The New World — The Flying Pirates
High above the seas of the New World, the Flying Lion hovered at an altitude of ten thousand meters.Beneath its massive hull, clouds drifted like a silver ocean, rolling endlessly beneath the sky.
On the deck, the core officers of the Flying Pirates stood gathered, the atmosphere heavy and suffocating.
At the center sat Golden Lion Shiki, reclining upon his gilded captain's throne. His golden mane whipped violently in the wind, and the grotesque scar across his chest gleamed beneath the sun, jagged and unmistakable.
His sharp gaze swept across the assembled officers, brows slowly knitting together.
"…Your efficiency," he muttered coldly.
Then his eyes narrowed.
"Wait."
His voice dipped dangerously as he stared at an empty space among the ranks.
"Where's David?"
The question fell like a blade.
The officers exchanged uneasy glances, no one daring to speak.Unlike Whitebeard's family-like bond or Roger's camaraderie, the Flying Pirates were built on absolute hierarchy.
At last, the First Division Captain, Galvin, steeled himself and stepped forward.
"Admiral… David has been out of contact for several dozen days."
Shiki's pupils constricted violently.
The cigar between his lips burned as he inhaled sharply. The glass in his hand shattered under his grip, red wine dripping between his fingers.
"You're telling me… my Third Division Captain just disappeared?"His voice dropped into something terrifying."And you useless trash are only telling me now?!"
The air froze.
No one dared meet his gaze.
The Second Division Captain wiped cold sweat from his brow and spoke carefully:
"Admiral… the last report we received said that David had found a promising location in the New World. He planned to capture some rare races and sell them as slaves in Sabaody…"
"Special races? Slaves?" Shiki snapped, fury blazing in his eyes."You think I care about that?!"
His voice exploded.
"The truth is—someone killed my commander in the New World! And you idiots didn't notice until now?!"
He surged to his feet—but pain stabbed through his chest, forcing him to clutch at the scar.
That wound…The one left behind during the battle at G-3 Base.
Though long healed, it still burned like a curse—an eternal reminder of the humiliation he had suffered that day.
Every night, he dreamed of that blade.
That wound had never truly healed.
"Admiral—your injury!" Galvin stepped forward anxiously.
"Shut up!" Shiki roared, kicking over the table. Plates and glasses shattered across the deck.
"Find out who did this! I don't care if it was the Marines or Roger's crew—I want names!"
The officers scattered instantly, fleeing as if their lives depended on it.
Once alone, the fury in Shiki's eyes slowly cooled into something far more dangerous.
He strode to the edge of the ship, gazing down at the swirling clouds below, fingers unconsciously tracing the scar across his chest.
"…Zeff… Gern…"
His voice was low, venomous.
"If this was your doing… then this time—I will make you pay."
Elsewhere
On the deck of a Marine warship, the sea breeze brushed gently past.
Lipo spun happily in place, eyes shining as she tugged at her new Marine uniform and adjusted her cap.
"I've got the same clothes as you now, Gern! Hahaha!"
She ran over and twirled in front of him.
"Look! Don't I look good?"
"You do," Gern said, leaning against the railing with a small smile. "It suits you."
Her uniform had clearly been hastily tailored—still a bit loose, the collar slightly open, revealing soft white fur at her collarbone. The sleeves were rolled up, exposing slender wrists.
Her Marine cap had two carefully cut holes for her long ears, giving her an oddly charming look.
"You really are adorable, Miss Lipo," the sergeant said with a laugh.
"Right? Right?!" she puffed up proudly, her ears bouncing."I'm a Marine of justice now!"
Then she suddenly cleared her throat and straightened up.
"Correction! Please address me as Ensign Lipo!"
The sergeant froze.
"..."
Seeing his stunned expression, Lipo burst into laughter.
Then, suddenly, she hopped onto Gern's back, peering over his shoulder with sparkling eyes.
"So, Gern—where are we going next?"
"Continuing our patrol," he replied, gently patting her head. "But before that—"
"Report!"
A communications officer rushed over.
"Rear Admiral Gern! Emergency transmission from Headquarters! You're ordered to return immediately!"
Gern frowned. "Return? Now? Did something happen?"
"Yes, sir! Intelligence reports movement from the Flying Pirates. Golden Lion appears to be mobilizing his forces."
"Shiki…" Gern's gaze darkened.
"But Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Garp have been dispatched to deal with Roger in the Western Seas of the New World. HQ is requesting your immediate return."
"Roger's making a move too…" Gern murmured.
Lipo instantly sensed the shift in atmosphere, her ears snapping upright.
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing," Gern said gently. "Looks like we're heading home."
"Home? Your home?" Her eyes sparkled.
"You could say that," he replied with a faint smile. Marineford could certainly count as home.
"Can we grow carrots there?" she asked eagerly.
"You really only think about carrots," he flicked her puffed cheek. "You're way too easy to take care of."
"…So that means no?" she asked softly, ears drooping.
Gern laughed helplessly.
"What kind of 'partner of justice' would leave you without a place to grow carrots?"
Her face instantly lit up. She rubbed her fluffy cheek against his neck so hard his hat nearly fell off.
"I knew it! Gern is the best!"
He sighed, amused, then turned to the sergeant.
"Full speed ahead. Set course for Marineford."
"Yes, sir!"
The command echoed across the deck as the warship surged forward through the waves.
Elsewhere, on the Elephant's Back
Not far away, rustling came from the bushes.
Wanda and Pedro peeked out quietly.
"So… Sister Lipo really went with Gern," Wanda whispered, her fluffy tail swaying gently.
Be happy, Sister Lipo.
"It's alright," Pedro said softly.
"Because a hero of justice… would never let his companions be harmed."
He touched the Justice cloak draped over his shoulders, then took out the personal Den Den Mushi Gern had left him, a gentle smile forming on his face.
From that moment on, a new weight settled upon young Pedro's shoulders.
And so, when Roger later arrived at Mokomo with Oden, Nekomamushi, and Inuarashi—they were met with resistance.
Only through Roger's charisma and sincerity was the misunderstanding resolved.
But when Nekomamushi and Inuarashi later demanded that the Minks swear loyalty to the Kozuki clan and serve as retainers—
The entire Mokomo Dukedom rejected it.
And standing at the forefront of that resistance—
Was Pedro.
Under the banner of Mokomo's Justice.