Crash—
Mighty waves battered the harbor of Carnival City.
Soldiers clad in heavy armor stood shoulder to shoulder like a steel wall, sealing off the entire coastline.
But what they didn't realize was that—
While they stood trembling, ready for anything that might approach the port, the very targets they sought had already slipped away… soaring effortlessly above them through the clouds.
They never thought to look up.
The ones they were hunting were less than a thousand meters above their heads.
"Ah~ such a shame about our ship!"
"That was our masterpiece! We even hired a world-famous sculptor at the last port to carve Captain Luffy's head for the figurehead!"
"It was thanks to that magnificent figurehead's blessing that we made it here in one piece!"
Up in the sky, Bartolomeo drifted along tearfully, his face full of regret. His crew shared his mood—every one of them looking heartbroken.
Though they hadn't been pirates for long, they'd already grown deeply attached to their ship.
Abandoning it felt like abandoning their faith.
Seeing this, Buggy quickly tried to comfort him.
"Relax, Barto!"
"The blockade won't last forever! We'll get our ship back eventually."
"Really~?"
Mr. 3's voice came low and gloomy.
"But once the port reopens and word spreads that a Celestial Dragon vanished here, won't everyone panic and flee the island?"
"And when the World Government sees the only two ships left behind belong to us…"
"What do you think they'll do then?"
"Uh…"
Buggy broke into a cold sweat before he could respond.
But before he could say anything, his own crew jumped in.
"Hmph! Galdino, you really think our great Captain Buggy fears the World Government!?"
"That's right! If it weren't for Lord Red's orders, we'd have already turned this world upside down!"
"Captain Buggy's power is unmatched!!"
Even Bartolomeo's crew joined in from the other side.
"Exactly! Bring on the Marines! Bring on the World Government!"
"We'll take them all on!"
"Hey! You idiots—keep it down!"
"Don't think we're safe just because we left Carnival City!"
Alvida swung her massive iron club, its whooshing sound cutting through the air as she scolded the rowdy pirates.
In an instant, the entire group turned noisy and animated again, completely forgetting they'd just caused a global-scale incident.
Watching them, Fujitora couldn't help but feel intrigued.
"What a bunch of truly free souls."
He sighed quietly to himself, then turned his attention toward the corner of the crowd.
With his keen Observation Haki, he sensed an emotion that didn't fit with the others—a faint, heavy despair.
It wasn't fear like Buggy's, nor excitement like the others'.
It was something Fujitora knew all too well…
The feeling of shattered dreams, of losing one's purpose in life—of being so lost that even hope itself seemed meaningless.
Once upon a time, that was exactly how he'd felt before he scarred his own eyes to leave his past behind.
Now, looking at the pink-haired youth huddled in the corner, Fujitora felt as though he were gazing at his former self.
Curious, he manipulated gravity and gently lifted the boy toward him. His voice came calm and warm, like that of a patient elder.
"Little brother, are you lost?"
"Huh?"
Coby—still in his bear suit, holding the bear headpiece—looked up in confusion.
When he saw who was speaking, his eyes widened in shock, and he quickly straightened up.
"F-Fujitora-san!"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Fujitora chuckled softly and folded his legs in mid-air, sitting cross-legged as if weightless.
Though his pale eyes could no longer see the world's colors, they seemed to pierce straight into the boy's heart.
"Tell me—are you confused?"
"Ah?"
Coby froze, fumbling for words.
But under that calm, empty gaze, something stirred deep within him—a sudden rush of emotion, like finding someone who truly understood.
His lips trembled. After gathering his thoughts, he finally spoke.
"Fujitora-san… you're not a pirate, right?"
"After seeing us kill so many people… doesn't it make you feel guilty!?"
"No." Fujitora's reply came instantly. "Because the ones you killed were those who deserved to die. Their sins outweighed their worth."
"But… they were still lives!"
Coby's voice broke. He ran a hand through his hair, his eyes wide with turmoil.
"Why… why do people who are also alive get to toy with others' lives!?"
"Why did the Celestial Dragons build that underground hell!?"
"Why do the Marines protect them!?"
"I don't understand… aren't the Marines supposed to stand for justice!?"
"Why don't they stop them!?"
"What kind of justice is that!?"
Coby had always believed he'd simply fallen into darkness temporarily—that someday he'd climb back to the light. But now he saw only endless night ahead.
The Marines were not what he thought they were.Justice was not what he believed it to be.
Then… what had his lifelong dream been for?
"So that's what troubles you."
Hearing the boy's despair, Fujitora smiled faintly and turned his face toward the sea.
Now he was sure—this youth was walking the same confused path he once had.
"Justice, huh…" he murmured.
"That's truly a fascinating question."
"Unfortunately, I can't give you a clear answer—not yet."
"I'm still searching for it myself."
"But if you want to find your answer, don't waste time tormenting yourself. Learn what this world really is."
"Boy…"
Suddenly, Fujitora rose to his feet and extended a hand toward Coby.
Sunlight poured down behind him, framing his back in a gentle golden glow.
With a soft but resolute smile, he said,
"Become my disciple."
"I can't promise you the right answer… but through my experience, maybe I can help you take fewer wrong turns."
"At least, you won't have to reject the world the way I once did."
"Because there will always be people like you and me searching for the truth."
"But seeking truth… requires strength."
"So let me help you grow stronger."
Fujitora's Observation Haki could clearly sense that during Coby's emotional outburst, a faint but unique Haki of his own had flared to life.
There was great potential hidden in this child—potential Fujitora could nurture.
"Fujitora-san…"
Coby stared at the calloused, sword-worn hand before him, uncertain.
After a long pause, he looked up and met Fujitora's unseen gaze.
The sincerity on the old man's face made his decision for him.
He raised his own trembling hand and grasped Fujitora's firmly.
"F-Fujitora-sensei!?"
"Hey!!! Lord Red!!!"
A few minutes later—
While Red was racing through the sky using Magnet Rise, a familiar voice echoed through the air.
He stopped mid-flight and glanced ahead, the clouds parting to reveal a cluster of brightly colored figures waving wildly from atop fluffy white clouds.
"Buggy and the others!"
Having already heard from Buggy about being rescued by a blind swordsman, Red instantly recognized them.
A blind swordsman… who could fly.
Even though Buggy hadn't mentioned a name, Red instantly realized who it must be.
But what puzzled him was why a future Marine Admiral would suddenly step in to help.
Still, with the coming battle ahead, any extra hands were welcome—and this particular swordsman might be the perfect ally.
"If the target's a Celestial Dragon," Red mused with a grin, "then knowing Issho Fujitora, he'll be more than happy to lend a hand."
Even without ever meeting him, Red could already guess why the man had appeared.
A spatial ripple distorted the air—
And in the next moment, Buggy and the others were instantly transported through Red's Hyperspace Hole, reappearing inside Laboon's internal world.
"So this is Lord Red's ability!? Incredible!!!"
Bartolomeo's eyes sparkled with awe, while his crew cheered.
Even though Red had long grown used to their over-the-top reactions, he still couldn't help but smile wryly.
"What a bunch of weirdos."
Just then, a familiar figure descended from above, riding a gigantic beetle.
It was Usopp—who had long made Laboon's belly his home base.
"Red! You're back!"
He flipped up his goggles and jumped off the rhinoceros beetle.
Two broad leaves unfurled from his back, fluttering like insect wings and keeping him briefly aloft.
"Perfect timing, Usopp."
Red barely blinked at the bizarre sight—he'd seen plenty of Usopp's oddities before.
Ever since Red had used hybrid breeding experiments in Alabasta to create battle-ready insects, Usopp had been obsessed.
He constantly dragged Chopper into new insect-and-plant breeding projects, exploiting the reindeer doctor's botanical expertise.
With Chopper's Grass-type affinity and scientific genius, the two of them had birthed countless bizarre species.
As a result, Usopp's arsenal of tricks had multiplied far beyond anyone's expectations.
Though the actual power of his plant-and-insect creations was still debatable, one thing was certain
In a battle of numbers, Usopp was unstoppable.
Red smiled faintly and gestured toward the guests.
"These are the Straw Hat Grand Fleet members I mentioned earlier—Captain Buggy of the Buggy Pirates, and Captain Bartolomeo of the Barto Club."
"They just finished a… special mission involving the Celestial Dragons. They're exhausted. Take them to rest—and show them around."
"OK~! Leave it to me!"
Usopp saluted, then raised his fingers to his lips and blew a sharp whistle.
At once, a deep buzzing filled the air.
A swarm of rhinoceros beetles, slightly smaller than the one he'd ridden, came flying from the far side of the belly-world.
Each one was large enough to carry a person, and they landed neatly before the pirates under Usopp's command.
"Come on, everyone! Since we're all family here, let me give you a proper tour of this marvelous world!"
Usopp's laughter echoed proudly.
Though not much time had passed, Red's Hyperspace Hole ability, combined with Wapol's material-crafting workshop and Usopp's plant experiments, had completely transformed Laboon's insides.
Aside from Crocus's original passageways, the whale's belly was now covered with interconnected floating islands.
At their center stood a massive metal conduit connecting directly to Laboon's throat—an efficient digestive pipeline designed to send food straight into the gastric sea below for quicker dissolution.
The surrounding islands were protected by acid-resistant materials developed by Wapol, preventing gastric backflow from corroding them during Laboon's movements.
Each island was enclosed in a huge glass dome—like greenhouses built within a giant stomach.
One island housed Gem's bomb workshop. Another held Wapol's materials plant. Others contained Usopp's insect and plant research centers.
Under his management, the entire internal world operated in perfect order—a full production base, constantly churning out new battle equipment.
To be honest, even Usopp himself had lost track of how many weapons and devices he'd stockpiled.
He only knew one thing—
Safety comes from numbers, and truth lies within cannon range!
And right now… he still didn't have nearly enough.
(End of Chapter)