Before setting off, there were naturally many preparations to be made.
For instance, moving the daily necessities required for a long ocean voyage onto the new pirate ship, as well as arranging for people to stay behind and guard their home on Sky Island.
Although with Stussy's Mirror World, York could return to Sky Island at any moment, he couldn't possibly be prepared to return every single second. Therefore, someone was still needed to guard the base.
Finally, after some discussion, Gloriosa volunteered to stay behind on Sky Island.
The reason was simple: she didn't feel at ease entrusting their home on Sky Island to anyone else. This was, after all, the first territory York had conquered.
And she was not only York's first woman but also the former Pirate Empress, possessing rich experience in kingdom management.
Previously, when York wasn't on Sky Island, she was basically the one handling daily affairs.
Gloriosa's proactive sacrifice successfully touched York's heart.
He was, after all, a normal man.
Even if he liked beautiful women and planned to add more to his harem in the future, he wasn't a robotic stud. Naturally, he developed different degrees of affection for different people.
Thus, in that instant, York almost couldn't resist the urge to let Gloriosa conceive his first child.
However...
After careful consideration, he temporarily dismissed this idea.
The reason was equally simple.
The lesson of Rocks was still fresh in his memory.
If it weren't for his wife and child's lives being in danger, forcing him to initiate the Battle of God Valley, perhaps the current York would still be a member of the Rocks Pirates.
Unable to make Gloriosa a mother just yet, York could only spend a few more nights with her, enjoying their time together as a couple.
In the blink of an eye, several days passed, and the moment of departure finally arrived.
York planted a gentle kiss on Gloriosa's forehead and waved goodbye to little Teach.
Teach was still too young, only 3 years old, so York didn't plan to bring him along.
Plus, with the 2-year-old Enel there, they could play together as companions, so neither would be lonely.
In contrast, York brought both Kuma, who was already 10 this year, and Ginny, who was 14, onto the ship.
Including them, the roster of the Red Flag Pirates setting sail was:
York, Shakky, Stussy, Kaido, Dragon, Kuma, Ginny, and Ivankov—a total of 8 people.
Operating a super-giant ship 360 meters long with just 8 people was, of course, impossible by conventional methods.
But fortunately, almost all of York's group were Devil Fruit users.
Kaido's Flame Clouds could lift the ship, and Dragon's ability could provide propulsion. What York and the others actually needed to busy themselves with was merely raising and lowering the sails and manning the helm.
Of course, even so, 8 people still seemed a bit stretched.
So, the first stop for York and his crew after leaving Sky Island was Jaya, located directly below them.
To avoid exposing the existence of Sky Island, York had Kaido and Dragon maneuver the ship in a wide detour to land on the sea first, then sail normally to Jaya in the Blue Sea.
As the massive dragon-prowed ship approached the small island, its mountain-like size made it momentarily difficult for observers to distinguish which was bigger: the ship or the island.
A large number of pirates, unable to proceed to the next island because their Log Poses pointed to Sky Island, gathered at the port one after another to watch this colossal warship.
"What a huge ship!!"
"Which pirate crew is this?!"
"The symbol on the jolly roger... doesn't look familiar."
"Why are both the flag and the main sails pure red?"
...
The pirates' confusion was soon broken.
Because York appeared atop the dragon figurehead of the ship.
Radiating holy light from his entire body, he looked down imperiously at the pirates on Jaya.
Holding a small amplifier Den Den Mushi in his palm, York spoke: "I am Adolf D. York! I am currently recruiting crew members!!"
"Those who want to board my ship, come over now!!"
As soon as these words came out, the pirates on the island instantly erupted with earth-shaking exclamations.
"It's York! The legendary Lord of Depravity!!"
"It's really him! The pirate with the highest bounty in the world!!"
After verifying with his wanted poster that the person standing at the bow was indeed York himself, the pirates immediately burst into a second wave of cheers.
"I want to join!!"
"I want to get on the ship too!!"
"Please take us in!!"
...
The pirates on Jaya scrambled to be first.
They didn't even wait for York's ship to dock; they actively boarded their own pirate ships, sailed out to pull alongside York's vessel, and shouted requests for York to lower the rope ladders so they could board the great ship.
To this, York accepted all comers without refusal.
His current goal was to expand the pirate crew's numbers first; quality and such could be worried about later.
Just like that, the boarding activity lasted from morning straight into the afternoon.
Finally, seeing that no one else seemed to want to board, York pulled out the amplifier Den Den Mushi and shouted one last time.
"Are there no more pirates who wish to join my command?"
There were still scattered pirates left on Jaya.
These pirates either thought too highly of themselves to serve under others, or were entangled with other powerful pirate crews and were their subordinates.
Therefore, facing York's second solicitation, none of them made a move.
His Observation Haki swept across the entire island.
Jaya, located in the Blue Sea, wasn't large, and York could easily cover it.
After confirming that no one else on the entire island wanted to join his command, the corners of York's mouth split open, revealing a savage grin.
He raised his hand, pointing at Jaya, and issued his first captain's order to the newly joined crew members.
"Loot Jaya clean!! Kill every pirate on the island who refused to join my command!!"
As soon as this order was issued, the pirates who had just joined the Red Flag Pirates today instantly had fierce glints flashing in their eyes.
Meanwhile, the pirates on the island who had refused to join all had drastic changes in expression.
"Lord of Depravity! You can't do this!!"
"We are a subordinate crew of the [XXX] Pirates! Do you want to make an enemy of the [XXX] Pirates?!"
Boom!!
Propelled by the gale created by Dragon, the Red Flag pirate ship directly crushed the pirate ships still docked at the harbor, its massive hull ramming into the land.
"Kill!!!"
York's response was a single word. A massive number of new crew members leaped down from the ship like a waterfall.
A brutal slaughter between pirates immediately swept across the entirety of Jaya.
Several hours later, at dusk.
All pirates on Jaya who were unwilling to join York's command had been wiped out. All the supplies and wealth on the entire island were looted and piled up together.
This included the supplies kept by the various pirate crews who had joined York; they had donated everything as well.
Looking at the large pile of treasure and supplies before him, York and his officers didn't take a single coin of the treasure, distributing it all equally among all the new members.
At the same time, all the supplies looted from Jaya were used to throw a banquet.
Eat as much as you can, drink as much as you can.
Whatever wasn't eaten or drunk would be loaded onto the pirate ship.
"Oooooh!!"
A lively banquet was held on Jaya. The Red Flag Pirates officially announced to the world that, starting from Jaya, they would begin a brand new legend on the seas.