East Blue, Syrup Village, Late Night.
Yasopp quietly packed his things, trying not to make a sound.
Fwoosh!
Suddenly, the sound of a match being struck rang out, and a candle lit up the room.
His wife appeared there, observing him gather his belongings.
Seeing the sorrow on her face, Yasopp struggled to speak. "I'm sorry... I..."
Banchina whispered, "This day was always going to come, wasn't it? I know you don't belong here and I won't stop you. But... Usopp is still so young..."
Silence filled the room as neither of them said a word next.
She had already understood his decision.
"Go... take one last look at Usopp."
Then she turned and walked away.
Yasopp sat down on the floor, his body slumping, lost in thought.
After a while, he rose, made his way into the bedroom, and gazed at Usopp, still peacefully asleep.
He forced himself to close his eyes and leave.
Opening the door, he was greeted by the starlight lit land around him. His wife waited outside and handed him a small bundle. It held his clothes and what little money they had left.
His hands tightened around the package without thinking as he stood there for a long time, unable to move, until the first light of dawn touched the sky.
"I'm sorry..." His voice trembled with guilt. Then he turned and headed toward the rising sun.
Inside the house, Banchina lay beside Usopp. Looking at the sleeping child, tears silently rolled down her cheeks.
* * *
New World, Merveille.
This was the last stronghold of Shiki. A place whose location he never revealed to anyone.
After the pirate was imprisoned, the scientists he had brought here began thinking of escape.
They had all been kidnapped, torn away from their families, friends, and careers. Forced to serve him and do research. But since his capture, everyone except Indigo became restless.
None of them wanted to stay in this isolated, godforsaken place any longer.
And the scientists, though not experts in engineering, were brilliant biologists. Smarter than most people.
Over two years of rough trial and error, they finally built a massive gliding ship based on biomechanical principles.
With the help of machinery, they hauled it to the edge of a cliff. Then one by one, they climbed aboard, eyes shining with excitement as they looked out at the drifting clouds ahead.
"We're finally leaving this cursed place!"
"Hahahahaha!!!"
"This is amazing! Lisa! Wait for me! I'm coming home!"
"Uwaahh! I haven't seen my son in four years! He was just born when I left! He must be talking now!"
"Alright! Get ready! We're going home!"
"Yeaahh!!!"
The lead scientist pressed a button in his hand, and a huge mechanical structure pushed the glider beyond the cliff's edge.
Boom!
As it launched forward, the sound of its wings cutting through the air echoed high above.
Thousands of meters up in the sky, the aircraft dove swiftly into a sharp descent.
* * *
Back at the cliff, Indigo slowly stepped out after watching them vanish. In his hand was a folded newspaper.
The headline read:
"Golden Lion Shatters the Myth of Impregnable Underwater Prison"
"Hmph. Fools," muttering to himself, he turned to leave.
That newspaper had arrived days ago, but Indigo never told the others. He even secretly collected and hid every copy that showed up.
After all, who doesn't want to be the one in charge? The head of the research division…
"Piropiropiropiro!"
A strange laughter reverberated off the cliff.
* * *
Aboard the diving ship.
"Everbody! Get ready! We're about to hit the water! Hold on tight!"
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"
"....."
When the glider plunged from high in the air, the expected impact never came. Instead, it landed smoothly on the water's surface. Even the ones shouting the countdown were stunned.
Then, realization struck, and all the scientists broke into cold sweat. They frantically scanned their surroundings with their eyes.
"Whew…"
Thick white smoke poured out as Shiki appeared sitting on top of the ship's cabin, with a cigar in his mouth.
"Shihahahaha. You lot really gave me a surprise. A bunch of biologists building a ship? What are you trying to do with so many people? Come rescue me? Or… run away…"
His voice grew colder and colder. By the time he finished speaking, an overwhelming killing intent crushed down on everyone aboard.
They all collapsed to the floor in terror.
The lead biologist swallowed hard and forced out a response.
"We... We were going to rescue you. Everyone here has a few connections… so we thought maybe we could get you out. That's why we built this ship."
The others also chimed in:
"Yeah, that's right!"
"It's true! I know an Admiral in the Marines!"
"My family has ties to government officials!"
"This is great! You've really escaped!"
Shiki sneered as he looked at them. "Then I guess I should be thanking you all."
He pressed down with his one hand and leapt off the cabin roof.
Clang!
His twin swords struck the deck, releasing a chilling ring of metal against metal.
Step by step, he walked toward the lead biologist. Once he reached him, he bent down and grabbed the man by the throat, lifting him into the air.
"I… am… SHIKI!!! When the hell did I fall so low... that I'd need a group of worthless weaklings like you to rescue me?!"
BOOM!!!
An explosive force surged from Shiki's hand and the biologist's neck burst into a cloud of blood. His head rolled across the deck, thudding to a stop near the edge.
"Hehehe, I'll give you all a chance. I only need ten people."
He tossed a small knife onto the deck.
The dozens of biologists stared at it, swallowing nervously.
Until finally…
"Move! The knife's mine!!"
"Don't you dare try to take it!"
"Die!!!"
"Urgh..."
"You—"
"Don't force me!!!"
Shiki stood on the deck, witnessing the blood-soaked chaos unfold.
"Interesting, so damn interesting. Shihahahahaha!!!"
* * *
East Blue, a local Marine branch.
A group of officers sat discussing the news of Shiki's prison break.
"That's terrifying. That so-called impregnable underwater prison was breached, no wonder they call him a legendary pirate."
"Damn pirates, when will they ever stop causing trouble?"
Nearby, Bell-mère, with her long fuchsia hair tied back and a cigarette in her mouth, finished loading her rifle.
"What's there to be afraid of? If he dares step foot in East Blue, I'll give him a lesson he won't forget."
A senior officer lounging on the couch laughed.
"Hahaha! That's Bell-mère for you, always dependable!"
"Absolutely!"
* * *
West Blue, Cusk Island.
"Hey, did you hear? They say the Demon Child might've fled to this area."
"Seriously?"
"I thought last time they said she was on Corinne Island."
"Yeah, but later the government said they didn't find anyone there. Judging by the supply ship routes from those days, she should be somewhere near these islands."
In the distance, Robin, walking behind Lorca, tensed slightly.
Lorca turned to look at her, noticing her sudden stillness. "What's wrong, Raven?"
Robin quickly gathered herself. "It's… it's nothing. Mr. Lorca."
* * *
New World, atop the highest mountain on Liberi Island.
Patrick Redfield, also known as Red Count, or Red the Aloof, had taken up residence here.
Because his Observation Haki allowed him to read minds, Redfield couldn't stand being in crowded places. The noise and wickedness of human thoughts stirred his killing intent.
That's why he usually stayed alone, somewhere scenic: on a mountain or in a quiet valley.
This day, while sipping on his coffee, Redfield suddenly set his cup down and looked toward the port.
"Marines?"
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