Strawberry formed the most unique unit on Sleeping Island. Strictly speaking, they were not officially subordinate to the Rocket Team, but the Rocket Team provided them with ample support.
At the same time, their actions brought tangible benefits to the Rocket Team. On the surface, it looked like a cooperative relationship, yet the Rocket Team could strip them of everything at any time.
...
Another month later.
Vane sheathed his sword and headed down from the mountain toward the town.
The mountain wasn't particularly tall, yet it was the only peak on Sleeping Island and the source of the island's rivers. After arranging everything properly and ensuring his subordinates could keep things running on their own, he shifted his focus back to his personal training.
More than half of the year 1505 in the Sea Circle Calendar had already passed. It had been nearly a year since Vane crossed over into this world. In just one year, he had risen from someone who had only just reached roughly Navy field officer-level strength to a powerhouse above an elite Vice Admiral.
That was the wonder of the pirate world. Even with his cheat, it had still taken him a full year to reach his current level—already considered remarkably restrained.
Just think about Doflamingo. After being defeated by Law and Luffy working together, he was thrown into prison. However, he had the privilege of reading newspapers from the outside world.
Those papers must have shattered his resolve. Back when they fought, Law was at most at Vice Admiral level, relying on his special Devil Fruit ability to contend with elite Vice Admirals.
Yet less than two months after Doflamingo was locked up, he saw news that Law and another pirate named Kid had joined forces to defeat one of the Yonko—Big Mom, Charlotte Linlin.
In just a month or two, someone who had barely been able to resist him had teamed up with another ant and dragged a monster like a Yonko down from her throne.
Doflamingo must have wondered whether the Navy and the World Government had fabricated fake newspapers just to spite him?!
"I can clearly feel that I've grown a bit stronger again."
Vane now possessed nine Ice Fragment shards. Three of them had already dimmed completely, and his strength had improved another notch.
At their level, improvement was incredibly difficult. Even a slight increase was enormous.
"Once I fully absorb the Ice Fragment shards and combine it with Conqueror's Haki Infusion, I'll definitely be at Yonko-level combat power."
Previously, his battle with Fujitora had likely ended in a draw. At this stage, Fujitora was extremely powerful—especially now that he could skillfully summon meteors. Only when facing one head-on could you truly feel the overwhelming pressure of that technique.
The destruction range was massive, the cost to Fujitora wasn't particularly high, and most importantly—it looked incredibly cool.
Now that Vane's strength had improved another notch, he could confidently secure victory over Fujitora.
"Sleeping Island has entered the right track, and the influx of outsiders has started increasing steadily."
Most of them had been brought back by Strawberry's "Marine Squad." In just one month, they had returned four times. The largest group numbered over two hundred people; the smallest had a little over sixty.
In one month, Sleeping Island had gained six hundred new residents—currently the largest source of external settlers.
Not all of them were from Carnival Island either. With the Corrupt King stationed there, constantly pulling people from Carnival Island was troublesome. So islands within three to four days' sailing distance around Sleeping Island had become their targets.
Morgans' newspaper had already been published. His paper prided itself on daring to tell the truth and maintaining high credibility, which made people more willing to believe it.
Sleeping Island's name had begun to spread. At the very least, everyone now knew that in the New World there was a place called Sleeping Island—occupied by the Rocket Team pirates who had caused such a huge stir not long ago.
No one had proactively moved there yet, but outsiders had indeed started arriving.
For example, the Shipping King's fleet had begun using Sleeping Island as a transit hub. With Vane's permission, they had even built a warehouse near the docks.
"I used to have a transit warehouse on Carnival Island, but that Corrupt King acts like a complete pirate—no rules whatsoever. He seizes goods whenever he feels like it, and taxes fluctuate wildly."
Those were the Shipping King's exact words. Geographically, Sleeping Island could replace Carnival Island's position. And compared to the Corrupt King, Vane was far more principled. So he relocated his transit operations to Sleeping Island.
Vane warmly welcomed his arrival. The Shipping King didn't just bring transit business—he also supplied goods for small ventures Vane found inconvenient to handle himself.
Otherwise, even if Vane paid his sailors and workers, they would have nowhere to spend their money. It wasn't as if everyone could just save up to buy guns and cannons.
"That Pizarro guy already lost population to me. Now I'm taking part of his business too. It probably won't take long before he notices…"
He wasn't afraid of Pizarro. What concerned him was Ochoku's forces. Vane had no clear idea how strong the top-tier fighters in Ochoku's lineup were, but the sheer number of pirates he could mobilize was undoubtedly enormous.
"Lu! Lu~"
An air door opened, and Dragonite gestured anxiously at Vane.
Something had happened.
"Take me there."
Vane climbed onto Dragonite's back. With a bang, Dragonite shot toward Midnight Town.
At its speed, it was over in the blink of an eye.
At the edge of the docks, Fujitora and Moria were standing guard. Everyone else had already been evacuated.
"What happened?"
Moria said, "Fish-Men spotted a World Government ship while patrolling nearby waters. There was no prior information at all. Only when it reached the near sea did it raise the World Government flag and sail straight toward us, brazenly."
"It seems the World Government's retaliation has arrived."
After the attack on Mary Geoise, there was no way the World Government would stay silent. Back then, Tiger had merely freed slaves and was hunted down by the Navy—led by Kizaru when he was still a Vice Admiral.
Vane, on the other hand, had not only freed slaves but also looted the Celestial Dragons' treasury—and even destroyed their lift port. That kind of grudge ran deep. There was no way the World Government would let it go.
"I'm honestly surprised they waited this long."
"Mr. Fujitora, this is a personal grudge between me and the World Government. You can choose not to act."
Fujitora rested his hand on his sword hilt and spoke slowly.
"If I allow the World Government to attack Sleeping Island, those who finally escaped the fate of slavery will be dragged back into that hell."
"The justice in my heart does not permit such a thing to happen."
Though the conflict between Vane and the World Government began as a personal feud, it now determined the fate of everyone on the island. That clashed directly with Fujitora's ideals. He could not stand by and do nothing.