The Gale drifted through an unfamiliar sea, hovering as it eased toward the Beasts Pirates' base—Onigashima.
"Cheers!"
"Cheers! Hahaha…"
Once Kuina and Nojiko finished bathing, Leno kept his word and threw a banquet. Chopper, Nami, and the others were very excited.
"That's so cool, Kuina, defeating a high-ranking cadre of the BIG MOM Pirates—that's amazing!"
"Yeah, yeah! And I heard she was one of those 'Sweet Commanders'—that's crazy strong!"
Chopper and Nami hustled over with cups raised, competing to clink glasses with Kuina.
"It was nothing. She wasn't as strong as I'd imagined."
Leno looked over and tested, "So—how did it feel?"
Knowing what he really meant, Kuina shook her head calmly, though a faint disappointment flickered in her eyes.
"I see. You don't need to be in such a hurry. Just relax, and let things happen naturally. We have plenty of time."
"Mm." Surrounded by her crewmates' excitement and joy, Kuina answered softly.
"Oh right—Ulti, I owe you an apology for before."
Chopper remembered, shuffled to Ulti—who was toasting with Nami—and bowed earnestly.
"Huh? About what?" A giant question mark practically popped over Ulti's head.
Chopper explained the misunderstanding and apologized again.
"Eh, it's not your fault. C'mon, bottoms up… That settles the matter."
Ulti clinked cups with a big grin.
"Hahaha… earnest little Chopper—kinda cute."
"Y-you jerk~!"
"Ahahaha…"
The banquet rolled on in high spirits.
As things wound down, Nami suddenly fretted. "We slapped the BIG MOM Pirates in the face like that… won't they come for revenge?"
Leno drained his fruit wine and snorted. "Relax—they definitely will."
"With that fat hag's personality, she won't let it slide."
Seeing everyone's expressions, he added, as if remembering something, "And she's got a super strong son. We roughed up his sister today; as long as we're in the New World, he'll relentlessly hunt us for payback."
"Also, he's the top of the 'Sweet Commanders.' He's terrifyingly powerful." Leno smiled wickedly, then let his eyes slide ominously to Nami and Chopper.
"Eek!"
"Scary!"
"Aaaah! Save us—we're doomed!" Nami and Chopper shrieked, tears flying.
"Hahahaha…"
"Leno, stop teasing them." Nojiko lightly punched Leno in exasperation.
"It's just the BIG MOM Pirates—no big deal. Don't be scared. When the time comes, the Beasts Pirates will cover you," Ulti declared, slamming down her cup as if it were nothing.
At that, the crew's faces shifted a shade.
Nojiko turned to her, serious. "Ulti, we're friends now and we appreciate the thought—but we won't act under a pirate banner."
"Eh? Why not?"
Ulti's bafflement was genuine, but no one pursued the topic.
Afterward, Leno hauled his beach chair onto the deck, yawning. Beside him, Chopper imitated him with a tiny beach chair of his own.
They lay side by side beneath a parasol, savoring the cool sea breeze, drifting toward sleep.
Some time later—no one knew how long—Leno snapped awake to a shout.
"Everyone! A pirate ship ahead!"
"Huuh?"
They scrambled to the rail. In the distance, a massive ship flew a pirates' flag.
"That should be the Beasts Pirates' flag," Robin said after a glance.
Ulti, who had just come out of the lounge, heard 'Beasts' and instantly whoosh—she vaulted forward, eyes shining. She sprinted to the bow, waving both arms and shouting to be seen.
However, from afar, they suddenly saw white smoke puff out of the cannon muzzles on the opposite pirate ship, immediately followed by several cannonballs flying toward the ship where Leno and the others were.
Lightning cracked at Leno's fingertips; the shells detonated midair one after another.
"Hey, hey—Ulti, do your own people greet family with cannonballs?"
Watching Ulti, whose body was already burning with a flame of fury, Leno continued to provoke her.
As the two ships continued to approach, Ulti's body stiffened when she saw the figure standing on the opposite ship's deck. Her anger immediately extinguished, and then, with tears welling up in her eyes, she leaped down.
"Little Pei!"
"Duang!"
Her tackle flattened a figure wearing a white-and-green horned cap, white cloak, and green trousers—Ulti's brother, Page One.
"Little Pei—! You have no idea! I got blown into the Calm Belt and almost died—uuuuuu…"
She mashed his head into her chest, bawling and snuggling as she poured out her harrowing journey.
"Little Pei—why didn't you come find your big sis?"
Feeling the pervasive killing intent, Page One broke out in a cold sweat, his speech stuttering. The 'bloodline suppression' from his sister made him tremble all over.
"H-hey, the moment we realized you were missing, I set sail to search for you, okay? And you're… you're clearly fine—" Page One lifted both hands, on the verge of suffocation, trying to explain.
Ulti's hands slid to his waist and squeezed hard.
"Creak… creak…"
"Your sister fought tooth and nail to make it back, and that's your half-baked attitude, hmm?"
"Oh—and when I was standing on the bow, you ordered them to fire, didn't you? What, didn't want to see your sister come home?"
The killing intent rolling off her made Page One sweat cold; his voice stuttered under the absolute, blood-deep pressure of big-sister dominance.
"B-big sis, it's—it's great you're safe. I was so worried about you!"
"Mmm~ Little Pei is the best." Her killing aura vanished as fast as it came.
Page One exhaled and swiped his brow. Crisis averted.
" h! Right—who are they?" He nodded, wary, toward the metal ship floating in midair.
Ulti finally remembered introductions. "You remember what we talked about a while back—about Kaido's rumored illegitimate child?"
"Are you saying...?"
"Yup. That adventurer's 'miracle ship.' After I escaped the Calm Belt, they saved me and brought me back." Ulti could hardly contain herself as she rushed to share what she'd been through.
T/n:
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