Inside a certain building, the three Hancock sisters were applying medicine to each other.
"I feel like my back is really itchy."
"I feel the same… the mark on your back is starting to disappear!"
Under Hancock's shocked gaze, the red marks on her two sisters' backs were disappearing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
What a miraculous medicine. It was actually taking effect so quickly.
Anyone who was "sick" wished that after taking medicine they could immediately become full of vitality again. Their situation was no different.
They had originally thought that being able to lighten the mark a bit during the first use would already be something to thank the heavens for, but they never expected it to completely repair it directly.
In about ten minutes, the ugly mark of the Celestial Dragon's hoof completely disappeared, leaving behind only newly grown skin that was slightly different in tone from the surrounding skin.
"That's wonderful!"
The dark cloud that had weighed on the hearts of the three sisters for more than ten years was dispelled in just ten minutes.
Third sister: "When we arrive in the New World, we must work hard too. We can't disappoint Captain Vane."
Second sister: "That's right. Now we are free Amazon warriors!"
Their mental states had completely changed.
"Sister? Sister! Is there somewhere you feel uncomfortable?"
The two sisters noticed that Hancock's expression was a bit strange. They called out several times before pulling her out of her dazed state.
"Sister's face is so hot. Are you sick?"
"No, no, I was just thinking about something else."
"Really? If you're really sick, you should tell Captain Vane."
Hancock's body trembled involuntarily.
"No, I just haven't gotten used to it yet."
...
"Amazing. I was originally planning to make a branding iron so everyone could burn over the scar together."
Tiger looked at his chest, where the ugly mark was already gone.
Hakuza complained from the side: "You really wanted everyone to suffer that pain again with you."
"But now it doesn't matter. No one needs to go through that pain again."
Tiger had already recruited more than two hundred Fish-Man crew members. Almost everyone who had been rescued from the Red Line by Vane had chosen to join the fleet.
Jinbe, that blue fat guy, had also left the Fish-Man Island Kingdom Army and joined Tiger's Fish-Man Pirates.
"Boss Vane needs our Fish-Man Pirates to protect Fish-Man Island, especially Fish-Man Street. The management of Fish-Man Street absolutely cannot remain as chaotic as before."
"Jinbe, gather all the orphans on Fish-Man Street and give them a friendly environment to grow up in."
"The illegal trades on Fish-Man Street, and even the acts of selling out one's own kind, must be severely cracked down upon."
Fish-Man Island also had some gangs. These people had completely lost their minds and would even act as guides for human slave traders—traitors to their own race.
"Our strength may still be weak now, but with our joint efforts and Captain Vane's support, we will definitely clean up Fish-Man Street!"
With Tiger and Jinbe stationed here on Fish-Man Island, Hakuza would bring some Fish-Men and follow Vane into the New World. What Vane didn't expect was that the other party would also bring Arlong along, though that was something for later.
...
The news that the Rocket Team Pirates were preparing to depart with everyone quickly spread across the entire Fish-Man Island.
Dozens of Fish-Men following them was something that couldn't be hidden at all, and there was no need to hide it.
"Tiger, these are a batch of new weapons. I know Fish-Men rarely use firearms underwater, but for defending your homeland, these weapons will still be useful."
"And these armors, shields, swords—you'll all be able to use them."
With the Munch-Munch Fruit, producing these things was extremely easy. Meowth had long researched the metal ratios for all kinds of equipment. As long as Electivire ate them, it could produce a huge quantity. A single Munch-Munch Fruit was far stronger than several production lines.
"This… this is a bit too much."
"It feels like you could arm a thousand people with this."
The weapons and equipment were top-tier. They even provided medicine and Belly.
They had plundered so many nations in the first half of the Grand Line, and even robbed the Celestial Dragons. The Rocket Team Pirates had massive wealth. Combined with the fact that most of these things were self-produced, this was only a small amount of aid to Vane, but to the Fish-Men it was an enormous fortune.
"It's just a very small amount. You Fish-Men aren't few in number—it probably won't be enough soon. Once we gain a firm foothold in the New World, you can come receive the next batch of supplies."
"Don't think about refusing. We've already shared drinks. Since the Fish-Man Pirates are willing to become an affiliated pirate crew under our Rocket Team Pirates, how could I not give you some benefits?"
Hearing that, Tiger found it hard to refuse. It almost felt like refusing would mean he wasn't sincerely willing to be a subordinate.
"It's getting late. We should depart."
Five ships remained, with one left behind for Tiger. The remaining four consisted of one main ship, and three ships commanded by the captains personally appointed by Vane.
"We're setting off!"
"You must stay safe!"
"Fish-Man Island will always welcome you!"
Many Fish-Men voluntarily came to the port to see the fleet off, especially the families whose loved ones had been rescued from the Red Line. Their sincerity was unquestionable.
...
Waters at the entrance of the New World.
Two Marine warships were patrolling here, each commanded by a Vice Admiral.
"It's been so long and there's still no sign of the Rocket Team Pirates. This is very strange."
They were Vice Admirals active in the New World. Their usual operational area was this front section of the sea. Further inside were the territories of major pirates, where Marine power could hardly penetrate.
Finding and eliminating the Rocket Team Pirates was a brand-new order issued to them by the World Government.
Unfortunately, they had already stayed in this area for several days and still hadn't discovered any trace of the Rocket Team Pirates.
"Could it be that they all died at the bottom of the sea?"
"It's not impossible. The dangers of the seabed could bury everything."
The two Vice Admirals were chatting through Den Den Mushi. Both ships remained within each other's line of sight, ensuring that if one was attacked, the other could quickly provide support.
"Not good!!"
The Vice Admiral on the other end of the Den Den Mushi suddenly cried out in panic. The Vice Admiral on this ship immediately turned his gaze toward the other warship within sight.
A white beam pierced up from beneath the warship, shattering its keel. This caused a massive explosion, rendering the warship immobile.
A whirlpool formed on the sea surface, and the Gyarados submarine emerged.
Then four bulges of water followed, and four ships surfaced, their coatings bursting apart.