York picked up the wanted posters. These were the new bounties for the many survivors of the Rocks Pirates after the God Valley battle.
"Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, 3 billion Berries!"
"Golden Lion, Shiki, 3 billion Berries!"
"Lord of Depravity, Adolph D. York, 3 billion Berries!"
"Natural Born Destroyer, Charlotte Linlin, 2.7 billion Berries!"
"Gourmet Knight, Streusen, 1.05 billion Berries!"
"World's Most Beautiful Woman, Shakky, 999.9 million Berries!"
"Former-Former Pirate Empress, Gloriosa, 700 million Berries!"
"Scientific Bandit, Buckingham Stussy, 660 million Berries!"
"Azure Dragon, Kaido, 540 million Berries!"
"Pirate Sect Leader, Wang Zhi, 530 million Berries!"
York read out all the bounties and new titles of the Rocks Pirates survivors one by one.
Hearing this, most people couldn't help but whistle triumphantly.
"Not bad!"
"York, your title upgraded from 'Fallen Succubus' to 'Lord of Depravity', and your bounty rose to the same level as Newgate and Shiki. Seems kissing the King of the World carries quite some weight!"
York had informed them of his battle achievements in God Valley during casual chat after reuniting with everyone.
"Why did Shakky's bounty jump so high suddenly?"
"She caused the God Valley war!"
Gloriosa clicked her tongue, saying somewhat sourly: "Almost causing the collapse of world order with beauty alone—throughout history, only you could do that."
Shakky smiled awkwardly yet politely.
"If possible, I'd rather look ordinary right now."
"Wang Zhi's bounty increased so little, only 20 million Berries."
Kaido narrowed his eyes, discovering a blind spot in the new bounties.
Although Wang Zhi didn't directly participate in the God Valley battle, just based on him occupying Hachinosu post-war, theoretically, it shouldn't rise by only 20 million Berries.
"Hehe, Shakky knows what this is about!"
York sneered, killing intent toward Wang Zhi emerging in his eyes.
He looked at Shakky and said: "The one who colluded with the World Government from inside, killed Malone, and had you captured back then was Wang Zhi, right?"
Shakky nodded slightly, anger also surfacing in her eyes.
"That's right! It was him!!"
She would never forget Wang Zhi's despicable smiling face of successful conspiracy that night until her death.
"Going to Hachinosu?"
Gloriosa was concise.
"To kill that bastard!"
Everyone's gaze locked onto York immediately upon hearing this.
York thought slightly, then shook his head.
"No rush for now!"
"The World Government probably calculates we'll seek revenge on Wang Zhi; maybe traps are set on Hachinosu waiting for us!"
"The King of the World's anger won't diminish just because they won the God Valley battle ultimately!"
"She probably hates me enough to want to skin me alive and cut me into a thousand pieces!"
"So showing ourselves now isn't wise; we'd better lie low for a while."
Everyone nodded in understanding.
Then Gloriosa asked: "Speaking of lying low, do you have a good location?"
"Of course!"
York grinned, naturally thinking of Sky Island and Shandora in his mind.
Speaking of seclusion, no place was better than there.
And in this era, perhaps the uneaten Rumble-Rumble Fruit could be found.
"But before going there, we need to visit the South Blue first!"
"South Blue?!"
Everyone was puzzled. York explained: "I accepted three kids as crew members in God Valley earlier. They are likely in the Sorbet Kingdom of South Blue now. Those three kids have good talent and abilities!"
Saying this, York looked at Teach.
"Moreover, we really should find some playmates of similar age for Teach now."
Everyone's gaze shifted to Teach, showing looks of pity and agreement.
This child lost both mother and father in one day and still hadn't walked out of grief. Finding him some playmates to distract him was indeed necessary.
Thus, Stussy, currently serving as navigator on the ship, took out the West Blue map, directing everyone to steer the warship toward the Red Line of the West Blue.
The sea of the pirate world was divided into four parts by the Red Line and Grand Line.
On the other side of the Red Line separating the West Blue was the South Blue.
Normally sailing, York and his group would have to go to Reverse Mountain in West Blue first, then transfer to the South Blue channel.
But since Kaido was York's crew member...
The flame clouds released by the Azure Dragon could directly lift the ship over through the air. This way, the Red Line was no longer an obstacle, and York's route wouldn't be restricted by conventional routes.
Even if the Marines wanted to intercept at some so-called inevitable passing points, it would only be wasted effort.
...
In the blink of an eye, several days passed.
The West Blue's area was much larger than the Grand Line.
So far, York and the others hadn't seen the shadow of the West Blue Red Line.
And they even encountered a sea storm.
Although the four seas—East, West, South, North—were calmer than the Grand Line, they weren't truly as waveless as a pond.
Sea weather that should exist existed.
After emerging from the storm, Stussy indicated their course had deviated slightly.
Then, while correcting the course, they stumbled upon an island with a towering giant tree.
The giant tree's canopy covered almost half the island, looking like the World Tree of Elbaf.
Of course, compared to the Treasure Tree Adam in Elbaf that could support giants living on it, the size was still much smaller.
"It's Ohara! The Holy Land of Archaeology!"
Stussy gave information on the island ahead, turning to ask York: "Stopping?"
York narrowed his eyes.
Ohara wasn't on their original route, but after experiencing a sea storm, it appeared.
This coincidence was too coincidental, just like what Rocks said to him before God Valley.
An invisible force was manipulating their fate.
*World Will?*
As a modern person, he didn't believe in such things.
But having transmigrated, and even obtaining a Devil Fruit by twisting reality directly with will, plus having no system...
York felt he should believe a little in this thing whose existence was unknown.
Of course, he definitely didn't submit to fate. The education he received in his previous life was that humans must have a heart to defy heaven; otherwise, what's the difference from pigs and sheep in a pen!
However, he had planned to visit Ohara anyway, though not now.
But since the World Will sent him here, no need to detour deliberately.
"Let's go check the island."
"The legendary Holy Land of Archaeology and Tree of Knowledge, said to store the most books in the world, including many rare copies!"
"There should be plenty of content in these books that can help us in the future! No need to miss it!"
<><><><><><>
Read Advanced Chapters on: patreon.com/Anna_N1
~Every 150 PS = Bonus Chapter!
~Push the Story forward with your [Power Stones]