"Big Bro Barto!"
The crew members beside him were also sobbing, tears streaming down their faces. "Stop hurting yourself like this! We're all upset too, but people have to move forward. Don't look back—keep your eyes ahead!"
"Ahead?"
Bartolomeo suddenly raised his head, his swollen eyes still wet with tears, but flames now blazing fiercely in his pupils.
"Right! Moving forward is what matters most!"
He yanked the headband off his forehead and slammed it onto the deck.
"We've already fallen behind. No matter what, we can't afford to be left in the dust again! Full speed ahead, men! We must reach the Galaxy Sea within five days!"
Galaxy Sea.
This new name, replacing the former Wisteria Sea, had already spread across the world alongside the recent major events.
The original "Wisteria" was far too elegant, hardly fitting the Curtain Closer's style. Moreover, the seven islands in this sea formed a constellation—six stars surrounding a moon, arranged in a protective formation.
Compared to the old name, the new one was far more fitting.
"Five days? Boss, that's cutting it way too close!"
"Yeah, it's practically impossible, Big Bro Barto!"
"Enough whining! Don't you all want to see Lord Xiano as soon as possible?!" Barto roared.
"Well... yeah, of course we do. More than anything..."
"Then that settles it!"
Barto gritted his teeth, fists clenched so tightly they trembled. "Let's give it everything we've got, men! We, the Bartholomew Club, are the strongest follower group from the East Blue! We must—absolutely must—become the core strength of the Curtain Closer before those damn Supernova brats!"
"OOOOOHHHH!!!"
The crew erupted with fervor, their voices roaring in unison.
———
Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
Including the previous seven days, the Bartholomew Club had now been in the New World for nearly half a month.
They had faced countless hardships along the way—battling storms, exchanging cannon fire with Marine warships, fleeing from rampaging Sea Kings...
But through relentless day-and-night sailing, they had finally arrived within the Curtain Closer's territory.
"Mist Star Island! That must be Mist Star Island up ahead, Boss Barto! We're almost there!"
"Oh? Really?!"
Bartolomeo, who had been lounging on a deck chair sunbathing, sprang up like a cat with its tail stepped on. He rushed to the bow, gripping the railing as he strained to see ahead.
At the distant horizon, a bustling port town gradually came into view.
A towering white lighthouse stood at its highest point, the flag atop it—bearing the emblem of two crossed swords impaling a seagull—snapping sharply in the wind.
It was unmistakably the Curtain Closer's symbol!
"Uwaaaahhh... We finally made it!" Tears welled up in Barto's eyes. "Listen up, men! Everyone, look your best—don't embarrass Lord Xiano!"
"Yes, Big Bro Barto!"
He hastily straightened his crumpled coat, spiked up his hair, and slicked it back with oil.
First impressions were everything. He had to appear polished and put-together—no way would he let the senior members of the Curtain Closer think he was some unreliable fool!
"Boss! Look over there!" A crew member in the crow's nest suddenly shouted. "A ship! It's heading straight for us!"
Huh?
Bartolomeo turned toward the sound and saw a silver-white speedboat emerging from the side of the island, heading straight for their ship.
The flag of the Curtain Closer fluttered atop the mast, but on the side of the speedboat was an unfamiliar emblem—one even he, a die-hard fan, had never seen before.
—Two roses in full bloom, resting upon a shield.
There were about six or seven people aboard, all dressed in matching black uniforms, with the same rose-and-shield emblem emblazoned on their chests and cloaks.
What did this mean?
Barto froze for a moment.
"Halt! State your name and purpose!"
The leader of the group was a woman with short hair, her skin a warm wheat color, exuding an air of efficiency and vigor. Her voice was clear and bright, carrying easily across the distance of several dozen meters.
Snapping out of his daze, Barto quickly spread his arms and shouted:
"We're the Bartholomew Club! I'm Captain Bartolomeo, and we've come specifically to pledge ourselves to Lord Xiano!"
"Bartolomeo?"
The short-haired woman blinked, as if the name rang a bell. She turned to exchange a few quiet words with her companions before looking back at Barto, her tone softening slightly.
"So you're one of the followers from the East Blue—one of this generation's Supernovas, right? I've seen you in the papers. But according to protocol, all newcomers wishing to join the Curtain Closers must first pass an evaluation."
She then gestured to herself. "As for me, I'm Elifa, vice-captain of the Seventh Division of the Garrison Corps, responsible for patrolling the outer waters of Mist Star Island and handling new recruits."
She signaled for the speedboat to draw closer and tossed over a rope.
"Your ship will have to stay here for now. Bring your officers and come aboard with us to register. Until you're approved, all actions must follow my instructions."
"Understood! Absolute compliance!"
Barto nodded eagerly, scrambling onto the speedboat with his crewmates close behind, all of them buzzing with excitement as they glanced around.
The speedboat turned and headed toward Mist Star Island's main port.
Bartolomeo stood cautiously behind Elifa as the sea breeze brushed against his face. Gazing at the approaching island, he could barely contain his exhilaration.
But when his eyes landed on the rose-and-shield emblem on Elifa's uniform, his curiosity got the better of him.
"Uh—Captain Elifa!"
Rubbing his hands together, he sidled up to her with an ingratiating smile. "If I may ask, what does the emblem on your uniform mean? I've been a fan of Lord Xiano since he first set sail a year ago—my loyalty is absolutely world-class! But I've never seen this symbol before!"
Elifa gave him a sidelong glance. "This is the emblem of the Garrison Corps... Judging by your expression, you don't even know about the Curtain Closers' current Four Great Corps?"
"Four Great Corps?!"
Since when was this a thing? Barto's eyes widened, and his crewmates perked up behind him, ears straining.
"Seems we'll have to give you newcomers a proper briefing."
Elifa shook her head. "Lord Xiano has ruled over the Galaxy Sea for over two months now. In that time—especially after the incident at Sabaody—countless people like you, with all sorts of motives, have come seeking to join."
"Naturally, the Curtain Closers under his command have undergone restructuring and expansion."
"First is the Curtain Closer headquarters, which remains unchanged—comprised of veteran crew members from the Sunset who have long followed Lord Xiano. Beyond the headquarters, four major corps have been established, each with distinct missions and responsibilities."
"Like us."
She raised her right fist and tapped the emblem on her chest. "The Garrison Corps, responsible for territorial defense and maintaining public order. With over five thousand members, we rarely take the initiative in attacks, which is why our emblem features a shield as its main motif. Currently, the corps commander is the senior officer, Jack."
Senior Jack?
Barto pictured the thick-skinned Mammoth Giant Elephant and thought it actually suited the defensive nature of this corps quite well.
As the speedboat entered the harbor, Barto spotted several workers tallying cargo on merchant ships. Their uniforms bore an emblem of intertwined wheat stalks and gears.
"That's the Infrastructure Corps."
Elifa followed his gaze and explained with a smile, "They handle territorial development, resource allocation, and trade. They're the largest of the four corps, numbering around ten thousand."
"Lord Xiano knows he's no expert in economics, so he doesn't interfere much in this area. Instead, he carefully selects talented individuals from various fields who've pledged allegiance, letting the most capable among them manage and operate in their areas of expertise."
"Robin-sama from the Curtain Closer headquarters oversees everything as the general supervisor, while the current corps commander is Senior Kuma."
Kind and considerate Senior Kuma, paired with the brilliant Senior Robin?
Barto nodded blankly. He didn't understand much about construction or economics, but with these two seniors in charge, it shouldn't be a problem.
"As for the other two corps..."
Elifa led the group toward the castle at the town center, pointing at a distant training ground along the way. Through the fence, they could see numerous figures drilling, their uniforms bearing the emblem of crossed swords.
"The Training Corps, responsible for preparing recruits for all other corps. Whether they aspire to fight or contribute to construction, they can hone their skills here."
"The corps commander is the newly promoted senior officer, Issho."
Issho!
Barto perked up. When he'd heard the Curtain Closers had gained another formidable powerhouse, he'd been thrilled. He wondered if he'd get to meet this enigmatic senior today.
"What about the last one?" another officer couldn't help but ask.
"The last one is the Combat Corps. Their emblem is a pair of blue-white wings, symbolizing the fight for a new era, for freedom, and against oppression."
"This is an elite unit qualified to join the Curtain Closer headquarters in external operations. Their selection criteria are the strictest, and currently, they number just over a thousand. The corps commander is the vice-captain of the Curtain Closers, Kuina-sama."
A hint of regret flashed in Elifa's eyes. "I was actually eligible to join, but to better care for my younger sister, I ultimately chose the Garrison Corps instead."
"Your sister?"
"Yes. Both of us are natives of these waters. Before, this place was treated as a war buffer zone—barren, lawless, overrun by criminals. We had no choice but to leave our homeland and wander elsewhere."
"Until recently, I heard my hometown had stabilized and was becoming more prosperous and lively, so I returned. There are many others like us."
"Oh, right."
She glanced enviously at Barto. "Speaking of which, as a Supernova like you, as long as you pass the review, you can directly join the Combat Corps without training. Of course, if Lord Xiano takes a liking to you, you might even join the Curtain Closer headquarters directly."
"Directly join the headquarters?"
Bartolomeo's eyes lit up at first, but then he realized something was off. "Wait, Captain Elifa, from what you're saying, there have already been newcomers who joined the headquarters directly?"
"Yes."
Elifa counted on her fingers. "But such lucky ones are rare—Zoro, Sanji, and that Chopper... only three in total."
"Three already?!"
Bartolomeo's voice suddenly rose, his face twisting in disbelief. "That idiot Mosshead guy actually also..."
He clutched his head and wailed, dropping to his knees and pounding the ground furiously:
"Damn it! I was here first! Whether it was admiring the seniors or setting sail, it should've been me first! Why did it turn out like this?!"
"Yeah! It's so unfair, Boss Barto!" His crewmates also knelt and cried in despair.
"...Uh."
Elifa broke out in a cold sweat.
Since joining the Garrison Corps, she had seen plenty of Lord Xiano's fanatical fans, but none as mentally unhinged as this—and an entire ship full of them at that. This was truly a first.
After much effort, she finally managed to lead these troublemakers to the castle.
"This is the administrative center of Mist Star Island and also the headquarters of the Garrison Corps."
Elifa pushed open the castle gates. "First, follow me to the registration office to fill out your paperwork. Then someone will record your identities. For a famous Supernova like you, there might be a special additional review."
"Additional review?"
"Don't worry, normally it's no issue. There are only two types of people we in the Curtain Closers absolutely cannot tolerate."
"One is those with ill intentions, like spies sent by the World Government or Marine Headquarters. The other is ruthless criminals who've committed countless atrocities—murder, arson, and plunder."
At this point, Elifa glanced at Barto, only to find him not the least bit uneasy. Instead, he looked overjoyed and relieved.
Huh?
If she recalled correctly, this guy's bounty was over 100 million Berries. Could he really have never done anything evil?
From their interactions so far, she didn't think these people seemed like villains, but that wasn't for her to decide. Her job was just to bring them here—the rest wasn't her concern...
Entering the registration office.
The place was bustling, with many people in different Garrison Corps uniforms busy at work—some organizing documents, others explaining rules to newcomers.
Just as Barto took the registration form and was about to fill it out, he heard a commotion nearby. Frowning, he looked up.
"What the hell! I came here to join Lord Xiano's crew and follow him! What's this nonsense?!"
Two burly men, each five meters tall with scowling faces, were angrily shouting at the staff: "Why the hell do we have to fill out this stupid form alongside those refugees? Hey, bastard! Don't get it twisted—our combined bounty is over 100 million Berries! Take us to see Lord Xiano now!"
The staff member remained unfazed, patiently explaining:
"All newcomers must register. This is a rule set by Lord Xiano himself, regardless of your past identity or bounty..."
"Rules? My blade makes the rules!"
One of the Pirates sneered, drawing his sword and pressing it against the staff member's neck. "Enough talk! Lead the way!"
Who do these nobodies think they are, causing trouble in Lord Xiano's territory?!
Hmph, just gives me a chance to earn some credit!
Bartolomeo snorted coldly, tossing aside the registration form in his hand as he prepared to charge forward.
Whoosh!
A shadowy figure moved even faster—two swift chops to the necks of the Pirates.
Thud!
The two Pirates collapsed without resistance, eyes rolling back as they crumpled to the ground.
"You newcomers..." Elifa sighed. "Always so eager to show off. Still, you saved us some trouble. Thanks."
"No need for thanks. It was nothing. I'm new here myself—just trying to make a good impression on the Curtain Closers."
The man smiled faintly and bowed. He stood tall, wearing an eyepatch, with black X-shaped marks on his chin and chest.
When he straightened up and turned, his gaze met Barto's.
"You are..." Both froze in recognition.
(End of Chapter)