was chuckling helplessly, carrying a small, unconscious girl in his arms. He handed her gently to Stella.
"She's got quite the timid heart," Blake said. "Take care of her for now. We'll talk when she wakes up."
Stella covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. Blake shot her a mock glare, but she bowed gracefully, still smiling, and carried the girl away.
As she walked down the corridor, Stella murmured softly to herself, "His Highness… really is a gentle man."
After a year of serving under Blake, she'd come to understand him better than most. Despite his status as a Celestial Dragon, he wasn't like the others. The pomp and arrogance they lived by seemed to amuse him more than define him. He played the part when it suited him but there was something human beneath the mask.
And unlike other nobles, Blake never punished his attendants for trivial mistakes. In fact, in all the time she'd known him, Stella had never once seen him punish anyone.
Even now, the way he'd scared the little girl had been more childish mischief than cruelty.
Back on the deck, Blake sighed, reclining on his chair as the ship continued its steady course.
He hadn't boarded the merchant ship by chance. His Observation Haki enhanced through his mysterious card system had detected something unusual below deck: a false floor, with a faint life signature hidden beneath it.
That life had turned out to be a tiny girl with soft pink hair and wide, luminous eyes. She couldn't have been more than three years old.
Blake didn't need long to guess who she was.
Perona the Ghost Princess.
The name stirred a smirk onto his lips.
He remembered her from the future: bratty, arrogant, and infamously sadistic. So when he'd found her hiding there, he couldn't resist giving her a good scare.
He just hadn't expected her to faint instantly.
Still, the discovery delighted him. Fate really did have a sense of humor. Even Aramaki's laziness during training couldn't ruin his mood today.
As the wind brushed against his face, Blake closed his eyes and muttered to himself, "If she's this young, then the Ghost-Ghost Fruit must still be out there somewhere…"
He frowned thoughtfully. "In the original timeline, Perona got the fruit after being taken in by Moria. Does that mean the fruit's currently with him?"
Opening his eyes, Blake called out, "Aramaki!"
The man appeared almost instantly, dropping to one knee before him.
Blake sighed. "How many times have I told you? You're a vassal, not a slave. You don't need to kneel."
"Yes, Your Highness!" Aramaki barked, with the same overly serious expression as always.
Blake pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're hopeless."
But now wasn't the time to argue. His tone shifted, calm but commanding.
"Go back to that merchant ship. Search for any sign of a Devil Fruit. If there's nothing there, check Moria's island vessel. Be cautious he's a dangerous man. But with your strength, you should be able to handle him."
Aramaki straightened, his expression resolute. "Understood, Your Highness. I'll not disappoint you."
He bowed swiftly, then leapt into the air, propelling himself across the sea with Moonwalk.
Blake watched him disappear into the distance, his gaze thoughtful.
Moria was about ten years older than Aramaki once a proud warrior in his prime. But ever since his crushing defeat at Kaido's hands, he'd become a broken shell of himself.
A warrior without spirit was already half-dead.
"Let's see what you'll find, Aramaki," Blake murmured, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Maybe fate still has a few surprises left for us."
The waves shimmered beneath the setting sun, and for a fleeting moment, the silver-haired Celestial Dragon looked less like a tyrant and more like a man chasing destiny with a glint of wicked amusement in his eyes.