52nd Grove Red.
On the open-air sword training field atop the Sunset's forecastle deck.
Fresh from a shower, Xiano lounged beneath a sun umbrella, cradling a glass of orange soda in one hand while idly watching a football-sized bubble pop with a soft "plop" against his other palm.
"What an interesting place," he mused, lifting his gaze.
The sea breeze carried countless soap bubbles drifting around the colossal Red Tree—each one rising, bursting, and refracting rainbow halos in the sunlight. The air was laced with a faint, soothing resin fragrance.
"We're about to dock!" Nami called out, leaning over the railing with a grin. "Hey, Smoker, hurry up and give us some intel about this island."
"Hah?" The helmsman turned with a puzzled frown. "Shouldn't you be asking Robin for that?"
"You make it sound like I'm omniscient," Robin chuckled, shaking her head. "I haven't researched this island either."
"See? That's why it's your turn," Nami pressed. "This place is close to Marine Headquarters. You must've visited when you were stationed there, right?"
"Passed by once during training camp," Smoker admitted, exhaling a smoke ring as he dredged up memories. "But we didn't stay long. Teacher Zefa only gave a brief overview during resupply. The specifics are hazy."
"Broadly speaking," he continued, "the island's 79 districts break down like this: Areas 1 to 29 are lawless zones—gray markets and underground trades thrive there. Districts 30 to 49 are tourist and commercial hubs, safe and bustling. 50 to 59 host shipyards and Coating craftsmen, while 60 to 79 are mostly residential, with Marine branch bases and minor World Government offices scattered throughout."
"Wait, we're docking at 52nd Grove?" Nami checked the numbering on the giant tree and brightened. "That's perfect! We won't have to hunt for Coating craftsmen after landing!"
"Or maybe," Smoker deadpanned, tapping his temple, "I already considered that as both navigator and helmsman—hence choosing this spot deliberately?"
"..."
Realization dawned on Nami, flushing her cheeks crimson amid the crew's laughter.
This dummy's IQ is catching up to Agin's, Xiano thought with an amused headshake, ruffling her hair before joining her at the railing. His eyes narrowed as they swept the crowded docks below.
"Seems we've drawn quite a crowd..."
————
The wharf teemed with onlookers.
Word traveled fast—the Sunset's appearance in the waters near Sabaody Archipelago hadn't gone unnoticed. Now, swarms of people jostled for a better view, necks craned and toes straining.
Just to witness with their own eyes, that Pirate crew which had shaken the Grand Line with its might over the past six months, yet vanished without a trace for two whole months after Xiano's death.
Now.
As the ship drew closer, about to dock, the crowd erupted in gasps and shouts.
"They're here, they're here!"
"Black hull, white sails, white flag... Hey, it really is the Sunset!"
"Of course! Even if that man is dead, his crew is still plenty strong. No way they'd just disband like the rumors said. I knew it!"
Right then.
"Move! Get out of the damn way!"
A furious roar exploded from the back of the crowd. People instinctively turned to see a large group of menacing Pirates pushing through, each looking fierce and unapproachable.
At the center of this group was a Fish-man towering over three meters tall.
Muscular with long green hair and a bicorne hat, his lazy gaze carried an air of condescension, as if he was accustomed to looking down on others.
Wherever he passed, the crowd recoiled in fear, parting like the tide to clear a path.
"It's Sasaki, the strongest Master Swordsman of the new generation!" someone whispered in awe. "That Supernova with a bounty of 170 million Berries, leading a massive fleet!"
"He came personally?" another gulped. "This guy... does he have plans for the Sunset Pirates?"
Highly likely...
After all, the Sunset Pirates' reputation was unmatched in the first half of the Grand Line, yet their numbers had never grown much—pitifully small, even.
And their Captain, Xiano, had died two months ago, caught between a Four Emperor and a Marine Admiral.
Leaderless and vulnerable.
This was the Sunset Pirates at their weakest.
If someone could wipe them out before the Marines did...
Their bounty and fame would skyrocket, making them the undisputed brightest star among this generation of Supernovas.
Not to mention absorbing the remaining strong members into their own crew, boosting their strength and confidence to venture into the New World.
From any angle, it was an irresistible prize.
But...
This prize wasn't easy to claim.
Sasaki's crew might be large, but in terms of high-tier combat power, with just one Supernova...
Did they have what it took?
"Excuse us, please."
Suddenly, commotion broke out on the other side of the dock.
The crowd scrambled aside again, this time making way for a group of unmistakable Mink Tribe warriors.
Leading them was Pedro, the jaguar-like Captain of the Nox Pirates, followed closely by the lion-like Pekoms.
"We rushed here as soon as we heard, but that Sasaki guy got here even earlier," Pekoms adjusted his sunglasses. "Pedro, we can't let them hog it all, gao~!"
"You've got it wrong, Pekoms."
Pedro was taken aback, turning to glare at him irritably, "We're just here to see the excitement and witness the presence of those few. When did it turn into taking over the Falling Stars Adventure Pirates? We don't need that kind of notoriety. Have you been wanted for so long that you've actually started thinking of yourself as a pirate?"
"Hmm, I guess you're right," Pekoms scratched his head.
Their current bounties alone were already troublesome enough.
The reason they had left Zou and wandered around was simply to help Master Cat Viper gather information about the Poneglyphs.
"Ah, the idiots from the Mink Tribe."
Sasaki's gaze also flicked over, his brow furrowing:
"Just this handful of you? Hardly worthy of your reputation. A few fluffy creatures like kittens and puppies, yet your bounties are higher than mine—how irritating."
"I'm sorry!"
A white bear immediately lowered his head in shame, mumbling, "I truly apologize. If possible, I'd be willing to give you all of my bounty..."
"No need to apologize to them, Jepo!" Pekoms smacked him, baring his fangs in anger. "When will you ever fix this damn habit of yours?!"
"That's right, Jepo, toughen up."
Pedro laughed heartily, patting his shoulder before turning back to Sasaki:
"Hey, you there. You're really full of yourself, aren't you? When it comes to numbers, more isn't always better. Do you seriously think you can take down the Falling Stars Adventure Pirates with this ragtag bunch?"
"Fool."
Sasaki sneered, casually pulling a bottle of beer from his waist and taking a swig:
"You're the idiot here, but don't assume I'm as stupid as you. Defeat the entire Falling Stars Adventure Pirates? I may be ambitious, but I'm not that delusional!"
"Then why are you here?" Pedro frowned.
"Obviously, I came for that female Master Swordsman."
Sasaki grinned. "You've heard of her, right? The one with a higher bounty than both of us—Kuina or whatever. I was already being called the strongest Master Swordsman of the new generation, but then suddenly, news broke that this woman was still alive. The title of the strongest is up for grabs again. How the hell am I supposed to enter the New World with peace of mind now, damn it!"
Swish!
He drew his sword, pointing the blade toward the approaching ship, baring his teeth in a wild laugh. "You're lucky to be here—just in time to witness me defeat that female Master Swordsman with your own eyes. Starting today, the whole world will know who the true strongest Master Swordsman of the new era is!"
"Tch, what a bold declaration."
A playful voice suddenly came from above. Everyone instinctively looked up to see a handsome young man sitting on the rooftop, swinging his legs with a carefree smile.
He was very short, looking no older than fifteen or sixteen. If not for the broadsword—almost as tall as him—that he was casually twirling in his hands, he might have been mistaken for a local kid playing around.
"Ahhh! It's Lord Haruta!!"
A female pirate's eyes turned into hearts as she squealed in excitement. "The youngest Supernova! The most handsome Supernova! Lord Haruta, I'm your biggest fan!"
"Oh? Haha, that makes me happy. Thanks!"
The young Swordsman playfully winked at her. Just as the female Pirate clutched her heart, nearly fainting from happiness, he suddenly flipped mid-air and landed gracefully at the front of the dock.
Though short and alone, neither Pedro nor Sasaki dared to underestimate him.
—This guy, according to rumors, had recently emerged from the Florian Triangle after clashing with 「Moonlight」Moria, one of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea, in a near-even battle.
The Marine Headquarters was still verifying the truth of this claim.
Barring any surprises, his bounty would soon skyrocket, making him the highest among this generation of Supernovas.
"You… are you also a pure Master Swordsman?"
Sasaki's expression darkened. "Jumping out like this—do you share the same goal as me, aiming to seize the title of the strongest Swordsman?"
"Don't misunderstand…"
Haruta chuckled, yawning dismissively. "The title of 'Strongest Swordsman of the New Generation'? You can keep that dream. My ambitions are far greater than yours…"
"Huh?"
Both Sasaki and Pedro were taken aback.
"As you've guessed, I'm here for everyone on that ship." Haruta's voice was calm and indifferent. "You can have the female Swordsman. The rest? I'll take them all. These guys are barely qualified to be the first stepping stones for my rise in the New World."
"…Such arrogance for a little guy. Even more than me, huh? Seems the rumors about you fighting Gekko Moriah to a standstill might be true."
Sasaki narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint flashing within. "You've got me itching for a fight now. Hey, why not team up? Going solo isn't exactly safe, right?"
"Two still isn't safe. How about adding me?"
A seductive laugh rang out as a stunning woman draped in a feathered purple cloak strode forward. "I'm about to return to the family. To secure a higher-ranking minister position, I need more achievements to please Mama…"
"Charlotte Galette!"
The surrounding Pirates gasped. "She's here too… BIGMOM's daughter!"
"One, two, three…" Someone counted, stunned. "All five Supernovas have gathered?!"
"But only three of us intend to act."
Galette heard the remark and smiled sweetly. "So, gentlemen, how about the three of us join forces and share the spoils of this battle?"
"…"
Sasaki and Haruta frowned slightly, exchanging glances.
"Fine."
"Agreed."
Galette beamed. "Excellent. Since we've reached an agreement, let's clear some space for our guests… The ship seems to be docking."
Thud!
Almost as soon as she spoke, the Sunset came to a halt. Figures appeared at the bow and stepped ashore under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
Leading them was a girl with a high ponytail, her face expressionless. Her cold gaze swept over the crowd, sending an inexplicable chill down the spines of the Pirates who met her eyes, as if they'd been plunged into an icy abyss.
"Vice-Captain, the 'Rain-Cutting Swordsman' Kuina—bounty: 200 million Berry!"
Someone swallowed hard and murmured, "Such terrifying presence... No wonder the pirate crew hasn't disbanded outright with such strong fighters still around..."
Behind her, several figures lined up in formation and stepped ashore one after another.
"Combatant: 'Winter Fist' Nojiko, bounty 130 million Berry!"
"Shipwright: 'Defecting Hunter' Smoker, bounty 160 million Berry!"
"Chef: 'Red Leg' Zeff, bounty 100 million Berry!"
"Pet: 'Thunder Wolf' Agin, bounty 150 million Berry!"
"Pet: 'Blazing White Puff' Nuomici, bounty 100 million Berry!"
Prestigious names and terrifyingly high bounties...
As each figure stepping ashore was recognized, an overwhelming sense of dread washed over the crowd.
Many turned pale and instinctively retreated several steps.
"So these are the Falling Stars..."
Even Pedro looked grave, a bead of cold sweat trickling down his temple.
By this count, the Falling Stars Adventure Pirates alone boasted six supernovas with bounties exceeding 100 million Berry—surpassing the total number of supernovas currently on the island!
What a fearsome lineup!
Good thing he never planned to get involved...
He turned his gaze toward the trio who had already joined forces.
Sasaki, Haruta, and Galette.
The three pirate captains were visibly shaken by this imposing entrance, but after exchanging glances, they quickly regained their composure. Drawing their weapons with cold smiles, they stepped forward to meet the challenge.
Three against six might seem disadvantageous numerically.
Yet each of these three believed their true strength far exceeded their bounty.
Thus, without question, the advantage still lay with them!
"Hey! Kuina!"
Sasaki bared his teeth, being the first to roar:
"Where you looking? Over here! I've been waiting for you! Let's settle this with a swordsman's honor! That title of 'Strongest Master Swordsman' is about time you passed it to me!"
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