No wonder Iron Fist Garp returned to the East Blue like it was nothing—
Turns out there were safe sea routes along the Calm Belt on both sides of Red Line near Marineford, protected by the World Government and the Navy's elite.
Later, with the development of Sea Prism Stone warships, these Calm Belt routes became even more secure.
As for rookie pirates from the Four Seas trying to force their way through these guarded routes or attack Navy escort fleets—pure suicide.
Even seasoned pirates from the New World wouldn't dare touch the World Government's escort ships.
That's why newcomers from the Four Seas can only enter the Grand Line via Reverse Mountain. Dangerous, yes. But at least there's a sliver of hope.
Just like how pirates can only enter the New World through the hole beneath Fishman Island on the Red Line.
The bubble lift in Mary Geoise and the secure Calm Belt routes are all key passages strictly controlled by the World Government.
No pirate is allowed near them.
Noah stood observing the safe routes of the allied nations.
So, it was possible to go directly from East Blue through the Calm Belt to Mary Geoise, and from there cross the Red Line to reach the North or West Blue. So convenient.
Even the South Blue could be reached easily—just travel through either Calm Belt route and you're there.
That must've been how Iron Fist Garp brought Ace from Baterilla Island in the South Blue to the East Blue years ago.
"Once I'm done here in East Blue, maybe I'll make a trip to the South Blue," Noah mused.
After all, going to the South Blue didn't require crossing the Red Line or applying for passage through Mary Geoise.
This was perhaps the greatest benefit of being part of the allied nations. Access to the World Government's secure sea routes, allowing travel across all Four Seas.
No need for risky climbs over Reverse Mountain or detours through Fishman Island and the Grand Line's pirate-infested waters.
No wonder Blackbeard was so desperate to make Hachinosu an allied nation.
Not only to avoid the Navy and World Government's pressure, but also for the unmatched convenience of global sea travel.
That's one of the many perks of becoming an allied nation.
.....
With one command, Noah had an army of officials and soldiers moving at his will.
That was the power of being king.
He had always kept an eye on the strong figures of East Blue.
Now, he ordered his officials to issue invitations, in the name of the Goa Kingdom, to several well-known mercenaries and bounty hunters.
Noah didn't even need to set sail himself—they came flocking to Goa Kingdom, lured by generous payments.
The prosperous and beautiful Goa Kingdom was the most prestigious name in East Blue!
After several days of preparation, a fully armed fleet assembled at Gray Terminal Port.
It was from this very port that Sabo once sailed off in a tiny boat, only to be blasted out of the sea by Celestial Dragon Saint Jalmack, and later rescued by Dragon.
Now, aboard the most luxurious warship of the fleet, a group of mercenaries stood respectfully before Noah. Among them were two tall and slender men, each carrying an air of aloof confidence—clearly seasoned fighters.
These were the high-profile mercenaries and bounty hunters Noah had attracted with his lavish offers.
Whirlwind Eric, a Scythe-Scythe Fruit user of the Paramecia type, capable of conjuring deadly wind blades.
He often roamed the waters between Loguetown and Reverse Mountain, and had repeatedly been hired by the Navy's 8th Branch to hunt down rookie pirates trying to reach the Grand Line.
Supersonic Van Augur, a famous sniper wielding the legendary rifle "Senriku."
Surprisingly, Van Augur was originally from the East Blue. Only 23 years old, he had already made a name for himself as a top-tier bounty hunter, and had yet to become a pirate or set foot in the Grand Line.
Judging by his attire and demeanor, he was clearly of noble birth. Otherwise, how could he afford to train with such advanced sniper rifles?
Noah had heard of him even when he was still a street thug in Dawn Town.
Originally, Noah had planned to recruit him after setting sail, but fate had other plans—here he was, standing before him already.
As Noah sized up the two, they were also observing this new king of the Goa Kingdom.
Rumor had it that Noah used to be just a thug, and yet now he sat on a throne.
Van Augur marveled at Noah's luck.
Eric, however, seethed with jealousy and disdain. In his eyes, Noah was a pampered pretty boy who got lucky and caught the eye of a princess.
Staring at Noah's handsome face and lavish attire, the plain-looking, gaunt Eric grew even more bitter.
"I'm paying you well. You'd better earn it—or the consequences won't be pleasant."
Noah gave a casual smile, not rushing to win them over. He could already tell Eric was bristling with resentment.
He knew he'd have to break him in first.
Eric had once killed the commanding officer of the Navy's 8th Branch, Nelson Roy, just to capture a Thousand-Year Dragon.
Noah had already figured out how to put that kind of firepower to good use.
"I don't work for people. I work for money. You pay me, I deliver," Eric declared arrogantly, showing no respect to the King of Goa.
He was utterly confident in his own strength. Even facing Arlong, the pirate with the highest bounty in East Blue, he wouldn't flinch.
The guards aboard the ship gawked at Eric's attitude.
Would their fearsome king have this mercenary exiled or executed on the spot?
"Let's hope so," Noah said calmly, offering no immediate punishment.
He'd get his use out of Eric first—then teach him a lesson in cruelty.
"I heard you're a good shot. I've always been interested in marksmanship myself," Noah said, turning to Van Augur as he drew a golden flintlock from his hip.
The Goa royal family's armory was nothing short of extravagant.
Among their collection were high-tech firearms gifted by the Celestial Dragons themselves.
Golden flintlocks, golden sniper rifles, even golden cannons...
One of those golden cannons was the same model that Saint Jalmack had used to obliterate Sabo's ship in a single shot.
If the Celestial Dragons liked it, it had to be both expensive and effective.
Noah found that his Time-Time Fruit ability paired excellently with long-range shooting. It saved him from charging into battle, and his accuracy was nearly perfect.
An excellent way to impress and intimidate these weaker men.
"A little," Van Augur replied.
But strangely, he felt a lethal pressure from this so-called pretty boy king.
Unlike Eric, he didn't act cocky.
Instead, he remained calm, courteous, and composed—true to his noble upbringing.
"I like you," Noah said openly, his admiration for Van Augur clear.
No wonder he'd one day become a high-ranking officer under one of the Four Emperors. Noah knew talent when he saw it.
His praise for Van Augur only made Eric even more irritated.
Why did that weakling with a gun get more attention than a powerful scythe-wielding fighter like him?
With a wave of Noah's hand, the fleet of nine warships—over a thousand strong—departed Gray Terminal Port in grand formation.
Sarie didn't join them on this expedition. She remained behind to manage internal affairs and prepare to govern the territories Noah planned to conquer.
To reach the Conomi Kingdom, the Goa fleet had to pass through several smaller kingdoms.
Each of them was weak and ripe for annexation.
They would all soon become part of Noah's expanding Goa Empire.
As for whether the World Government would object—Noah would simply keep up with his Heavenly Tribute payments.
If Garp had complaints, he'd let the World Government deal with him.
Besides, Noah still wanted to stir up some trouble in Foosha Village.
The first kingdom they would encounter west of Goa was the Clover Kingdom, a small nation built across the Clover Archipelago.
The Navy's 153rd Branch, located in Shells Town, sat on one of the archipelago's smaller islands.
At this time, seventeen-year-old green-haired Zoro had yet to make a name for himself.
No one in East Blue had heard of the pirate hunter Roronoa Zoro just yet. Who knows how long he'd keep getting lost at sea before he finally rose to fame?