"Don't stare at it like that."
On the deck of the sailboat, Yamato nudged Ornn lightly with her elbow.
Ornn glanced at her.
There was something oddly suspicious about the way she said that, but considering who he was dealing with, he decided not to pursue it.
"How are you feeling?" he asked instead. "Is the seasickness any better?"
Yamato's face flushed immediately.
"Seasickness? What seasickness? I don't get seasick!" she shot back. "Look at me—I'm completely fine!"
Ornn gave a small nod, not bothering to expose the obvious lie.
"If you say so. It's getting late. You should go rest in the cabin for a while. We'll be entering Hakumai soon, and I still need to stay on watch."
He paused briefly before adding, "It'll also make things easier when we pass through the port."
Yamato understood immediately. This was him giving her an excuse—saving her from admitting anything.
She snorted softly, but didn't argue.
"Fine. Wake me up if anything happens."
She turned and headed into the cabin without another word.
The sailboat cut steadily through the dark waters.
They did not slow down.
Even near Wano's borders, Ornn had no intention of anchoring or lowering the sails. The farther they got before relaxing, the better. Until they were well beyond Wano's reach, caution was not optional.
Not for people like them.
By the time Yamato had fallen asleep, the coastline of Hakumai was already visible in the distance.
It didn't take long before they reached the port.
As soon as the sailboat entered the harbor, several Beast Pirates stepped forward to block their path.
"Stop! Identify yourselves! Present your departure permit!"
Ornn didn't respond.
He simply glanced at Holdem.
The lion-headed man immediately stepped forward, his expression shifting into the arrogance of someone accustomed to being obeyed.
He pulled out the permit and waved it impatiently.
Before the guard could finish inspecting it, Holdem raised his hand and struck him across the face.
"Are you blind?" Holdem barked. "You don't recognize me?"
The guard staggered, clutching his cheek, but did not dare retaliate.
"I recognize you, sir, but… all ships must be inspected. These are Kaido's orders—to prevent Lady Yamato from escaping Wano—"
Another slap cut him off.
"And you think Yamato would be stupid enough to board an official ship like this?" Holdem sneered. "Or do you think we're incompetent enough to miss something like that?"
He stepped closer, voice dropping coldly.
"If you delay Kaido's orders because of your stupidity, even a hundred lives won't be enough to pay for it."
The guard hesitated.
Fear won over duty.
He stepped aside.
The sailboat passed without further obstruction.
They reached the lift soon after.
Under Holdem's direction, Ornn carefully navigated the route, committing every turn and current to memory. The waters surrounding Wano were anything but natural—violent whirlpools twisted beneath the surface, capable of tearing apart even a sturdy vessel.
One mistake would be enough.
The ship moved slowly but steadily, avoiding each current with precise adjustments.
Without the Hakumai route, they would have faced endless attacks from sea beasts. But here, thanks to Kaido's supply routes, the waters were regularly cleared.
For the first time since leaving Onigashima—
Things felt manageable.
An hour later, they finally broke free of the whirlpool zone.
Ornn looked back.
Wano stood behind them, surrounded by sheer cliffs like an iron fortress rising from the sea.
He exhaled slowly.
After a full month—
They had finally escaped.
He reached into his clothes and pulled out a small piece of paper.
As soon as it touched his palm, it began to shift slightly, as if guided by an invisible force, pointing toward the southwest.
Ornn narrowed his eyes.
"So it's that way…"
He tucked it away again and turned toward Holdem.
There were still nearly twenty-four hours before Tama's ability wore off.
If he wanted to, he could continue using Holdem as a tool—someone to handle minor problems, someone to reduce risk.
It would be efficient.
Safer.
But Ornn shook his head inwardly.
He had spent too long in Wano.
Too long surviving under constant threat.
He would not gamble his life on something that could fail at any moment.
"Holdem," he said calmly, "you've worked hard this past month."
Holdem smiled immediately.
"It's nothing, Master Aoun. It's only natural."
Ornn looked at him for a moment.
"If that were truly your will… I might have kept you."
As he spoke, he untied the Sake Heart Steel ingot from his side.
Heat spread across his palm as magma flowed over the surface, turning the metal a deep, glowing red. The rich scent of wine rose into the air.
"But it isn't."
His voice remained steady.
"In one more day, you'll return to who you were. And someone like that is a risk I won't carry with me."
There was no hesitation in his movement.
"So this is where we part ways."
He stepped forward and pressed the heated ingot toward Holdem's chest.
Clang!
Metal collided with metal.
Ornn's eyes narrowed.
Holdem had drawn his blade at the last moment, barely managing to block.
Half of his face was still calm—
The other half twisted violently, his expression splitting between confusion and fury.
"Why… you—damn brat! I'll kill you!"
The control was breaking.
Ornn didn't wait.
His left fist surged with magma as he drove it forward.
The blow landed cleanly.
Heat engulfed Holdem as the remaining resistance collapsed.
Within seconds, the struggle ended.
Information surfaced in Ornn's mind.
[Sake Heart Steel infused with Devil's Power — 1/1]
He dragged the lifeless body to the edge of the ship and cast it into the sea without ceremony.
Then he stood there for a moment, watching the dark water swallow it.
"Careful sailing lasts a thousand years…"
He exhaled quietly.
Far behind them, at Hakumai Port—
A tall figure stood at the edge of the dock, staring down at a burnt fragment of paper in his hand.
His expression shifted.
Something had just gone wrong.