The target island lay several nautical miles away.
A warship floated on the choppy sea.
"Reporting to Admiral Sengoku, Byrnndi World has landed on the target island and is heading toward the designated location."
The lookout on the observation deck lowered his binoculars, turned, and saluted Sengoku, who stood on deck with his arms crossed.
"Well, can you see how many people are with him?"
Sengoku was also observing the distant island through binoculars. His eyebrows were tightly furrowed, like someone had drawn over them in ink.
The warship was still a good distance from the island. Even with the Marine Headquarters' most precise binoculars, he could barely make out a string of black dots moving slowly through the snowstorm.
Byrnndi World was, after all, one of the top fighters on the seas. To avoid detection by his Observation Haki, Sengoku had to keep the ship at a safe distance.
Though honestly, the real threat he posed to the Marines and the World Government came more from his Devil Fruit power than sheer combat strength.
"We can't confirm the exact number, but most of the pirates seem to be stationed on the four ships anchored offshore."
"Four?"
Sengoku narrowed his eyes behind his black-framed glasses.
"According to intel, hasn't the World Pirates expanded to five ships after all their recent recruitment?"
"Yes, Admiral Sengoku," the messenger replied, "but for some reason, one of the ships hasn't docked. We've lost visual contact with it."
"Heh, cautious guy..."
Borsalino, lazily picking at his nails nearby, chimed in without even looking up.
Sengoku ignored the slacker and frowned even deeper, his expression growing more serious.
"Could it be Byojack's doing?"
Byojack, Byrnndi World's older brother and First Mate of the World Pirates, was frail and sickly, with no combat ability whatsoever. But he possessed a cunning and caution far beyond that of the average pirate.
As the crew's strategist and core member, he was the brain behind the World Pirates—his intellect perfectly complementing Byrnndi World's overwhelming strength, forming a dangerous combination.
In past pursuit operations, it was always Byojack's clever schemes that had allowed Byrnndi World to escape, leaving the Marines empty-handed.
"Admiral Sengoku, we've confirmed the target is on the island. When do we move?"
A bodyguard approached quickly, speaking in a hushed tone.
Sengoku glanced at the ever-relaxed Borsalino, then paused before replying quietly,
"Wait a little longer..."
He pulled a military Den Den Mushi from inside his coat, eyes falling on the sleeping creature.
"…We move on Captain Daren's signal."
...
On the deserted island, snow drifted from the gloomy sky.
Byrnndi World trudged through the snow with hundreds of pirates following behind, their steps sinking deep into the cold, icy terrain.
His breath turned into white mist in the freezing air. Sitting on his shoulder, Byojack instinctively pulled his sheepskin coat tighter around himself.
It was deathly silent all the way. Ahead stretched nothing but endless white plains and snow-covered mountains.
"World... I've got a bad feeling about this."
Byojack shivered as he looked out over the desolate snowfields.
"Hahahaha! Brother, you're overthinking it. Once we get the weapons, we'll leave this island right away... and after that, the world's ours to explore!"
Byrnndi World grinned as he tried to reassure him, his eyes blazing with ambition like fire.
"No, that's not what I meant."
Byojack shook his head. His already pale face looked even paler in the cold.
"We've moved too fast. Ever since we set sail, it's been nothing but killing and war.
Our bounties keep rising for no clear reason, and Sengoku's been chasing us relentlessly…
More and more people are joining the World Pirates, but the number of subordinates has grown far beyond what our officers can control."
"And…"
He paused, eyes filled with a complicated emotion as he looked at his brother.
"You've changed, World."
"You've become bolder... more reckless. You treat human lives like ants. You're tearing through anything that stands in your way…
If we keep going like this, it's only a matter of time before we face consequences we can't predict."
Byrnndi World suddenly came to a halt.
The pirates behind him instinctively stopped too, confused by their captain's sudden pause.
Snowflakes drifted down like stars, settling on his helmet, shoulders, and body. The grin on his face was gone.
"Brother... what are you trying to say?"
Byrnndi World's voice was low and quiet.
"Have you forgotten our dream? Wasn't traveling the world your dream from the start?"
"No, World, I haven't forgotten,"
Byojack said, shaking his head, his dim eyes full of uncertainty.
"Even now, I still want to sail across the world, to see all the different sights out there, and to find true freedom out on the endless sea."
"The one who's forgotten that dream... is you."
"When was the last time we stopped at an island we'd never been to, laughed freely, and just enjoyed ourselves?"
"You don't even remember, do you?"
"What you're enjoying now... it's not traveling. It's not adventure. It's killing. It's destruction."
"As your power grew—especially after you got that Devil Fruit—you changed. It's like you became a completely different person."
"Your hunger for destruction keeps growing. Your ambition is out of control.
You're destroying everything in your way... World Government ships, Marine fleets, even innocent civilians and towns—everything is getting swallowed up by your rage."
"—They forced me to!!"
Byrnndi World suddenly roared, cutting his brother off.
Veins bulged on his forehead, his face twisted in fury, fists clenched tight.
"If I didn't do this, how could we ever chase our dream?!
Traveling the world isn't some slogan—we need money, we need power!
The only way to make those who want to eliminate us think twice... is to destroy, to plunder, to raze it all!"
"I have the power of the Moa Moa no Mi! Why shouldn't I be the king of the seas?!"
"Just stay behind me and watch, brother…"
"I'll crush anyone who dares stand in our way.
Whether it's the Marines or the World Government... they'll all bow at my feet—before Byrnndi World!"
He finished with a wild, fearless grin, then strode forward without looking back.
Byojack sat quietly on his shoulder, eyes fixed on his brother's profile, sighing to himself.
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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