The storm continued to pour, and the weather in this area had never improved, always remaining shrouded in darkness.
On the deck of the black ship beneath the curtain of rain, Pedro and Shishilian, along with a group of Fur Race members, stood against the rain, eagerly looking up at the stormy sky, with a telescope in hand.
"Captain, will the rain really stop?" The gorilla Black Buck was full of doubt.
Nearby, the bull Fur Race member Roddy had the same expression.
Pedro was also uncertain. He hesitated for a moment and said:
"It should, right? After all, Lady Lily said that the lightning has ceased, and we're almost at O'hara. When we reach the base, there won't be any lightning."
On their way to O'hara, these Fur Race members were filled with anticipation. Onboard the ship, they nearly had parties every day in the luxurious hall, reveling in indulgences they had never experienced before.
Even the Sea King's meat was cooked in various styles, tasting much better than anything the Fur Race had ever prepared.
Of course, these were just matters of quality. What truly excited the Fur Race was the promise of the blue sea, magical phenomena, and thrilling adventures... none of which were present.
Aside from the raging storm, lightning, and thunder, they could only gaze through the small windows at the faintly visible seawater whirlpools outside, under the veil of rain.
Where was the blue sea... only gloomy wind and rain?
However, after spending these days together, the allegiance and passion of the Disaster Pirates moved the Fur Race members, making them feel it wasn't so bad to follow these people. Their initial resistance had long faded, and those like Pedro who had sailed the seas before adapted quickly, even changing how they addressed them.
If Pekoms could do it, so could Pedro.
In fact, he even held hopes of regaining his lifespan.
After all, they were one of the Four Emperors. What they say isn't just idle talk, right?
As for now, they were waiting for the rain to stop, so they could be the first to see the blue sea, the magical islands, and that city spoken of as the most prosperous by others.
Pedro had sailed many years ago. As a child, he remembered wanting to follow Roger but was refused.
Now, following a Pirate Emperor, although conquered by force... at this moment, doesn't it also fulfill that childhood dream of following a Great Pirate?
He was the first to change his mindset.
Including the members of his Knight's Order, who, influenced by his changed form of address, gradually followed along, which in turn affected Shishilian's Firearms Team and more of the Fur Race members.
"It stopped, it stopped!"
With Shishilian's shout, they could feel the massive storm losing its violent force, the falling rain gradually lessening, and the seawater whirlpools around the Death Star calming, turning into waves.
And those waves slowly subsided together with the curtain of rain, eventually disappearing.
The clouds parted, revealing a clear sky and the rising and falling blue sea, causing the Fur Race members who had been waiting on the deck to widen their eyes.
It's different from looking down from such a high position in Zou. Although that view was also vast, it lacked the feeling of being immersed. Most of the Fur Race members only felt it was surreal, but now, experiencing the blue sea firsthand and looking at the waves up close, the sensory difference was immense.
Especially...
"Oh! I see it!"
Shishilian raised the telescope, looking at the gradually emerging island in front, and couldn't help but widen his eyes.
On the island, near a narrow passage of the sea route, there was an exceptionally huge city.
No city walls, residences everywhere, and faintly, one could see the heads of numerous people moving...
At this distance, seeing the buildings was normal, but being able to see the heads under the buildings...
There were so many people!
And now, in the passage, a large number of ships were docking, and even on this sea surface, they could see many ships sailing alongside them, either heading out or moving in, as if that place were the central point for all vessels.
Merchant ships carrying goods, immigrant ships with people, pirate ships with pirate flags, all could be seen here.
Energy!
This place exuded more vitality than anywhere else, reflecting the present state of Storm City.
They may not receive information, but it's not that they understood nothing. This simplest concept, they could grasp.
A city full of energy, its prosperity surely exceeded their imagination!
"Can we live here in the future?" Pedro asked, somewhat uncertain.
Although the hostility of the Fur Race towards humans was a rumor, being isolated from the world, not allowing people to enter the forests was indeed something the Fur Race did. Even when they showed goodwill, it was because their numbers were large, and the humans entering Zou were few, providing a collective sense of security.
But living in a place bustling with many humans, that was uncertain...
"No problem."
At this moment, Gin arrived with many subordinates, who spontaneously started furling sails and preparing ropes for docking. Gin took two steps forward and said to the Fur Race:
"What Master Sage says is absolute; there's no need to worry about people disobeying his commands. Moreover, species like yours, we also have here. Except the Fishman Race hasn't submitted yet, most common sea races can be found here."
They have Giants, although just one.
They have plenty of small people, and in addition, long arms, long legs, and even the Snake-headed Race and Sky Island People exist here.
Moriah's own Ghost Race counts too.
Not claiming to have all races coming, but the mold is nearly the same.
"Master Sage doesn't mind other races coming here; in his eyes, they're all the same. Look at those immigrant ships; we don't know where they heard our legends from, but they came with their families, and Master Sage never discriminates. Arrive and you can settle, have work."
In terms of population, that's always been insufficient. Sage is even scheming up plans to involve Urouge since Renedia wants gold, intending to have Urouge take her for a visit, and bring down some Sky Island People while there.
Those folks, some of them do yearn for land.
As for the Giants, that's more a matter of chance; they're stubborn types, and as the strongest race's stubborn types, becoming pirates is one thing, but changing places to live is uncertain.
The Death Star quickly docked at a dedicated space in the harbor, spontaneously clearing a spot for Sage and the others to disembark.
At this time, Hawkins, responsible for staying behind, was already waiting at the port.
"Welcome back."
Hawkins, upon seeing Sage disembark, said, "There's something I need to report. Your blood relative... Nico Robin has been waiting for quite some time."