Having obtained everything they wanted, Makoto and his group formally prepared to leave Elbaf.
The sails of the Otherworlder-Go rose, the sea breeze blew the flags, and the ship's hull gently swayed on the sea surface.
The remnants of the Rocks Pirates also boarded the Rocks' Fury, following behind the Otherworlder-Go.
The Kuja Pirates had also organized their supplies and were preparing to set sail.
Makoto stood on the railing of the Otherworlder-Go, watching the busy figures of the Kuja Pirates, and called out with considerable curiosity:
"Hey? Aren't you going to go with Rayleigh and the others to rescue Roger? Why are you leaving too?"
Hearing this, Shakky's face turned black.
Damn, she'd been cuckolded. Why bother rescuing anyone?
She didn't answer, just turned her face away, pretending to organize her luggage.
Tritoma poked her head out from the cabin and explained for Shakky: "With Gaban and the giants helping, there shouldn't be a problem."
Makoto smiled and didn't ask further.
Just then, Rayleigh also arrived at the port with Gaban, Ripley, and many giants.
They were also packing their luggage, preparing to set sail.
Rayleigh and Gaban boarded the giants' huge ship one after another.
Makoto called out to Gaban: "Hey? Leaving so soon?"
Gaban glanced at him and nodded.
"Queen Ida doesn't want the giants to get involved with us. Rayleigh thinks we need to act quickly."
After witnessing Makoto's power firsthand, Ida had proposed to Jarul and the others that they dissolve the alliance with the Roger Pirates… it's better not get involved in this mess.
And within the giant community, some giants agreed with this.
Although the giants were extremely warlike, they weren't idiots.
After all, the Nidhöggr Fruit and Ragnir are now in Makoto's hands, not to mention his own power.
Oppose him?
Wouldn't that be suicide?
For this reason, Rayleigh felt they needed to act quickly, using the giants' power to rescue Roger and the others from Impel Down.
Otherwise, if the giants later decided to dissolve the alliance, they would truly have no chance.
"Gaban!"
Rayleigh called out from a distance, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure.
He felt that this teammate was getting too close to Makoto.
Gaban looked at Rayleigh, then at Makoto, shrugged, and walked towards Rayleigh.
The three parties began packing their luggage, all preparing to set sail.
Once everything was more or less packed, Rayleigh took Ripley's hand and softly said, "I'm going on a long trip. I'll come see you later."
Ripley looked at him reluctantly, her huge eyes full of attachment.
"You can't take me with you?"
Rayleigh shook his head.
"This is very dangerous. Just wait for me at home."
Ripley bit her lip, but finally nodded, "Then you must come back."
"Yeah."
Gaban watched the couple, so deeply attached to each other, and felt a pang in his heart.
Just then—
A hand holding a piece of paper was extended in front of him.
Gaban was startled and whipped his head around.
Makoto was standing beside him with a smile, holding a piece of paper in his hand.
"My number. If you ever want to steal a woman, you can contact me."
Gaban was startled and hissed in a low voice, "What kind of person do you think I am? I would never do such a thing!"
Makoto chuckled and stuffed the paper into Gaban's pocket.
"Don't get so excited. Just leaving yourself a backup plan. It doesn't hurt."
With that, Makoto turned and walked away.
Gaban made a move as if to throw the paper into the sea.
But after hesitating for a moment—
He secretly tucked the paper into his chest.
The movement was quick, and Rayleigh, whose attention was entirely on Ripley, noticed nothing.
But Gloriosa and the others saw it.
Shakky saw it too.
She leaned against the ship's railing, a cigarette in her mouth, her gaze falling on Gaban, her expression complex.
Then, they exchanged glances.
No words were said.
But they were all thinking the same thing—
The Roger Pirates were doomed.
…
The ones who gained the most from this trip were, without a doubt, the Aizono sisters.
Leaving aside Airi, who had obtained the power of the strongest Devil Fruit, Marina had also gained a cute pet, the large squirrel Ragnir, whose combat power rivaled that of an Emperor.
That's right, a pet, not a weapon.
After all, Ragnir's weight was comparable to that of the Complete Body Susanoo.
Even the strength-type fighters like Yotsuba and Ran couldn't lift it, let alone Marina.
So Marina had to act as its 'trainer'.
However, Ragnir didn't mind… it was currently munching"on a large fruit that Alice had just brought it, its cheeks puffed out like balloons, its eyes narrowed into slits, looking completely satisfied.
"Is it good, little squirrel?"
Alice squatted in front of Ragnir, holding an even larger fruit, her eyes curved into crescents.
"How about changing your allegiance to me as your master?"
She kept tempting Ragnir with food.
"Hey! Alice, don't go too far!"
Airi rushed over, blocking in front of Ragnir, hands on her hips, glaring at Alice angrily.
"This is clearly a pet that Makoto-kun gave to us sisters! How could you let you steal it?!"
"Oh, Airi, don't be so stingy."
With the Elbaf journey over, the Otherworlder-Go prepared to set sail.
Makoto leaned against the ship's railing, looking at the distant horizon, thinking about where to go next.
Just then, his Den Den Mushi rang.
Puru puru puru—
Makoto raised an eyebrow and took the Den Den Mushi from his chest.
After answering, a deep voice came from the other end.
"Makoto-sama, this is Neptune."
Hearing Neptune's voice, all the girls perked up their ears.
They all knew that Neptune, entrusted by Makoto, was helping them search for Pure Gold.
'Could it be... they had already found it?'
The girls put down what they were doing and gathered around Makoto.
Makoto also knew what these girls were thinking, and immediately asked, "Neptune, have you found that lantern fish?"
"Not yet."
Neptune's voice carried a hint of apology.
"However—"
He changed the subject.
"We unexpectedly obtained another treasure and would like to offer it to you."
"Another treasure?"
Makoto raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Yes."
Neptune's tone became excited.
"It is a very powerful Devil Fruit. We would like to offer it to you."
Although it wasn't Pure Gold, which disappointed Yukiko and the others, the girls' eyes lit up again at the mention of 'Devil Fruit'.
After all, they had just witnessed the terror of the Nidhöggr Fruit and Ragnir, and they were envious of such power.
Getting another one would be a dream come true.
"What kind of Devil Fruit?"
Makoto asked.
"We're not sure of the exact ability."
Neptune answered honestly.
"Our understanding of Devil Fruits is limited, but based on the pattern, we speculate it is a Zoan-type."
Makoto stroked his chin.
"Alright, I'll come get it."
"Makoto-sama, you don't need to come all the way here."
Neptune hurriedly said, "I'll have someone deliver it to you."
"Never mind."
Makoto said, "I don't have anything else to do anyway. I'll just return to Fish-Man Island."
As it happened, Rayleigh and the others were heading back to Impel Down in the first half of the Grand Line to rescue Roger.
The Kuja Pirates were also planning to return to Amazon Lily first.
All three parties were going the same way, so they could travel together.
Makoto told Neptune to wait and hung up the phone.
The news quickly reached Rayleigh and the Kuja Pirates, who were also preparing to depart.
When Tritoma heard that Makoto was returning to Fish-Man Island, she was so happy she almost jumped off the ship… she could spend more time with Makoto-kun.
Shakky remained expressionless but didn't object.
Gloriosa sighed and ordered her subordinates to adjust their course.
However—
When the news reached Rayleigh, the situation was completely different.
"What? Nishikawa Makoto is taking this route too?"
Rayleigh's face turned very grim.