"South Blue…"
Storm looked up at the sky, a profound sense of unease washing over him.
Before landing on the island, he had still been thinking about recruiting subordinates, breaking into the New World, and clashing with the Four Emperors.
But after landing—
forget the New World.
He had already crossed the Calm Belt and the Grand Line.
What the hell was the South Blue?!
Storm was utterly bewildered.
It felt like everyone was imagining an earth-shattering clash between the Four Emperors…
only to turn around and see two short pirate "emperors" grabbing each other's collars and choking one another in the middle of Loguetown's main street.
Absurd.
Fine.
Since he was already here…
Storm shook his head, casting aside the irrelevant thoughts.
He pulled out a 10,000 Berries banknote—the remaining portion of his unspent Marine salary.
"I need a local guide. And I need to ask around about a few things."
Storm waved the bill in front of the crowd.
"Anyone willing to take the job?"
Staying in the South Blue was out of the question.
His plan was to rest briefly, then immediately head back to the Grand Line.
Several people on the dock showed interest when they saw the money.
But when their eyes drifted upward—toward the majestic Blue-Eyes White Dragon circling in the sky—
not a single person dared to move.
Storm immediately understood.
He raised a hand and beckoned.
The Blue-Eyes White Dragon flapped its wings and dove down.
Before it even landed—
panic erupted.
"Ah! Run!"
"The white dragon is charging!"
"It's going to eat people!"
The dock exploded into chaos as people fled in every direction.
In the blink of an eye, it was completely empty.
Storm watched the retreating figures, lips twitching slightly.
…He had overestimated ordinary people's acceptance of dragons.
The shrunken Blue-Eyes White Dragon perched lazily on Storm's shoulder like a house cat, tail swishing.
Storm met its deep blue eyes.
"Too bad you're a dragon."
The next moment—
its body began to change.
Wings vanished.
Neck shortened.
Limbs became slender.
Pale scales softened into snow-white fur.
And its thick tail—
split.
One became two.
Two became five.
Five became nine.
This was no longer a dragon.
It was a Nine-Tailed Fox.
The pure white fox leaped down gracefully, head held high, nine fluffy tails swaying.
"…Furry things really are cuter," Storm muttered.
Hands behind his head, he followed it toward the town.
"This shouldn't scare ordinary people now, right?"
He hadn't gone far when a noisy group approached.
By normal standards, they looked strange—
but after Impel Down, Storm thought they looked quite decent.
They noticed him as well.
Their numbers gave them confidence.
"A face I don't recognize…"
"Strange clothes too. That symbol—looks like the World Government's."
"World Government? Pfft! They wouldn't care about us."
"Hey! Look at that fox!"
"It has nine tails!"
"Nine tails? You drunk?"
"It really does!"
"Enough!"
A sharp shout cut through the chatter.
A red-haired man with spiky hair stepped forward, silencing the group.
He turned to Storm.
"You came from the docks. Did you see a monster there?"
"Monster?"
Storm glanced at the knee-high fox.
"You mean this?"
"This… fox—"
Before he could finish—
the Nine-Tailed Fox expanded.
In an instant, it grew into a towering monster nearly a hundred meters tall.
Nine massive tails lashed the air, shadows swallowing the street.
"F-fox—!"
Panic erupted instantly.
People screamed and fled in all directions.
Only two remained.
The red-haired man—
and a burly blond with long, wavy hair tied back.
"Kid!"
The blond grabbed his shoulder.
"Run!"
Too late.
The Nine-Tailed Fox swept down a massive claw, grabbing both of them effortlessly.
"Killer!"
Kid finally snapped back to his senses.
They struggled desperately, but it was useless.
Just as Killer was about to give up—
Kid roared.
"How can I die here?!"
Magnetic arcs burst from his body.
"I'm going to be the Pirate King!!"
Storm's eyes narrowed.
"I heard something interesting."
The fox brought them closer.
"What did you say you wanted to become?"
Kid couldn't answer.
Storm calmly drew a Seastone Baton.
The moment it touched Kid—
the magnetism vanished.
Complete shutdown.
Kid collapsed, barely conscious.
"…Who… are you…?"
"It's polite to introduce yourself first."
Storm withdrew the baton and gestured.
"Your name. Redhead."
"…Eustass Kid."
Storm turned to the blond.
"Killer."
As expected.
Storm waved, shrinking the Nine-Tailed Fox back to normal size.
"I just arrived on Belfast Island and need guides."
He smiled.
"You two will do."
Kid and Killer exchanged a stunned glance.
That's it?
Storm pulled out two 10,000 Berries notes.
"Payment. Ten thousand each."
"…Take it."
They accepted numbly.
Somehow, it felt worse than being grabbed by a giant fox.
Storm didn't care.
He was starving.
"Lead the way."
"And tell me what's been happening lately."
"…You're planning to go out to sea together?"
"…Not interested in local gossip."
"…What?"
"A one-man revolution in the Sorbet Kingdom?"
Storm stopped.
"Tyrant Kuma?"
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