Everything inside the house had already been emptied.
All usable fruits from the orchard and every harvestable vegetable from the fields had been moved aboard the Traveler.
Looking at the Mushroom House they had lived in for more than half a year, both Perona and Robin wore reluctant expressions.
But since Arashi had decided to leave, no matter how unwilling they were, they would still follow him.
Because compared to the Mushroom House and everything here—
What they cared about more…
Was Arashi himself.
"Let's go."
After glancing once at the Mushroom House he had personally built from scratch, Arashi showed not the slightest trace of attachment before turning decisively and walking away.
When he had originally chosen to stay here and develop the island, the twenty-thousand travel point reward had certainly been part of the reason—
But not all of it.
Ever since deciding to help Perona and Robin grow stronger, he had already planned to find a place to temporarily settle down and train the two girls properly.
Now the mission was complete.
The girls' strength had also advanced to an entirely new level.
Naturally, Arashi no longer had any reason to remain.
Though life here had indeed been carefree and peaceful—
It wasn't the life he truly wanted.
After finally arriving in the world of One Piece, a world he had once followed so passionately—
Of course he wanted to travel everywhere and experience all the unique sights and wonders this world had to offer.
"Arashi, where are we traveling next?"
Back aboard the Traveler, Perona instantly tossed aside the reluctance she'd shown moments earlier.
The thought of beginning a new journey immediately transformed her mood from sadness to eager anticipation.
"Not sure yet."
Arashi blinked thoughtfully.
"South Blue? Or maybe North Blue? Well, whatever. Let's leave this place first."
As his voice fell—
Arashi personally took the helm once more.
With Robin and Perona assisting him, the Traveler raised its sails again and set off toward a new voyage.
—
At the same time—
The fleet of Strollo Pirate ships being pursued by five Marine warships continued racing toward Ohara's Devil Sea Region while enduring constant naval bombardment.
The moment both the Marine fleet and pirate ships entered this sea region—
The previously calm ocean suddenly became violently turbulent.
The clear sky was instantly swallowed by rolling dark clouds.
"This is…"
Standing upon the deck of the warship, Vice Admiral Momousagi looked up at the sky, her brows slightly knitting together.
The next second—
Realization struck her.
"This is the Ohara sea region?!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!
A series of deafening thunderclaps exploded across the sky.
Countless bolts of lightning tore through the heavens wildly, illuminating the darkened world as bright as day.
Before the Marines aboard the ships could even react—
A torrential downpour descended alongside violent winds and towering waves.
"Everyone, stay alert!"
Instantly drenched by the rain, Momousagi glanced toward the pirate fleet, now barely visible through the storm.
Her expression darkened.
"We've been tricked."
"Report, Vice Admiral!"
A Marine officer rushed over urgently.
"The pirate ships have all disapp—"
BOOOOM!!!
Before he could finish speaking—
A horrifying explosion suddenly erupted.
Turning toward the sound, everyone saw a massive blaze suddenly burst from one of the warships on the outer flank.
Immediately afterward—
Marine soldiers screamed as they were blasted off the ship and hurled into the sea.
Before Momousagi and the others could react—
A barrage of cannon fire followed immediately after.
Accompanied by piercing whistles through the air, countless cannonballs rained down around the warship like a storm.
In an instant—
The entire vessel was swallowed by flames.
"Damn it!"
Seeing a warship destroyed in mere moments, Momousagi fully understood the situation.
Clearly—
The Strollo Pirates had never truly intended to flee.
They had deliberately lured the Marines into the Devil Sea Region—
Using the terrible weather and near-zero visibility to launch a counterattack.
Of course, against ordinary pirate crews, such tricks would hardly matter.
But this was the Strollo Pirates—
The rapidly rising force that had become the number one threat to Marine forces in West Blue within only a few months.
Still—
The Strollo Pirates themselves were not the truly terrifying part.
The real reason for their explosive rise…
Was their captain.
According to Marine Headquarters intelligence—
They had already confirmed that Strollo was the user of a Logia-type Flame-Flame Fruit.
A pirate capable of controlling fire.
"Hahahahaha!"
Standing atop his flagship with blazing flames wrapped around both fists, Strollo looked toward the Marine warship engulfed in fire ahead of him and laughed madly.
"Listen up, boys!"
"Keep your spirits up!"
"Let's wipe out every last one of these Marines here in the Devil Sea Region in one go!"
"ROOOOAR!!!"
The moment Strollo finished speaking, the hundred-plus pirates behind him roared in unison.
Immediately afterward—
The pirate fleet that had been fleeing moments ago reorganized itself into a fan-shaped formation before rapidly charging toward the Marine warships.
Watching his ships launch their counteroffensive, Strollo narrowed his eyes, his expression burning with fanatic ambition.
Half a year ago—
He had merely been an insignificant nobody among pirates.
During one battle, he had been knocked into the sea.
Just when he thought he would drown there—
An unexpected Devil Fruit had drifted right before him.
At the same time, his pirate crew had won the battle.
After being rescued aboard the ship, he didn't hand the Devil Fruit over to his captain.
Instead—
He ate it himself without hesitation.
The moment he obtained its power—
He immediately killed his captain and seized control.
After becoming captain, he renamed the crew the Strollo Pirates and began pursuing his dream of dominating West Blue.
Over the past six months—
Every pirate crew that crossed paths with him had either been annihilated…
Or forced into submission.
As his crew grew stronger and stronger, he no longer felt satisfied ruling only the seas.
He began attacking villages and towns across the land as well.
To make his name echo across every corner of West Blue—
To become a pirate with a bounty exceeding one hundred million—
He even dared attack Marine warships.
Though the Marines launched massive manhunts against him—
He felt no fear whatsoever.
Not only did he feel no fear—
He intended to deliver these Marines a devastating blow.
As long as he sank all five warships before him and slaughtered every Marine aboard—
His name would resound throughout West Blue and spread into the Grand Line.
And then—
He would lead his pirate crew onward triumphantly into the Grand Line itself—
Toward the sea he desired most of all.
The New World.
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