"Waaah~~~ Is this the infamous climate of the New World?!"
Luffy clambered up the mast, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"This is awesome! It's completely different from the first half of the Grand Line!"
"Look! The sea's on fire over there!"
"Hey! You guys, come here~~"
Nami cradled the Merry and beckoned quietly to Chopper, Franky, and Usopp.
"The Log Pose is spinning like crazy. One of the needles is pointing straight at that island... and it already looks like trouble."
She discreetly pointed toward the stormy region where lightning poured like a waterfall. If one squinted, there seemed to be an island hidden beneath the chaos. Everyone gulped nervously in unison and nodded frantically.
"We have to decide before Luffy notices…"
"Huh? Nami! This Log Pose is moving in such a cool way!"
A head dangled down between them from above. Luffy grinned broadly.
"Is it that island with all the lightning? That looks super fun! Let's go there!"
Ignoring the looks of despair spreading across the crew's faces, Luffy leapt from the mast and shouted joyfully:
"Set sail! We're heading for the lightning island!"
"AHHHHHH—!"
Screams echoed across the ship. A massive sweat drop popped up on the Thousand Sunny's lion prow as the helm—held by the Merry—jerked the ship around, its eyes spinning into swirls…
…
"Law-dono! Is the weather on all the islands around here always this awful?"
Kin'emon and Momonosuke were aboard Law's submarine.
Having spent some time at a safe and steady Marine base, this sudden return to chaos was a bit much for them. The last time they saw this region was when they'd first arrived—delivered by none other than Rear Admiral Kuina—and the severe conditions had only been glimpsed.
But now, after leaving G-5 and visiting the half-burning, half-flourishing Punk Hazard, they found themselves staring at Raijin Island, constantly hammered by lightning. Their brains struggled to process it all.
Not even the perilous journey from Wano to Dressrosa had featured such bizarre islands. Honestly, if they'd encountered this kind of madness back then, they probably wouldn't have survived the trip…
Eyes wide in awe, Kin'emon and Momonosuke drank in the sight. Law, meanwhile, leaned against the railing, Kikoku in hand. Bepo had stayed behind in Zou, and Law was now navigating using his Vivre Card.
"You were escorted here before by Rear Admiral Kuina's warship. But now, we're sailing. That means the speed—and the danger—are both much greater."
"There was a faster way, actually... but since I need to bring the ship with me, sailing it is."
The two had no idea about the purpose of the Lightforged Beacon. Thanks to Law's earlier arrival, a beacon had already been established on Zou.
For safety reasons, the beacon on Zou was linked to the one used by the Wano Resistance—both relayed through the Gran Tesoro and the Marine base. This not only allowed secure transport but also let supplies flow from the Gran Tesoro to Wano.
Directly sending goods from the Marine base would raise suspicion. But the Gran Tesoro, as a neutral zone, could move as many supplies as needed without question.
Aside from Wright, whenever Rosinante traveled from the base to Wano, he also used the secret relay chamber in the Gran Tesoro.
Thus, it wasn't appropriate to bring Kin'emon and Momonosuke directly from G-5 via the Gran Tesoro—their alliance needed to remain a secret.
Besides, Law had another motive: giving Momonosuke time to mentally and physically adjust. The voyage was the perfect setting for that.
Which, of course, meant… unexpected encounters.
"Law-dono! Kin'emon! Look over there!"
Momonosuke suddenly shouted:
"There's a ship… with a skull flag?! Is that… a pirate ship?!"
"What?!"
Kin'emon rushed forward, spotting the pirate vessel sailing straight for the lightning-covered island.
"No doubt about it… that's a pirate ship! Momonosuke, pirates are ruthless and savage. Best not to get involved—"
"Come on now, Kin-dono. I am a pirate too, remember?"
Law stepped forward, gave the pirate ship a quick glance—and his expression instantly changed.
"…We've just run into some very troublesome people."
"Eh? Are they dangerous? That ship looks kinda cute though. Is that a lion's head on the front?"
Momonosuke was clearly unfamiliar with the infamous crew they'd encountered—but then he noticed something.
"They've stopped! Did they spot us?"
"There's no way they wouldn't. We're this close…"
Law sighed and resisted the urge to submerge immediately. After all, he did have history with this lot…
...
Back on the Thousand Sunny, Usopp had already grabbed Luffy.
"Hey! Luffy—that's Law! He's a Warlord of the Sea now!"
"Looks like he's got company too. That guy's super tall... and there's a kid."
"Yay~~ It's Law-senpai! It's been two years! Where's Bepo? Is Bepo with him?"
Chopper clambered onto the railing, eyes sparkling.
"I never got to chat properly with them back at Sabaody!"
"Whoa~ A Warlord! Like Moria? That means he's really strong now, huh?"
Luffy joined him on the railing, waving frantically.
"Oi! Tra-guy! It's us!"
"Like he can hear you from that far away…"
Zoro muttered under his breath, hand drifting toward his swords.
"A Warlord, huh… I wouldn't mind a fight. He uses a sword too, after all."
"That guy…"
Sanji scowled, recalling the last time they crossed paths—twice, in fact. The way Law had looked at him… it felt like the man could see right through him.
"Heh… if it weren't for Tra-guy-kun's warning, you guys might've eaten Chopper back on Skypiea~" Robin chuckled softly.
"Thank goodness… a Warlord! Maybe he'll finally distract Luffy enough to change course!"
Tears welled up in Nami's eyes as she stared at the Log Pose violently vibrating on her wrist. Her head felt like it was about to explode.
"Yohohoho… Come to think of it, aren't Warlords affiliated with the Marines?"
Brook shaded his eyes with a hand and peered across the water.
"If we're being technical, shouldn't he be trying to wipe us out right now?"
"Don't be stupid! We've got history with him, and besides… that person wouldn't let him just attack us out of nowhere."
Franky helped Merry drop anchor. Given the way Luffy was acting, they wouldn't be heading to the lightning island anytime soon… As a cyborg, Franky wasn't afraid of much, but even he wasn't thrilled about sailing into a literal storm of death.
"They're coming over!"
As the two ships approached, Zoro and Sanji spotted Kin'emon's unusual outfit and their pupils shrank. Shouts rang out from the other ship.
"Pirates! The very picture of impropriety!"
"What kind of woman… dressed like that?! So indecent! Wearing only breast bindings in public?!"
"Momonosuke-sama! Don't look—eh?! Momonosuke-sama! What's wrong with you?! Wake up!"
"Hmph! Such ignorance! This is called fashion, thank you very much!"
That "certain woman"—Nami—flashed a seductive smile as Kin'emon desperately shook the passed-out Momonosuke, who had yet to recover his bulging-eyed expression.
"What, don't like what you see?"
"LIKE IT?! I LOVE IT!!"
WHACK!
SPURT—
Sanji stomped Kin'emon's face into the deck, eyes blazing with fury.
"You bastard! How dare you look at her like that?!"
Law tugged his hat down over his eyes and sighed.
"I knew it… running into them would be nothing but trouble…"
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