"This technology is incredible, meow. This should be an energy converter. Seawater is the energy… no, it should be the salt inside the seawater."
Of the only two intact machines, one was an energy device capable of converting the salt in seawater into energy.
The other one looked like some kind of gravity device.
"How many years ago was this technology made? And it's still running."
Vane slapped the outer shell of the saucer-shaped machine. There were some words inside, but he couldn't recognize a single one. Clearly, it was ancient script—maybe not even script from this era at all.
In the history of pirates, there was once a peak era of technology. Unfortunately, it vanished eight hundred years ago. The kingdom that disappeared eight hundred years ago… and six hundred years later, a giant robot was still able to attack Mary Geoise. If this machine was on the same technological level as that one, then it barely made sense that it could keep functioning until now.
However, this machine looked more like a flying saucer—something meant for flight and even space travel. It didn't resemble something produced by the ancient kingdom. Instead, it was more like the kind of aircraft Enel from Skypiea had been obsessed with building to travel to the moon.
"Meowth, put it away. We'll study it properly later."
This "flying saucer" wasn't particularly massive. Meowth could still store it. Otherwise, they would've had to dismantle it into parts.
The moment the "flying saucer" was swallowed into Meowth's belly, Vane heard a bloodcurdling scream from outside.
He immediately grabbed Meowth and flew out—just in time to catch Caesar Clown, who was in free fall.
"T-that scared me to death! The gravity suddenly returned to normal!"
They'd forgotten Caesar was still above them when they retrieved the saucer. Good thing they came out in time, or he would've smashed straight into the sea. From that height, breaking a few bones would've counted as lucky.
"Let's head back. We won't figure this place out anytime soon."
Vane didn't mention whether they'd gained anything. It was better to stay cautious around Caesar Clown. In the original story, the guy had far too many prior offenses. He was usable—but there was no need to tell him everything.
...
Their ships stayed at Boar Island [Named so because of the many ferocious wild boars] for a full day.
The boars that had long ruled the island suffered an unprecedented blow.
Almost all of the Rocket Team pirates' fighting forces were mobilized, launching a large-scale purge against the herds. Each of these wild boars possessed strength worth at least twenty million, and with their overwhelming numbers, they had become nightmares for many rookies.
Now, they had run into the Rocket Team—a crew that entered the New World with astonishing numbers and a wealth of mid- to high-level combat power. The boars were reduced to nothing more than stored provisions.
"Hahaha! Weren't you chasing me happily yesterday?! Go die!"
Tant charged at the very front. He was determined to take fierce revenge on the boars.
"Don't go too deep. If these boars truly go berserk, we might not be able to save you."
Bonez spoke as he grabbed a boar by its tusk, swung it around, and hurled it out, knocking over several of its own kind.
One boar tried to ambush him, but when it rammed into Bonez, its own body split open with a massive wound instead.
"Fifty heads. Easy work."
Hancock stood atop a petrified boar statue, surrounded by female crewmates praising her endlessly.
"As expected of Hancock-sama, completing the task Captain Vane assigned so effortlessly."
"This will definitely make her the most favored officer under Captain Vane."
For creatures like boars that only knew how to charge wildly, Hancock could petrify one with a single arrow. For her absurd ability, fifty boars truly was light work.
"What are you saying? It's just dealing with a few stupid boars. Becoming the one Vane-sama values most… I still have a long way to go."
Hancock twisted her body like a noodle.
"Sister is like this again."
"Lately, whenever Captain Vane is mentioned, she becomes like that."
Hancock didn't remain in that state for long. She quickly clapped her hands.
"I must hurry back and let Vane-sama see my results. Everyone, let's bring these stupid boars back together."
She clapped once more, and the ground trembled. A mound of earth quickly rose beneath her feet as some creature lifted her up on its head.
It was a massive serpent that appeared to be entirely made of transparent crystal.
Crystal Onix—an offshoot Pokémon developed from the Snake-Snake Fruit abilities of Hancock and her sister. It was a variant of Onix that originally appeared in the Orange Islands region.
Onix was originally a Pokémon that feared water greatly. But due to environmental mutation, Crystal Onix not only lost its fear of water but even enjoyed moving within it. Hancock's homeland, Amazon Lily, was filled with snakes. The female warriors there practically each had a snake, and some could even use them as bows.
Originally, Hancock would have had a snake mount of her own. But after following Vane, the one left behind on Amazon Lily was no longer accessible. So Crystal Onix was used as compensation instead.
Though it was thicker and a bit harder, Crystal Onix was absolutely beautiful—and undeniably stronger. It was certainly far more useful than Hancock's original snake.
"Hancock, come help out!"
"No. I must hurry and deliver my achievements to Vane-sama. You all can take your time."
Without comparison, how could her diligence stand out?
The Snake Princess rode Crystal Onix at the front, clearing the path, and soon returned near the beach.
"Vane-sama, we're back! We're the first… Huh? Why is there an extra ship?"
Only then did Hancock realize their five ships had become six. An unfamiliar vessel had appeared.
"Sister, that symbol is… the Big Mom Pirates."
Gloriosa of Amazon Lily had once been part of the Rocks Pirates and had been colleagues with Big Mom, so she recognized the Big Mom Pirates' emblem.
"One of the monster pirate crews of the New World. Aside from Whitebeard, the most famous are the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates."
"Why would the Big Mom Pirates appear here?"
"Hurry back. There might be a fight."
...
Time rewinds to a day earlier.
"This rookie's bounty is unusually high. If we recruit him into our crew, I'm afraid no one but Mama would be able to suppress him."
Charlotte Oven stared at Vane's bounty poster with a displeased expression. High heat radiated from his hand as he burned the poster to ashes.
User of the Heat-Heat Fruit, Charlotte Oven.
Three major officers had come on this trip to recruit Vane: the eldest brother Perospero, bounty 500 million, user of the Lick-Lick Fruit; Oven, currently at 300 million; and Daifuku, also at 300 million Belly, user of the Puff-Puff Fruit.
The combined bounties of the three totaled 1.1 billion Belly. Within the family, aside from Big Mom herself, no one's bounty exceeded one billion yet. This fact left the hot-tempered Oven extremely dissatisfied.