Oboro couldn't be certain of their exact location right now.
But compared to the chaotic, unpredictable waters of the Grand Line, the sea here was incredibly calm and peaceful.
It was as if these waters were meant simply to be admired as scenery.
"Ship ahead."
Dom pointed toward the southeast.
There was a small speck on the horizon.
It was clearly not a large vessel, but a pirate flag flew from its mast.
A pirate ship.
Dom didn't know whether to laugh or sigh.
If the pirates of the Grand Line were like seasoned, skilled graduates, then those in the Four Blues were mostly newcomers setting sail with big dreams — whether noble or selfish.
Even from this distance, Dom could tell how crude and basic this small ship was; it probably carried only the most primitive weapons and defenses.
For rookies who had only recently taken to the sea, buying a ship and properly outfitting it was extremely difficult.
This little craft likely wouldn't even meet the minimum requirements to sail the Grand Line. It would fall apart quickly in those harsh waters.
But this was the Four Blues — a beginner's playground for pirates. And more importantly, they were in the East Blue, the safest of them all.
Small‑time pirates here were all like this.
The crew had spotted the massive form of the Sea King and were already turning their ship around to flee.
They were terrified of being noticed by such a monster.
"Hey, Captain… something's not right."
"What is it?"
On the deck of the pirate ship, a crewmate was watching through a telescope, his voice trembling with confusion.
"That Sea King… it just sank. It doesn't seem interested in us at all."
Everyone around him let out a collective sigh of relief.
"But… I think I saw something. Two people… standing inside its mouth."
"Huh?"
"Are you talking nonsense?!"
"Probably some poor fools it swallowed earlier, right?"
"You nearly scared me to death! This is the East Blue, not the Grand Line… We hardly ever even see a Sea King out here. Just spotting one is rare enough… and now you're making up crazy stories like that?"
"No, listen… those two didn't look like they were eaten. I swear I saw them clearly! They were standing right inside its jaws. The telescope isn't great, but I could tell… it looked like they were looking straight back at us."
"Didn't you get enough sleep last night?!"
The Captain strode over and smacked the back of the lookout's head hard, cursing him.
"Forget it, forget it… Trim the sails and steer clear of this area!"
He shouted orders, but just then, a trembling voice rose from the group of sailors.
It was the same young lookout, slowly lowering his glass.
Ahead of the bow, the bright blue water had turned dark and pitch‑black. Looking closer, they realized a vast shadow was moving just beneath the surface.
"It's him… That Sea King… it's coming back!"
The pirates screamed in terror.
Before panic could fully take hold, massive waves rose up from the sea, towering over them.
The tiny pirate vessel tossed like a leaf in a storm, tipping dangerously as if it would capsize at any moment.
The terrifying head of the Sea King rose from the depths, blocking out a large part of the sky.
It looked down from above, regarding these tiny humans and their toy‑like ship.
Then, before their stunned eyes, it opened its jaws wide — revealing Oboro and Dom.
The pirates were utterly stunned.
It was true… it was really true.
Two people… standing inside a Sea King's mouth, completely unharmed.
How was this possible? Wasn't that thing supposed to be a man‑eating monster?!
Before their minds could even process what was happening, two figures shot through the air.
Oboro and Dom leaped from the creature's maw, their legs coiling with explosive power. They flew like cannonballs, landing heavily and steadily right in the center of the deck.
The sheer weight and force instantly stabilized the rocking ship, driving it deep into the water.
The impact cracked and shattered the planks right where their feet touched down.
The entire crew fell dead silent.
The way they had arrived… and the power they displayed… it filled every man with dread.
The Sea King sank back beneath the waves and vanished.
"Where is this place?"
Without any greeting or small talk, Oboro walked straight up to the Captain — a burly, bearded man — and asked in a calm, flat tone.
"Glass Bead Island… We're sailing along the route just near Glass Bead Island."
The Captain's throat bobbed nervously. He dared not make a single sudden move.
Glass Bead Island?
Oboro frowned.
He had never heard of it.
"Glass Bead Island is a major trade hub here in the East Blue. It's also the headquarters for Hey‑Ho Panda, the high‑end clothing brand." The big man added quickly, trying to be helpful.
By now, several crew members nearby were staring with eyes wide and unblinking.
They could barely stand up.
It wasn't just the overwhelming aura these two men gave off… They had recognized exactly who Oboro was.
One sailor was even clutching a newspaper, and the edge of the page showed Oboro's face printed clearly in the headline.
Oboro walked right through the middle of the crew, hands in his pockets.
Pirates were the main focus of this world, but civilization and commerce were rich and varied too.
This was obvious from little details in the stories he knew — like Nami and Robin enjoying shopping trips.
And in a relatively peaceful sea like the East Blue, people lived comfortable enough lives, allowing industries and culture to flourish.
"Take us to Loguetown."
Oboro walked over to a chair on the deck, sat down, laced his fingers together, and looked up at the Captain.
"Y‑Yes, sir!"
By now, the Captain was drenched in sweat, his back soaked through with nervousness.
Even ignoring the sensational news surrounding the God‑Slayer lately… just the way these two had appeared and the raw power they displayed was enough to make sure no one dared try anything foolish.
To most pirates in the Four Blues, anyone returning from the Grand Line was considered a supreme, almost god‑like being — powerful and unreachable.
SWISH!
Suddenly, everything changed.
Dom vanished from Oboro's side in an instant.
He moved like a phantom, drifting left and right across the deck, his speed impossible to track.
Blade flashing in his hand, he struck again and again. Every pirate who had rushed to the railings, trying to jump overboard and escape, had their throats slit in an instant.
Every strike was fatal.
In less than a minute, he returned to his original spot like a ghost.
He flicked the blood from his blade, his face completely expressionless.
"Don't try anything unnecessary…" Dom warned coldly.
The remaining pirates stared in horror, feeling as if they had fallen into an ice‑cold pit.
Too strong!
It was terrifying how strong he was.
They hadn't even seen how their friends had been killed!
They all knew exactly what it meant: The God‑Slayer was here in the East Blue… and standing on their ship.
If they could just jump overboard and swim away… there might still be a chance to survive!
But before such absolute power, they had no choice at all.
Their Captain collapsed onto the deck, his legs giving way completely. A sharp, foul smell rose from his trousers — he had wet himself in fear.
What a pathetic crew… Oboro thought to himself.
"I'm hungry. Go prepare some food."
Oboro leaned back in the chair, closed his eyes, and basked in the sunlight, speaking in a calm, relaxed voice.
____________________
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