The next morning, the cries of seagulls awakened the slumbering training ship.
Sunlight pierced through the thin mist, casting its glow on the deck.
The mess left by last night's revelry had already been cleaned up by diligent Marine soldiers.
The training ship set sail once more, heading deeper into the New World.
...
Five days later.
"Report! A Marine training ship has been spotted ahead! It's heading straight for us!"
A member of the Whitebeard Pirates' patrol ship urgently relayed the alert via Den Den Mushi.
On the deck of the massive whale ship Moby Dick, the division commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates—some lying down, others sitting, drinking, or polishing their weapons—paused in unison.
The air instantly grew tense.
"A Marine training ship?"
First Division Commander Marco set aside the newspaper he had been reading, transformed into a blue flame, and soared into the air before landing at the ship's bow.
He raised his binoculars.
A moment later, he returned to the deck, his usually sleepy face now etched with unprecedented gravity.
"It's the training ship led by Orion."
"What?!"
"What is he doing here?!"
The deck erupted into chaos.
Whitebeard set down his enormous sake bowl, a ripple of emotion finally stirring in his worldly-wise eyes.
"Orion?" he slowly uttered the name.
"Pops!" Vista gripped his sword hilt, his gaze sharp. "He dares to intrude into our territory with just one training ship? This is a blatant provocation!"
"Exactly!" Jozu rumbled in agreement, crossing his arms with a metallic thud.
"We must teach him a lesson and show him whose territory this is!"
"Everyone, calm down!" Marco frowned, stopping the restless commanders.
"Orion's arrival at this time may not necessarily mean he's here to fight. Perhaps he has another purpose!"
"What other purpose could there be?" one commander couldn't help but shout. "Akainu and Aokiji have blocked the two main sea routes in the New World, and now he's leading a team here himself. It's clear he intends to wipe us out in one fell swoop!"
"Then let's fight!"
"Right! Make sure he never returns!"
The commanders were fired up, each brimming with fighting spirit.
As members of the pirate crew led by Whitebeard, the world's strongest man, they carried their own pride.
Even facing the currently dominant Marine Fleet Admiral, they would never retreat without a fight.
Just as the atmosphere on the deck grew tense, with a major conflict seemingly imminent.
The lookout's Den Den Mushi rang again, its voice filled with confusion.
"Report! The Marine training ship has suddenly changed course! They're not heading toward the Moby Dick, but toward the direction of Flame Island!"
"Huh?"
Everyone on the deck was stunned.
What kind of move was this?
They had intruded into the Whitebeard Pirates' territory, yet without even a greeting, they turned toward another island?
"Flame Island?" Marco looked at Whitebeard. "Pops, what is he going there for?"
Whitebeard remained silent for a moment, as if recalling something.
"If I remember correctly," he said slowly, "tomorrow is the annual Flame Festival of the Fire Kingdom."
Flame Festival?
Several of the division commanders exchanged glances.
One commander stood up and explained, "I know this place. It's named after the island's inhabitants, who have used fire as their totem since ancient times. The country on the island is therefore called the 'Fire Kingdom.'"
"The Fire Kingdom wasn't a member of the World Government until the last Reverie, when they submitted their application to join. However, due to regulations, their king and royal family weren't eligible to relocate to the Holy Land."
"The king didn't seem to mind. Instead, he personally went to Wano Country to seek Crocodile's advice on governance and successfully replicated the Wano model. Because of his high reputation among the citizens, he was eventually elected as the first mayor of the Fire Kingdom."
"Of course, none of that is important. What matters is that Marco was right—his target isn't us, but the Fire Kingdom!"
"So he's taking the trainees to the Fire Kingdom to participate in the Flame Festival?"
"Even so, aren't we being a bit too tense? It feels like ever since Orion entered the New World, we've become like startled birds, always unconsciously keeping an eye on his movements!"
"Of course we are! He's the Fleet Admiral, youngest and strongest Fleet Admiral in Marine history!"
...
Meanwhile, on Flame Island, in the Fire Kingdom.
The entire island was immersed in the festive atmosphere.
The streets of the main city area had long been cleared, with giant torches made from a special wood called "Ironfire Wood" erected at regular intervals.
Children with fire totems painted on their faces chased each other through the streets holding small torches, while the air was filled with the aroma of roasted meat and fine wine.
At the crowded Flame Square.
The first mayor of the Fire Kingdom, formerly the king, stood on the central platform.
He picked up the prepared microphone, and his booming voice spread throughout the square.
"Fellow citizens! I've just received tremendous news!"
"The Fleet Admiral of the Marine Headquarters, the supreme authority of the World Government, Lord Orion himself is personally leading a Marine training ship that will soon arrive at our port! He will celebrate this year's Flame Festival with us!"
Boom!
The entire square instantly erupted!
Cheers and screams merged into a massive wave of sound, almost powerful enough to tear the clouds from the sky.
In the crowd, countless young women flushed with excitement.
"Oh my god! Did I hear that right? Lord Orion is coming!"
"Finally, I'll get to see him in person! I must go to the port to welcome him!"
A woman with a scorching figure, dressed to the nines, planted her hands on her hips and loudly declared to the surrounding "competitors".
"Orion is mine! Don't any of you dare try to snatch him away!"
No sooner had her words fallen than a beautiful woman in an extravagant gown beside her let out a disdainful snort.
"With that brazen look of yours? How could the Fleet Admiral ever fancy you! When the Flame Festival ends, the Fleet Admiral will surely wake up in my bed!"
"What are you all standing around for? Hurry to the port to welcome Orion!"
...
...
The training ship slowly sailed into the port of the Fire Kingdom.
Before the ship had even fully docked, the trainees on the deck were stunned speechless by the scene before them.
The entire port was a dense, dark mass of people, packed so tightly that the end of the crowd was nowhere in sight.
When Orion's figure appeared at the bow of the ship, the crowd erupted into thunderous cheers.
"Fleet Admiral—"
"Orion—"
Thousands of voices merged together, with the shrill screams of women particularly piercing the air.
The young men at the edge of the port, hearing the fervent cries of the women around them, felt a sudden, inexplicable competitive spirit surge within.
"What are you shouting for? Your voices are too weak! Listen to me!"
A young man strained his voice, shouting with all his might.
"FLEEETTT ADMIRALLLLLLL—"
His cry was like lighting a powder keg.
The men around him, unwilling to be outdone, joined in the roaring chorus.
In an instant, it seemed as though the men and women had launched into a competition, their shouts rising wave after wave, shaking the sea surface into rippling circles.
On the training ship, the trainees, led by Usopp, were swept up in the fervent atmosphere, raising their arms and cheering along.
"Fleet Admiral!"
"Fleet Admiral!"
Only Luffy looked bewildered, tilting his head curiously as he asked.
"What's going on? Why are there so many people at the port?"
"Idiot!" Nami rapped him on the head impatiently. "Didn't you hear Captain Morgan? This is the Fire Kingdom, and tomorrow they're holding the grand Flame Festival!"
"Flame Festival?"
Luffy's eyes instantly lit up, sparkling with excitement.
He leaped onto the ship's railing, spread his arms wide, and facing the deafening cheers, shouted excitedly.
"I'm going to be the Flame King!"
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