After a long and grueling journey, the four major divisions of the Gray Country finally returned one after another to Birka.
When the residents of Birka saw the four divisions' fleets arriving in full formation, they were utterly stunned.
Because Bins had sealed off all news regarding the Third Division and Burs's death, most of Birka's people had no idea what had happened—or what war was now brewing. To them, the sudden return of the four divisions was as shocking as it was mysterious.
As one colossal warship after another descended through the cloud seas, the citizens of Birka gazed upward in awe and pride.
Ever since the Gray Country had arrived in the Sky Islands, Birka had become the heart of their domain above the clouds. The people of Birka felt honored—proud, even—to stand under Rosinante's banner.
It was because of the Gray Country that Birka had achieved such prestige among the islands of the sky.
Birka was also one of the few islands untouched by rebellion—and even if anyone had such thoughts, they wouldn't dare act on them. The BloodSworn Guard was stationed here, after all.
Now, seeing the overwhelming might of the four divisions, the citizens' pride only swelled further. Clearly, the Gray Country's strength in the Blue Sea had grown far beyond their imagination.
Meanwhile, far off within a drifting cloud bank, a lazy voice broke the silence.
"Ahhh~ so this is the Gray Country's headquarters, huh?"
The speaker was none other than the Navy's "Monster Vice Admiral," Borsalino—better known as Kizaru.
Because the Navy Headquarters regarded the Gray Country's movements as a matter of grave concern, Fleet Admiral Sengoku had personally authorized Kizaru to pursue and observe the returning fleets from the Four Seas.
Normally, the Navy had spent years trying to find the Gray Country's elusive headquarters—without success. Yet this time, the organization had revealed itself, and the Navy would never waste such an opportunity.
By quietly tailing the returning fleets, Kizaru easily discovered Birka's location.
Still, as he gazed down at the gleaming city on the clouds, a faint frown crossed his face. "Strange… Rosinante doesn't seem like the type to expose his base so carelessly…"
At that same moment, within Rosinante's villa atop the cloud peaks of Birka—
Both Enel and a small, cloaked figure turned their heads toward the same direction simultaneously.
"Ara ara~ isn't that the Navy's shiny old man?" Enel drawled, his lips curling in amusement.
Rosinante had anticipated this. With the four divisions returning en masse, it was inevitable that tails would follow. He knew that Birka's location would soon be exposed—but he didn't mind. After this war, he planned to move the Gray Country's headquarters to the Sabaody Archipelago anyway.
Still, to prevent any interference during the coming battle, he had assigned Enel and Denissa to monitor the entire perimeter of Birka.