Chapter 48: Welcome to the New World
After passing through the holy land of Mary Geoise, Satoru arrived in the New World. Being in the holy land, even briefly, had let him see a fraction of the World Government's power. He sensed many individuals with Admiral-level strength. He also noticed a place his Six Eyes couldn't penetrate—an area shrouded by some kind of barrier or restriction that blocked his supernatural sight. It made him intensely curious. As he suspected, that was likely where the legendary ruler, Imu, resided.
Arriving in the New World, the first thing to greet him was the brutal, sudden change in weather.
One moment, the sky was clear and cloudless. The next, in a matter of seconds, dark clouds rolled in. A fierce wind whipped up, and torrential rain began to lash down without warning. It was a shock, even for Satoru.
His Six Eyes could perceive that this wasn't magic or an attack. It was a natural, rapid shift in the climate. But to anyone else, it seemed like the weather changed on a whim. One second it was sunny, the next stormy. It could clear up just as fast.
The Marines on the warship sprang into action immediately, preparing for the rough weather. As an elite Admiral's crew, they were always prepared for this. It wasn't their first time in the New World. They'd faced this many times and knew exactly what to do.
Only Chris, who was new to this, was a little lost. But he quickly followed the lead of the sailors around him. Even though he held a high rank, in this situation, he was less experienced than an ordinary seaman.
The storm didn't last long. It vanished as quickly as it came.
Everyone was soaked, except for two people. Kizaru had simply gone inside his cabin when the rain started. And Satoru had kept Infinity active, so not a single drop touched him.
"This is the truest face of the New World," Kizaru's drawling voice came from beside Satoru. He hadn't noticed the Admiral's approach. "Countless pirates call this place a paradise. But they don't realize... this is the cruelest hell in the world. Some people are broken by this weather before they even take the first step toward their dreams."
His tone was detached, like he was reciting history.
"Yes," Satoru agreed, watching the last of the clouds disperse. "For the weak, the unknown New World is the paradise they yearn for. But for the truly strong, the first half of the Grand Line is their paradise. With their power, they can do whatever they want there."
"Hmm~ You understand very well," Kizaru said. "It seems you might just survive here. This is the most real place in the world. The law of the jungle is shown perfectly here.
"However, the pirates of the New World do have one common enemy. That's us—the Marines. And Admirals like me are their favorite targets.
"Because if they can kill me, they become famous overnight. Killing an Admiral gives them immense prestige."
"That's true," Satoru nodded. "But how many have the strength to kill an Admiral? Even the man called the 'Strongest in the World,' Whitebeard, probably couldn't do it. Unless you don't fight back, of course."
In the Navy, aside from Sengoku and Garp, anyone who tried to fight Whitebeard head-on was looking for death.
"Indeed~" Kizaru said, a lazy smile on his face. "When it comes to running away, this old man is unbeatable. No one can outrun me."
Satoru didn't get it. Running away should be embarrassing. But Kizaru said it with pride.
"It will take about a day and a half to reach the G-8 base from here," Kizaru continued, his tone shifting. "During that time, any pirates we encounter will be yours to handle. If you can't even deal with those pirates, then you have no business sitting in command of G-8. That would just get a lot of our men killed."
This was a test. Pure and simple.
If they didn't run into any pirates, Satoru could call it good luck. But if they did, and he couldn't handle them, it would prove he wasn't ready for the New World.
"Don't worry," Satoru said, a confident glint in his blue eyes. "I'm plenty strong."
He wasn't qualified to call himself 'invincible' yet. But 'very strong'? He could say that without a hint of doubt.
"In that case, that's best~" Kizaru said.
Countless pirates sailed for the New World, but the number who actually survived here wasn't that high. Many were wiped out on the journey. Others, after arriving, tried to make a name for themselves alone and were destroyed by more powerful crews.
Aside from the exceptionally strong, pirates who reached the New World had two choices. First, be stubborn, try to go it alone, and get crushed. Second, attach themselves to a more powerful crew, seeking protection.
But that second option required a certain level of strength. If you were too weak, you weren't even worth having as cannon fodder. The powerful pirates wouldn't bother with you.
Satoru looked out at the churning, deep blue sea of the New World. His test could begin at any moment. He was ready.
(End of Chapter)
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