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Advance chapters are uploaded on- patreon.com/Snooze_01
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Time: One hour after Ornn and the others left Wano.
Location: Hakumai Port.
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The guard was still rubbing his cheek.
The burning pain from earlier had not faded in the slightest. Every time he moved his jaw, the sting flared again, reminding him of the slap he had just received from Holdem. Even now, the memory lingered vividly in his mind.
So when he saw a massive warship emerging from the mist in the distance, his first instinct was to raise the signal flag and stop it.
However, before he could act, the pain in his cheek surged again.
His hand paused mid-air.
After a brief hesitation, he slowly lowered the flag.
"...Forget it."
He leaned back and sat down again, choosing not to intervene.
If he stopped the ship and angered another officer, he might not survive the encounter. Compared to that, pretending not to see anything seemed like the safer choice.
That decision lasted only a few seconds.
A dark shadow tore through the mist at an alarming speed.
The guard's pupils shrank.
Before he could react, a massive hand seized him by the collar and slammed him violently into the wall behind him.
Boom.
The stone surface cracked instantly, fractures spreading outward like a web.
Pain exploded through his body.
"Who gave you the courage to neglect your duty?"
The voice was deep and oppressive, carrying a pressure that made it difficult to breathe.
The guard trembled as he looked up.
Standing before him was a towering figure over eight meters tall. His blond hair was tied high into a braid, a thick black fur cloak draped over his shoulders, and heavy ivory ornaments decorated his body. The lower half of his face was concealed behind a metal mask, but the cold, piercing gaze in his eyes was more than enough.
"You saw my ship approaching," the man continued evenly, "and yet you did nothing. Are Kaido's orders meaningless to you?"
The guard's body shook uncontrollably.
What kind of life is this...
One superior beat him for inspecting too much, while another was ready to kill him for failing to do so. No matter what he chose, the result seemed to lead to the same end.
Even so, he forced a trembling smile onto his face.
"L-Lord Jack... this isn't my fault! It was Lord Holdem! He said that ships carrying officers didn't need to be inspected!"
Jack's gaze remained cold.
However, he did not kill the guard.
Jack released him, and the guard collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air.
"Holdem..."
Jack muttered the name, his tone thoughtful.
Something about the situation did not feel right.
Holdem was stationed in Kuri. Leaving port without orders was already suspicious. Ordering subordinates not to inspect ships only made it worse.
Although Jack was known for his direct nature, he was not incapable of recognizing inconsistencies.
"Search the ship," he ordered. "Check every inch."
---
The inspection took time.
But in the end, nothing unusual was found.
There were no hidden passengers, no suspicious cargo, and no sign of Yamato.
Only after confirming this did Jack allow the ship to proceed.
---
Once aboard back, he took out a small vial and poured its contents into his palm.
Several fragments of paper lay there.
Vivre Cards.
Kaido had ordered them prepared for key subordinates so that they could be tracked in times of danger.
Jack sorted through them carefully until he found the one he was looking for.
A small piece labeled with a single name.
"Holdem."
The moment he focused on it, the paper began to burn.
Rapidly.
Within seconds, it turned to ash.
Jack's eyes narrowed.
"...Dead?"
The conclusion came instantly.
Holdem had left port without orders and died shortly afterward.
There was only one explanation.
Yamato.
Jack's expression shifted slightly.
If Yamato had truly escaped, capturing her would be a tremendous achievement. It could elevate his standing within the Beasts Pirates.
However, he quickly dismissed the idea.
Without a Vivre Card to guide him and without any means to track her across the vast sea, pursuit was meaningless.
Instead, he chose the more practical option.
He took out a Den Den Mushi and initiated a call.
"Boss , I have information regarding Yamato."
---
On the other end, Black Maria froze briefly before responding.
"Where is she?"
Her tone carried unmistakable urgency.
Over the past month, Kaido's anger had grown increasingly unstable. Numerous subordinates had already been executed, and even high-ranking members had not escaped punishment.
If this continued, the entire island would fall into chaos.
"She left through Hakumai," Jack replied calmly. "Not long ago."
There was a brief pause.
"I understand," Black Maria said. "I will inform King immediately. He will begin a large-scale aerial search."
---
After ending the call, Jack looked out toward the sea.
It appeared calm.
But it would not remain that way for long.
Far away, on the open ocean, Ornn stood quietly at the edge of the sailboat.
The wind carried the scent of salt and distance, and the waves moved steadily beneath them. Wano had already disappeared beyond the horizon, leaving only the endless sea ahead.
After a moment, he lowered his gaze.
The Creation Illustrated Book stirred once more within his mind.
The pages turned.
Then stopped.
[King of Beasts — Lion King (Mid-Grade Legendary)]
A relic that enhances physical capabilities and grants regenerative properties.
— Moderate improvement to strength, speed, and perception— Unique ability: Lion Never Dies
Lion Never Dies:Accelerates healing. Minor injuries recover within seconds, while severe wounds are stabilized quickly. Lost limbs cannot be restored.
Requirements:— High-grade Sake Heart Steel— Lion-type Devil Fruit or corresponding heart
Note: Ability conflict detected. Transformation enhancement unavailable. Regenerative effect retained.
Ornn studied the description calmly.
The loss of the transformation effect did not concern him. Compared to his current strength, that enhancement would have provided limited value.
However, the regenerative ability was far more important.
In battle, survival often depended not on strength, but on endurance.
That is enough.
He closed the page, his thoughts settling into clarity.
The materials were ready.
The path forward was clear.
What remained was time.
---
The sailboat continued forward across the vast sea.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Ornn no longer felt as though he was fleeing.
Instead, he was moving toward something.