Satoru Gojo and his crew now set sail aboard the marine warship they had hijacked from Impel Down, having found it impossible to return to Fortress Town to retrieve their own vessel.
God damn it!
All the provisions, clothing, and other supplies they had purchased were now confiscated by the marines.
Undoubtedly, their original ship had been destroyed by the marines by now.
Well, that is a death wish. However, there is no point in turning back when our destination lies directly in front of us!
The weather was less than ideal; leaden clouds crowded the sky, and a fierce wind whipped aggressively across the deck as the trio stood upon it. Gojo initiated a thorough investigation of the marine ship and was relieved to discover a cache of fresh clothing, for they were still clad in their degrading prison attire.
He located standard-issue marine uniforms in a quarters cabin, alongside a stockpile of food and drink that would undoubtedly sustain them for approximately a month. After a brief interval, the trio had cleansed themselves and changed into the marine uniforms, unceremoniously tossing their prison garments into the churning sea.
"Damn! This marine coat is genuinely awesome!" Gojo's eyes gleamed with palpable amazement. "As of today, I am a marine lieutenant!"
"Hahaha! I won't lie, it is remarkably comfortable!" Jake winced, taking a seat near the ship's helm.
"They have an arsenal of equipment here. Both Seastone cuffs and ample provisions. Furthermore, this vessel is colossal," Ryuken remarked, adventuring across the expansive deck of the warship. "Do you believe we could ever procure a ship of this magnitude in Water 7?"
"Definitely, but it will not be without significant cost. We must acquire substantial cash or simply resort to the hard way."
"Then that presents no problem for us," Gojo declared, grabbing a banana. "We are pirates; we simply take what we need from anyone." He peeled the fruit with a flourish.
"Then that settles it. We will help those we wish to help, and we will not help those we do not choose to help. It is as simple as that," Jake affirmed, snapping his fingers.
"Precisely! Well, we do not have much time to waste, as they have likely already dispatched pursuit ships!"
"Jake, what is our current update? Are we heading into the Grand Line now?"
"No, not yet! I believe we must visit Amazon Lily first, before daring to enter the Grand Line!"
"Is that not the fabled Maiden Island? The island inhabited exclusively by women?" Gojo gulped, a mischievous smirk playing upon his lips.
"Correct! We can acquire new attire, rest for a spell, and intensify our training before committing to the Grand Line!"
"Woah, that is an excellent idea. We cannot simply sail into the Grand Line unprepared, so let us seize this opportunity to train before diving in."
Jake gulped, sweat sliding down his brow. "We might, however, encounter a slight problem."
"A problem?" Gojo's curiosity was piqued.
Jake nodded, his focus remaining locked on the sea ahead. "The Kuja pirates, led by one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Boa Hancock, operate from there." He hummed thoughtfully, "Since we are pirates ourselves, I doubt they will welcome us peacefully; every woman on that island is a formidable warrior, and legend states men are expressly forbidden."
Gojo was lost in thought, envisioning the possibilities of an island populated entirely by women. 'I might just find myself a girlfriend,' a lewd smile crept across his face; he seemed utterly unbothered by the inherent danger of infiltrating an island ruled by a Shichibukai.
"How terrifying would it be to provoke one of the Warlords?" Ryuken shuddered, hugging himself tightly despite a part of his spirit urging him onward. After all, he could potentially meet all manner of girls.
"I truly desire to meet Boa Hancock, one of the Warlords," Gojo's voice boomed, capturing his crewmates' immediate attention.
"Why?!" They exclaimed in unison.
"I mean, she is profoundly strong. Who would not want to learn a technique or two from her? Furthermore, it would be advantageous if she could extend her trust, provided we avoid antagonizing her, do you not agree?" He winked.
The duo was utterly dumbfounded, wondering what intricate plan their captain was concocting and what, precisely, he hoped to learn from her given his own considerable power.
Could Hancock and Gojo potentially establish amicable terms, perhaps leading to her instructing him in the application of Armament Haki?
The Kuja pirates are renowned masters of Armament Haki, capable of imbuing their weapons and arrows with its power. Acquiring Haki now would arguably serve as a monumental advantage for him, especially since he has yet to confront an opponent powerful enough to deliberately bypass his Infinity.
In theory, those who possess Conqueror's Haki, particularly its advanced application, could likely bypass his Infinity effortlessly. Similarly, individuals with willpower or Armament Haki superior to Gojo's own could also penetrate his defense.
For instance, Dracule Mihawk could undoubtedly bypass Infinity and defeat Gojo instantly if they were to engage in combat presently, though it is worth noting that not every master of Armament Haki could achieve this feat. Consequently, Gojo resolved to befriend the empress of Amazon Lily, anticipating she might prove useful in the future.
"Although initial contact with her warriors might precipitate a misunderstanding. However, if we can directly engage with the empress herself, I intend to parley with her, clarifying that we come not to cause trouble but merely to train, procure supplies, and rest briefly before entering the Grand Line."
Ryuken was suddenly shocked by how his typically airheaded captain could exhibit such uncharacteristic maturity. "That is a rare display of foresight, and I believe it is a sound strategy."
"Let us hope for the best to avoid making an enemy of a Warlord sanctioned by the World Government. We must also remember she is a pirate—not only that, but the captain of the Kuja pirates. If she proves reasonable and understanding, then the plan might be flawless."
"Admittedly, it could become troublesome initially, given her status as a pirate and a… associate of the foolish World Government. But if she is the listening type, then everything may proceed smoothly. We will camp briefly, shop, train, and then set sail for the Grand Line."
"Jake, what is our estimated time of arrival at Amazon Lily?"
"Roughly three and a half days. We will arrive shortly, and due to its location within the Calm Belt, the sailing is peaceful, devoid of wind or storms."
"Three days, huh? Then I must get some rest in the interim." Gojo made his way into the bedroom and hopped onto the bunk. It had been an interminably long day; utilizing and revealing his technique to the World Government now seemed like a strategic misstep.
He had intended to maintain the facade of a weak and average pirate for a while longer, but that prospect had evidently vanished. Nevertheless, he remained an enigmatic entity in the eyes of the World Government, which is precisely why they had resolved to either recruit him as a Warlord or execute him as soon as possible.
Ryuken sat on the deck, leaning his back against the ship's mast, while Jake diligently steered the vessel. The water was preternaturally peaceful, calm, and quiet; the silhouettes of immense Sea Kings gliding beneath the surface were visible from above.
Unknown to the Blue-Eyed pirates, the news of the Impel Down incident had already spread across the world, and their bounties had been updated significantly from their previous valuations. I wonder how they will react upon seeing their new wanted posters…
After several days of sailing uneventfully through the Calm Belt—the marine warship's Seastone-lined hull preventing Sea King attacks—they progressed in absolute peace. Shortly thereafter, Jake glimpsed an island on the far horizon. "We made it! I see it!" His voice was low and carefully neutral.
Ryuken swallowed hard, realizing they were crossing a threshold into the domain of a pirate Empress counted among the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Gojo emerged onto the deck, the brilliant sun cascading brightly over the horizon. "So that is the infamous Amazon Lily, where only women are permitted to set foot, huh?" His grin grew more terrifying as he glanced at the island while the ship sailed ever closer.
"We will find a secluded place to anchor the ship, perhaps on the far side of the island, to avoid detection by either marines or the Kuja pirates," Jake muttered, methodically reloading his pistol.
Okay!
Performing slight stretches on board, they prepared themselves mentally for any outcome, including a surprise attack from the Kuja warriors, who were not to be underestimated lest it cost them their lives.
Jake steered the ship closer to the island, wondering how they could possibly avoid being spotted, given the warship's immense size compared to typical pirate vessels.
Amazon Lily is a jungle island located within the Calm Belt. Its focal point is a large, central mountain carved with gigantic snake statues and engraved with the name of the native tribe, Kuja, in kanji. Within the mountain's center lies a deep valley housing the Kuja village, whose architecture and decor resemble that of ancient China.
A firm and influential belief in Kuja culture equates strength with beauty. So, since Gojo possesses immense strength, does that mean he will be acknowledged by the warriors, his strength equating to beauty? Lol… The Kuja warriors are devout snake worshippers; many women carry large snakes around their necks, and some warriors even use their snakes to form powerful bows for firing arrows.
"What is the significance of those enormous snake statues? Bizarre!" Gojo hissed, draping his Justice coat around his shoulders with a flourish.
"Please don't tell me this island is overrun with snakes?" Ryuken felt a distinct chill traverse his spine. "Unsettling."
Jake now carefully steered the ship around the island's perimeter, anchoring the massive marine warship in a hidden cove where it would not be easily discovered before the trio hopped onto the island, all clad identically in marine uniforms.
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