"Thank you, Orn. I really like this sword. Don't worry—since you've entrusted it to me, I'll use it to make a name for myself on this vast sea."
The next day, the sky was clear and cloudless. Golden sunlight spilled across the shimmering ocean, as if a layer of fine silver gauze had been spread over the water.
The morning sun carried a faint chill, and the salty sea breeze added a sense of desolation to the scene.
After bidding farewell to Orn, Leon Fang boarded the ship. From Orn's words, he learned that his current location was the East Blue.
"Goodbye, my friend—Leon Fang."
Leon Fang sailed alone, drifting aimlessly across the sea, unsure of his destination. He had no idea how many days had passed. Every day was nothing but fruits and seafood, to the point where he could barely stand it anymore.
Just then, a seagull flew overhead.
Leon Fang's eyes lit up instantly.
"A news bird."
He waved his hand, and the bird obediently flew down.
And then—
A while later, Leon Fang sat calmly on the deck, holding a newspaper in one hand and a freshly roasted bird leg in the other.
That's right.
He had roasted the news bird.
After reading for a long time, Leon Fang gently folded the newspaper. A rare smile finally appeared on his usually indifferent face.
"I've been in this world for twelve years… and I finally know what era I'm living in."
On the front page of the newspaper were two massive headlines that occupied nearly the entire spread.
The Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, Executed — The Pirate Era Comes to an End!
World-Wide Military Recruitment Begins!
Leon Fang sneered inwardly.
"Calling the pirate era 'over' is nothing more than the Navy and the World Government's last fig leaf. They understand better than anyone that a far more rampant age of pirates is about to begin. Otherwise, why would they start recruiting soldiers worldwide under such a so-called 'favorable situation'?"
He continued chewing on the roasted bird with an unchanged expression, while silently analyzing his situation.
"Based on my judgment, the sea I'm currently in should be near the starting region of the first half of the Grand Line. I don't know which of the seven routes it is, but since I'm riding the initial wave of the Great Pirate Era, this place will soon become the eye of the storm. Pirates will appear one after another."
"Whether to go with the flow and become a pirate, or firmly choose the path of the Marines… for me, this isn't a difficult decision."
"First, joining the Marines would allow me to rapidly gather followers."
"Second, if I want to gain a firm foothold on this ocean, I'll inevitably need the backing of the World Government."
"And third—if I want to establish a sect like Zhang Sanfeng did, becoming a pirate is simply unrealistic. How many pirates are actually good people?"
Leon Fang recalled a saying he once read:
When walking the martial world, injury is unavoidable. If you want to accomplish great things, you must have many followers. —Lu Xun
Boom!
A sudden explosion rang out.
Leon Fang's gaze snapped toward the distance.
"This smell… gunpowder?"
The scent of smoke mixed with the sea breeze, pulling his scattered thoughts back to reality. He stood at the bow of the ship and looked far ahead.
On the vast ocean, two fleets were locked in a tense standoff. The atmosphere was heavy, on the verge of erupting into all-out war.
"Captain Jacks," a middle-aged man dressed in noble attire said, his voice calm yet firm, "if you're willing to let us pass, I can give you a full ship of supplies. But if you insist on fighting us to the death, we won't fear you!"
As if confirming his words, the fleet behind him responded in unison—something no ordinary merchant convoy could achieve.
"Hey!" The pirate captain with a hooked nose sneered. "A single ship of supplies isn't enough to fill my appetite. Hand over everything you're transporting, and maybe I'll consider letting you live!"
"Your appetite is too big," the middle-aged nobleman said coldly. "Be careful you don't choke."
"Heh. Then General Louis won't need to waste his breath."
"You—!" Rage flashed across Louis's face. His hands clenched so hard the railing bent beneath his grip. After forcing himself to calm down, he said, "One-third. At most, one-third of the supplies!"
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Jacks applauded mockingly.
"Tsk tsk. General Louis really is an opportunist. Even I'm tempted by those terms." His grin widened maliciously. "Unfortunately, I'm a pirate who keeps his word. If I say I'll wipe out your entire ship, then your entire ship dies."
After all, if King Azka obtained the head of General Louis—the guardian deity of the Kingdom of Hiska—he would surely pay an even greater reward.
"What?" Louis stared in disbelief. "The Kingdom of Azka would actually cooperate with a degenerate pirate like you?"
"Hahaha! General Louis, you're adorably naive. If a war can be won through dirty means, who cares about rules? Since the two kingdoms are already at war, there's nothing strange about King Azka making such a choice."
"Since that's the case…" Louis's eyes turned icy. "Then there's nothing more to say. I've killed countless pirates like you already!"
"General Louis," Jacks sneered, "it seems I need to teach you the difference between land warfare and naval warfare! No matter how many land rookies you bring, you'll never match the Jack Pirates!"
Jacks raised his arm and roared, "Listen up! Go easy on them later. Selling them to slave traders will fetch a handsome price!"
"Hahahahaha!"
The surrounding pirates burst into wild laughter, their eyes filled with contempt toward these Kingdom Self-Defense Force soldiers who had barely ever stepped foot on the sea.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Cannon fire roared, waves exploded, and smoke filled the air.
Naval warfare and land warfare were indeed two entirely different beasts.
The Kingdom's Self-Defense Forces—invincible on Saint Ting Island—could barely stand steady on the unpredictable ocean, let alone mount a proper counterattack. From the very start, they were completely suppressed.
"Hahaha! Kingdom Self-Defense Force?" Jacks laughed arrogantly. "In my eyes, they're no different from mountain bandits—utter trash!"
Just as he recalled the smug pleasure of crushing those so-called "Mountain Bandit Kings," a pirate suddenly rushed over.
"Captain! Captain! Something's wrong! There's a merchant ship that's been following us from behind for a long time!"
Jacks frowned slightly, but managed to suppress his irritation. He glanced back lazily.
"A merchant ship? Blast it."
Several iron cannonballs shot into the sky.
Leon Fang stepped lightly onto one of the flying cannonballs, borrowed its force, and activated Lingbo Weibu. His figure soared into the air, then plunged straight into the sea like a dragon entering water.
Moments later, he began swimming calmly toward the battlefield.
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T/N:
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