After the feast, only Kaelen, Hancock, and Robin remained in the palace hall.
Suddenly, as if remembering something intriguing, Hancock spoke with a light smile, "Kaelen, have you ever heard of the Pirate Expo?"
"Pirate Expo?" Kaelen raised an eyebrow, his memory stirring.
At the same time, the well-informed Robin narrowed her eyes slightly. The name sounded familiar, and she quickly recalled some historical accounts.
Kaelen chuckled as the details came back to him. "I've heard of it. It's a pirate gathering held every few years. Rumor has it that a rare and priceless treasure always shows up, drawing in pirates from the Grand Line, the New World, and even the Four Blues."
He paused, his tone thoughtful. "If I'm not mistaken, it's been over twenty years since the last Expo."
Kaelen wasn't just interested in the treasure. What truly piqued his curiosity was the man behind the curtain—Douglas Bullet. A former member of the Roger Pirates who once clashed with Silvers Rayleigh in his prime... now that was something worth seeing.
Hancock's eyes lit up as she leaned closer. "You're amazing, Kaelen! You even know about things like this."
Robin and Kaelen exchanged a look.
"...Not again," they both thought.
Since arriving on Amazon Lily, Kaelen had lost count of how many times Hancock had reacted like that. In her eyes, he was practically a man of divine light and glittering effects.
"Yes, it's Kaelen. Truly impressive," Robin added, her tone playful, a sly smile curving her lips.
The same words, yet from Hancock, they stirred pride. From Robin, they left Kaelen strangely awkward.
"Ahem." He cleared his throat, brushing off the weird tension and redirecting the topic. "So, Hancock, are you saying the Pirate Expo is about to happen again?"
"That's right." Hancock nodded. "I received an invitation not long ago. The event is being held in twenty days."
She hesitated, then added, "According to the invite... this Expo will feature the treasure of Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King."
Robin's expression changed the instant she heard that.
"The treasure of the Pirate King?" she echoed.
Anything connected to Gol D. Roger was no trivial matter. Even if it was a rumor, it would still be enough to send shockwaves across the seas. Robin could already imagine the chaos that would follow.
"The entire pirate world will be stirred," she said softly. "I wouldn't be surprised if the Marines and other powers got involved too."
But then her gaze sharpened with suspicion. "Still... something doesn't feel right. This Expo feels off. Who's behind it? There must be more to it."
Kaelen turned to look at her, somewhat impressed. Robin had been running for over twenty years; her instincts were sharp.
"No doubt about it," he replied. "Whoever put this together has a clear goal. Using Roger's name is no small move. But no one's forcing anyone to go. It's an open invitation—either you take the bait or you don't."
His voice was calm, steady.
"It's bold, but that's the brilliance of it. The whole sea knows it's suspicious, yet they'll still go. The temptation is too strong."
Realization dawned in Hancock's eyes as she furrowed her brows. "So... knowing that, are we still going?"
She had brought it up with the hope that she and Kaelen could attend together. But now that danger was a possibility, she felt hesitant.
Kaelen smiled slightly, a glint of excitement in his gaze. "Of course we're going. An event like this only comes once in decades. It's going to be the biggest gathering in years."
He grinned, showing white teeth. "The Marines, pirates, the Revolutionary Army, the Seven Warlords, and even underworld figures will all be there. How could I miss something that chaotic?"
Hancock's eyes sparkled, clearly thrilled by his answer. "So when do we leave?"
She wasn't just excited about the Expo—she was excited to travel with him.
Kaelen paused for a moment, then answered, "If it's in twenty days, we'll leave now."
Amazon Lily was dangerous... in ways he hadn't anticipated. Too many eyes, too many feral women, and too much unwanted attention. For his own safety, Kaelen felt it was best to retreat early.
Sometimes being too good-looking really was a burden.
---
Meanwhile, as Kaelen and his companions prepared to set sail, the news of the Pirate Expo was already sweeping across the seas.
Alongside it, the explosive rumor—Gol D. Roger's treasure—spread like wildfire.
The undercurrents began to stir.
Pirates across all seas scrambled to prepare, their eyes gleaming with greed and ambition.
"Hee-hahaha! That treasure's going to be mine! Just you wait!" Bucky cackled as he slammed a map onto his table.
"Who's the idiot pulling this off after twenty years of silence?" another pirate sneered. "Still... sounds fun. Let's check it out."
"I just hope I don't run into Kaelen Tsukishiro," someone muttered. "Something always goes wrong when that guy shows up..."
And so, a new storm was brewing. One that would sweep across the seas and pull every major force into its center.
---
Send Stones.