After that, Gojo didn't linger. He moved through the air as if walking on invisible steps and soon appeared back on the deck of his own ship. He set the body bags neatly in one corner, their ropes still wrapped around his hand for a moment before he finally let them rest.
After doing all of this, Gojo finally sat back in his chair, lifting his cup and calmly drinking tea as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Meanwhile, on every ship of the Krieg Pirates' fleet, it was utter chaos. Those who had witnessed Gojo's overwhelming strength with their own eyes immediately began following his orders. One after another, ships started turning toward Shell Point Town.
None of them dared to defy him. They all knew what would happen if they even thought of disobeying. Before Gojo stepped onto Krieg's Dreadnaught Saber, he had already destroyed more than ten ships in a row without the slightest effort. That memory alone was enough to shatter any lingering thoughts of resistance. So they obeyed, adjusting their sails and steering their battered fleet toward surrender.
Back in Shell Point Town, James and many others stood at the shore, having watched the entire clash unfold across the sea. Shock rippled through the onlookers—they had never witnessed such overwhelming strength before. James, especially, was speechless for a moment. After lowering his monocular, he let out a long breath.
"Gojo won," he said, his voice still carrying disbelief. "And won in a crushing manner. He destroyed the Jolly Roger of the Krieg Pirates… and most likely, he killed their captain. But the ships—they're moving toward our town."
He squinted, adjusting the monocular again for a second look.
"But their intentions don't seem hostile. Most probably, they're here to surrender. I can see it—white flags being raised on those ships. A clear sign of surrender."
After hearing James's words, all of Gojo's friends finally relaxed, their shoulders dropping in pure relief. Joy washed over them—pride, awe, and a sense of security knowing Gojo is victorious. James then turned toward Kishimoto and bowed his head slightly.
"Master, I'm very sorry for doubting you. What you said was absolutely correct. With strength like his—destroying an entire army on his own—he definitely belongs to the Grand Line. He was never meant for the weakest East Blue. He belongs to the vast expanse of the Grand Line."
Kishimoto let out a quiet breath, clearly relieved after seeing Gojo finally unleash a portion of his true strength.
Gojo remained at the same location for nearly half an hour until the ships of the Krieg Pirates slowly began docking—or rather, coming to a full stop—at Shell Point Town. Only when he confirmed they were complying did he adjust the sails of his own ship and set off again.
He knew that, if everything went smoothly, he would reach Loguetown within four or five hours.
Holding the map in one hand, Gojo occasionally glanced down to ensure the course was correct while his ship cut steadily through the waves. The calm rhythm of the sea continued for about an hour… until Gojo suddenly stood up.
He looked at the sky, slid his sunglasses off, and let out a long, annoyed sigh.
"What the hell… everything has to happen today, on the first day of my sail." His brows furrowed. "First I get stopped by stupid pirates… and now a storm is coming."
Gojo was clearly disappointed, and with his Six Eyes he could already read the weather patterns shifting above him. He knew that within an hour he would be caught in a full storm. Clicking his tongue in irritation, he pulled out the map again and studied it closely. After a few moments, he adjusted the helm. According to the map, there was an island nearby—uninhabited, quiet, and close enough to reach before the storm hit.
Gojo narrowed his eyes and looked far into the horizon, far beyond the limits of normal sight. Through the shimmering blue focus of the Six Eyes, the distant silhouette of an island finally came into view.
"There it is," he muttered, turning the ship toward it.
He would have to wait out the storm on that island; only after it passed could he continue his journey.
…
The next morning, inside the Loguetown Marine office, Smoker was lying back in his chair looking utterly bored, a cigarette lazily hanging from his lips. Just then, the door burst open and Tashigi hurried inside.
"Captain Smoker! Big news—we have big news!"
Smoker cracked one eye open, lifting his head slightly. "What kind of big news has you this flustered so early in the morning?"
Without waiting, Tashigi rushed forward and placed a newspaper on his desk.
"Look at this, Captain Smoker. A young man named Gojo Satoru destroyed the Krieg Pirates' ship."
Smoker, who at first wasn't interested at all, immediately sat upright the moment he heard the name Gojo Satoru. His boredom vanished in an instant. He snatched the newspaper from the table and asked sharply, "Where?"
But before Tashigi could point it out, his eyes had already found it—a clear image printed on the front page: a young man wearing sunglasses, mid-swing with his sword, and a massive ship splitting apart under the force of that strike. Someone had captured the exact frame at the perfect moment.
Below the photo, the article detailed everything: how Gojo encountered the Krieg Pirates, how he destroyed them, how he killed their captain, forced the remaining fleet to surrender to Shellpoint Town, and even how he called them "trash" for not having any bounties on their heads. Every detail was written out plainly.
A rare smile tugged at Smoker's lips. "So… he's grown up. And grown this strong, has he?"
Tashigi blinked in surprise and asked, "Captain, do you know him? This young man?"
Smoker nodded. "Five years ago, I was the one who saved him. And back then, with powers he'd only just awakened from his Devil Fruit, he still managed to kill a pirate captain—one who planned to sell him because of his looks."
Tashigi frowned thoughtfully, then murmured, "Yes… he is definitely… very handsome."
Smoker turned and gave her a flat stare. "What are you talking about? I'm talking about his strength, not his looks."
Tashigi immediately flushed red and fell silent, staring at the floor.
Smoker returned his attention to the newspaper. "He'll be coming here. Yesterday was a stormy day, right? He must've gotten stuck in it. He should arrive today."
He rose from his seat, flicked ash from his cigar, and added, "Keep an eye out for him. The moment he arrives, inform me immediately."
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