"Boss Luffy! Boss Red!"
After downing the cup of oath wine, Apoo and the other pirates quickly began calling out with familiar enthusiasm.
At that moment, Red finally understood why these guys had been so eager to pledge themselves under the Straw Hat banner.
"So they're afraid of being treated as disposable pawns, and that's why they're desperately trying to prove their loyalty and value, huh?"
"What a bunch of sly fellows."
Looking at Apoo and the others below, Red grinned broadly.
Of course, he had never intended to discard them as expendable pieces.
He simply hadn't expected that a mere show of intimidation would place such enormous pressure on these Supernovas.
Then again, it made sense.
The current Straw Hat Pirates were no longer comparable to the rookies who had debuted alongside them on the original timeline.
Perhaps after the Mary Geoise incident, in their eyes, the Straw Hat crew was already no weaker than a Yonko crew.
Clack.
Red gently set down his wine bowl and smiled at those below.
"All right. Since the oath wine has been drunk, from today onward, you are members of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet."
"From now on, carry our flag and sail these seas beneath it."
"Oh, and one more thing—there are also companions of yours already in the New World."
"They seem to have made quite a name for themselves by now."
Red smiled faintly.
The companions he referred to were, naturally, Buggy's crew and Bartolomeo's crew, whom they had parted ways with at Enies Lobby.
During the time the Going Merry had been drifting through the Florian Triangle, Buggy and Bartolomeo's crews—empowered by their association with the Straw Hats—had advanced through the first half of the Grand Line with overwhelming momentum, entering the New World in short order.
Now, the two crews were already somewhat well-known there, successfully carving out a small island as a base amid the power struggles of the Four Emperors.
They were simply waiting for the Straw Hat crew to arrive in the New World.
As for Issho and Koby—also members of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet, yet mysteriously absent after joining the Straw Hats—
They had long since entered the New World as well.
According to the intel sent by Issho, he had found an uninhabited island in the New World to train Koby in seclusion.
In just a few short months, Koby had undergone a complete transformation. Relying on the powerful effects of the Smooth-Smooth Fruit, he had mastered Paper Arts to an extraordinary degree and was now training in Shave and Moonwalk.
After learning this, Red had promptly assigned a mission to Issho and Koby.
If all went well, a reply should arrive soon.
Of course, hidden within the Straw Hat Grand Fleet was yet another mysterious force.
That was the underground intelligence organization Akatsuki, led by two former CP0 members possessing admiral-candidate-level strength, and gathering prodigies such as Kid, Lucci, and Kaku!
Although Akatsuki had not been established for very long, its members were top-tier intelligence specialists…
In this short span of time, they had already built a comprehensive intelligence network for the Straw Hats.
In fact, they had the public execution livestream to thank for that.
The sudden appearance of Akatsuki during that broadcast had attracted massive attention, allowing the two former CP0 officers to smoothly recruit large numbers of talents from the underworld.
Now, Akatsuki was already considered a reputable intelligence organization in the underground world.
Buggy and Bartolomeo's island, as well as the mission Issho was about to carry out, all had Akatsuki's involvement.
…
…
"It's getting late. Time for you all to set sail!"
To prevent any future cases of friendly fire, Red briefly explained the situations of Bartolomeo, Buggy, and Issho before urging everyone onward.
"Huh?"
The Supernovas—who had been recording Buggy's and the others' contact numbers—froze in confusion, looking at Red in bewilderment.
In their minds, Red's order to escort the rescued people home had been nothing more than pressure, forcing them to join the Straw Hats.
But in truth, Red genuinely wanted to send these pitiful rescued people away as soon as possible.
It wasn't kindness—rather, their presence truly tied down the Straw Hats' time and energy.
If it were a battle, they could wipe out thousands in an instant.
But caring for them? He'd rather cut them down with a single sword!
Moreover, most of these people bore psychological scars from their time as slaves.
So Red only wanted to send them off quickly, so the Straw Hats could train without restraint.
After all…
This time, their goal was nothing less than the Four Emperors themselves!!!
…
…
"B-But, Boss Red…"
The thought of immediately facing heavy pursuit from the Marines and the World Government upon entering the New World—while burdened with thousands of rescued civilians—
Made the pirates feel as though they were being marched straight to an execution ground.
Thankfully, this time, Red didn't keep them in suspense.
He raised the corner of his mouth, amusement flashing in his eyes.
"You don't seriously think I'd send you off to die, do you?!"
Snap!
Red suddenly snapped his fingers at the air.
The next second—
"ROOOO—!!!"
A resounding cry, echoing like a call from a deep valley, thundered above everyone's heads.
Startled, the Supernovas looked up toward the skies above Fish-Man Island.
In the next instant—
A massive shadow swept overhead. After turning, it descended like a small mountain, crashing toward Red and the others.
"W-What the hell?!"
Fear filled the Supernovas' faces.
They had seen enormous Sea Kings before—
But this was Fish-Man Island, deep beneath the sea!
If that monster shattered the coating—even a small crack would spell doom for all these Devil Fruit users.
Yet in the next moment, under their stunned gazes, the giant beast suddenly slowed, stopping right before the island's coating.
Its sun-sized black eye rolled slightly, eerie beyond words.
"What… what is going on?"
The Supernovas were utterly confused.
Just then—
"Laboon~! You're back!"
Whoosh!
A white skeletal figure shot upward, stopping in front of the coating and greeting the giant creature.
Upon seeing him, that enormous eye immediately filled with unmistakable joy.
"Eee~"
The cry softened noticeably.
This time, everyone could clearly tell—the gigantic monster outside was acting spoiled toward that skeletal figure.
"Don't tell me…"
Law—who had been preparing to use his Devil Fruit to escape—froze mid-motion.
Then they saw the Straw Hat crew leap into the air, each using their own methods, chatting cheerfully with the massive creature.
Only then did the pirates realize that the dark shadow was actually an enormous whale, its body comparable to a small island.
"Heh, take a good look…"
"The Straw Hat Pirates' twelfth member—the island whale who commands the power of the sea—Laboon!!!"
"T-This is also a Straw Hat member?!"
The Supernovas' jaws dropped in disbelief.
At that moment, Red raised one hand, summoning a vast, pitch-black spatial wormhole.
An irresistible force surged forth, sweeping everyone into it.
The scenery blurred—and when Law and the others regained their footing, they found themselves miraculously transported from the depths of Fish-Man Island onto a small island.
Before they could react, Red raised his hand again.
In an instant, multiple enormous black holes opened behind him.
One by one, the Supernovas' pirate ships emerged from the void, splashing down into the surrounding sea and sending up rolling waves.
Immediately after, the rescued people who had been waiting outside Fish-Man Island appeared from an even larger hyperspace hole, landing on the island in terror.
Clap!
Red brought his hands together, drawing everyone's attention, a mysterious smile on his face.
"Welcome, everyone—to Laboon's internal world."
Laboon's…internal world?
A flash of realization struck the Supernovas.
They quickly surveyed their surroundings, noticing the painted sky overhead and the strange pathways leading outward.
At last, they understood—
What mission Red had given them.
…
…
"Ah… parting again so soon. It's a bit sad."
Half an hour later, Brook sighed softly as he watched Laboon disappear into the deep sea.
Usopp slapped him on the back, grinning.
"It's not like we'll never see him again. Why so gloomy?"
"Yohohoho~ Just feeling sentimental, that's all~"
Brook chuckled, his mood lifting under Usopp's teasing.
"All right, Usopp," Red said.
"Now that they've left, it's time to start our plan."
"Got it~!"
Usopp answered immediately.
The next moment, he performed a swift U-turn, flying toward the clearing where the rescued people had been earlier.
A massive warehouse reappeared, its doors opening wide.
Countless figures poured out of Usopp's body like a surging tide.
These were the other rescued people the Straw Hats had freed from Holy Land · Mary Geoise.
Unlike the dazed and vacant-eyed group before—
The eyes of these people now burned with hope, or blazed with vengeance.
Among them were many Fish-Men and Merfolk.
The reason they hadn't returned to Fish-Man Island earlier—
Was because they had already chosen a new path for their lives.
They were now…the Straw Hat Army, under the banner of the Straw Hat Pirates!
The Straw Hat Army was an organization positioned between the Straw Hat Pirates themselves and the Straw Hat Grand Fleet.
Closer than independent crews, yet not permanent residents aboard the Going Merry, nor official crew members.
There were over three thousand of them in total.
Every one of them had been a brave soul who followed Sanji and the others to rescue slaves during the later stages of the Mary Geoise invasion.
Those who had clenched their fists and said "no" to their tragic fate in the final moments—
All chose to follow the Straw Hats.
Because Red had promised them—
That the future Straw Hat Pirates would overthrow the current World Government,and drag those lofty Celestial Dragons down from their pedestals!
"Long time no see, everyone!"
Looking into the bloodthirsty, determined eyes below, Red smiled in satisfaction and greeted the rebels.
In the time to come…
He would not only use every means at his disposal to greatly increase the Straw Hats' strength—
He would also forge this scattered band into a formidable army worthy of the name.
And then…
Swords pointed at the Four Emperors!!!
(End of Chapter)