At the Deep Sea Current headquarters in Undersea City.
Umit accepted the dossier a subordinate handed him. His face showed little change as he muttered coldly:
"That fool Ulunya doesn't even realize he's being watched. Did he really think I was blind to what he's been plotting? Brainless idiot!"
He flipped through the pages, his brows knitting slightly.
"But… who leaked this information? A captain-level officer?"
Turning to his subordinate, Umit asked flatly, "Have you found the source yet?"
The younger man wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Sorry, sir… not yet."
Umit dismissed him with a wave and tapped the table with his fingers.
"So, he can't even win people's loyalty, yet he dares think about rebellion? What a joke."
His expression hardened. "Enough of him. The ship carrying snacks for Linlin is still docked at Crescent Island. Just in case, we'll settle this quickly. Assemble everyone and crush the traitor! And make sure Neil comes too."
"Yes, sir!" The subordinate bowed and hurried out.
Moments later, a fleet of ships wrapped in protective bubble-coats rose from the seabed, weaving skillfully through the undercurrents toward Crescent Island.
In an attic on Crescent Island—
Ulunya slammed his fist on the table, his roar shaking the timbers.
"Why has this news leaked out?!"
One of his men trembled before answering, sweat dripping down his temple. "S-Sir, I don't know. A captain just informed me by Den Den Mushi—Umit already knows! He's gathering his forces to attack us!"
"Damn it! Which captain? Could this be Umit's trap?" Ulunya snarled.
He had never planted a spy in Umit's camp. If this wasn't his own doing, then was it Umit sending false intel to sow confusion?
The subordinate shook his head. "Judging from his tone, it didn't sound fake. The signal came from a captain-level line—someone with real authority. Maybe, like us, he's a cadre who can't stand Umit's cowardly style and deliberately tipped us off."
In the Deep Sea Current, captain was already a cadre-level rank.
Ulunya's teeth ground together. "Investigate it! Find out which captain sent that message!"
Originally, he had planned to slowly chip away at Umit's influence across the seas, to prove that hiding in the deep like a turtle could never expand one's power. But this sudden shift wrecked his plans.
Before he could think further, another subordinate burst in, panic on his face.
"Sir, it's bad! Headquarters really is mobilizing—looks like they're preparing for a full assault!"
Ulunya froze, then stood with a shout. "What?!"
His face darkened. Could the captain's warning have been true after all?
"Everyone, assemble! Prepare for a bloody fight!"
A few days later—
Crescent Island braced for a storm. Word of the coming clash spread quickly, sending townsfolk fleeing for safety.
It wasn't only the Deep Currents gathered there—bounty hunters, pirates, and traders had also come, some to profit, others by chance. But most had already scattered.
Only a handful remained, including Yuno.
Inside a nearly deserted bar, Yuno sat with a newspaper in hand, the only customer for days.
He read aloud, muttering with amusement:
"Hm… so Big Mom is fighting Whitebeard now? And Kaido's war with Red Hair keeps getting worse. These four just can't stay quiet…"
"I guess once it all settles, that'll mark the birth of the Four Emperors."
He recalled that Shanks should have risen to Yonko status more than four years before the main story. By his calculation, that time was close. A year or two at most.
Kaido's war with Red Hair couldn't drag on forever. And afterward, Red Hair might even cross swords with Big Mom.
Whitebeard, though—he wouldn't start fights. Everyone knew he was untouchable.
So long as Red Hair avoided provoking him, the only real conflicts would be between Kaido, Linlin, and Shanks. And once none could topple the others…
The Four Emperors would stand unrivaled.
Yuno's thoughts were interrupted by a raspy voice:
"Young man, why are you still here? This place will soon be a battlefield."
Yuno glanced up. An old man shuffled in, leaning heavily on a cane, frail enough to look like the next step might be his last.
He settled beside Yuno and told the bartender, "A Fiery Rose."
Yuno smirked, sipping his own wine. "Dangerous times, and at your age you're still drinking something that strong?"
He knew the Fiery Rose—a fierce mix of liquors infused with rose essence. It burned like magma down the throat, leaving only fire and fragrance behind. Not his preference; he favored mellow reds.
The old man chuckled. "When you're old, ordinary wine tastes like water. Only fire wakes the tongue."
"You should be taking it easy," Yuno said evenly, noting the man's epaulettes. Not Navy—something else. A remnant of the kingdom that once ruled Crescent Island, perhaps.
The old man raised his glass, eyes glittering. "Don't worry, I'm still in good health." He downed the drink and laughed. "Ahh, that's refreshing! Been a long time since I felt that."
Yuno clinked his glass in response. "Strong, but not for the old. Careful, or it'll burn you out."
The old man smiled faintly. "Youngsters don't understand this taste. Only us old relics still remember it."
The words carried more than talk of liquor—they carried memory.
Yuno nodded, recalling in silence how easily people forget hatred once peace takes root. Some preached forgiveness, others clung to grudges—but time always buried scars.
He lifted his glass with a grin. "You're still tough, old man. A model for us juniors."
The old man brushed invisible dust from his shoulder insignia and chuckled. "If I were younger, maybe I'd brag about it. Back then, I wouldn't even flinch."
"You're still standing here, not running away. That's worth something," Yuno replied.
"My legs are bad—I can't run."
"That's unfortunate."
"Haha… you're amusing, boy. If my granddaughter were still around, I'd introduce her. She'd be your age by now."
The old man laughed, but Yuno's Haki picked up the faint sorrow beneath his carefree tone.
Yuno didn't continue the conversation. Instead, he asked, "Who do you think will win between the two of them?"
"It's hard to say. Big shots like that always have hidden cards," the old man sighed.
Once, they themselves had been easily defeated.
Yuno took a sip of wine and joked, "Didn't you say you weren't afraid before?"
The old man immediately puffed out his beard and glared. "Who said I was afraid? When I was young, I killed dozens of them!"
"Only a dozen? With just a glare from me, thousands would fall." Yuno spoke lightly.
The old man looked at him with disdain. "Who doesn't know how to brag? Do you think you're one of those great pirates?"
"I'm not," Yuno replied calmly, "but I'm younger than them."
The old man scoffed even harder. "I'm older than those so-called great pirates. Why don't you think I'm better than them?"
"Hahaha, old man, you're quite interesting," Yuno laughed.
The old man curled his lips, but then said seriously, "No matter what, we have to do something for the younger generation. Being old is no excuse."
"Oh? Any big moves?" Yuno asked with interest.
"We'll have to try. It's our only hope," the old man said casually, though there was weight in his tone.
Yuno smiled. "Aren't you afraid I'll tell them about this? That'd be a great achievement."
"Boy, would you really?"
"If I said yes, would you have your men outside open fire?"
The old man shook his head. "They're here to protect me, nothing more."
Yuno finished his drink. "Old man, what were you called?"
"What?" The old man was puzzled.
"Your country. What was it called?"
The old man froze, lost in memories. After a long silence, he sighed. "Country… I haven't heard that word in a long time. We… we were the Kingdom of Wenlat."
Yuno smiled.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, artillery fire thundered outside.
A fully armed soldier rushed in and reported, "Sir, Umit's fleet has arrived!"
The old man nodded. His once-stooped body seemed to straighten, and an aura honed on countless battlefields radiated from him. "I understand. You may go."
He looked back at Yuno. "Young man, don't go out. It's dangerous. If you stay here, you may yet survive."
But Yuno ignored the warning. Instead, he said lightly, "The Kingdom of Wenlat doesn't sound good. How about changing the name? Something like… Moonlight Island."
"If we succeed, we'll change it to Moonlight Island," the old man laughed. His voice rang with a sudden heroism, perhaps from the wine.
"I think that name suits you. It carries the 'night' in it." Yuno smiled, poured another glass of red wine, raised it toward the old man, and after drinking, said calmly, "Don't work yourself too hard, old man. The young will take care of everything."
"No," the old man shook his head as he walked away. "Except for us who still remain, everyone else has already fallen."
"How tragic," Yuno murmured.
The old man tapped his cane on the ground, then laughed heartily. "That's why, for the sake of our children's future, us old bones have to fight with everything we've got!"
Yuno raised his glass. "I wish you victory."
"Hahaha! If I succeed, I'll buy you a drink myself!"
With hearty laughter echoing, the old man's figure disappeared through the doorway.
Yuno chuckled. What an interesting old man.
After another sip of wine, he said calmly, "Come out."
Aside from the bartender, no one else was in the room.
And the bartender moved like a machine—mixing drinks, pouring refills—never speaking, never making unnecessary movements.
But Yuno was certain: the bartender and the old man were connected. No, they were from the same country. Both remnants of Wenlat.
"I'll say it again—if you don't come out, you'll die," Yuno's voice carried faintly.
In the corner, a hidden figure suddenly trembled, as though locked onto by something terrifying.
With a swish, a tall figure appeared—long fiery red hair, tight black suit accentuating her shape.
"Who are you? What's your purpose here?"
Her voice was low and smoky, seductive yet edged with hostility.
Yuno didn't even turn. "What's it to you?"
"If you won't answer, don't blame me for being rude!" she snapped, though her heart was filled with unease. That earlier sensation still lingered.
The swivel chair slowly turned, revealing Yuno's calm gaze.
She was tall, with long red hair and light blue eyes. A scar marred her left cheek, turning beauty into ruggedness. Her rosy lips were pressed tight, eyes sharp and guarded.
"Pirate?" Yuno noticed the skull emblem on her clothes.
Under his gaze, she felt stripped bare, a shudder running through her.
"I'll remember you!" she hissed, gritting her teeth. After one last glare, she turned and vanished in a flash.
Yuno leaned back, murmuring to himself: Same eye color as the old man… she must be his granddaughter. Did she go out to sea as a pirate? Perhaps she seeks to save her homeland in another way. Heh…
From his perception, her strength wasn't bad—around Ain or Hina's level.
But against the storm on Crescent Island, it was nowhere near enough.
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