Chapter 111: Summons

──The Holy Land “Mary Geoise.”

Inside a room in Pangaea Castle, used for high-level conferences, the leaders of one of the Three Great Powers—the massive organization known as the “Navy Headquarters”—were gathered around a round table, deep in discussion.

“──Just the other day, ‘Blackbeard’ Marshall D. Teach took a vacant seat among the Seven Warlords. In an effort to prove his strength and fame, he brought a ‘gift’… Now, I want your thoughts on how we handle it—whether you're for, against, or indifferent… It doesn't matter. Speak freely.”

Presiding over the meeting and addressing the gathered officers with a serious expression was Fleet Admiral Sengoku the Buddha.

Seated at the round table were only a few individuals, including Sengoku. Alongside him were legendary Marines active since the time of Gol D. Roger—like “Great Advisor” Tsuru—and four vice admirals. Everyone wore a grim expression.

But the reactions of the remaining three were much clearer. The first to speak was a menacing man wearing a fine red suit, the tattoo on his neck visible just above the collar.

『Admiral Akainu (Sakazuki)』

“I’m in favor. Leave him be, and he becomes a threat… not just to the Navy, but to the world itself. Ain’t no point in letting a man like that live, ya feel me…!!”

He was the embodiment of “Absolute Justice,” a hardliner and the most hawkish among the Marines. Even the vice admirals—who should have been used to him—gulped nervously at his words. Though he was their ally, his unwavering hostility toward pirates inspired both respect and fear.

His harsh tone, willing to target even civilians or allies when deemed necessary, was enough to silence opposition. Yet, one man did speak up.

『Admiral Aokiji (Kuzan)』

“If we go through with that… it’s gonna lead to war, no doubt. I’m against it for now, Sengoku-san… I get that it might be necessary, but the cost will be huge. We need to be prepared for that. We should keep an eye on the New World's movements a little longer.”

“…Yeah. No doubt there are plenty of downsides.”

With his sleep mask pushed up on his forehead, arms lazily resting on his knees, Aokiji, one of the Navy’s top powers like Akainu, voiced his opposition. His “Lazy Justice”—a philosophy only he truly understood—guided his stance.

But Akainu was quick to strike back, glaring intensely at him.

“What kinda soft-ass talk is that…!! Kuzan…!! Wiping out pirates is our damn job as Marines…!!”

“I ain’t saying don’t kill him, Sakazuki. I’m saying think about what comes after. Say we go through with the execution, it leads to war, and we win. Then what? It’s obvious things’ll get messy.”

“You saying we should let that evil bastard live then…!!!? You talk of ‘resolve,’ but aren’t you the only one lacking it!!?”

“That’s not it…!! I’m saying, if we’re gonna wage a war, we need to be ready for it…!! Sure, maybe we have the firepower, but I’m talking about preparation that includes the safety of civilians and our own Marines…!! We’ve got the other Emperors to worry about too… If we start this thing and the casualties skyrocket, then what the hell are we doing as Marines…!!!”

“Hmph!! If those sacrifices are what it takes to eliminate a great evil… then they’re necessary…!!! Any Marine worth his salt knows the risk the moment he dons the uniform…!!!”

“Not everyone’s a psycho like you, you know…!!! Sakazuki…!!!”

“What was that…!!!?”

The two Admirals locked eyes, their words clashing fiercely. The nearby guards were trembling, and even the seasoned vice admirals looked pale. An ordinary soul couldn’t hope to interrupt—but there were still others in the room who could.

The one who raised his voice was the third Admiral.

『Admiral Kizaru (Borsalino)』

“Hey, hey now～～～ both of you… Let’s calm down a bit, alright?”

“…!!”

Wearing a striped yellow suit and sunglasses, his voice stretched out in an almost lazy drawl. Kizaru, who stood for “Unclear Justice,” stepped in to mediate. Having watched these two opposites clash for years, he was well-used to their fire.

Hearing Kizaru’s voice, both Akainu and Aokiji dialed back their tempers just slightly. Now, all eyes turned toward Kizaru as well.

“…Borsalino. What’s your take?”

“Hmmm～～～ let’s see～～～… I don’t mind executing a pirate, really, but this time it’s kind of a big deal, y’know～～～ I’m curious what the other pirates’ll do～～～ What’s your take on that, Sengoku-san?”

“Ah. I was just about to mention that. According to a recent report… It seems there’s been a scuffle brewing in the New World—between ‘Kaido’ and ‘Big Mom.’”

“…!!”

“Kaido and… Big Mom!!?”

“Two of the Four Emperors…!!”

The gathered vice admirals twisted their faces in shock. Conflict between two of the Four Emperors—the most dangerous pirate factions—threatened to completely alter the balance of power in the New World. It was impossible not to wonder why this had to happen now of all times.

Yet Sengoku and Tsuru, with their understanding of the government’s goals and the potential fallout, were also considering it… as a kind of opportunity. Sengoku explained why.

“Ordinarily, this would be a situation we couldn’t ignore… But if those two are busy clashing, then we can make our move while they’re occupied. When we’re planning something major like this, removing unpredictable factors is the best-case scenario…!!”

“! That means…!!”

“So you’re sayin’… while those pirates are fighting each other, we take down another one……!!”

“…I see～～～”

The vice admirals shuddered at Sengoku’s reasoning, while Kizaru nodded in understanding at Akainu’s blunt paraphrasing.

A clash between two Emperors could fracture the balance of the Three Great Powers—and when it came to the Navy’s upcoming plans, that risk was no small thing. There was always a chance others might exploit the chaos.

But if pirates were fighting among themselves, then interference became far less likely.

“Of the Emperors, the only one who might try to disrupt our war is ‘Kaido’… But if he’s tied up with Big Mom, that worry disappears… And the remaining one, ‘Red-Haired,’ is unlikely to act on his own.”

“…So it’s not a bad time to start a war, huh…”

At Aokiji’s sigh-laced words, Sengoku gave a quiet nod. He sympathized with Aokiji’s concern, but if the seas were going to rage anyway, now might be the best chance to contain the damage.

Even Sengoku couldn’t oppose the government’s will. The execution was virtually decided already. What remained was to shape the path to victory—and that was the job of the man once called the “Tactician.”

Besides, Sengoku believed that even if war did break out, they held the advantage. A slim one, perhaps, and it could swing either way—but the odds of victory were real.

And more than anything, they had something worth risking a war for—a clear benefit on their side.

Thus, after hearing the opinions of the others—Tsuru and the vice admirals included—and after ample discussion… Sengoku finally reached his conclusion.

“…You understand, Kuzan?”

“…………Yeah.”

He confirmed once more with Aokiji, who begrudgingly accepted. And then Sengoku declared the Navy’s next move.

“Then… the public execution of Portgas D. Ace, Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, is hereby decided…!!”

That decision was one the Navy reached only after steeling themselves with great resolve.

The Whitebeard Pirates—one of the Four Emperors. Their captain, the strongest man in the world, Whitebeard, Edward Newgate... would never forgive the death of a comrade.

In other words, what this execution would bring about was a clash between the Navy Headquarters carrying it out, and the Whitebeard Pirates, who would come charging in to stop it—a war.

"Summon the Seven Warlords of the Sea immediately!!!"

"Yes, sir!!!"

The Seven Warlords of the Sea, under the command of the World Government, would also be summoned—an unprecedented, large-scale war between the Three Great Powers.

──Don’t hold it against me, Garp.

Sengoku, in the depths of his heart, offered an apology to the family of the man who would become the spark of this war. He couldn't say it aloud. He couldn't stop it. He couldn't show mercy.

His mercy as a comrade-in-arms was to not summon Garp to this meeting at all. As Fleet Admiral, Sengoku had to make the right decision.

"Notify every Marine across the world and gather our forces!! This is a turning point for us... a battle from which we cannot retreat!!!"

"Yes, sir!!!"

And the name given to the incident set into motion by the decision of the World Government and Navy Headquarters at this time—
would later be known as:

──The "Paramount War."

---

There exists a type of bat known as the “Messenger Bat.”

It is a communication tool used by the Government, primarily employed when notifying someone stationed outside of their domain.

And that "someone" is usually a pirate, while the "something" tends to be... an invitation to join the “Seven Warlords of the Sea.”

In other words, the Messenger Bat is the means by which the Government contacts pirates when necessary. Since even the faint possibility of a Den Den Mushi transmission being intercepted poses a risk, this method is used for critical messages.

For that reason, pirates affiliated with the Seven Warlords of the Sea receive their letters via Messenger Bats. The content this time—regarding the public execution of the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division Commander, "Fire Fist Ace"—is a mandatory summons to join the Government’s military force in the impending war between the Whitebeard Pirates and the Navy Headquarters.

"Ho... quite a bold decision for the Government."

The extraordinary contents of the letter elicited various reactions from its recipients.

Some, upon reading it, marveled and accepted the summons without resistance.

A clash between those at the very pinnacle of this world—such a battle was the perfect opportunity to stave off boredom. The World's Greatest Swordsman, withholding nothing of his ultimate black blade, set off toward the heart of the Government for battle.

"This is gonna be a hell of an incident...!! What’ll you do, Master!!"

"…It’s a mandatory summons under threat of losing my title, sure... but even without that threat, a war between Whitebeard, the Navy, and the Seven Warlords? That sounds fun... In war, you get corpses by the heap!!"

"Then you’re joining in!?"

"Yeah... thanks to that damn 'Straw Hat'... all the troops I worked so hard to gather got scattered!! Eventually... I’m heading back to the New World to become Pirate King… and the corpses of the Navy’s elite and Whitebeard’s tough soldiers will come in handy...!! Kishishi, Kishishishishi...!!!"

Having just suffered defeat at the hands of a certain pirate, that massive man also decided to join the war—for the corpses he’d collect.

His motive might be peculiar, but a mandatory summons that threatens revocation of Warlord status is no light matter—it’s not like the usual toothless, optional calls where absence is tolerated.

Even for free-spirited pirates, those who chose to affiliate with the Warlords are sharp when it comes to gain. The Government’s higher-ups predicted some resistance, but ultimately expected them all to gather.

──However, there were those who didn’t bend to pragmatism.

『I object!!!』

In the Holy Land of Mariejois, a large fish-man shouted in anger at the assembled Marines and guards.

Known publicly as a pirate who hates other pirates, that man defied expectations of being the most cooperative. Instead, he came all the way to the Holy Land only to voice fierce opposition himself.

『If that man were to die in this war, do you have any idea how much damage it would cause…!!! A man like you can’t possibly be ignorant of that!!!』

"...It must be done. Now then, have you changed your mind?"

『How many times must I say it!! I object!! If you insist on executing Ace, then I’ll stop you by force!!!』

"...! Very well… Seize him!!!"

"Yes sir!!!"

"OOOOOOHHHH!!!"

The man who directly petitioned Fleet Admiral Sengoku at Mariejois then rampaged against the Marines, was captured, and sent to the great prison, Impel Down.

And then, there were others who responded half-heartedly to the summons.

"Snake Princess... what shall we do?"

"…………Send the reply. 'I will comply with the summons.'"

"Oh my, Sister. You’re going?"

『──As if I would actually go』

"I knew it."

With a faint smile, the unmatched beauty gave her sarcastic reply, causing her younger sisters to giggle.

They hated both the World Government and men. They scorned weak, unrefined men, and the World Government—whom they deemed the epitome of ugliness. Not even the threat of losing their title could sway them.

Because they were warriors from birth. And the woman at the top among them never doubted her own strength. No matter how many ugly men or Government forces came crashing down on their country, they’d crush them all. She never strayed from that arrogant stance.

──"Snake Princess!!"

"! …What’s with the noise?"

"I apologize!! But there’s a message…!!"

"…A message?"

"Y-Yes... it's from—"

"…!!"

The woman, who thought she was done replying to the Government, felt irritated by the sudden arrival of another messenger.

But the moment she heard who the message was from, her expression shifted completely, and her face turned slightly pale.

They had escaped the rule of the World Government—but they had not escaped the curse of overwhelming “power.”

No matter the order, disobedience would mean annihilation.

And so the woman lied to herself. Told herself it was because she owed a great debt to that person. She used that debt as her reason to obey—and once again, she responded to the message, burdened with bitterness in her heart.

Elsewhere──

"──Young Master. A mandatory summons from the Navy..."

"Yeah… I know… Fufuh, fuhfuhfuh!!"

The man laughed. Having already heard about the summons, he sensed the coming of a new age.

"Fuhfuhfuh!! Now it begins!! A world where only the strong…!! Only true pirates survive!! Alongside an uncontrollable tide… the 'New Age' of the mighty arrives!!! Fufufufufufuhfuhfuh!!!"

The man who claimed he’d leash the monsters of the New World continued to laugh triumphantly at the dawn of the age to come.

And among them, there were those who claimed they would create the new era.

『Zehahahaha!!! Now then… the plan is flawless…!!! I’ll rise to the top and create it…!!! In place of the Old Man… the next era will be mine!!!』

──One of the Three Great Powers. The “Seven Warlords of the Sea,” who survive the seas through cunning, all responded to the summons—save for the one imprisoned.

But even those who sensed the tides of the coming era...

They didn’t yet know—

That this war would be more than just the prologue…

It would become the greatest war far beyond anything they had imagined.

---

──The New World, “Wano Country.”

The “Four Emperors,” rulers of the sea, reign supreme over vast territories in the New World.
One of them, the “Beasts Pirates,” has its base in this very land—and the nation was in an uproar.

“Hey, did you hear!?”

“Yeah, I heard. Kaido’s entire force is gathering, right?”

“Must be some kinda big event or something. Otherwise, there’s no way we’d be getting this much work.”

In the Flower Capital—the seat of power for the shogun, Kurozumi Orochi—a group of patrolling samurai known as the “Mimawarigumi” munched on dumplings as they exchanged rumors they'd overheard.

Normally, they’d conduct patrols and public punishments alongside members of the Beasts Pirates to maintain order in the capital. However, most of the pirate members had now gathered on Onigashima, leaving the mainland of Wano.

On top of that, even the floating UFOs in the sky had grown fewer in number. As a result, Orochi’s subordinates—the Mimawarigumi and the Oniwabanshu—had been mobilized in greater numbers.

──And the same was true in Udon, a district close to Onigashima and home to one of the Beasts Pirates’ key facilities.

♪ “No workin’ all day long~♪ Three full meals is just the norm~♪” ♪

“Haa... Haa...”

♪ “Three-six-five, every day’s a holiday~♪ Number of workdays? Zero~♪” ♪

“Zeh... Zeh...”

In a forest slightly removed from the prisoner mines of Udon, a strange scene unfolded at a massive factory.

It wasn’t the sight of broken prisoners toiling away—that was all too common in Wano.

What was unusual were the tiny humans directing them—singing cheerfully while barking orders. A group of dwarves affiliated with the Beasts Pirates.

♪ “We’ll move our hands in their place~♪” ♪
♪ “All the workers love their jobs~♪” ♪
♪ “Nobody complains at all~♪” ♪
♪ “Even if they do, it’s totally fine~♪” ♪
♪ “They definitely won’t be killed~♪” ♪
♪ “It’s a workplace full of smiles~♪” ♪

Once considered outcasts of the race known as the Tontatta Tribe, these dwarves now flitted lightly among the branches of peculiar plants, gleefully singing at the suffering prisoners. If they spotted anyone slacking, they’d beat them. If anyone resisted, they’d kill them.

This was one of the Beasts Pirates’ most critical facilities. There was no room for mercy.

The plants they cultivated, grown using water laced with special chemicals, bore fruit patterned with polka dots. These were the smile-bringing fruits used to create the Gifters.

“And what are all of these~~~~~?”

One of the dwarves—a girl in traditional clothing, wearing a horned cap—answered her underlings with a flourish.

『Beasts Pirates Headliner “SMILE Factory Chief” Doute — Bounty: 168 million berries』

“──They’re all lies!!”

“Knew it was a lie~~~~!!!”

The artificial Devil Fruits—“SMILEs.”

The one in charge of their production was none other than the Beasts Pirates’ Headliner, Doute.

And now, even she was heading outside the factory.

“Alright, I’m off now!! Not that I’ve been invited from anywhere...”

“Huh!? Doute-sama, where are you going when no one’s even called you!?”

“That’s right!! You haven’t finished today’s sing-along, the prisoner discipline routine, or the SMILE quality inspection!!”

“──That’s because it was a lie!!!”

“Ehhhhh!!? A lie!!?”

“She tricked us again!! That’s our Doute-sama!! So cool!!”

The dwarves were tricked by Doute’s blatant lies. Even after turning to evil, the most gullible race remained just as gullible.

Still, they were far stronger than the average soldiers—Waiters and Pleasures—so no prisoners dared oppose them.

“Alright, let’s go!! Onigashima!!!”

“Yes!! ──Wait, is that another lie!?”

“Eh... Ah, no, that’s not a lie, I messed up... We’re not go–ing–to–Onigashima!!!”

“Understood!! We won’t prep the ship!!”

“I said we’re not going, didn’t I!? You blockheads!!!”

“Ehhhhh!!? So which is it!!?”

And so, like many of the Headliners scattered throughout the territory, they too began heading for Onigashima.

An island just offshore of Udon in Wano—that was Onigashima, the headquarters of the Beasts Pirates.

And among the many soldiers and Headliners gathering there, six individuals stood out the most.

“What is the meaning of summoning all of us when it’s not even the Golden Kagura festival? Pe-tan, do you know?”

“No idea. And stop calling me Pe-tan. Is this another weird trend? Cut it out, it’s embarrassing.”

“Oh, then I shall gift Pe-tan the matching item that’s all the rage♡ Here, let me put it on you♡”

“I don’t want it!!”

“……Noisy.”

“Ahhhh!!? You little shit, Komurasaki!! Who the hell are you calling noisy!!! Apologize to Pe-tan!! Hey!!”

“Quit it, Sis!! She wasn’t even talkin’ to me just now!! And stop trying to put that crap on me!!”

“Put it on!!!”

“Ugh, every damn time with the yelling... Hey, Black Maria. Kick these damn brats out.”

““Huh!!?””

“Fufu, do it yourself. I find them amusing♡ No reason to kick them out.”

“Ha ha ha, come on, Who’s-Who. As long as these brats are around, the competition for promotions is easy, ain’t it?”

Cutting through the center of the performance floor, the six men and women made their way toward the mansion.

They were the Beasts Pirates’ strongest Headliners—“Tobiroppo,” the Flying Six.

『Beasts Pirates “Tobiroppo” Kozuki – Bounty: 429.1 million berries』

"Pointless... Let’s just get this over with."

『Beasts Pirates “Tobiroppo” Ulti – Bounty: 599 million berries』

"Pointless!? Did you just call Pe-tan pointless!? I’m gonna smash your skull in, Kozuki!!!"

『Beasts Pirates “Tobiroppo” Page One – Bounty: 560 million berries』

"She didn’t necessarily mean me though..."

『Beasts Pirates “Tobiroppo” Black Maria – Bounty: 612 million berries』

"Still, to think all of us would be summoned like this... I wonder what this is all about?"

『Beasts Pirates “Tobiroppo” Sasaki – Bounty: 644 million berries』

"If it’s a family issue, we all know how that tends to go."

『Beasts Pirates “Tobiroppo” Who’s-Who – Bounty: 728 million berries』

"Let’s hope it’s not that, though..."

Even among the Tobi Roppo, these six stood apart as true ability users—far beyond the likes of the average Gifters. Seeing them approach, the lower-ranked members instinctively made way. Their destination: the upper floors of Kaido’s mansion, where the shrine room awaited. They soon arrived—but the ones they expected were nowhere to be found.

Instead, those waiting to greet them were the Beasts Pirates' top executives—those who stood above the Tobiroppo. The four Calamities.

『Beasts Pirates All-Star “Drought Jack” – Bounty: 1 billion berries』

"You’re late..."

『Beasts Pirates All-Star “War Disaster Joker” – Bounty: 1.49 billion berries』

"Fufufu, don’t be so harsh, Jack. They got here as quickly as they could... Isn’t that right?"

『Beasts Pirates All-Star “Plague Queen” – Bounty: 1.52 billion berries』

"Muhahaha!! Finally decided to show up, huh!! I’ll give you one thing—you didn’t skip the summons!!"

『Beasts Pirates All-Star “Wildfire King” – Bounty: 1.83 billion berries』

"At last... now we can finally get to business."

"My, my... all four All-Stars gathered like this... What’s about to begin, I wonder?"

The three imposing giants—and one woman, not even two meters tall, yet emanating the same overwhelming pressure as the rest—stood assembled. Known as the "Disasters," the Calamities carried weight unlike any other. Black Maria muttered in admiration, though few shared her sentiment.

Most of the Tobi Roppo frowned, noting the conspicuous absence of the two figures they considered truly superior. And among them, it was Who’s-Who who broke the silence first.

"Hey King... Kaido-san and Nue-san aren’t here. Don’t tell me this summon came from you?"

"Hmph. Relax. It was Kaido-san and Nue-san themselves who ordered your summons."

"...If that’s the case, fine... But then why aren’t they here?"

Satisfied with the source of the summons, Who’s-Who pressed further—why were those two absent? Joker was the first to reply.

"A fair question... We could deliver the message in their stead..."

"Then just spit it out already!! If you keep us waiting, Pe-tan gets cranky!!"

"You’re the one getting cranky."

"Y-o-u-~~~!!!?"

"So then, someone else will be speaking on their behalf?"

"Yeah. That’s right—Sono, Bao Fan."

"Yes... I'm here..."

"Riiight heeere~!!"

As Ulti and Page One continued their usual antics, Kozuki sighed and tried to move things along. King nodded and called out two names. The ones who appeared were a gloomy woman with a sluggish air and a girl in traditional attire with her face hidden behind a card.

『Beasts Pirates Shinuchi “Still Waters Sono” – Bounty: 364.9 million berries』

"Sigh... Even if I was the one who heard it, I don’t think I need to be the one delivering the message... King-sama could do it himself if he wanted..."

『Beasts Pirates Shinuchi – Bao Fan』

"Pull yourself together, Sono-senpai!! Come on, say it with energy!!"

"Well... you see, I have this rare condition where I can't raise my voice... So how about we just let Bao Fan handle it? Yes, let’s do that. I actually have a jujutsu practice session today, you know, so I really must go..."

"Take the day off."

"You don’t even do practice… like, ever..."

"Page One-sama, please help. There are two creepy big men over there trying to force me to work against my will."

"Don’t drag me into this!! I don’t care!!"

"Just get to work, useless mermaid."

"As expected of my senpai!! Top-tier uselessness!!"

Despite her role as one of the secretaries to Kaido and Nue, Sono remained as lazy as ever, prompting exasperation from everyone. Yet, they were clearly used to it. King, cool as ever, spread his wings and simply commanded:

"Work."

With a sigh of resignation, Sono finally relented.

"Alright... I’ll say it then. It’s simple really. Lord Kaido and Lady Nue summoned everyone—all of you and the other forces—because... we’re going to war."

"!!!"

The word war echoed through the room, casually dropped yet crashing like a wave. It was enough to send a ripple of shock through many of those present.

However, the four All-Stars showed no reaction—they had clearly been informed ahead of time. King nodded in affirmation and elaborated calmly:

"That’s right. Last week, while they were away, Kaido and Nue sent orders to rally all forces—All-Stars, Tobi Roppo, everyone. Form up the army. We're heading into war...!!"

"...Who are we fighting?"

"We’ll explain that too—based on the intel Joker gathered."

"Yes. Kaido-sama will be returning soon, but until then, lend me your ears for a bit."

"Wait—what about Nue-sama!? Is Nue-sama not coming back too!?"

As Joker was about to go into the details about the enemy and what led to this decision, Ulti suddenly interjected, clearly more concerned about Nue than anything else. Joker gave her a soft, knowing smile.

"Nue-sama? Oh, she just left a little earlier... to scout the enemy ahead of time.♡"

---

──The pirates who crossed Reverse Mountain from the four seas into the Grand Line eventually encountered a massive wall halfway around the world.

Having defeated one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Gecko Moria, and departed from Thriller Bark, the pirate crew known as the “Straw Hat Pirates” had finally arrived at that very place.

"THE RED LINE!!!!!!"

Overcoming countless hardships, the nine of them found themselves reflecting on the moment they first entered the Grand Line.

"We’ll see this wall again halfway around the world… and when that time comes—"

『Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, “Straw Hat Luffy” – Bounty: 300 million berries』

"I’m gonna be… the King of the Pirates!!!"

Shouting his dream once more at the colossal continent before them, he swore it to his heart. He would become the Pirate King, no matter what.

The others shared the same resolve. They would make their captain the Pirate King—and achieve their own dreams as well.

"We need to be extra careful. We’re right near the Navy Headquarters and the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, under the World Government…!!"

Robin, the crew’s informant of sorts, spoke up. They couldn’t afford to relax too much.

Being so close to both the Navy HQ and the Holy Land, it wouldn’t be strange for warships to appear at any moment. They had to remain alert while figuring out how to reach Fish-Man Island—something she quietly reminded herself and the others.

"Alright… We need to find a way to reach Fish-Man Island."

"Should we try using the awesome functions of the Shark Submerge #3 to search for clues?"

Nami, the navigator, checked the Log Pose and murmured as she saw the needle pointing straight down. They’d heard Fish-Man Island was 10,000 meters under the sea—but how to get there, they didn’t know.

So, they decided to launch an underwater exploration with their submarine. Everyone began preparing—when it happened.

"UWOOOOOOOHHHH!!!"

"UWAAAAAAHHHH!!!"

"GYYAAAAAAHHHH!!!"

"SHUT UP!!! What are you idiots playing around for!!!"

Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper came tumbling down the ship’s stairs, only for Nami to snap at them in fury.

But the three of them, tangled together, pointed at the sky and began explaining.

"Hey Nami!! It was a UFO! A UFO!!!"

"A UFO! A UFO!!!"

"There was a UFO!!!"

"Huh…? What the hell are you guys talking about…? Did you eat something bad?"

"No, seriously!! Look, up there in the sky—wait, huh?"

"It’s gone!!?"

Usopp pointed to where he’d seen the UFO, but there was nothing there. Just some birds flying around. Luffy and Usopp looked stunned. Nami shrugged.

"There’s no such thing as UFOs… That stuff is usually just hallucinations, mistaken sightings, natural phenomena, or someone playing tricks. In other words—just illusions."

"Wait, was it a mistake?"

"Well… but it really did look like…"

Chopper started to agree with Nami, but Usopp scratched his chin, still groaning that it had definitely looked like a UFO. The others didn’t seem to buy it and didn’t take him seriously.

In that moment, Sanji suddenly chimed in, as if remembering something.

"A UFO, huh… Come to think of it, I heard this once: the rule is, if you see a UFO, you run away."

"Now that you mention it… I’ve heard that too."

"What the hell? You saying aliens are gonna show up or something?"

"Dunno about that… but apparently, if you don’t run, you’ll end up seeing something te-rri-fy-ing…"

"Yohohohoho!! Yes, indeed, if I saw an alien, I’d be so scared my eyes would pop right out!! Not that I have any!!"

"UFOs and aliens… What nonsense. I’m heading back inside."

Sanji and Robin admitted to knowing that so-called “rule,” but Franky, as expected, didn’t take it seriously, and Brook cracked his usual jokes to ease the mood. Things returned to normal, and Zoro, scoffing at the whole UFO talk, headed for the training room, opening the cabin door—but then—

"Heeey~ So this is what the deck looks like~♪ Hmm hmm, not a bad ship at all."

"Huh…?"

"Whuh!?"

There, stepping out—the entire crew froze in confusion.

A cute girl with black hair and red eyes. The kind of person you wouldn’t think twice about if you saw her walking through town—nothing strange or scary about her at all.

But it was more than enough to shock them, considering the question: Why was she here?

"Uh… who are you?"

"Oh, excuse me for dropping in!! I’m Nue, a passing idol!!"

The girl who called herself Nue looked at each of the Straw Hat Pirates, flashing a sweet and cheerful smile, and then—

"I’m a fan of you all!!!"

"………A fan?"

—An idol, and their fan.

To the Straw Hat Pirates, her words only brought one thing to mind: a giant question mark.