Tom lifted the ship and threw it into the sea. A small sailboat swayed left and right on the surface before settling steadily on the water.
"It's done! The golden rose! Although it's much more mini than the oro jackson, it's definitely an excellent fellow that won't lose to any ship."
Rubbing his nose with a finger, Tom examined his masterpiece, baring his teeth with a very satisfied expression.
"Hmm, not bad! It's indeed a ride just as I expected."
Nero's eyes sparkled; the golden trim on the ship really suited her aesthetic.
"Haha, as long as you like it!" Tom laughed, accepting Nero's praise. "And though it's a bit late, Nero! What is the purpose of your current voyage?"
Tom's expression became serious. "You've already landed on Final Island with Roger. What else is there for you to seek on the high seas?"
"Seek?" Nero recalled her experiences on Final Island and the choices Roger and the others made. "Hmm, perhaps it's the future? ... I want to understand this sea, this world, even more!"
Tom grinned, his snow-white beard trembling. "Don't use question marks! When you decide something, you must forge ahead bravely and see it through to the end—that's what a true man does!"
Nero also smiled. "Hmm!"
"Big Sister! The supplies have also been arranged."
A little girl from the idol group ran over, looking up at Nero to report.
Rubbing the little girl's hair, Nero suddenly said, "Hmm, it looks like it's time to set sail then!"
"Eh? Now?" The little girl was stunned. "Everyone went into town to resupply, preparing to hold a farewell banquet for you tonight, Big Sister."
"Forget it. I don't like tearful goodbyes. Just wait for my return, or perhaps we'll meet again on the sea one day."
"Hmm, there's still a lot of treasure left from this journey. I'll leave it all for you to use as you wish."
With that, Nero didn't linger, leaping onto the ship in one fluid motion.
"Big Sister..."
The little girl was about to run towards the ship when Tom held her back.
"When saying goodbye, be more carefree. Smile. Don't let the last thing people see be a dejected face—that's the basic quality of a true man!"
"Mm... And I'm... a lady!" The little girl was in tears but still managed to force a smile and wave goodbye to Nero.
Perhaps this was nothing to a great pirate like Nero, but for her, the golden-red figure who cut down the slave ship was like a savior.
During these few months of sailing, that figure warmed their hearts like the sun. From that moment on, she had decided to follow that light forever.
As the ship's silhouette gradually faded, the little girl could no longer maintain her smile and burst into tears.
"Well done, little rascal! In the future, you'll definitely become a true man... a lady!" Tom patted her back, comforting her.
"I... I'm not a rascal. My... my name is Carina! I will definitely become Nero Big Sister's right-hand woman in the future!" Carina, the little girl, said intermittently, sobbing.
"Is that so? Carina, following Nero isn't an easy task. If you want to achieve that goal, you'll have to work hard!" Tom didn't dismiss her words as a child's jest but responded seriously.
"Bring it on! Hmm... Hmm!"
"...Not that kind of effort."
...In the golden rose's cockpit, Nero looked with satisfaction at the control panel, which was different from ordinary ships.
A Log Pose was placed inside a transparent glass cover; the ship would automatically move in the direction of the pointer, a cutting-edge technology for unmanned navigation.
Walking to the bow, Nero looked back at the skull symbol on the black sail, a satisfied smile on her face.
A smiling golden skull, with two swords in the shape of Primal Fire below it, and red roses adorning both sides.
This was the pirate flag designed by the idol group for Nero, and Nero was very pleased with it.
During their time together, almost everyone had figured out Nero's aesthetic standards, especially her preference for the extravagant colors of gold and red.
Setting off alone once again, compared to her previous frantic journeys, Nero was quite at ease this time.
Lying on the bow, she comfortably enjoyed the sea breeze. The scent of sunshine and seawater washed over her—this was the smell of freedom.
When she was with Roger before, their voyages were always chaotic, with Garp one day and Golden Lion the next, never settling down.
But now, sailing alone, even Hathaway wasn't with her. Nero took out a microphone, planning to sing a song in tribute to freedom, the sea, the clouds, the sun, and all things.
Then she was stopped dead in her tracks by Aokiji, who looked utterly displeased.
"Nero, surrender! You won't escape this time!" Kuzan stood at the bow, face to face with Nero, who was also at the bow.
"Hmm, it's you, Kuzan!"
Nero looked disgusted. The most annoying thing on the sea was probably encountering Kuzan when setting sail. Without dealing with him, she basically couldn't leave.
The sea would freeze, forcing the ship to a halt, and this guy, despite looking cold, got overly heated when fighting. To be honest, he was quite annoying.
Most importantly, this guy also had an afro. Nero hated afros; they felt dirty, as if countless pieces of trash might be hidden inside.
Looking left and right, Nero activated her Observation Haki to its fullest, then became even more bewildered. "Hmm, just you?"
"I'm enough to deal with you!"
This was, of course, a lie. Garp and Zephyr were on their way. The real reason was that Nero had switched to a smaller ship.
And by moving alone, she would be difficult to track. In desperation, he had no choice but to step forward and stall for time.
But Kuzan certainly wouldn't say any of this. In his heart, he also harbored the idea of a one-on-one fight with Nero.
"Hmm, have you had too much to drink?"
In Nero's view, this wasn't right. A mere defeated foe, and an early one at that. Her version had been updated countless times.
So arrogant? Did he think she couldn't lift a sword anymore, or was Kuzan soaring too high?
A cross mark appeared on her forehead. Angered by Nero's dismissive attitude, the chill around Kuzan intensified.
"Consider it my unwillingness to accept defeat, then? Nero, don't think you're the only one who's improving!"
Nero mused, "Hmm, you're stalling for time? Garp?"
Kuzan's eyes widened instantly, looking at Nero in disbelief.
"Eh? Not just Garp? Sengoku too? ... No, is that Zephyr? Hmm, really? Zephyr and Garp working together?"
Nero looked at him in surprise, then revealed a wicked smile. "Hmm, thank you for the information, Kuzan!"
Kuzan: "..."
What did I say? How did you guess all that? Is everything exposed now?"
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