It was noon that day in the seas around the Conomi Islands.
The sky was clear, the breeze soft, and the sunlight warm.
It should have been the perfect weather for a post-lunch walk or outing.
But on the horizon, no one knew when it began—an entire fleet of thirty pirate ships, each flying black sails, approached the direction of Cocoyashi Village.
From afar, the dark mass looked like a swarm of storm clouds pressing in.
…
Near the pier, beside a small grove of trees along the coast.
A few villagers were fishing and chatting when they noticed the terrifying sight.
"Hey, pirates."
"Yeah…"
A dozing villager nearby was startled awake. Rubbing his eyes sleepily, he yawned lazily.
"It's been a while since pirates dared to come here. And now so many show up at once?"
"It must be that guy. The one who's been making waves lately, claiming to be the East Blue Overlord. What was his name again?"
"Clarke? Or Clarara?"
"Something like that… Who cares…"
The villagers shook their heads and changed the subject, continuing to fish.
They seemed to have long been used to such scenes.
…
Under the warm sun, the salty sea breeze swept across the deck of the flagship.
A tall figure, standing two meters and forty-three centimeters tall, clad in heavy golden armor, stood cold-faced at the ship's bow, staring at the small island growing closer in the distance. His cape flapped loudly in the wind.
"Governor Krieg! Everything is going smoothly. We'll reach the Cocoyashi Village pier in about twenty minutes!"
The report came from the lookout tower above.
"Is that so?"
Krieg narrowed his eyes. "Continue full speed ahead. Once we dock, all combat personnel from ships No. 1 to 15, come ashore with me. The rest will surround the pier and stand by to fire at any moment!"
"Yes, Governor!"
A thunderous cheer erupted from the surrounding pirates.
"Captain."
A low voice came from the right side, "I know I've mentioned this several times before, but now that we're right at the edge, I want to try one last time to talk you out of this."
Hm?
Krieg slowly turned, glaring at the man before him—their head combat commander.
"We never should have come to Cocoyashi Village."
Gin lowered his head, as if ignoring Krieg's expression. "Your goal is to form the strongest fleet and conquer the Grand Line. Why go all the way south to provoke that man named Shano?"
"This is really unwise. That man's strength may be even greater than you estimated…"
"Hah?"
Krieg suddenly reached out and grabbed Gin's neck, grinning as he spoke:
"So you're scared now? Gin! You, the so-called Demon Man who's followed me for years, scared just because of some old rumor! And now you're thinking of backing out?!"
"That's not what I meant, Captain. My loyalty to you will never change. I'll always be willing to fight at your side."
Gin struggled to get the words out. "But… the risk this time… Isn't it widely acknowledged that he wiped out those fish-men all by himself? Didn't you also warn me privately back then not to provoke that—"
"Shut up!"
Krieg flung his hand, sending Gin to the ground, coughing violently.
"Times have changed! You understand?! Back then, I only had five ships! But now? Now I've got thirty!!!"
"The entire East Blue speaks my name in fear. Even the Navy avoids my fleet! And that country bumpkin brat? If he were really that strong, he would've gone to the Grand Line long ago! He's been hiding in the countryside growing oranges for years, and he still dares to claim he's the strongest swordsman in the East Blue?!"
Krieg stretched out his broad arms, letting the sea wind flood in, laughing madly.
"This time, I'm going to beat that brat so bad he's picking up his teeth off the ground! I'll make these fools in the East Blue understand who the real strongest is!"
"Long live Governor Krieg!!!"
His declaration instantly ignited a wave of fanatic cheers across the deck.
"…" Gin was silent for a while. Then he let out a quiet sigh. When he stood up, his eyes were filled only with ruthless resolve.
"If you've made up your mind."
He pulled out his iron mace tonfa from behind and looked calmly toward the now very close dock. "Then I, Gin, will charge the front line for you."
Thud!
The frontmost pirate ships rammed fiercely into the dock, instantly smashing the wooden pier that had only recently been repaired into splinters.
A large number of pirates, armed with blades and guns, shouted excitedly as they swarmed off the ships, packing the coastal area around the dock shoulder to shoulder.
"There's smoke over there, I see the village!"
"Only one dirt path? What a countryside dump!"
"Forget that, charge! The Governor said whoever finds that kid Shano first gets two million Berries!"
Expressionless, Gin followed the first wave ashore. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed an oddly shaped narrow speedboat docked in a remote corner.
On the mast hung a flag with two large characters: Frost Moon.
Frost Moon?
Gin frowned slightly. That name—or maybe the surname—felt familiar.
It seemed like he had seen it in a newspaper a few years ago…
But before he could think further—
Bang!
A sudden commotion erupted at the front. Several pirates who had charged ahead were suddenly sent flying into nearby palm trees, their heads slumping unconscious.
"Oh dear, sorry about that."
A beautiful blue-haired girl with a red ribbon tied on her head was suddenly standing right in the middle of the only path, gently twirling her hair and smiling sweetly at the pirates in front of her.
"There are still a lot of people in the village who haven't finished lunch yet. I can't let rude guys like you go around disturbing them."
Ohhhhhh!!!
No one paid any attention to the poor souls who had been knocked out.
The pirates at the front were now wide-eyed, whistling, drooling, and even twisting themselves like noodles.
"Whoa! A super hot babe!!"
"Didn't expect a backwater place like this to have such a beautiful girl!"
"Hey, pretty lady! Once we finish up here, how about you join us on the ship tonight?"
Greedy, lustful eyes scanned up and down the girl in front of them.
"Staring at a girl like that is very rude, you know."
Nojiko still smiled gently. But at some point, she had already put on a pair of blue metal gauntlets.
"I asked you all—"
Soru!
Before she even finished, Nojiko's figure vanished. When she reappeared, she was already in the middle of the pirate group.
"—were you listening to me!!!"
With a thunderous shout like a rampaging dinosaur, she crossed her fists and slammed down hard. The two pirates closest to her had their heads crushed in instantly.
Before their bodies could even hit the ground, Nojiko's long, powerful leg swept in a wide arc, sending more than a dozen pirates flying like broken kites with screams of agony!