Grand Line — the Belfast sailed smoothly, not a tremor to be felt—thanks to Lady Avalon's navigation. Calm-faced and twirling her staff, she kept saying,
"Left… a little… yes, that storm will veer off on its own."
With her magical ability to read weather currents, they hardly ever ran into a major storm.
Meanwhile, on the aft deck, Yuuto's training with Irene was intense.
In just a few hours, Yuuto had mastered Requip Magic.
Irene even furrowed her brow.
"So fast, you've learned it."
Days at sea passed without incident.
Until one evening, a small pirate ship blocked their path.
But…
There was no meaningful resistance.
Yamato, with her weapon, had already roughened up half the crew and Miku subdued the rest with her angelic power.
After that they boarded the enemy ship.
"Wow look, Yuuto! They've got so much treasure!" Miku cried, eyes sparkling.
In the ship's hold gold piled to waist height. Chests full of gems and large golden statues decorated the corners.
Kuroneko immediately did a quick count.
"Wow this is a lot… if we tally it up, it's probably around 700 million!"
Irene examined the gold analytically.
"From their force, it's impossible they got all this legitimately. Something isn't right."
Miku stared at the crew who were under her angel control.
"Can you tell me where you got this?"
"Yes, Miku-sama!" one pirate answered respectfully.
"We took it from a temple. The temple had no guards, but it had a lot of gold. This is all of it."
Yuuto raised an eyebrow.
"A temple and gold?"
Then he asked again,
"Was there a settlement or village near that temple?"
"There was, but we didn't do anything to them!" the pirate replied quickly, terrified.
Yuuto looked to Lady Avalon.
"Hey, sensei… could this gold be—"
"Yes. It's offerings for something that dwells in that temple," Lady Avalon said without hesitation.
Yamato rubbed her chin.
"If the villagers offered this much gold, that thing must be deeply revered… or feared."
Kuroneko hugged her notebook and added,
"And if sacrificial offerings were stolen… whatever lives in that temple will be furious."
Yuuto stepped closer to the pirate, gripped his collar and dragged him over to the chart table.
"Show me where you found the gold."
The pirate trembled.
"H-here, Sir!"
He pointed to a small island.
Yuuto marked the island on the map, then gently tossed the pirate to the deck.
"You turn yourselves in to the Navy—and deliver your spoils back to that island. Understood?"
"Y-yes! Understood!"
The pirate fled as fast as he could, nearly tripping several times.
Yuuto, Irene, and Lady Avalon then started transferring all the gold into Belfast's hold using magic.
Yuuto's telekinesis—taught by Irene—helped a lot; huge chests floated one by one onto their deck with ease.
When everything was done, Yuuto stood on deck wiping sweat.
"Belfast, set course for the island I marked."
Belfast bowed elegantly.
"At once, Commander."
The great ship slowly changed direction, heading for the mysterious island where the offering-gold had been stolen.
The island Yuuto marked finally came into view.
But… the whole isle was shrouded in thick purple mist, coiling like living poisonous smoke.
In Belfast's control room, Yuuto and the Tree of Life crew stood watching the island.
"That the island, Belfast?" Yuuto asked.
"Yes, Commander. The coordinates match."
Irene narrowed her eyes; her expression darkened.
"It seems… we're late."
Lady Avalon nodded and flicked her staff.
"Judging by its color, that purple mist is poisonous—and not ordinary poison. High-grade toxin."
Kuroneko studied the fog carefully.
"This mist doesn't look like it contains anything that melts matter."
Yamato looked at Yuuto.
"Yuuto, can you deal with that mist using your magic?"
Miku gripped Yuuto's arm anxiously.
"What should we do, Yuuto?"
Yuuto closed his eyes and inhaled.
"Calm down. With my wind magic I can blow this mist away. But we must find its source quickly."
Then—
Click.
Yuuto snapped his fingers.
Wind began to stir from afar…
---
On the opposite side of the island from where Yuuto stood—
A Marine ship approached.
"What the hell is this mist?" a deep-voiced man asked.
Beside him stood a short-haired woman with glasses.
"Tashigi, order the crew to drop anchor." "Yes, Captain Smoker!"
They were Smoker and Tashigi, passing through the area when they noticed the suspicious purple fog.
"Also have them put on masks. This mist is probably poisonous. Get me a mask."
A crewman quickly handed one over.
"Here, Captain Smoker!"
After the ship anchored, Smoker and Tashigi went ashore; what they found were animals dying.
"Damn… what kind of mist is this?" Smoker muttered.
Tashigi stepped forward cautiously.
"Captain, don't go too far. We don't know how lethal this is."
"Yeah, I know."
Suddenly—
BUUUUUM!!!
A giant gust slammed into the island like a violent gale.
"Aaaaaa! What wind is that!?" Tashigi screamed.
"Damn! It's too strong!" Smoker covered his face.
After a few seconds the wind vanished.
Smoker opened his eyes…and froze.
The purple mist had been blown away.
Not a wisp remained.
"What is actually going on with this island…" he said, removing his mask.
The crew panicked.
"Captain, your mask!"
"The air is safe. That wind just blew all the poisonous fog away. You can remove your masks."
They took them off.
Tashigi watched the retreating wind.
"Captain… do you think that wind was natural?"
Smoker shook his head.
"No. That was clearly someone's ability. A wind that strong was likely sent to clear the mist."
"Tashigi, make sure our men don't spread out too far."
"Yes, Captain!"
They moved into the forest; tall trees and dark roots shaded their steps.
Suddenly—
"Stop."
Smoker caught Tashigi's hand.
"What is it, Captain?"
Smoker stared into the dense treeline.
"Come out. I know you're watching us."
Silence.
Then—
A woman's voice sounded from up in the tree.
"Oho~ I didn't expect the White Hunter to find me so quickly."
A tall woman dropped down from a branch, carrying a massive kanabo.
"Captain Smoker!" Tashigi stepped forward, drew her sword, ready.
"Who are you? Are you the one spreading poison on this island!?"
Smoker held Tashigi back.
"Hold, Tashigi. Don't act rashly. She's strong."
The woman—Yamato—raised a hand casually.
"Whoa, relax. I don't want a fight. I didn't spread that poison. We just arrived here too."
Smoker narrowed his eyes.
"We? So you're the ones who blew the mist away earlier?"
Yamato beamed brightly.
"Yes! Introductions—my name is Kozu—"
But a cheerful voice cut in from a distance.
"Yamato, how is it? Are they talkable!?"
Yamato sighed.
"Not again! Miku!! I was about to introduce myself!!"
Leaves rustled, and a girl with long teal-blue hair stepped out from the trees.
"Sorry Yamato, you took too long so I got impatient," Miku said softly but clearly.
Yamato puffed her cheeks.
"This is the second time I've failed an introduction!"
"Sorry… I won't bother next time," Miku said, clasping her hands, genuinely apologetic.
Smoker and his crew fell silent.
Yamato and Miku's appearances were strikingly different. From a tall, strong-looking woman to a delicate, otherworldly girl—the Marines couldn't read them.
Smoker finally regained his composure.
"Sorry to interrupt, little lady… but could you explain the situation first?"
Miku turned politely; her demeanor was so gentle that a few Marines relaxed a bit.
"Oh, sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Hatsune Miku, and this is Yamato," Miku smiled warmly as she named Yamato.
Then Miku continued,
"For the situation—how about you come with us for a bit? We need your help."
Tashigi immediately stepped half a pace ahead of Smoker, hand ready at her sword.
"What help?" she asked warily. Tension was clear on her face—this might be a trap.
Miku raised both hands in a calming gesture.
"Don't worry. We're not setting a trap. See? The animals on this island are dying."
Yamato nodded toward the deeper forest.
"We found a village. The people there are in the same state as the animals—dying. Our team is trying to help them, but we're short-handed."
Silence hung for a few seconds.
Smoker looked at Miku… then at Yamato… then toward the direction Yamato pointed.
He stepped forward, touching Tashigi's shoulder to hold her back.
"Where is it?" Smoker's voice was steady. He knew a poison this severe couldn't be ignored.
Miku smiled with relief.
"Follow us."
Yamato gave a big nod.
"Come on, hurry. There's not much time."