After parting ways with Mihawk, White Ghost and the others entered the West Blue.
The moment they arrived, pirates became far more common. Over the past few days, White Ghost's crew had lost count of how many pirate groups they had wiped out.
They killed one group today, only for another pack to appear from who knew where tomorrow. No matter how many they cleared out, it never seemed to end.
When they passed by the glacier where the Happo Navy hid its treasure, White Ghost had been very tempted to take the whole place for himself.
Unfortunately, before they even got close, they were discovered by the Happo Navy's people.
White Ghost had wanted to simply cut them down. It wasn't as if either side was made up of good people.
But when he saw someone among them holding a Den Den Mushi and reporting something, he gave up on the idea.
Most likely, Chinjao of the Happo Navy had already received the news.
White Ghost couldn't be bothered with them and continued along the route toward the strongest country in the West Blue.
The Flower Country.
A bald man with graying eyebrows and beard, his robe hanging open over a round belly, slowly put down the Den Den Mushi. His expression was somewhat grave.
He was Chinjao, leader of the Happo Navy, a legendary figure whose bounty had once exceeded five hundred million Beli in his prime.
The most powerful and most prideful part of him had once been his cone-shaped head. Only with that head could he smash open the Ice Continent and retrieve the treasure he had hidden there.
But more than ten years ago, in a duel against Vice Admiral Garp, Chinjao had been defeated by Garp's iron fist. His pointed head had been flattened, and he could no longer open the Ice Continent.
Since then, Chinjao had returned to the Flower Country.
All these years, he had never let go of his hatred for Garp.
If anyone dared mention that name in front of him, Chinjao would fly into a rage. Although his cone-shaped head was gone, his strength remained, and once he went berserk, no one could hold him back.
From that point onward, no one dared mention Garp's name before Chinjao again.
Sai looked at his grandfather's dark expression and couldn't help speaking.
"Didn't people say that group has a pretty good temperament? As long as no one provokes them, they usually stay peaceful. There haven't been any bad rumors about them, right?"
Beside him, Boo, with long hair, a skull-like tattoo on his left arm, and two battleaxes on his back, also asked, "Grandfather, what exactly are you worried about with that group?"
Chinjao looked at his two grandsons.
The gloom from earlier slowly turned into satisfaction.
These two grandsons had been raised well by him.
Especially Sai. His Hasshoken had already deeply inherited Chinjao's essence. Chinjao believed that given time, Sai would definitely be able to open that glacier.
Thinking of the glacier, Chinjao recalled the report from his subordinates, and his expression became ugly again.
That brat seemed to have been eyeing his treasure.
Others couldn't open it, but White Ghost likely could cut it open.
He was a Great Swordsman, after all.
When Chinjao had traveled through the New World in the past, he had once been fortunate enough to witness the sword aura unleashed by Golden Lion Shiki.
At that time, Chinjao had felt that if such a slash landed on him directly, it might kill him on the spot.
Chinjao looked at Sai, then at Boo.
A long, long silence passed.
Just as the two brothers were scratching their heads, unable to understand what was wrong with their grandfather today, Chinjao finally spoke.
"Sai. Boo."
"We're here, Grandfather!"
The two brothers hurriedly answered.
Chinjao looked at them with satisfaction.
"What do you think about me sending you onto that man's ship?"
"Hm?"
The two brothers froze on the spot.
Whose ship?
Who in the West Blue was worthy of them boarding their ship?
Their minds went blank for a moment before they suddenly realized who he meant. Their eyes widened at the same time.
"Why, Grandfather?" the more impatient Boo asked directly, his face full of confusion. "Isn't that guy just a traveler?"
Sai, on the other hand, seemed to be thinking and didn't immediately ask.
"A traveler?"
Chinjao laughed softly.
"That is only the illusion he shows outsiders. Which of the major figures on this sea can't see that man's ambition?
"He keeps saying he only wants to live freely, but look at the people on his ship."
At this point, Chinjao sneered.
Boo froze. "The people on his ship? What's wrong with his people?"
Sai looked at his younger brother helplessly, then took out the newspapers and explained one by one.
"Kuro. Originally a pirate. Now following that man. Ancient Zoan, Demon Flower Mantis. His strength should be around the peak of elite Vice Admiral level.
"Zango. Also originally a pirate. Ancient Zoan, Saber-Toothed Tiger ability. His strength should be around elite Vice Admiral level.
"Ain. Former disciple of Marine Zephyr. Later followed White Ghost. A two-sword-style Great Swordsman. Top Vice Admiral level.
"Señor Pink. Former subordinate of Seven Warlord Doflamingo. Somehow ended up following him. Vice Admiral-level strength.
"Soul King Brook. Strength should be around Vice Admiral level.
"Pedro of the Mink Tribe. Cheetah ability user. Strength around Vice Admiral level.
"A-Da and A-Er. Both are Ancient Zoans. Rear Admiral-level strength."
As Sai pointed them out one by one, the surprise on Boo's face became increasingly exaggerated.
Only now did he belatedly realize how strong that man's ship really was.
After Sai finished explaining, he saw Boo's reaction and nodded.
This foolish younger brother finally understood.
Then Sai looked at Chinjao.
"Grandfather wants to bet on his future?"
Chinjao looked at his eldest grandson with relief and nodded.
"All the major figures can already see it. Sooner or later, that brat White Ghost will enter the New World.
"No one is foolish enough to still believe he's simply traveling the seas."
At this point, Sai clenched his fists tightly, his eyes turning red.
The two brothers immediately became serious, their bodies tensing.
This was the sign that Chinjao was about to lose control.
A while passed, but the old rage did not erupt.
The brothers let out a long breath of relief.
Chinjao continued, "That man will definitely enter the New World. The Marines and the World Government can do nothing about him."
Boo had just wanted to say that White Ghost was only strong alone, so could the World Government really be helpless against him?
Sai glanced at him and said only one thing.
"He can fly."
Boo immediately fell silent.
Being able to fly solved far too many problems.
Chinjao nodded.
"That's right. He can fly. Most of his crew can fly too. That is something many people envy about him.
"He is waiting. Waiting for his crew to grow stronger.
"Once the timing is right, he will enter the New World without the slightest hesitation."
Sai looked at White Ghost's image in the newspaper.
"Grandfather wants us brothers to board his ship and secure a future?"
Chinjao gave Sai an appreciative look.
"Exactly. Don't look at how calm the sea appears right now, with only a few small-time thieves stirring trouble.
"This is false peace.
"One day, this illusion of peace will shatter. That's why we must arrange a way out in advance."
After hearing their grandfather's explanation, both Sai and Boo nodded.
Because it was true.
There was never any real peace on the sea.
"Grandfather thinks that highly of White Ghost?" Boo asked after thinking for a while.
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