Chapter 9: From the North Sea

Breath turned to mist as snowflakes drifted lazily from the sky.

Beautiful, sure—but soon enough, it would pile up, becoming just another obstacle for the living.

"Haaah… Cold."

Just another winter day in North Blue, one of the four seas divided by the Grand Line and Red Line.

Winters here were brutal. Best to stay indoors, warmed by liquor. North Blue’s drink of choice? Vodka. Pirates might prefer rum, but out here, vodka was easier to find. Lately, it was all anyone drank.

"Hey, rookie! More booze!"

"Ah—yeah, yeah."

No choice but to fetch the drinks, even if I had to leave the corpses for a bit. Not like frozen bodies were a problem—actually made them easier to break apart and stuff into barrels.

…Still, did they really need to drink right now? Kinda jealous, honestly. How could they even stomach it?

"GYAAAAAAAAAH!!" "KYYYAAAA—!!" "S-Somebody…! Help… Gack—!" "Stop it, you bastards!! Don’t touch the civilians!!"

Screams. Then laughter.

"HAHAHAHA-MAMAMAMA!! These sweets are sooo good♡ GIVE ME MORE!! I’LL KILL ANYONE WHO GETS IN MY WAY!!"

"Oi, Linlin!! Quit stuffin’ yer face mid-fight!! Damn idiot…!"

"GYAHAHA, just leave ‘er, Whitebeard. Only the Captain can stop ‘er. Ain’t worth the hassle… ‘Sides, these weaklings are borin’ as hell. Can’t blame ‘er for wantin’ a snack."

"Tch…"

In the middle of the snow-covered streets, our top officers—plus most of the crew—were tearing through the town. A house caught fire. Nice. Warm. The flames were a welcome sight in this freezing weather.

Wait. That’s an idea.

"Heyyy! Kaido! Gimme a hand!"

"WORORORO!! The hell, Nue!? I’m busy havin’ fun! Piss off!!"

"No, listen—I wanna set some buildings on fire, and also— Watch out behind you—!"

"Behind…? —!?!"

Too late.

A cannonball smashed straight into Kaido’s back.

Who the hell brings cannons to a street fight? Then again, against us, probably the right call. Ugh, I warned him…!

"…! ‘Red UFO’!!"

"!? W-What the—!? A UFO!?" "Did that girl just summon it…!?"

Bzzt! Wrong. Just my Devil Fruit power. Not that these North Blue grunts would know that—hell, I barely understood it myself.

"W-WHOOOAA!? The red UFO’s firing red bullets!!" "God help us…! First pirates, now UFOs…!? Is this country doomed!?" "Tch…! Don’t just stare at the UFO and the girl!! He’s— getting back up—!!"

While my Red UFO rained fire on the barricaded soldiers, their attention snapped to the real threat—my partner, rising from the smoke.

"Aaaah… Damn it, got hit again… That hurt, you bastards…!!"

"……!!? N-NOOOOO!! That giant’s STILL ALIVE!?" "We shot him like ten times already…! Is he even human!?"

I smirked. Yep. Kaido’s endurance was just plain stupid. Eleven direct cannon hits, and he was still standing. Most would be dead by now… but this was Kaido.

"GRRRRAAAAH…!!"

"UWAH!? He’s charging!!" "D-Don’t falter!! FIRE!!" "HUP!! —Guh… Aaaah…!!"

Kaido swung his club, plowing through the soldiers—only to take another cannonball. Yikes. That makes twelve…

…Should I be worried?

Either way, I couldn’t just stand here.

"—‘Dark Cloud’!!"

"!? Now a black fog!?" "I can’t see—GYAH!?" "Idiots!! Stay behind cover!! That UFO’s still shooting from above!!" "Dammit…! Just keep firing!! If we kill that girl— —GACK!!!?"

"—!"

As I darted through cannonfire, closing in from above, I saw it.

The oni with a club reached the barricade—and smashed the enemy captain’s skull in one swing.

"Who the hell said you could kill my crew…!? You scum…!!"

"Eek…!?"

"C’MON!! TRY AND KILL US!! WORORORO…!!"

"Aaaand… there’s the usual combo. Yeah, it’s over."

---

Battle Aftermath

Through the thick fog, Kaido swung his club wildly at the barricade—smashing through everything in his path. Not that he cared about precision. When the enemy was everywhere, it didn’t matter where he swung. And if allies got caught in the crossfire? Well, that was their problem.

That line of his… "Try and kill us"—typical Kaido. He was practically daring them to make things more interesting. But these soldiers? Just ordinary humans, scared out of their minds by the monster tearing through their ranks.

I hovered above, scanning the battlefield. "Might as well grab some loot… Oh! Jackpot."

A pile of grenades lay abandoned—probably the same ones they’d been tossing earlier. Perfect.

"Red UFO, fetch."

At my command, my UFO drifted down, scooping up the explosives like some alien plunderer. Too bad it couldn’t lift people or cows—just small objects. Still, it had its uses.

By the time I finished collecting, Kaido had already flattened the remaining soldiers.

"Kaido! They’re all down! Let’s wrap it up!"

"Tch… Over already? Weaklings… Is every country’s army this pathetic!? Boring as hell, Nue!"

"What’d you expect? This is North Blue—not even the Grand Line. Honestly, they lasted longer than most."

"THE HELL YOU SAY!? THIS SEA’S FULL OF ONE-HIT TRASH!? THAT’S BULLSHIT!"

Ah, there it was. Peak Kaido rage. Well, time to move on.

I pulled the pin and tossed a grenade into the wreckage, watching as the blast dissolved the last of my Dark Cloud technique. As Kaido and I walked away—

"!!!"

"Oh, incendiaries! Nice! That’ll warm things up."

Kaido shot me a look. "The hell’s wrong with you? Just wear more clothes."

"I am wearing more! Look! Long sleeves, gloves, even a scarf I looted! My winter fashion’s on point! Cute, right?"

Yep, this outfit was perfect with an extra layer—

"Clothes don’t matter."

"THEY DO TO ME!!"

I snapped back, but Kaido just kept walking, unimpressed. He was still in his usual getup too—no extra layers, no scarf, nothing. How was he not freezing? Even I, someone who barely felt the cold, found North Blue’s winter brutal.

…Then again, if I wasn’t shivering, of course he wouldn’t be.

"If you’re not cold, why bother bundling up?"

"Because!! You can only wear winter clothes in winter!! This is my chance to dress for the season!!"

"…………"

"Ah! You just sighed! Don’t think I didn’t notice! Since we’re here, I’ll educate you on my fashion philosophy! First, this black dress—see the red spiral pattern on the hem? It pairs perfectly with my black knee socks, red boots, wings, and this trident—oh, wait, one’s still alive. Hold on—" Thwack. "Anyway! As I was saying—"

"…………Annoyin’ as hell."

—Ah! He sighed again! The white puff gave it away. Haa… This guy’s hopeless. Would it kill him to show a little interest? I’m practically radiating personality ever since the captain gave me this awesome weapon, but—

At least we wrapped things up with that squad in the alley, just the two of us. Maybe we’ll get a reward later—something fancy, like high-end booze. Not that we can’t just loot or steal it anyway.

For now, Kaido and I step out of the burning alleyway and back onto the main street.

The kingdom’s thoroughfare was usually a vibrant, beautiful place.

Safe, prosperous, free of major strife—a land where families and friends laughed together, basking in peace.

"Please… stop this!! Take all the money you want…! Supplies too…!! Just…!!"

—Yet in a single day, that peace shattered. The infamous pirates had arrived, plunging the nation into terror.

"—Gyahaha… You’re offerin’ us money and supplies…? Gyahahaha!! Cut the crap…!!"

"…!!"

The pirate sat atop a throne of corpses—soldiers piled high in the kingdom’s central square.

Kneeling before him, hands clasped like a beggar, was the king himself. A ruler beloved by his people, known for his benevolence… a true monarch.

"We’re pirates… You think pretty negotiations work on us? If we want somethin’, we take it…!! No matter who stands in our way…!!"

"…!! M-My general…!"

—Power meant nothing to this man.

With a grin, he held aloft the severed head of the kingdom’s mightiest warrior—a general who had repelled countless pirate raids, a fighter whose strength rivaled Marine officers, a master of Haki.

Yet to this pirate, he had been a child. Just like the rest.

Rumors were just rumors—until the threat became real. The Marines’ local branch was crushed like a sandcastle. The army, scattered like leaves.

And at the helm of these notorious pirates stood their captain—

"Besides… What I want ain’t in this piss-ant kingdom…!! Get it, Your Majesty…!!!"

—Captain of the Rocks Pirates, "Demon of the Sea," Rocks D. Xebec.Bounty: 2,969,000,000 Berries.

A monster among pirates, with a bounty unmatched in history.

Few knew why his head carried such a price. The World Government’s only decree was this:

He was a calamity to order and peace.

"Then why attack us!? If you want nothing here, leave!! Must you slaughter civilians—people who’ve done nothing!?"

"Oho… Spoken like a true king. Gyahaha! Even on the Grand Line, few dare talk back to me like that. Guess the rumors ‘bout you ain’t lies…!"

"Guh… Answer me!! What do you want!? Name it—treasures? My life? Take it all!! Just stop the killing…!!!"

"!"

The king pressed his forehead to the frozen ground, tears mixing with snow.

Around him, Rocks’ crew watched—some amused, others grudgingly impressed.

Even pirates recognized nobility when they saw it.

A ruler willing to sacrifice everything for his people? That was rare. In the North Blue, most kings begged for their own lives, even offering their citizens as shields.

Rocks’ silence wasn’t pity. Just acknowledgment of a worthy act.

"Heh… You’re better than advertised… Gyahahaha! That spine of yours is wasted on a throne. If you were a pirate, I’d recruit you myself."

"…!!"

The king didn’t reply. Not out of fear—but resolve. No words, no resistance. Just unwavering surrender, if it meant saving his people.

Rocks finally spoke.

The outcome was inevitable either way.

"I have no obligation to grant your request."

"……!!"

To the king, those words felt like a death sentence.

But the speaker wasn’t finished.

"That said, I suppose I can spare your life... and let your country survive. Gihaha! Not like we're planning to take over right now anyway..."

"!? What… what do you mean by that…!!?"

The king's eyes widened in shock, sweat beading on his forehead despite the cold.

"Oh, nothing much… We killed your soldiers and marines, sure, but we never intended to wipe out your people. Gihahaha! As for the ones we did kill, well, that was just for fun. My men tend to get carried away in battle. Gihaha! My bad, I guess."

"…!! You mean to tell me… you did all this for such a foolish reason…!!!"

"Gihahahaha…!! Now, now, don’t get so worked up. If your army was weak enough to fall to pirates like us, maybe you should blame someone else—like the World Government or those damn Celestial Dragons…!!"

"!? What… what are you implying…!?"

"Who knows…? But hey, keep an eye on tomorrow’s headlines. Our name might just make it across the world… Gihahahaha…!!"

With that, Rocks stood up, signaling the end of the conversation. He barked a command, and the infamous Rocks Pirates began heading back to their ship, anchored in the port.

"…The World Government…? Tomorrow’s headlines…? Hah… hah… no… it can’t be…"

By the time the king regained his senses, the Rocks Pirates were gone, leaving only ruins, corpses, and the first hints of doubt in his heart.

"Phew… another long day. But now comes the fun part…!"

The Rocks Pirates never stayed on an island they raided. They always retreated to sea, where they could keep an eye on their surroundings.

It was a precaution. Staying too long on land meant the Navy—or someone else—could show up at any time.

If it was just an ordinary naval ship, there wasn’t much to worry about. But if a warship from headquarters came, it could bring a Colonel, or worse, a Vice Admiral—or even an Admiral. That’s what Captain Rocks always said.

Staying outside the Grand Line gave them some breathing room. They could handle a few warships. But Captain Rocks never let his guard down. Staying on an island for too long was a fool's mistake.

Even the Navy had to cross the perilous Calm Belt, home to the Sea Kings. They didn’t have Seastone-coated ships yet, as far as the Rocks Pirates knew. However, the Navy did have the World Government’s blessing to cross the Red Line, allowing them to deploy forces across all four seas. The Rocks Pirates didn’t have unlimited time.

That’s why they never stayed more than a day on any island.

It might change if they returned to the Grand Line to wait for a Log Pose reset. But even then, their strategy would stay the same. If necessary, they could use an Eternal Pose.

It had been three months since they first entered the North Blue. They hadn’t spent all that time here—they’d gone back to the Grand Line, ventured into the West Blue, and even crossed into the New World. From there, they could bypass the Calm Belt to travel between the West and North Blue. But reaching the South or East Blue meant crossing the Red Line or going through Fish-Man Island. That’s why they hadn’t been to those seas, especially with Marine Headquarters so close.

But it was only a matter of time before they did.

For now, Captain Rocks was focused on expanding their forces.

In the New World, they’d meet other pirates, either recruiting them or crushing them. Pirates there were on a different level, and if they wanted to grow their power, it made sense to recruit them.

The method was simple.

If pirates surrendered, they joined.

If they resisted, their strength was broken, and they were given a second chance.

If they still refused… they were killed.

In three months, the Rocks Pirates had already gathered over ten subordinate crews, each flying the Rocks name and emblem. These crews were free to cause chaos and recruit even more allies.

This strategy kept their true location hidden. As their subordinates spread chaos across the world, the Navy had to stretch its resources thin.

And so, the voyage of the Rocks Pirates continued.

As for me…

"Kaido! I stole some more today!"

"Worororo...!! That’s my girl, Nue...! Now we can enjoy some damn good booze tonight...!"

"Heh, of course!"

I place my hands on my hips, puffing out my chest with pride. My pirate career’s off to a solid start—not bad at all. I’m starting to get the hang of this.

I’ve got the trident my captain gave me, and for some reason, my abilities are getting stronger. My raw strength and stamina haven’t changed much, and I’m still hopeless with Haki, but I’ll figure that out eventually. Stealing, though? I’ve got that down.

I was nervous at first, but—

"Worororo...! That’s my sworn sibling for ya...!!"

"Heh, right? Worship me!"

I beam with pride. Three months ago, when Kaido and I got drunk and exchanged sibling vows, I did wonder how things would turn out. But it’s fine. Nothing’s really changed.

Oh, and Kaido’s been living his best life. Brawling, drinking, passing out (almost) every day. Thanks to that, his endurance is steadily improving.

I like to think I’ve gotten stronger too, in my own way... but who knows? I’m nowhere near Kaido’s level, but maybe I could tank a few cannonballs without blacking out? Probably? No clue. Just a guess. And honestly, I’d rather not test it.

"Alright, let’s drink!! This booze I swiped from Whitebeard!"

"Worororo!! Hell yeah! Let’s get smashed!!"

And just like always, Kaido and I plop down on the ship’s floor, crack open the booze, and clink our bottles before chugging. Ahhh, nothing beats a victory drink—this is the pirate life. Feels like this is what I became a pirate for.

"Glug glug—Pwah! Damn, this is good! Just what you’d expect from Whitebeard’s stash!"

"G-R-A-H-A-H-A-H-A...! Tasty stuff, no doubt... But who’d ya say you stole it from...?"

"Huh? I just told you. From Whitebe—... wait."

That’s when it hits me.

The voice was so familiar, I almost thought it was Kaido. But no. Behind me is—

"Been wonderin’ where all my booze kept disappearin’ to... Then I noticed you skulkin’ around every damn time. Followed you today... and bam, caught red-handed, Nue...!!"

"W-W-W-Whitebeard?!"

I whirl around, shocked. Standing there is a towering blond man with a white mustache—Edward Newgate, "Whitebeard," an executive of the Rocks Pirates.

He’s one of the rare pirates in the crew who doesn’t harm civilians, but don’t let that fool you. The man’s a monster, and Captain Rocks values him highly.

No way I can beat him. I’m the weakest on the ship (with one exception), but even then, Whitebeard’s on another level. I immediately ditch the idea of fighting and make a run for it. Dark Clo—WHAM!?

"You little brat!! Stealing a man’s liquor—what the hell’s wrong with you?!"

"Guh...!"

HOLY SHIIII—!? He just punched me in the head! Damn it, who throws hands right off the bat...?! Well, if he weren’t holding back, I’d be dead, so... yeah. Still hurts like hell. Please tell me he didn’t use Haki on me. Ow...

"Whitebeard!! Hands off our booze!! Drop dead, you bastard!! —GLURK!!"

"The real bastard here is you, Kaido!! It’s my damn booze!! And you—quit actin’ up every damn time!! ...Tch, brats these days..."

"Nguh...!!"

Aww, Kaido, my last hope...! ...Wait, no, of course he’d lose. Sorry, Kaido. This is all my fault... Well, we won’t die, so just hang in there. We’ve got decent endurance—we’ll survive. Probably. Maybe. Hopefully. ...Yeah, no, I’m not confident.

"Ugh... my booze..."

"The hell’s yours, runt? Kids like you shouldn’t touch alcohol for another hundred years. Go drink some milk."

"Uuuh...!"

Whitebeard grabs me by the scruff and lifts me like a misbehaving kitten. I flail, reaching for the stolen booze, but it’s no use. Damn it... my reason for living...!

"Honestly... sigh... Hey, changin’ the subject—"

"Huh? What?"

Weird. Whitebeard’s initiating conversation? Does he need something from me?

"...Been meanin’ to ask. Why’d you become a pirate?"

"...Two more bottles."

"The hell’s with you and booze?! I’ve given you plenty already!"

Well, yeah, but now that I can’t steal from him anymore, Kaido and I won’t have enough. Ugh... Gotta figure something out... But first, I need to deal with this. Why’s Whitebeard asking me weird questions?

"...No reason. Just thought the sea seemed fun."

"...That’s it?"

"...Well, Kaido said he was gonna be a pirate, so... y’know."

I glance at Kaido, who’s sprawled out on the floor, eyes rolled back. He got hit way harder than me... Then again, he’s always picking fights with Whitebeard and getting wrecked. Whitebeard probably knows exactly how much force to use by now.

"You and Kaido siblings or somethin’?"

"...Sworn siblings, yeah. But it’s not like we’ve known each other forever. I... never had family to begin with. No old friends, either. Nowhere to go. Looking back, even if I hadn’t met Kaido, I’d have ended up a pirate anyway."

"...Hmph... I see..."

The words came out smoother than I expected. No hesitation. It’s not something I want to remember, and it does dampen my mood a bit, but that’s all. Maybe I’ve moved on more than I thought. Still, picturing their faces pisses me off.

Wait, Whitebeard’s... what’s with him? He’s been dead serious this whole time. Is he... worried about me? Because I’m a girl? A cute one? Is even Whitebeard helpless against my charm?

"...Let me make one thing clear. These seas ain’t kind enough for some snot-nosed brat like you to sail safely. Especially not on this damn ship."

"Hmph! As if! I’ll train my abilities, master Haki, and beat the crap outta you one day!! …With Kaido’s help, of course!!"

"So you’re not doing it yourself?!"

"I’m gonna be vice-captain someday—I don’t need to go that hard! Just strong enough to, y’know… match you—"

"Oh…? I’m your benchmark now? Bold words for a snot-nosed brat…!!"

"Eeeek! No no no! Joke! It’s a joke!!"

I scramble to backtrack as Whitebeard’s glare turns lethal. Ugh, he’s so scary… Sure, he’s nicer than most of the crew, but his strength makes up for it. Net terror level: unchanged.

"Tch… Got guts, I’ll give ya that…"

"Huh? Was that a compliment?"

"Just callin’ you a pain in the ass. And quit stealin’ my booze."

"Then just give me some!"

"You’re really not sorry, are ya…?!"

"Because! Apprentices barely get to drink!! The only way is sneaking sips during raids—"

"…And that’s plenty. Why’s it never enough?"

"…We usually polish off whatever we grab in one night. Oh! Idea—wanna drink together? I’ll even pour for you! C’mon, it’s a win-win! I’m cute, right?"

"The hell’s ‘win-win,’ you little schemer? Save that talk for when your diaper’s off."

Ugh, no dice. I swear my charm should’ve worked…

"—So, does that mean you’d share with a real woman, Whitebeard?"

"!"

"…Stussy. You’re not welcome either."

A new voice—and shadow—joins the storeroom.

Buckingham Stussy, the self-proclaimed "scientist" in a coat and hat, a beauty who’s always pestering Whitebeard for reasons beyond me. She’s also a Rocks Pirate, though her whole vibe is "money-obsessed flirt." We’ve barely talked. Something about her feels familiar, but… eh, whatever.

"…I’m headin’ out. Don’t need that idiot waking up and starting shit."

"Off to drink? Then I’ll—"

"—I said beat it."

"Tch…!! …Fine. Suit yourself."

Stussy spins on her heel and leaves with one last glare.

With Whitebeard, unconscious Kaido, and me left, an awkward silence falls. For some reason, Whitebeard lingers, unmoving.

"…………"

"…………Hey, so… wanna teach me Haki? Also, still waiting on that booze—"

"Ever heard of reading the damn room, dumbass?!"

"GYAAAH—!? MY HEEEEAD…!?"

Another punch. Harder this time. Did he… put Haki in that?! Ow ow ow…

"Sigh… Had enough yet? I’m leavin’."

"Guh… G’night…"

"…Yeah."

...Huh? For a second there, Whitebeard looked like he wanted to say something. Or was I imagining it? Too late now—he’s gone.

"No booze tonight… Ugh. Kaido’s out cold, and my head’s killing me… Nap time."

Rubbing my sore skull, I set up my bed. Gotta hand it to the North Blue winters—they taught me to always pack blankets and pillows. (Thanks, Red UFO raids.) I cocoon myself and drift off. Mornings are rough lately… Zzz…

—Until, ten minutes later:

"—Oi, Nue!! Where’s the booze?! Whitebeard takes it?!"

"Mnngh… Yeah, sure, whatever—WAH!?"

I’m yanked upright. Wha—?

"Only one way to settle this…!! We’re goin’, Nue!! War with Whitebeard!!"

"W-Wait, Kaido!! I’m sleepy, and we’ll definitely get—HEY! PUT ME DOWWWWN!!"

—And so, Kaido and I challenged Whitebeard twice in one day. Both times, we got wrecked. This time, I woke up fully unconscious. Ugh… This idiot Kaido…! I’m cutting him off tomorrow!!