She had no attachment to this island worth feeling reluctant to leave.
Having originally made a living moving from island to island, she'd never developed attachment to one place.
Tom the shipwright built a better ship than expected, and there were pirates who'd joined as subordinates and others who became direct crew. Manpower was replenished.
The Log had filled long ago, and there was no reason left to stay on this island.
Though somewhat hasty, "strike while the iron is hot," as they say.
Once Kanata judged all preparations complete, she announced they'd set sail the next day.
"Thanks for everything, Tom."
"Tahahaha! Same to you. You gave me good work."
Pirates coming to the island were either crushed by Kanata or stayed quiet fearing her. Though there were incidents stemming from her, this was still arguably the most peaceful period.
Purchasing lumber, iron, and food ingredients was effortless with Kanata's assistance.
"Iceberg, Kokoro—thank you for building a good ship."
"Ngagaga... it's fine. It was a good deal for us too."
"I made the best ship I've ever built!"
"Oh, that's reassuring."
Smiling at Iceberg's words, ignoring the blushing boy, she called out to Tom.
"I heard the next island is Fish-Man Island."
"Yeah. Our homeland. Dive and dive to 10,000 meters underwater. It's a great place."
"That fishman over there probably knows more about getting there. If I had to say anything... it'd be about the Florian Triangle."
Florian Triangle.
A cursed sea shrouded in fog where no one knows what happens.
Over a hundred ships vanish there annually—without crossing that sea, neither Fish-Man Island nor the Red Line could be reached.
Easy to laugh off as urban legend or superstition... but everything has a reason.
Even if "something" inhabited that sea, it wouldn't be strange.
"We'll be as careful as possible, but... unexpected situations are part of sailing. Living or dying is left to luck."
"Tahaha...! ...! Pretty bold! That's how sailors should be!"
"It's no laughing matter, really..."
They'd loaded massive amounts of food. Even wandering for a while, they wouldn't lack sustenance.
She'd told the two subordinate pirate crews to load sufficient supplies too. Hopefully they'd listened properly.
"When you first came, there were about thirty people—now it's increased tenfold."
Two pirate crews joined as subordinates. Three pirate crews joined as direct crew. About 150 people total increased.
Of those, about a hundred would board Kanata's new ship—the Sombrero. Some original ships were too decrepit to continue sailing these seas; others Feiyun had crushed with one hand after a skirmish.
With no other ships available, they boarded the mother ship.
Well, being the same size as Navy warships, the ship could hold about 800 if needed. Adding a hundred or two hundred posed no problem.
Conversely, increased personnel made things easier—quite welcome.
"Operating that ship with thirty people was quite troublesome. More hands is good."
It would take a bit until they could operate properly, but they had plenty of large ship experience. Even the original number could manage sufficiently—no problem.
Rebellious types had been crushed initially. These were people with nowhere to go if disembarked. They'd learn desperately.
"I'm praying you reach Fish-Man Island safely. Ngagaga."
"Kanata, will you come back sometime?"
"Well... we're wanted criminals. We just wander here and there. If we need another ship, we might return."
"Mm, I see... then I'll polish my skills more by then!"
Tom rubbed Iceberg's head roughly, laughing, "Well said!"
Though heading to the New World now, they didn't plan permanent residence. Continuing carefree travel, they'd meet again.
—While chatting, departure preparations finished, and Kanata's group boarded.
Exchanging several farewells, they set sail straight for Fish-Man Island.
***
Waves weren't high, wind gentle. Not bad climate conditions for sailing.
But surrounded by fog, visibility was extremely poor. Worried about the new ship running aground, they'd posted extra lookouts.
"Pretty thick fog... hope there's nothing weird."
"Weird things?"
Jorge puffed his cigarette with a distasteful expression while Scotch continued watch at the rail, peering through binoculars.
Despite being daytime, it was dim enough to mistake for night. The fog was that thick in this sea.
The two ships following behind maintained moderate distance. Though their destination was the same, losing sight would take time to regroup.
"You don't know? The Florian Triangle—dozens of ships go missing annually. Ghost ship rumors never stop!"
"Ghost ships, huh... probably nonsense."
Unlike Jorge, Scotch was skeptical about ghost ships.
The Grand Line was a supernatural sea surpassing all common sense, but even so, ghosts surely didn't exist—
—He thought.
"Scotch! Jorge! Report!"
"What, what happened?"
"A ship about two sizes smaller is approaching! What should we do?"
"Ah, what. Pirates?"
"Well, that's..."
When the young newcomer hesitated, both sighed, "Speak clearly."
The recruit mumbled uncomfortably but said "It's faster if you see it" and walked to the opposite side.
Following him to the ship's other side, they spotted a tattered ship drifting, looking ready to sink any moment.
"Sails and ship are wrecked... seems to be a pirate ship though."
"Probably fought pirates and lost. Crew all killed but the ship didn't sink, so it circles around here... I see why ghost ship rumors appear."
"The weather itself seems calm."
How long had it wandered this foggy sea... unimaginable, but they'd probably fought and lost.
Looking through binoculars, skeletal remains scattered everywhere—
"Hm?"
"What?"
"No... no no no, that can't be."
Scotch rubbed his eyes and looked through the binoculars again.
Frowning, Jorge took binoculars from the recruit and looked himself to confirm what was there.
"H-hey... that..."
"...Th-that is..."
Same heading, but gradually approaching.
The tattered ship had drawn close enough to see clearly with naked eyes, revealing its eerie form unavoidably.
Simultaneously, an unfamiliar voice echoed across the foggy sea.
"Yohohoho~...♪"
An eerie voice from the tattered ship supposedly carrying no one.
Many gathered around Jorge, looking at that bizarre ship—discovering something standing on it.
"""G-Ghost ship~?!"""
A moving skeleton. Somehow with an afro.
Facing this clearly abnormal existence, everyone present widened their eyes in shock.
"Wh-what the hell is that?! A skeleton moving?! Singing?!"
"Abababa..."
"Jorge! Pull yourself together Jorge! Hey, someone get Kanata!"
Crew panicking before the ghost ship. Jorge's consciousness half-fled in terror while Scotch slapped his cheek, ordering nearby crew to fetch Kanata.
Only Kanata could deal with such weirdness—thinking something unclear whether trust or not.
"Quick, move the ship away! No telling what'll happen if we get close!!"
"A-Aye aye!"
Immediately turning the rudder to move the ship, the two ships behind followed.
While gradually distancing, hastily summoned Kanata reached Scotch's group.
"What happened?"
"A moving skeleton! Look there! That's gotta be a ghost ship, right?!"
Where Scotch pointed, a skeleton reaching toward them.
Shouting something, but blocked by wind and wave sounds, inaudible.
Sensing with Observation Haki, it didn't seem particularly strong... but more importantly, being detectable with Observation Haki meant some will existed there.
If communication was possible—she thought, but the ship was already distant.
"...Hm? That pirate flag raised on that ship..."
Looked familiar somehow.
Where had it been—also, a moving skeleton—thinking that far, she remembered.
(There was someone like that in the Straw Hat crew. So that's the Rumbar Pirates survivor?)
After talking with Crocus at Twin Cape, she'd researched the pirate flag and captain "Calico" Yorki.
Couldn't trace their movements... but if they were annihilated here, no information made sense. They weren't particularly strong, and with bad luck might have encountered the Rocks Pirates and been annihilated.
The ship was already far away, but the skeleton—Brook—looked sadly toward Kanata, so their gazes naturally met.
She couldn't turn back. He'd wander this foggy sea again. Thinking of Crocus, securing him here would be best, but while considering, they'd separated considerably.
"...A moving skeleton. Would've been interesting to catch."
"""Don't even joke!!"""
Even Jorge, half-unconscious, retorted at Kanata's mutter.
***
Sabaody Archipelago.
Beyond the Florian Triangle, near the Red Line, an aggregate of giant Yarukiman Mangroves towered.
Though called an island, being actually a tree aggregate, it couldn't be reached by Log Pose.
To reach the New World, either buy a replacement ship at Mary Geoise or go via Fish-Man Island—no other options existed, so outlaws inevitably gathered on this island to prepare for Fish-Man Island.
The seven magnetic routes from Twin Cape converged into one here.
Naturally, being pirates who could sail this far meant reasonable abilities.
Many bounty hunters also targeted these pirates.
"Everyone, especially newcomers, be careful."
Crew nodding at Kanata's warning.
Kuro, who should be most careful, didn't listen, looking at the island with keen interest.
Bubbles floated up and drifted from the ground. Certainly a fantastical, intriguing sight.
"Because of Yarukiman Mangrove resin and local climate, bubbles are created. Various bubble-using instruments are sold on the island, but don't buy them. They only work here or on Fish-Man Island."
"So they say. Don't forget."
"That's fine, but we're getting this 'coating' here, right? How long will it take?"
"For detailed time, better ask my acquaintance who runs a coating shop... but considering that ship's size and three ships total, plan for one or two weeks."
During that time, they'd unavoidably stay on this island.
They'd secure somewhere for camping. This place had many bounty hunters... and was an island with Human Shops. Better to be cautious.
Getting kidnapped would be troublesome.
"Those uncertain of their abilities should act in groups. Those confident can roam freely."
That part was self-responsibility. Though many recruits were teenagers who admired pirates, having gone to sea of their own will, they probably had such resolve.
Without this much intimidation, causing trouble freely using Kanata's name would be problematic.
With over a hundred people, even Kanata's oversight had limits.
Plus this was an archipelago. Even if something happened, searching thoroughly was impossible.
"Tiger and I are going to the coating shop. If anything's needed, we should shop too..."
"I'll coordinate that with Dragon. Leave it to us."
"Then I entrust it to Scotch. When going out, leave minimum crew on the ship."
Crew responding affirmatively.
Judging they could manage minimum necessities without Kanata, she visited Tiger's acquaintance's coating shop with him.
***
Negotiations finished—as expected, about a week plus would be needed, so she had to consider what to do meanwhile—returning to the ship thinking this, Jorge hurriedly reported in a flustered state.
"Hey Kanata! We've got trouble—Kuro was apparently kidnapped by slavers!"
At the immediate trouble, Kanata reflexively looked heavenward.
***
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