Half a month later, Sugisawa Yuuto's expedition to the South Blue came to a successful conclusion.
Not only had he exceeded every mission objective, but he had also gained two new companions.
After purchasing essential supplies and a few specialty gifts from the South Blue, Yuuto set off for the Grand Line once more — accompanied by Urutia and Bonney, aboard a magically powered vessel that cruised steadily through the Calm Belt.
However…
Two days later, a new problem emerged.
The ship's pantry — stocked full when they departed — was completely empty.
Yuuto stared at the barren food storage room, then turned to look at Bonney, who stood nearby twiddling her fingers innocently. The corners of his mouth twitched helplessly.
Good grief…
He'd known Bonney was famous for her monstrous appetite — able to rival even the Straw Hat boy when it came to eating — but still… this was on another level.
For two days straight, her mouth hadn't stopped moving.
Yuuto sighed inwardly. When we get back to the guild, I'm definitely installing a refrigerator with a lock.
"I'm sorry, President!" Bonney said weakly, clasping her hands together. "I read in the news that you're super fast! I thought we'd be back at the guild soon, so I didn't hold back…"
Yuuto could only stare.
Good grief. She's still thinking about the banquet?
"Hey, President," Bonney continued eagerly, "when can we have that big feast with everyone?"
Yuuto exhaled slowly. "Heh… I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, Bonney-chan. We'll be staying here for a while — a few days at the shortest, maybe several dozen at the longest."
"Ehh?!" Bonney's beautiful pink eyes widened in alarm. "Dozens of days?! Why? What about food?!"
Yuuto didn't answer immediately. Before he could, Urutia smiled gently and tried to comfort the girl.
"It's all right, Bonney. We're surrounded by the sea — if the food runs out, there's always fish."
"Unfortunately, Urutia," Yuuto said, spreading his hands, "we've been drifting for kilometers, and there's not a single fish in sight."
"Huh?!" Bonney gasped and hurried to look over the rail.
The sea stretched endlessly in every direction — eerily calm and utterly lifeless. No wind. No waves. Not even a ripple.
Of course, that was only natural. This was the Calm Belt.
But no fish at all? That was strange.
Bonney frowned, half convinced Yuuto was teasing her.
Yet… the truth was far more terrifying.
The saying goes: "The name of a person is like the shadow of a great tree."
And Sugisawa Yuuto — one of the Five Emperors of the Sea — cast a very long shadow indeed.
His power had grown immensely, especially with the ever-expanding strength of the Dragon King within him. Even when restrained, the aura he exuded — the silent dominance of a top predator — was enough to make lesser creatures instinctively flee.
To the sea itself, Yuuto's presence was a signal of death.
The Calm Belt was known as the nest of the Sea Kings, home to colossal monsters that terrified even the bravest sailors.
Yet in the two days since their arrival, Yuuto's group hadn't encountered a single one. Not a single fish dared to approach.
Within a kilometer radius, his invisible dragon's might ruled supreme.
No fish — that was true.
Scaring Bonney — also true.
If Yuuto actually wanted to catch a Sea King, he could do so in an instant. Just a flick of his hand, a pulse of lightning into the depths, and entire leviathans would roll belly-up at the surface.
Three more days passed.
Even though Bonney had tried to restrain her appetite, the ship's food reserves were completely wiped out.
"I'm starving…" she groaned pitifully, her stomach rumbling loud enough to echo across the deck.
"No, it's my fault!" she declared suddenly, shaking her fists. "The President and Sister Tia haven't eaten either. I'll definitely catch some fish!"
Bonney grabbed a fishing rod and sat determinedly by the railing.
But with Yuuto's dragon aura dominating the waters, her "fishing expedition" was doomed from the start.
As the sun set and night fell, Bonney — having caught absolutely nothing — sprawled out on the deck, mumbling in her sleep about roasted meat and stew, drooling all over the floorboards.
Urutia sighed helplessly and turned to Yuuto. "President…"
Before she could finish, Bonney suddenly shot upright, sniffing the air sharply.
"Meat! I smell meat! Roasted meat, fried meat, stew—!"
Urutia blinked. "Bonney, are you imagining things again?"
But Bonney's eyes were sparkling. "No! Sister Tia, I swear there's food — that way!" She pointed toward the southeast.
In the far distance, a faint light shimmered against the dark sea — bright and growing brighter, like a star descending to earth.
Yuuto narrowed his eyes. He could see it too now. An island — bustling with light and sound.
"It's real," Urutia murmured in surprise. "It's not uninhabited either."
From afar, the island looked festive — lanterns aglow, music faintly drifting over the sea.
Yuuto smiled. "Well then… how about a little dinner raid? Consider it Bonney's punishment — and reward."
Before Bonney could reply, Yuuto activated his Gravity Magic.
The magic-powered boat lifted cleanly from the water, soaring into the night sky as Bonney screamed in awe. They glided silently toward the glowing island below — Amazon Lily, the fabled home of the Kuja tribe.
Even the serpent guardians of the island — massive venomous snakes feared by Sea Kings — bowed silently beneath Yuuto's unseen dragon aura, not daring to hiss.
Amazon Lily — The Land of the Nine Snakes
The entire island was ablaze with celebration. Every house glittered with lanterns and banners.
Today was a special day — the triumphant return of their ruler, the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, from another victorious expedition.
Whenever the Kuja Pirates came home, the entire nation rejoiced.
In the midst of this festival, no one noticed a strange ship descending quietly at the edge of the harbor.
Well — almost no one.
The serpents that guarded the island felt Yuuto's overwhelming pressure and instinctively lowered their heads, slithering away without a sound.
Bonney's eyes sparkled as she sat at a long banquet table piled high with food.
"Hey, Sister, can I eat as much as I want here? Is this really an unlimited buffet?!"
"Of course!" said Margaret, a friendly Kuja warrior with short orange hair. "Today we celebrate Lady Snake Empress's return! Everyone can eat and drink freely — just remember not to waste anything!"
"Got it!" Bonney nodded solemnly — before immediately stuffing food into a large sack.
Margaret blinked in surprise as Bonney scurried away, her sack bulging like a treasure chest.
"She's probably sharing with her friends," Margaret muttered, shaking her head.
But ten minutes later, Bonney returned — with an empty sack, a fistful of Berries, and zero shame.
She dumped the coins onto the counter and started piling food again.
Her behavior quickly drew attention.
"Whose kid is that?" asked Stubby, a broad-shouldered warrior. "She eats better than I do!"
"I've never seen her before," said Yafilandra, frowning. "Did she really just pay with money?"
"Something's off," murmured Kikyo, the vigilant guardian. She stepped forward, blocking Bonney's path. "Hey, little one — what's your name? Where are your parents?"
Bonney blinked innocently. "My name's Bonney! And I'm just… hungry!"
The warriors exchanged glances.
"She can eat like a Sea King," Stubby muttered. "She'd make a great warrior someday."
Margaret folded her arms. "Little one, you can take what you can finish, but don't waste food."
"I told you I can finish it!" Bonney said seriously — and to prove her point, she devoured an entire roast pig in three bites.
The Kuja warriors stared, jaws dropping.
Before anyone could react, Bonney slung her stuffed sack over her shoulder and bolted toward the harbor.
"The kid's gone!" Stubby shouted.
"Follow her — just in case," said Kikyo sharply.
Back aboard the magic-powered ship, Bonney beamed proudly.
"Mission complete! Look, President, Sister Tia — I brought enough food to last us for days!"
Yuuto gave her a skeptical look. "You did pay for that, right? You didn't… 'borrow' it?"
"Of course I paid!" Bonney said indignantly. "If you don't believe me, you can check!"
Yuuto chuckled and scratched his head. "Sorry for doubting you, Bonney. My mistake."
She puffed her cheeks playfully. "Then you're forgiven, President!"
Just as the three of them began eating, Urutia's expression suddenly changed.
"President — someone's coming."
An instant later—
BOOM!
Fireworks burst into the sky — the Kuja's emergency signal for intruders.
"Ah! We've been found!" Bonney panicked, dropping her food. "Sorry, President! I messed up! Let's run!"
Yuuto took a sip of wine, utterly calm. "No need. Let's finish dinner first."
In truth, he'd intended to visit quietly, pay for the food, and leave without causing trouble.
After all, barging into someone else's homeland uninvited was bad manners — and bad for Fairy Tail's reputation.
But now that they'd been discovered… well, leaving without a greeting would be rude too.
Amazon Lily Port
The Kuja warriors gathered at the harbor, faces grim.
"So it really is an intruder," Kikyo said darkly.
"Impossible!" Stubby exclaimed. "This is the Calm Belt — no ship could approach without us noticing!"
"Yet that one did," Yafilandra said, pointing toward the docked vessel.
"Wait for the others," Margaret warned. "Don't act rashly until the main force arrives."
Moments later, several figures rushed onto the scene — members of the Kuja Pirates led by Sandersonia, Boa Hancock's green-haired sister.
"Margaret! Kikyo! What's going on? Why was the emergency signal fired?" she demanded.
"Lady Sandersonia!" Kikyo saluted. "Forgive us — it's our negligence. An unknown ship entered the harbor. We believe intruders are aboard."
"Nani?!"
The warriors gasped in disbelief.
"Intruders? Impossible!"
"Who would dare invade Amazon Lily?"
"This is the land protected by the Shichibukai Empress herself!"
Their protests fell silent when they saw the ship — and the unfamiliar emblem etched upon its hull.
Under the pale moonlight, one of the younger warriors, Lan, squinted and suddenly froze.
"T-that… that's the mark of Fairy Tail!"
"Fairy Tail?" Margaret frowned. "What's that?"
At that, several others paled.
"Fairy Tail… you mean the guild of the Fifth Emperor of the Sea?" Sandersonia whispered. "The one led by Sugisawa Yuuto — bounty, one point five billion Berries?"
A collective gasp swept through the ranks.
Their Empress Boa Hancock was a Shichibukai — one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
But the Emperors… they ruled above even that. Legends who shaped the very tides of the world.
"Why is Fairy Tail's ship here?"
"Did they come for us? For Lady Snake Empress?"
"We've never provoked them!"
Panic rippled through the warriors — until a sound silenced them all.
Clack.
The ship's hatch opened.
A figure stepped out slowly, wine glass in hand — tall, composed, eyes gleaming faintly with draconic power.
"That… that's…!" Lan stammered, trembling.
"T-the head of Fairy Tail — the Fifth Emperor of the Sea — Sugisawa Yuuto!"